Celebrity Day (and a few other guests!)

I'm so glad you dropped by to enjoy the final installment of this fun little Virtual Book Launch! Thanks for your patience with me as I took care of "real life" experiences last week and spent time with my family for Mother's Day yesterday (we went on our first ever family bike ride - what a thrill!).

As I worked on We Are Girls Who Love to Run over the past 3 years, I've worked hard to reach out to the "everyday runner" - you know - girls just like your sister, daughter, neighbor, teacher, mother, grandmother . . . or even YOU! In my research and through my work to spread the word about the book, healthy self-esteem and running, I've come to meet and get to know some AMAZING women who may have started their experiences as everyday runners, but they now hold special places in the world of running and fitness as LEADERS!

The first woman I'd like you to meet is Carol Goodrow. If you are new to my blog or haven't had a chance to follow the link to her Runner's World affiliated site KidsRunning.com, do not pass go . . . do not collect your race medal . . . go directly there - PRONTO! Carol's site offers a WEALTH of resources, lesson ideas, running games, book reviews, and ways for runners to share their passion with our next generation of runners and world leaders. Want to know something even more amazing about this woman - she does all of this in her SPARE TIME!!! She's a full time educator, her second job is as author/illustrator of books for children about running, she runs religiously and then keeps this site updated. When I grow up, I want to be like Carol Goodrow!

Here's what Carol has to share:

"Here is a photo of me (front left) with Kenny Moore, author of Bowerman.
I am also with Nancy Eldert and Mary Pearch, college friends, whom I hadn't seen since 1974.
I was in Eugene, Oregon at the Eugene Marathon Expo last weekend.
My books are: The Treasure of Health and Happiness (most loved by kids), Happy Feet, Healthy Food (my best seller), and Kids Running (my newest book).
I ran the half marathon as a finish and I worked hard the last 3 miles, but I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face and then went out for pancakes!"

Not only does Carol work to get out the word about her own books, she's been one of my biggest cheerleaders . . . as you can see here:

If you are a runner, please support Brianna and other authors of children's running books. We do this work for you! Oh, why I love to run? There are a million reasons." - Carol

Thanks so much for coming by the party, Carol! It is an honor to have you!

Another leader in the running world this job has brought me to meet is Kathrine Switzer. Now, I guess I should admit here that I haven't yet shaken the hands of these women, but thanks to the world of email, we've gotten to know and support one another over the past few months and years. Like Carol, Kathrine is one BUSY, BUSY lady. I was kicking myself for not going across the state of Washington to Spokane for a second race weekend when I found out that Ms. Switzer was the keynote speaker and signing copies of her own book, MARATHON WOMAN at the Bloomsday Expo. But when I shared my disappointment with her, she assured me that our schedules are bound to cross our paths sometime soon. I love her optimistic attitude - surely she wears a yellow hat, right?! Her love of the sport simply radiates.

Though she has been an elite runner (she qualified for the Olympics the year the US boycotted them . . . can you imagine how THAT felt?), she still takes joy and pride in every race (and she runs PLENTY, even now that she's in her sixties) and took time to report to me, "Hey, I finished 2nd in my age group in the Bloomsday run!! yea!" And I'm sure that was no easy feat, as she was running with 60,000 others who love to run. Zowie! Congrats on a fabulous run, Kathrine!

Some of you may recognize our next party guest, MizFit, a fellow blogger and lover of fitness. Like me, she discovered her inner athlete later in life . . . and there is just NO stopping this woman now!

Here's what she has to share (part recipe, part inspirational story!):
food glorious food.

By MizFit

Once upon a time your MizFit was a new weight trainer.She joined a women-only fitness facility & started lifting with a passion. She loved it. The process of it. The way she FELT stronger. Empowered. How she looked? Well, that was another story. MizFit didnt look one bit different than she did prior to her newfound fitness endeavor. Why–you ask? Because she wasn't consuming enough protein to BUILD the muscles she was hoisting the weights to create (and, if you look here, the muscles which would also JUMP START her metabolism). Now, MizFit was just crazy enough that she—bitten by the ironbug—immediately turned to grilled chicken breasts and canned tuna. You? Perhaps you’re just crazy enough to try this MizFit-twist on an old American fave. Sure it’s a dessert-y treat but with all the good fats from the peanut butter AND the new found extra protein (and eliminated powdered sugar) you can still feel pretty dang virtuous about eating them!oh.feeling feisty? a bit MizFit-y as it were? TOSS IN SOME FLAX SEEDS. I dare you.

