Soup du Jour Vlog Hop: My Mother’s Day Reflection

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Earlier this week, the Today Show shared a piece by Today Moms on how parents of three children felt more stress than parents with fewer children or even more children. According to their survey, parents of three often feel outnumbered, whereas parents of four or more children tend to be more relaxed.

Being a mom of three, I definitely feel outnumbered, over-stressed and have resorted to self medicating with beer or wine. However, one too many glasses and I could hit the magic number of four children. Of course, I’ll be more relaxed and I’ll drink less due to something called the “Duggar Effect“. Sure. I’ll drink to that.

Happy Mother’s Day!

What are you reflecting on this Mother’s Day? Do you have one, two, three or more children? Do you feel stressed or does the idea of more children stress you out?

Adios, my ABEO Sandals

What’s black, white and red all over?

My feet painted with tan lines from my favorite flip-flops.

Last spring, The Walking Company sent me a pair of Red Reptile Sunrise ABEO B.IO. System Sandals and I wore them all the time. The sandals complimented my casual Florida style, all my favorite sundresses and oodles of outfits and of course, I received incalculable amounts of compliments every time I stepped out in them.

Since these shoes are specifically designed for plantar fasciitis, I literally lived in these lovely, sunny sandals. I walked everywhere in them, which made my feet very happy and my plantar fasciitis heels never complained.

My ABEO Red Reptile Sunrise Sandals escorted me to numerous parties and we danced the night away on more than one occasion.

I covered countless miles of amusement parks in them.

I explored the streets of New York City in these sandals.

Sadly, a year later, there’s little life left in them now. My once super cushioned sandals now offer little support anymore.

So it seems the sunrise has set on my red reptile ABEO sandals.

We had a good run, my ABEO sandals and me.

Pasco Challenge Half Marathon 2013 {Recap}

In a quest to reattempt my half marathons from two years ago, the Pasco Challenge was a must-do do over. Having run the Starkey Trail numerous times while training for the Disney marathon, I thought I would have a home turf advantage to PR and possibly qualify in my age group. After all, I had PR’d once before and won for my age group at this race.

For the start of the race, the temps sat at 44 degrees and I was thankful for the cool temps. Despite the cool weather, I decided to wear my pirate Sparkle Skirt Running Skirt, the same one I wore the week before at Gasparilla. With its deep wide pockets for my Cliff shots, lip balm, car key and cell phone, I find it’s the perfect skirt for a half marathon.

While we crowded around waiting for the race to begin, the race director called all cyclists to start. Corralled in the crowd, I bumped into my friend, Sheila, who was running the 5K while her husband ran the half.

Once all the bikes were on their way, the runner race could begin. The race director then called all half marathoners closer to the start line. We all nudged our way forward and then the foghorn blasted.

I started with about a 9:00 mm pace and it felt good. Definitely a push compared to my usual pace, but I held onto it for the couple of miles. I also didn’t stop for many photos or chat with the runners around me. I focused on my running playlist and let the music carry me through the miles.

Around mile 2 when we passed the added leg on the return trip, an older woman struck up a conversation with me.

“Huh? I asked while I tugged the earbuds out of my ears. “I am sorry. What did you say?”

“There’s the added leg.”

“Yes, thank you for pointing that out. I spotted it on the map last night.” I popped my earbuds back in and tried to refocus my attention to the course.

“Last year….muffle muffle…muffle”. I hardly heard her say.

“I’m sorry. What?”

“Last year, people ran passed that and missed the added part of the course.”

“Yeah, that’s too bad. Got it. Won’t miss it,” I replied while returning my earbuds but also finding it difficult to return to my concentration and my race pace. At that pace, I can’t carry on a conversation and with the break in concentration for this unexpected conversation, I lost my mojo. I lost my focus. I lost my push and my pace, however, the elderly female runner kept trotting along while I fought with my focus.

Then around mile 4, a couple pushing a jogging stroller passed me. UGH! There’s nothing more defeating and deflating than be passed by a runner and a jogging stroller. These parents were running with resistance and passing me. I tried to pace with them to find my focus again, but I couldn’t keep up.

Then, I started to cuss the race. Why am I here? Why am I doing this? Who cares about beating times and PRs? Where is Chrissy when I need her?! Why isn’t she here pacing me? That’s when the false notion of a home turf advantage hit me. It’s only a home turf advantage when my running partners are pacing me.

