Running Liv's Life

Workout:  Speed Work - 1 mile warm up, 8 x .25 mile repeats, 1 mile cool down My little girl is getting so big!  She is finally old enough to participate in organized team sports.  For her birthday in May we bought her a soccer ball and goal for the backyard.  She played all summer long with Matt, and then starting in September she got to play the real deal!! She loved every part of being on a team.  She even loved the warm up lap!! Score!!!  First game and she scored two goals.  She totally takes after her mother as far as being athletic goes:) On her way to score again!  This was her second game and I think she scored twice.  Such a soccer star! Even just sitting on the bench she looked so stinkin' cute!  I know she is sad the season is over, but thankfully it hasn't been too cold and we have been able to play in the backyard some.  Not the same, but still a lot of fun!

Workout: None Yesterday morning I had the most fabulous birthday run!  Well, aesthetically fabulous.  Physically I felt like crap.  My foot hurt, then my calf started hurting, and I was super tired and sluggish....anyway, the fabulousness: It was the most beautiful morning ever!!!  The temperature was perfect, the colors in the trees were amazing, and the sun was just rising making the sky a mix of oranges, blues, and purple. Pretty, pretty, pretty!  I remember last year in FL I missed fall soooooo much!  Come October everything was green, green, more green, HOT, humid, and green.  Although come January I wasn't missing much about the midwest.  Okay, back to the birthday run.  Even though I was having little aches and pains the fall beauty made up for it and made this run awesome!  Then, when I walked in the door I found this: A plate of Ding Dongs with the candles all lit, and the kids started singing Happy Birthday. ...

Workout: None After running the Bridge to Bridge last week I realized I need to incorporate a good hill into my workout rotation.  It is good for speed, strength, and will help shape my rear!:)  On my way home from dropping off a friend after MOPS I spotted the PERFECT hill.  Unfortunately, it was out in the middle of nowhere on kind of a creepy overgrown country road.  Fortunately, I have the world's BEST husband who bundled up the kids and came out there with me!! Down, up, down, up, down, up = .52 miles.  I decided 4 plus 1 bonus would be a good workout.  To mentally get myself through speed workouts I tell myself only 4 repeats.  The fifth is just a bonus.  Matt thinks it's weird, but it works for me and helps me push through #3 which is usually the hardest. We brought the wagon out for the kids to have some good old fashion free  fun.  I took them for a little joy ride as my cool down.  They loved it!!! Best par...

Workout:  None - too sore!! Yesterday I ran the Bridge to Bridge 4 mile run in Peoria.  And unlike the past dozen races I have run over the year I actually trained for this one!! BEWARE!  I went picture crazy at this event....I was in a good mood:) I lined up at the 8 minute pacing sign, and there were hardly any people around.  I just kinda stood there looking around like an idiot.  This was a smaller race, yes, but come on, where were all the fast people?? I should've known Matt would take a picture like this.  He is having too much fun with the new panoramic setting on the iphone!! Here is how the race went down: Mile 1 - We started off doing one little loop around the block - which was nice because I got to see Matt!!  We then headed off to run over the first bridge. Slight hill here.  Not too bad, but I could feel it.  Had to work just a tad to kept a steady pace up over this bridge. This was the view from the to...