Buckeyes.
1 1/2 sticks butter softened (Brianna's comment: you might try a vegan alternative if you have dairy allergies at your house like I do!)
1 cup chocolate protein powder *
1 tablespoon vanilla
12 oz peanut butter (or if you’re allergic another nut butter should work - or, Brianna adds, soynut butter??)
12 oz chocolate chips

mix together ingredients (preferrably with hands whilst phone rings off hook & Toddler Tornado winds herself around legs).
roll into balls and refrigerate.

(I like to use this method for melting the chocolate chips both because it’s less messy and you have more control over how much you put on each buckeye.)
Topping:
bring a saucepan of water to almostboiling.
shove a bunch of the chocolate chips into a zip-lock baggie.
dunk into the almostboiling until the chocolate is prettymuch melted.
Snip off corner and drizzle on top of chilled buckeyes.
Repeat until all buckeyes are covered or—as the Renaissance Man likes to call it— hatted.

*since we arent going low-carb here it doesnt matter AT ALL what kind of protein powder you use. name brand. store brand. ON SALE. Anything."

Thanks for those treats, MizFit! I bet a few of my readers are jotting down their grocery lists now and making sure to pick up some flax seeds to add to your buckeyes! With all of the recipes of the week, we should all be SET with some great new things to try with our families - and with motivation to keep running/walking/practicing yoga/swimming/hiking . . . MOVING those bods!
And now, a quick return, as promised, to a couple more of the folks who keep me inspired and keep me running.


First, I'd like to introduce you to my dad, Marty. A former US Air Force Officer, Rochester, NY city-wide tennis champ (pre-Air Force days) and self-proclaimed non-runner, my dad has recently come to know and love his inner athlete. This man got my mom to ride bikes with him by getting a tandem ("tam tam" my son calls it!). And my mom, in turn, got him to try yoga. The two of them now go to yoga at least twice/week and I have to say that my dad's "down dog" could kick my own "down dog's" tush any day of the week. He also enjoys snowshoeing, as you can see from the photo (he's leading the pack!). And, since I don't include too many photos of myself here, I'm adding a photo of me in snowshoes, too - we do enjoy these outings as a family!

This was 2 years ago . . . last year I had a newborn and this past year wasn't as safe, so we opted to not go. I'm hoping we can all return next Winter!

My mother-in-law is a tough-as-nails mother of four (2 boys, 2 girls) who's life mission was to get all of her children through college. She did it - and both girls are even in grad school now (though they're covering ALL of their own tuition expenses this time around - whew!). Pat isn't a runner, but you can find her just about any evening of the year out for a walk (snow and rain don't make her shy!). Here's what Pat has to share:

"Go outside! The best thing you can do for yourself is to go outside-take a walk-it is awesome.
It is always hard to get started as the dishes are calling you back or the laundry or the kiddos or the phone or the bills or you are just feeling sorry for yourself because it was a long hard day.
Just start walking-smile if you see anyone, say hello but don’t stop walking.
Stand up straight and swing your arms a bit and smile.
Look up at the sky and down at the ground.
Take some deep breaths and let them out slowly.
Walk for at least 15minutes somewhere away from all you have to do then walk a different way back.
Go back home and when everyone say WHERE WERE YOU? Just say,taking a walk and smile.

Ps Don’t take a cell phone or beeper –just be free."

I think I might post her message near my computer as a reminder to myself. It really is good advice! Thanks for taking time to share your wisdom with us, Pat. I'm so lucky to have such a supportive mother-in-law. I wish the same for everyone!

And finally, a recipe from my mom's big sister, Susan. She squeezed in her entry just in time! I'm happy to welcome her. Though she's not a runner, she knows all about living an active lifestyle - she's the mother of 4 boys, grandmother of 2 (with a third on the way!), award-winning PE teacher, and wife. Before heading out for the day to teach, she emailed this quickie note about the recipe (simply follow the link to get the ingredients & directions - no need to repost it here, right?!):

Spaghetti Squash Supreme

"It's tons of food for 2 and very tasty"

See, I told you it was quick! Thanks, Aunt Sue!