Much like my running, the volunteers lacked enthusiasm for the water they dispensed. Against my better judgment, I didn’t wear my fuel belt and I had started to regret that decision after several bad water station experiences along the course. A few times, I had to grab my own water from the tables and at one station they offer a full bottle of Gatorade instead of a cupful. To save a few seconds on time, I found myself warning the water stations about my arrival. “I need water!”

Around mile 6, I was done with this race. I was almost at the halfway mark and yet I was ready to be finished. As faster runners began their return journey home, I redirected my energy on them and cheered for them as they flew by me.

Once I reached the turnaround, I walked. I needed the break. Then, my calf started cramping. UGH!

Letting go of any hope to PR, I just did my best to finish. The cool weather wore off as the sun started to shine and the temperatures were rising quickly. I found myself walking more and more. As I approached the additional leg the elderly female runner pointed out earlier, I noticed that many of the other participants mirrored how I felt.

With only a couple more miles left to go, I still battled with cramps in my calves but I was thankful for compression socks. While I may not have earned a new PR or an age group place, I would beat my time from two years ago and that’s all I ever really wanted to achieve. By shaving nearly 20 minutes off my chip from two years ago, this would most definitely be a PB PB (Post Baby Personal Best) redemption.

Chip Time 2:20:35.9
Garmin 2:20:36
Ave Pace 10:37
Max Pace 7:37
Div Place 5/9
64/91

After the race, I ran into the Run Tampa crew and Johanne, who I met at the Armadillo Run last year and we joked about it being our race anniversary or our raceversary.

I don’t know about Johanne, but next year, I’ll be back at the Armadillo. I think I’m over the Pasco Challenge, redemption runs and running without friends.

Sarasota Half Marathon {Recap}

Just to let you know, the Sarasota Half Marathon was never part of my race plan. Many of friends were running it and I wanted to be part of it but couldn’t afford another race in my already overfilled race budget. Once I saw the medal, I really wanted to do it.

As fate would have it, my friend, Marie, couldn’t run the half marathon for personal reasons. Marie offered up her bib and I pounced on it, before realizing, my family and I were planning to visit with Thomas the Tank Engine later that day in Parrish. See, not part of the original plan. But this mom on the run found a way to make it all fit! And of course, I would wear green for a half marathon that falls on St. Patrick’s Day!

Thankfully, Chrissy’s sister, Angie, lives in Parrish which is about 40 minutes from the race start and she offered her house as a place to crash. We headed down Saturday afternoon to pick up our packets and join the Suncoast Striders for dinner. (That’s where Chrissy and I discovered Trader Joe’s next door which is a whole other blog post!)

*Photo by David of the Suncoast Striders*

To review thus far, I had a free place to stay and a free race entry, but paid for it by spending a small fortune at Trader Joe’s, overpriced pasta at Café Cocci, then staying up late drinking and laughing with Angie (Chrissy’s sister), her husband, Tony and their friends.

In a few short hours, 5:00 a.m. came fast, but thankfully I slept like a rock. We ate breakfast in the car on our way to the Sarasota Half Marathon.

We arrived with plenty of time to head to the start with temps were around 57 degrees which is perfect for running, but Chrissy and I opted to stay in the car a little longer ~~and steam up windows~~. It was toasty warm in there. We would regret the decision later as we missed our bathroom break before race moment.

At the start we bumped in a few Strider friends, wished everyone a great race and of course posed for a few photos. Everyone piled into the corral and the gun sounded off quickly after that. We were all on our first leg of the course headed towards that horrid bridge, the Sarasota causeway.

Chrissy and I had a good mile warm-up run through the streets of Sarasota before reaching the John Ringling Causeway. At mile two, we began the incline, but incline can’t describe this “hill”. This slope dwarfs the Clearwater Causeway or the Sand Key Bridge. This bridge did not feel normal despite what the sign said.

Once over the top we began our decline, but not really. We discovered another small bridge on the other side. Curse you bridges!

Past the Mama Bridge and her baby bridge, we followed a roundabout through a town center. Somehow, I spotted Ben and Jerry’s there. My Chubby Hubby ice cream fantasy was soon interrupted once I realized we were heading back over the bridges. I was a grumpy old troll running over the bridge.

