What's Your Dream?

Hello everyone! I am super excited to announce that I have been selected a a Hot Chocolate Ambassador!  I have run two Hot Chocolate 15ks and last year I even paced the Seattle Hot Chocolate 15k !  The Hot Chocolate 15/5k series began in Chicago in 2008. The owner of RAM Racing was looking for a fun, holiday event to end the year since the Chicago Marathon was the last major running event of the year (October). Something that wasn’t Christmas or Santa-themed that people would really enjoy. While a Starbucks fanatic, hot chocolate is the only thing he’ll order and as he was pontificating holding a cup of cocoa the light bulb went off! That year there were 3,000 runners. In 2009 that number grew to 12,000. 2010 – 30,000 runners. 2011 – 40,000. 2012-13 we have hovered around 40,000+ runners, making it the largest race in the city of the Chicago. In 2012 RAM Racing expanded – taking the race to Washington D.C., Dallas and San Diego. Each year we have added...

I started this journey with the inspiration to run a race for my beloved grandpa. I knew I wanted to do something big. So I decided to do the same race that I ran 4 years ago as my first half marathon but as a 50 miler this time. I love my grandpa more than anything and this is how I wanted to show him that. My grandpa and I visiting on the porch like old times. This whole experience was surreal, it feels like a dream that didn't really happen. Which, I know I am extremely fortunate to be able to say that. I had many downs in my training, from ending a relationship, to trying to find a new place to live and moving, to getting injured but I made it through all of that and race day came whether I was ready or not. Mom and I doing last minute crew planning the night before! I had planned on my whole family crewing me during the race but the week of the race things fell apart last minute. My mom (Karen), nephew (Joshua) and best friend (Tiffany) came through for me though....

That's right! It was color run time yet again! It is now officially a tradition to run the color run! This year wasn't quite a fun... I was really really sick but I had to get out there! And it was freezing and rainy :( But I loved the color this year, it was so much better than before! I think this is the 6th color run that I have run. And they are just getting better every time.  Pre race selfie! I was freezing! Color!!!!  This is still the best 5k I have run. The music, the color, the people! It's so wonderful! Keep on Running! 

One of my runner friends asked me to be the bunny at the Beat the Bunny 5k! I was super excited and of course said yes without hesitating! It was one of the coolest things that I have ever done. But also one of the hardest. It was by far the hardest 5k I have ever run, as it turns out, it's hard to run in a giant bunny suit!   The best part of the whole race, taking tons of photos with the kids! Run Bunny Run! Pre Race Selfie!  Yes, I am the blue bunny and yes, I had to run the full 5k in that suit! I would gladly do it again in a heart beat if I could have a different mask. That one was just a bit... hard to breathe in.  Love my running adventures! Keep on Running!

Hi Ya'll! I am super excited to announce that I am now an official blogger for Orca Running! I have run several of their races and LOVE what they do.  My Better Half Marathon Lake Sammamish Half Marathon Kirkland Shamrock Run Snoqualmie Valley Run Iron Horse Half Captain Jack’s Treasure Run Birch Bay Road Race  Discount code for your 10% discount for their races!: SKRH16

Did you know that Seattle hosts that largest floating bridge in the world! And for their grand opening they hosted a 10k race! The Go Long 520 10k , how cool is that! This was one opportunity that I just couldn't miss. This was the first 10k that I have run in months and months. So I really didn't know what to expect as far as pace. My goal was to get below 1 hour and I did! I came in at 57 minutes! Which is the fastest I have ever run 10k.  The race had many issues, bottle-necking was the primary one. Thankfully I was keeping a fast enough pace to miss out on those problems though. But considering that it was a pop up race that had never been done before, I think it went very well.    My power pose for finally getting below 1 hour! Keep on Running!

As you all know I have been training like crazy for my first ultra marathon. And in my training I decided to use a full marathon as a training run. So I chose a nice easy flat course, Blooms to Brews in Woodland, WA . It is a beautiful country course with lots of flowers and country fields. You even get to run buy a vineyard or two.  There were only two downsides to this who race. First, there is an inner loop that you have to run and you can see the runners on the loops from miles away. Which is neat at first then daunting later when you realize you still have that far to run!  The second is that the whole course is on the road but then there is a mile of rough gravel road at the end of the race. The course description was a bit short on how much gravel there was. Other than that, this race is very well organized and very beautiful.  This race didn't go well for me though. At mile 18 my ankle popped and caused me to be in an extraordinary amount of pain. I pushe...

There is no way to express my gratitude to everyone that gave me support and encouragement for the Frisco Railroad Run 50 mile run. Mom, Joshua and Tiffany who spent their day crewing for me, to  Kaurine  and Joshua for running us into the finish, to  Lori  and  Aaron  who stayed several several hours after their days were over to see me finish, and to my Grandpa and Aunt  Janet  who waited anxiously at the finish line waiting for me to arrive. Thank you to all of my friends  back in Seattle who encouraged me every step of the way and especially  Elizabeth  who was the one who told me I could do it in the first place and to  Theresa  for continuous encouragement through all of my doubts, and to all of the other dozens of people I am missing, thank you all so much. I want to give a special thank you to Katie Wohnoutka who found me at mile 32 when I had reached a mental breakdown. My crew wasn't there for me but she got me ...