Well, there you have it, folks. Thanks for coming to the party! Winners of the drawing for the signed copies of We Are Girls Who Love to Run will be announced tomorrow!!!!

Thanks for spreading the word and inspiring those around you to discover their inner strength and keep their bodies moving!

In Over My Head!

Hey there, happy readers!

I know you're here lookin' to meet some celebrities . . . but I took a step back to look at my week before crashing into bed last night and realized that I took on WAY too much stuff this week (here's where my family looks at me and says, "You THINK?!"). You will meet them, I promise - just NOT today!

So, like all awesome parties, this one will run a little late, which I think is quite fitting since it got a late start (that part bugged me because I'm always . . . nearly always . . . um, okay since the kids have come along it is more like "usually" on time for things).

So, if you are a local reader, I hope to see you at the in-person launch this evening! Can't make that? Maybe you're up for a run tomorrow morning in Seattle - the Nike 5K for Kids event takes place tomorrow and I'll be somewhere near the finish line (perhaps near the yummy Jamba Juice booth - I could sure use a perk like that after this exhausting week!) to greet the young runners as they feel the release of endorphins that come with the satisfaction of finishing a great run and hopefully even sell a book or two (as an author, that IS what I have to do, afterall).

Happy Friday! And now, if you'll excuse me, I have a list a 10K long (no, Nancy, unfortunately it isn't really a 10K, but I wish it was!) to accomplish before I pick-up my kids at 8 . . . wish me luck!

The Party's Nearly in Full Swing!

I hope you brought your appetite to the party today! Get ready to dig in to some good stuff!

My dear friend Jen (fellow art history enthusiast and my Maid of Honor 8 years ago) from Atlanta sent along this good lookin' snack recipe. I'm excited to report that Jen got fitted for her FIRST real pair of running shoes earlier this year and is giving running a go!


"I tried a recipe from my new favorite cookbook, Elie Kreiger's The Food You Crave. It's a perfect pre or post run snack! And it actually gave me something to do with the jar of wheat germ that's been sitting on my shelf for a couple of months.

Here's the recipe:

Energy Bars
Cooking Spray (I used PAM organic spray with canola oil)
1 cup quick cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup shelled unsalted raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ (I toasted mine in a dry frying pan on the stove for a few minutes)
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup dried apricots
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup pitted dried dates
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk (you can find this on the baking aisle in the same place where the condensed milk is)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350.
Coat a 9x13 inch baking pan with cooking spray.
Place all ingredients, except syrup and eggs, in a food processor and pulse until everything is finely chopped. Add the syrup and eggs and pulse until the mixture is well combined. It will resemble a course paste.
Transfer to the baking pan and spread evenly to cover the bottom (you will want to do this with your hands, I tried a spoon and it just kept breaking up, also, the layer of mixture will be very thin when you are done spreading it out, maybe 1/4 inch thick). Bake until lightlly browned, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool for 15 minutes, then cut into 24 individual bars. Store in an airtight container at room temp up to 3 days, or wrap individually and freeze for up to 3 months.

Yummy and filling!"


Be sure to give it a try, folks. You can bet it is on my list of new recipes to try!


And Carrie, mother of three (who is diving head-first into her own workout groove - go Carrie!), sent along this super easy breakfast concauction that any mom-on-the-go can squeeze into the morning. And, seeing as she lives in the town of Carnation (really, named after the Carnation dairy farms that were there!) she writes:


"I’m not a runner, more of a “speed walker” and I just started a more formal exercise program. My personal trainer told me to drink or eat a protein snack in the afternoon when I’m hungry, and it is not quite dinner time, but I need energy to keep up with my three small children. I love Carnation Instant Breakfast and found this simple recipe on their website for a smoothie. I’ll bet my kids would like this as well.

Ingredients:
1 cup fat free milk 1 cup ice cubes 1 packet Rich Milk Chocolate Flavor NESTLÉ CARNATION INSTANT BREAKFAST Complete Nutritional Drink 1/2 banana

Directions:
PLACE milk, ice, Carnation Instant Breakfast and banana in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.
Serving Size: 1"
*logo image credit: www.carnationinstantbreakfast.com

Now that we're all feelin' good with full bellies, we're set to meet another party-goer!

