School Pictures '13

And here is Thatch's first preschool photo (he didn't start school in time last year to take photos).  This isn't quite how I sent him to school that day but he still looks cute ;) 

TEAM GSF Practices Races

It is countdown to the Santa Barbara Half Marathon which is less than 2 weeks away.  There's still time to support me and the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation.  I've still got a ways to go before I reach my goal, anything helps ;) Click here to donate.  Also, from now until 11/3, for every $25 you donate, you will be entered into a drawing for a FREE iPad mini!  Cool, huh?!  I so SO appreciate everyone who has contributed.  Also, along with raising funds, awareness is important too so please take a few minutes to visit thegsf.org and learn more about this cause. 

My first practice race was last month when I did my first 10K in the Pinkest She is Beautiful race.  This is the same race I did last year where I ran my first 5K and actually my first running race ever. 

Loved having the Never Give Up support at the race. 

My workout partner and superstar runner, Elizabeth. 

A sea of pink getting ready to run.

Can you spot me?

I'm waving hi! ;)

I would have so loved to have been chowing down at East Beach Grill on some wheat germ blueberry pancakes rather than running. 

I would have been WAY less grumpy than Thatcher too.

Instead, I was running as fast as I could to the finish line.

I was DYING right here. 

And ready to get sick.  

Trying to pull it together...

Not a good look for me...

"Mommy, are you okay?"

It took me a bit to recover.

I finished with a time of 51:43 (8:18 mile) and I learned that day that I can't push it any harder or longer than that in a 10K at that pace.  I will be taking my time in the half to finish ;)

My trainer and of course the winner of the 10K that day, Drea :)  

We are seriously challenge when it comes to taking photo booth photos.  Whether there is just two of us or four, we can't seem to get it right. 

Then a few weeks ago, I signed up for my second 10K which benefited the Santa Barbara Cancer Center.  I signed up for this one the night before the race.  Not sure why I did that considering we were attending a cocktail party the night before.  

Pre-race photos with my biggest fans. 

Now I remember why I entered this race last minute.  I was coerced by my friend Elizabeth, who is a cancer survivor.  Pretty good reason to support the cause I'd say ;)  And that is her mother who also participated in the race. 

The gun went off and I was left in the dust by a bunch of pretty fast runners.  This was not the casual Sunday run for a good cause that I thought it was going to be.  People were COM-PE-TI-TIVE! 

The course looped around twice before finishing the 6.2 miles and this is the half-way point where I was giving my cheering squad the high sign ;)  What you can't see is all the people ahead of me, oh well....

I came around the corner to start my final loop and I was so excited to see these faces!

I finished in at 51:22 (8:16 mile) and 21 seconds faster than the 10K that I thought I was going to die in.  BUT, this course was WAY easier.  There was a pretty good portion of it that was downhill so I am not taking this as a sign that I could ever go any faster.  I do however pat myself on the back for being at a cocktail party the night before and doing as well as I did.  Thanks Jenn for the carbo loading the night before  ;)

My friend Kristin placed first in her age category, super speedy 7:37 per mile! 

Next up, the Kids Fun Run.  

Both kids were excited to run the mile.  They have now done a handful of fun races around town and it is awesome to see them get excited about pinning a number on and getting a medal or ribbon at the finish line.   Most importantly, they always suit-up in their Never Give Up gear and we make sure they understand what those shirts mean and who they are running for. 

And they were off! 

Almost everyone was off.  Thatcher was devastated that Samantha took off without him.

When Thatcher realized Samantha was going to loop around and around, he finally got the hang of it and decided to join in.  Plus, he wasn't going to get a medal if he didn't finish (at least that is what we told him) ;)

Must have been that blue sucker he was eating before the race that suddenly gave him all this energy!

They both earned their medals (Samantha a little more deserving than Thatcher) ;)

Awesome goodie bags for the kids! (and not pictured but a Four Seasons Biltmore catered brunch). 

Practice races done.  Next up, the half!