On the return trip over the bridge, I walked a bit more, especially once I saw the sunrise over downtown Sarasota. I embraced the sunrise with a walking break to snap a few photos.

Back over the big bad mama bridge, I spotted a remote-control hovercraft taking photos. Once over the top of Mama Bridge we began our decline into downtown.

At the bottom, we kissed adieu to the bridges as we began our journey north along the Tamiami Trail. But first, we had to pop into a port-o-let which added about 5 minutes onto time, but we were desperate since we didn’t go before the race.

For the next couple of miles, Chrissy took the opportunity to hone her self-portrait skills. As our always designated self-portrait picture taker, she decided to challenge herself by taking self-portraits while running. Chrissy must have taken a dozen or so and we laughed over outtakes, the ridiculous angles and expressions on our faces.

Ironically, at mile 8 we passed a Super 8 Motel. Around this point, Chrissy began having trouble with her hamstrings and Chrissy never has trouble. I’m usually the one with some pain or issue. The pain forced her to stop and stretch, which is something she never does.

I stayed with Chrissy because I wasn’t really trying to run hard or PR and I gave everything I had at Saturday’s Spring Sprint 5K. I was just having fun at a race I was never meant to do and we were definitely having fun up until Chrissy started hurting.

However, it hurt for her to stop. She had to keep moving. She continued at a slower pace and I continued to take photos and sprinted to catch up with her.

At mile 9, we passed the Ringling Museum of Art and continued on a path through the beautiful residential community of Indian Beach Sapphire Shores.

At mile 10, Chrissy needed to stretch her hamstring some more. While she stretched, I hunted down some ibuprofen for her at the water station. No one could supply any; however, a young man was quick to inform me, “You shouldn’t take that. It’s bad for your kidneys.” Thinking about my poor injured running partner, I looked at him in disbelief and had no response (which is not like me). Had I not been focused on finding ibuprofen or helping my friend I would have replied, “Well so is Gatorade, but I don’t see that from stopping you shoveling out the ~~sh*t~~ stuff.”

Anyway, no ibuprofen and only 3.1 miles left to go. We got this. At this point, we bump into fellow Strider and blogger, Jackie of See Jackie Runn. We were tutu twins.

The mile 11 water station wins the award for most spirit. Maybe it was the green beer and mimosas, but they delivered some amazing energy which is what you need to finish. When I stopped to take photos, they hollered, “There’s no stopping to take photos, Marie! Keep running!”

All throughout the race, people cheered, “Go Marie! You’re looking good, Marie!” It made me laugh every time. But I did need to make Marie proud and finish around the 2:30 mark, so I really did need to keep running if I was going to hit that mark.

We pushed it a little harder and I predicted a 2:26 finish. No more photos now. Well, maybe a few more leading up the finish line.

Just as I predicted, Chrissy and “Marie” finished at 2:26:25 and we finished together. Jackie finished a few minutes behind us.

Bib#1797
Clock Time 2:26:51
Chip Time 2:26:25
Ave Pace 11:11

After a few finisher photos and removing the palm tree from my head, we sprinted to the breakfast spread by First Watch that waited ahead. The yogurt parfaits were my favorite. I think I ate three. Hey, runners need protein! I was hoping for First Watch’s famous pancakes as the signage along the course promised, but threes parfaits would suffice.

Since Chrissy and I needed to leave shortly after the race, we didn’t have time to enjoy all the post-race activities overlooking the gorgeous gulfview, like the beer truck. At least we enjoyed the entertainment briefly.

I was green with leprechaun envy over Mike’s pot of gold headband.

Next year (Yes, I will definitely be back next year), I would love to make our trip to Sarasota a long weekend and stay overnight to enjoy the post-race party and festivities. Despite the the John Ringling Causeway, also known BAMR Mama Bridge and baby bridge (which was GREAT training for Iron Girl), the race was fun full of high-energy thanks to the spectators. A big shout out and thank you to all the volunteers and spectators who cheered and served the runners. Next time, please have ibuprofen and Vaseline on hand.

And next time, the medal needs to be bigger.

Soup du Jour Vlog Hop: My Favorite Phone App

soupdujour_blogbutton For this week’s Soup du Jour, I’m joining in Mama Kat’s Pretty Much World Famous vlogging prompts to introduce you to a phone app I’m currently loving.