I'm not sure from where Diana hails, but I'm honored to introduce you to her! This woman has PASSION and a true love and dedication to her family. Diana says,

"For me, running has always been a way to exercise and stay somewhat in shape both physically and mentally. It calms me down, gives me confidence and it has taught me mental toughness. As I began to increase mileage, running took on more meaning. Running no longer is just about me. I run for all those who are unable to run, those who are afraid to lace up their shoes, and for those who will never get the chance. I run for my nephew who never got the opportunity to buy a pair of sneakers, never felt the wind in his hair and who during his 11 weeks of life never got the chance to see the sun. I run because it is when I am out there lost in my thoughts that I know he is still with me, with us. That is why I run."

Isn't amazing how running takes us out of our own little world to connect us with something so much bigger? I know many of you dedicate yoursleves to running for others, whether it is running in memory of a lost loved one or celebration for the renewed heath of a friend. We all have internal drives that keep us going and it is powerful when we can share that love for life with others. Thanks for sharing your story, Diana.

Have a story, recipe or photo you'd like to share? There's still time to join the party! Just send me an email with your entry (girlsrunning@hotmail.com) and I'll include it in one of the remaining Virtual Book Launch Party Blogs this week. BONUS: I'll enter you in a drawing to WIN a COPY of We Are Girls Who Love to Run (the reason for the festivities!).

Thursday you're in for an EXTRA special treat: It's Family Day! Stop by to meet the people who make my life colorful and fun and who have helped mold me into the person I am.

Friday is CELEBRITY day! I won't tell you any more than that!

Saturday wraps up the festivities with the official announcement of the winners of the drawing and postings from the party-goers who were fashionably late, but still treasured!

Let's Get This Party Started!

Hello, hello! Come on in! I'm so glad you could join me in celebrating the launch of We Are Girls Who Love to Run.

Make yourself at home, meet some fellow runners/readers/walkers/life lovers, have a snack, enjoy! Like any good party, we'll start low-key and by the end of the week it will be in FULL gear. It's okay to be fashionably late for your own party, right? Thanks for being understanding as I navigate this unusually full week - from here on out, you can expect to meet some great folks each day this week.

So, to kick-off the party, be sure to try these great (and I do mean GREAT, we've tried them and my kids give them their FULL approval!) healthy cookies sent by Cecilia (as a Reflexologist, she knows ALL about helping people take care of their bodies . . . and the feet that carry them on their journey to many a finish line!):

I'm sending a recipe that is sure to please all the health-conscious Moms (and anyone) who is looking for a quick, yummy snack treat. Enjoy!

Healthy Banana Cookies: No eggs, flour or dairy
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 cups oatmeal (I use course cut)
1 cup raisins
1/3 cup oil (vegetable oil or try extra virgin coconut oil, melted)
1 teaspoon vanilla.

Mix all ingredients. Let set 15 minutes. Drop by rounded teaspoon on parchment lined or ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 15 to 18 minutes. Cool on rack. Recipe makes about 3 dozen. Since they freeze great and make a super quick breakfast on the road, I always make a double batch!
Some suggestions: use any dried fruit you like or a combination (raisins & cranberries, gogi berries). Be sure bananas are ripe and that they are medium to large. If you have small bananas, use 4. Chopped nuts can be added. Reduce the dried fruit by the amount of nuts used. The finished cookies are not brown on top, so check the bottoms for doneness.

Yum, yum, yum! Dig IN!

*bloop* (that's the Virtual door bell - couldn't you tell?)

The guests must be sensing that I've put out some snacks, because they're starting to arrive!

I'm honored to introduce you to two inspirational runners: Suzy and Lisa (you bloggers may know Suzy from her blog "The Runs" and Lisa better by her blog name Java-Mom - can you believe she even got her kids to call her that on her birthday for a little bit of monetary incentive!)

Suzy reports that she would have sent a photo along with her story, but she's been running for so long that her husband and kids don't turn out at races to take pictures. Don't feel bad for her, though, because the time her husband spends watching the kids so she can run is FAR more precious to her than any photo! And now . . . Suzy's inspirational story:

"I have a husband who is recovering from knee surgery, three very active children (one of which has a broken arm), 2 dogs (one of which is in heat and is wearing diapers) who follow me around the house under my feet, 2 cats that holler for food and litter changing, and a bearded dragon lizard who demands his greens and crickets. I'm needed by all at every given moment of the day, getting the energy squeezed and sucked out of me until tears come and go. It is so rewarding, and so exhausting."

My week is already starting to feel tame . . . I wouldn't even know where to begin with a bearded dragon lizard! I think we're starting to see why you need to run, Suzy . . . tell us more:

*photo credit: Wikipedia*

"I need to refuel properly, and I do that several ways. One of them, and one of the most important ways for me to do that is by running. It is so liberating for me to run out the door and 'away from home.' I work out all the kinks, frustrations, anger and stress by literally pounding them out of my body through my feet into the pavement with each step. Sometimes it takes seconds for me to feel liberated from all of that, and sometimes it takes the entire run. I run away from home, and when I feel like I have ran out all the negativity, I turn around and run back home!

I can honestly say that I don't primarily run for the physical health benefits of weight control and cardio health. Those things are bonuses for me. For me, I actually tend to lose a bit of weight when I stop running, and gain it back when I start. (Muscle gain mixed with increased appetite maybe) I run for my mental health and also to bring myself closer to God who is my primary stronghold. This, combined with the stress-relieving physiological benefits of exercise is why I run, and I will do it for as long as I am able."

I wish you MANY happy years of running, Suzy. Thanks for stopping by the party to celebrate with me!

While Suzy helps herself to some snacks and fills out the slip for the Virtal Book Launch Party Drawing to possibly WIN a copy of We Are Girls Who Love to Run (read about how YOU can join today's guests and win a copy here), we'll chat with Lisa for a few:

Lisa sent along not one, but TWO fabulous running celebration photos. I think you'll agree that she definitely has a grasp on the JOY of running. Just "meeting" her will make you want to get out and RUN (I'll give you three guesses as to which runner is Lisa, and the first two don't count!)!

"This picture captures what running means to me...it is pure joy. It is a celebration of my new fitness and health." You can read about Lisa's personal fitness journey (she's taking life to a whole new level by doing triathlons now!) at her blog.

What else, Lis?

"I love running because of all of the wonderful friendships I have made. Who knew that you could start a simple running blog and then end up at a dinner (PFChang's pre-race dinner) with all of these blogger friends?!?"

Hey, Lisa, is that Marcy sitting beside you? Hi, Marcy! Happy running to ALL of you!

Be sure to stop by the party for more yummy treats and to meet some other great folks who love to run/walk/swim/bike/smile. I might even be able to convince my husband to drop by . . . you just never can tell what the week will bring!

The calm before the storm

I'm gearing-up for a big week of running celebrations (Girls on the Run of Puget Sound auction and the Launch Par-tay for my book!) and supporting youth (the auction, my son's first music concert), so I spent the weekend enjoying life with my family because I'll be away just about every evening this coming week.

Other than fitting in my third run of the week (hooray!), Saturday was rather unmemorable and tiring (I don't remember specifics because I've tried to push them out of my mind, but I believe the day was heavy with children whining and eating - they're both going through growth spurts and didn't sleep well the night before . . . come to think of it, the adults may have been whining, too, by the end of the day).


(Yes, these adorable kids who were engrossed in the sandbox for nearly an hour were the same two who were unbearable yesterday - I find it hard to believe sometimes, myself!)


But TODAY, the glorious day that it was, was SO good that I brought out the camera to document it (well, part of it, anyhow)!

(My daughter ready for the day with a hat to shade her eyes from the bright sun that we haven't seen much of in MONTHS!)

- the run for the day was gifted to our dog, Albus, who spent about an hour frolicking around the dog park while we enjoyed watching and following him around. Today was a good day to be a dog!

- a trip to REI for some new yoga pants for me and bike lock-related stuff for my husband (who is now riding his bike to catch the bus to work!) had us smiling . . . the kids were thrilled that we finally made the switch over to SIGG bottles because they are now the proud new owners of some neat-o new water bottles (my son's has gorillas, my daughter is getting my old purple one and I got a sweet new red one, which she proudly carried for me).

- The day was TOO nice to pass-up a picnic at the park, so we swung past Whole Foods to get the best picnic lunch I've ever had - custom sandwiches for all (that translates into a tomato/mozzerella/basil one for me!), potato salad for the grown-ups, fruit salad for all . . . yum!

- We capped off our excursion with the picnic at a park we'd never visited - which turns out to have a mini farm where we enjoyed seeing goats, a VERY pregnant pig, horses, bunnies, young chicks . . . we'll definitely return!