When we started the Pushing Our Luck Push Up Challenge earlier this month, my friend, Chrissy, tipped me off about the FREE 100 Push Up App. She mentioned how simple it was to use and how much she loved the countdown feature for the rest periods between sets. It really is great! It makes following the 100 Push Up Program much more accessible and readily available, although you would never know it because I totally flaked on last week’s sets. Oh well. Back on track now!

In this week’s vlog, I highlight some on my other favorite apps and introduce the 100 Push Up App. It makes following the 100 Push Up Program a snap and totally paperless too.

What phone apps are you loving? Link up and tell me all about them or share anything else you’d like to vlog about! It’s your Soup du Jour!

While you’re here, subscribe to my YouTube channel.

“Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Wireless Ambassador program and have been provided with a device in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.”

Contain Yourself, Tampa! The Container Store Has Arrived!

For years now, when people have moved here from hip urban cities, they’ve told legendary tales of a store entirely focused on storage. As legend goes, this retail store holds the key to organization and for over 30 years, built a reputation by selling storage solutions including every type of bin and receptacle known to man. With glassy-eyed child-like wonder, I fantasized about this magnificent store as visions of perfectly-shaped hangers without notches danced in my head.

Last week, this fantasy storage solution wonderland became a reality for me when the Tampa Bay Bloggers and I were invited for a speak peek of the Oz of all organizational stores: The Container Store.

The 25,000 feet square-foot presentation of storage solutions was truly organizational Nirvana.

Our tour of The Container Store began as we followed the plastic shoebox bin brick road.

As we eased on down the aisles, we stumbled upon laundry baskets with legs. If only it had a brain or the courage to climb stairs, fold laundry and put it away in premiere his and her storage systems.

As a closeted hoarder, I found comfort in the cozy wicker bins and the wicked elfa shelf systems.

Somewhere under the rainbow of bins, we stumbled upon trash cans almost as colorful.

A few of my blogger friends (Mindy and Caroline) and I thought it would be funny to stage some fear and loathing trash talking shots.

*Photo credit to Crystal of Thrifty and Frugal Living*

I call this one “An Uncanny Sexy Librarian Look”.

*Photo credit by Caroline of My Fascinating Life*

(Left to right: Teresa, Crystal, Caroline, Mindy, Sheriss, me and Ellie)

*Blogger group shot – Photo credit to Jon Peters*

As a pack-rat without a plan, I found The Container Store a bit overwhelming. Therefore, after lunch and a few more photo opps, I clicked my heels to leave the fantastical wonderland of storage solutions along with a complimentary sweater box and tote.

The Container Store officially opened its doors last weekend to offer Tampa costumers 120 food storage solutions, 700 organized office products, 45 types of laundry hampers, 350 products to organize a traveler and much, much more.

Visit The Container Store online to learn store hours, location and Click and Pickup service.

Soup du Jour Vlog: Carline Confessions

soupdujour_blogbutton Short on time this week, I decided to do a vlog from my car. After all, it’s where I’ve spent the most time this week.

Notice, my son’s car seat behind me? Don’t judge about the color. Judge me on the fact that I forgot to leave it with my husband who needed said car seat to pick up our son from daycare.

Anyway, onto this week’s presentation: Carline Confessions. Don’t miss any of my antics. Subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Soup du Jour Vlog: I Hate LG Appliances

soupdujour_blogbutton For this week’s Soup du Jour Vlog, I’m serving up a few f-bombs, so it the f-word makes your cringed, be warned. If you knew how much I loathed my LG appliances, then you would understand why a few foul expletives adjective are necessary. Once you watch the vlog, it will all become clear.

This week, we tour my home and I explain the dysfunction of each appliance. In a nutshell, my appliances are only seven years old and have been repaired numerous times. I will never buy LG appliances again. There are truly the worst appliances known to mankind.

Thanks for stopping by for today’s Soup du Jour. Is anything in your life causing you to drop a few f-bombs?

By the way, if you subscribe to my YouTube channel, you can watch each segment of the “I Hate LG Appliances” series.

Gasparilla Expo 2013 {The Hunt for Booty}

I love the Gasparilla 8 On Your Side Health and Fitness Expo almost as much as I love the race. For information, resources, networking and freebies, it’s as good as any big race expo I’ve attended. Even with the absence of Nike and the Sports Authority at this year’s expo, there was still plenty of food to sample, loot to love and treasure to take home.