- The afternoon was spent fully engaged in PLAY - play in the backyard, our daughter's first time in the sandbox, wagon rides galore, and we pulled out the play tunnel after dinner for one last dose of giggles and fun.

(The day was so nice, our son just couldn't keep his shirt on and my husband and I took turns pulling them around and around and around the back yard in the wagon)

(There's nothing like being chased through a tunnel by your big brother while the static attacks your hair!)

I now feel fully rejuvinated and ready to tackle the week!

I hope YOU feel ready to hit "send" to pass along your favorite snack or post-run recipe, a photo of yourself running or a lovely little blurb about what makes you passionate about running . . . because I'm looking forward to sharing it with my readers this week for the Virtal Book Launch that kicks off TOMORROW!! Email your entries to: girlsrunning@hotmail.com with the title Virtual Book Launch Entry so I know it isn't junk!

And WHY should you feel inclinded to participate?

I'm so glad you asked! By participating in the party you'll be entered to win one of 3 FREE copies of We Are Girls Who Love to Run! If you already own a copy, this will be a copy you can pass along to your favorite gal (whether or not she runs!) or to your local school library. See - you have NOTHING to lose and a fun new book to GAIN! :)

See you at the party, folks . . . it starts tomorrow and goes ALL week! Now, how's THAT for a party?!

Refusing to Miss a Run Pays Off

Sometimes life throws a wrench in your plans . . . or even two. BUT, with a little creativity and some determination, you can still make Plan A work (note: this is not ALWAYS possible, but I'm happy to report I was able to work it this morning!).

Before you read on . . . be sure to send your entries for next week's Virtaul Book Launch Party! You could WIN a SIGNED copy of my book We Are Girls Who Love to Run just by entering! I'll be compiling the photos, stories and recipes this weekend to share with you over the course of next week - don't miss out on the fun!

And now, kind reader . . . back to your regularly scheduled blog entry:

Last night was supposed to be treasured Date Night. It started well, but took a bit of a turn.

- When I dropped off the kids, they were both smiling. So were my parents. The sun was even shining!
- I went to yoga without my husband, as he's testing out the new bus system in our efforts to help save the earth (and money) and couldn't make it back in time.
- My hubby called in our take out order . . . I picked it up on my way home after yoga
- We were about to take our dinner downstairs to watch some TV while eating (*gasp* - NOT romatic for Date Night, but a rare treat that we just couldn't resist) when the phone rang . . .
- My poor mom was sick, so we needed to pick up the kids
- We inhaled dinner through 10 minutes of My Name is Earl and then I went to get the kids
- Our regular night time routines ensued, but then . . . at 2AM, Little Sister decided she was cold and the only possible way she could relax and go back to sleep was to sleep in our bed . . . horizontally . . . with her feet in my face . . .
- my clothes were set out so I could get up at 5:45 with my husband (who is now getting up at this unimaginable hour to take the bus - my hero!) to run before cleaning the house and fetching the kids . . . and having 2 kids come over for the morning
- with Little Sister in bed, there was no way to safely do that, so I "slept" until 7ish, when Mr. Music (her nearly 4 year old brother) came singing and dancing into the room proclaiming that we should all be awake since he was. And, so we were.

I could have ignored my neatly piled running attire for another day, but I knew that I set a goal on Monday at Go Workout Mom to get in 3 runs this week and if I didn't run this morning that my goal would be dead in the water. SO, I cleaned like a mad woman for an hour (while feeding the children and doing a little Mary Poppins-like maneuver to make cleaning seem fun to get them to help) and then decided to try something new . . . something daring . . . something that I'm sure thousands of moms across the country do on a daily basis, but I've been too scared to try . . .

Are you ready? Take a deep breath . . .

I let my kids play while I ran on the treadmill.

Is that ALL, you ask? Yup. That's all, folks. BUT, for me . . . it was a big breakthrough. I'd done it regularly when I could plop Little Sister in the play pen or the exersaucer, but she's WAY too mobile and big for those lifesavers anymore, so it really has been about 4 months since I've been able to run while the kids are awake and not being entertained by another able body. And, for the most part, it was great!

I DID have to stop the treadmill twice to redirect my stubborn son from leaving the room (with the door open to the stairs - NOT good for Little Sister) and from exploring some of his Dad's tools. I also had to stop once to keep my daughter from riding our poor dog like a horse (despite my attempts while running to get the dog to move BEFORE she swung her leg around . . . you'd think he would have seen that coming!). But, for the first go at this, I'll take it. It was just the jump start I needed for my day and the step I needed to get toward my goal. It also gives me hope that as I really get my running back on track (I couldn't help the pun, sorry) that I have this option available to me for the days that an outside run just doesn't happen.

I am a runner. I am strong. I can DO this! Duvall Days 10K, I'll be ready for you!

What tips do YOU have to entertain your troops so you can run? How do you carve out time in your day for YOU and your goals?

Sports Pottery and other good stuff!

I just joined The Runner's Lounge and have been having some fun exploring it. I'm not usually a sucker for ads, but the ad for this place caught my eye because it is something TOTALLY DIFFERENT than the usual sports products I've seen (including the Runner's Diarrhea ad that keeps popping up on my blog - not sure how THAT one found me, I don't recall writing about it!!!): Sports Pottery (image below found at Sports Pottery).

Anyhow . . . if you're looking for a cute gift to pair with my book (*ahem*: this is a great time to remind you that you can win a FREE copy of my book We Are Girls Who Love to Run by participating in my super cool Virtual Book Launch Party - and time is running out!) you might give these folks a look-see!

The sun was able to grace us with some warmth today (more of a peek-a-boo game with the clouds), so the kids and I walked up to the park for some outdoor play. It was the PERFECT plan, because now they are both ZONKED and sleeping so I'm knocking out some big to-dos before joining the LIVE Teleseminar with Kathrine Switzer (I'm SO excited to finally "meet" this AMAZING MARATHON WOMAN!!!). My dad is graciously watching the kiddos while my mom and I enjoy the call (you can also catch the webcast if you miss the call!) and I have BBQ chicken in the crock pot so dinner will be ready when we finish with the call. I actuall thought AHEAD on this . . . can you believe it?!

I'm trying to think ahead to next week, which is bound to keep me running in circles:

ALL WEEK - super fun Virtal Book Launch Party HERE!!! I'm still looking forward to getting YOUR entry (hint, hint - send it to: girlsrunning@hotmail.com!)!

Monday - phone interview for a great website (I'll let you in on it when it goes live!)
Tuesday - general life stuff (and hopefully a RUN!) and the rehearsal for the Girls on the Run of Puget Sound auction in Seattle
Wednesday - childcare swap day, kids at MY place in the afternoon
Thursday - AUCTION! (I get to meet Sally Bergesen from Oiselle women's running apparel - she's the guest speaker!)
Friday - my kids spend the morning with friends (thanks to that great childcare swap!), Friday night is the LAUNCH PAR-TAY!!!

And now . . . on to my next task . . . now where did I put that list of things to do???

Virtual Party entries are already rolling in!

I've been gone for a few days longer than usual because I've been going non-stop on a multitude of projects:

- Tomorrow is the America's Kids Run Expo in Spokane
- The in-person Launch Party is Friday, May 9th
- I've been lining up some amazing radio interviews over the next few months (stay tuned for details when they're set!)
- grocery shopping (truly a project)
- volunteering to help with the Girls on the Run of Puget Sound auction (May 8th)
- cleaning the house so that it has a chance while I'm gone for the expo this weekend
- reading books with my daughter who has JUST discovered that books have more to offer than corners for chewing - hooray! In fact, this kid is in LOVE with books. It makes me laugh now to think that I was worried that she'd not have any interest in books!

- keeping my calm with my son who must be having a growth spurt or something because he's acting a bit out of sorts (is there a full moon, maybe?). I'm trying to be compassionate and understanding - which is consuming at least 70% of my energy these days!

As for the Launch for We Are Girls Who Love to Run, I'm excited to announce that I've already received a recipe (it is a yummy one - I know, I've tried it!) and two inspirational stories about why these women love to walk and run. I can't wait to add YOUR photo/story/recipe to the entry mix so that YOU have a chance to WIN A COPY of We Are Girls Who Love to Run! Send your entries as soon as you've got 'em ready, because I'm working to compile 'em to share with everyone the week of May 5th. And, don't be shy or greedy - share the fun with your friends!

Happy running (or walking, skipping, galloping, pedaling, swimming, crawling, hiking . . . sun saluting . . .), everyone!