As soon as I entered the expo, I spotted my friend, Leigh Spann, the WFLA News Channel 8 Today Morning News Meteorologist. Leigh introduced me to Rod Carter and boasted about my blog to him, so hopefully I have another new fan.

I just adore Leigh (If you don’t follower her on Twitter, you must because she engages with her followers by tweeting and following back.), but now I also have a special place in my heart for Rod, because he is just as adorable, funny and witty as he appears on camera. As I visited with Leigh and Rod, my friend, Kat from Sneakers and Fingerprints happened to walk by. Of course, it was a Kodak moment that couldn’t be missed.

After catching up with Kat, Leigh and my new friend, Rod, I located Chrissy, Jenny and Maribel. Truth be told, they discovered Little Lion Man and I test driving some vehicles. He loved climbing into the huge pick-up truck and pretending to drive us to the grocery store.

A few aisles over at the GoGo Squeez booth, I stumbled upon my friend and fellow Mom Squad mom, Marisa, or she calls us “The two tiniest people in Tampa.

Little Lion Man is such a fan of the stuff and he insisted on sucking down some GoGo Squeez on the spot.

He also enjoyed ~~destroying~~ doodling on Marisa’s bi-fold chalkboard.

I also chatted with the Iron Girl reps and told them how excited I and several of the Tampa Bay Bloggers are to be running the race in April. After swapping training strategies, past Iron Girl experiences and hopeful PRs for this year’s race, Sarah gave me a purple Iron Girl shirt.

Before we could leave the expo, Chrissy insisted I try on the shoes she loves by Orthaheel. Just as Chrissy promised, they were so comfy and cute. As much as I truly loved the look, style and comfort of the Orthaheel sandals, new shoes just aren’t in the budget at the moment no matter how cute or comfy, but I am definitely putting these Orthaheel sandals on my wish list and maybe some bunny will surprise me with a pair for Easter.

Just as were about to leave the expo, Chrissy, Jenny and I spotted the Instagram photo center presented by Publix and we couldn’t resist playing along and role playing. With the canyon highway behind me, I felt a bit like Forrest Gump. “Forest, why are you doing this?” “I just felt like running.”

“Mama says they was magic shoes. They could take me anywhere.”

“From that day on, if I was going somewhere, I was running!”

Unlike Forrest and his box chocolates of life, we know exactly what we are going to get when we sign up for a Gasparilla race. When it comes to Gasparilla Distance Classic and its expo, it’s all about the booty.

Random Thoughts about Raising the Barre on Fitness, Bad Influences and Track Tuesday

Hubby was out of town last week, therefore I had to get really creative with my work-outs. Basically, I took advantage of some YMCA guest passes. It’s a win-win because Little Lion Man can play with other kids in the child care while I work out.

My friend, Jenny of Metamorfit, invited me to try her friend, Monika’s CSI class. The name alone had me intrigued. I wondered if we were going to work-out to some LL Cool J, but much to my disappointment, I learned that CSI means (Cardio Strength Intervals).

When I participate in classes like this, I realize just how weak I really am. For about an hour, we rotated through strength training stations. We did squats, lunges, lifted kettlebells lifts with squats, bicep curls, crunches planks, and whipped heavy, long combat ropes.

Attempting to do planks, push ups and crunches on large fitness balls made me feel like something out of I Love Lucy. I was looked Lucille Ball fighting with the chocolate conveyor belt.

And just when I thought I was going to die, we did it all again. Yep, we rotated TWICE through these strength training stations. My arms were killing me the next day (in good way)! I loved the class and want to go back for more!

Since my arms were so sore, I postponed my pushups challenge Day 1 by one day. I did my first set on Saturday and then my second set on Monday. I also received some feedback that my pushups in my initial test were not proper good form pushups because my chest didn’t touch the floor. Whatever. I can do a ridiculous number of alternate pushups on my knees, but I wanted to challenge myself. So, I will continue with alternating sets of good form pushups on my toes and alternate girlies pushups on my knees. For my final test vlog to demonstrate progress at the end of the challenge, I’ll do as many good form pushups on my toes as I can until I collapse, rest a day and then do as many alternate pushups on my knees. I want to show good faith, good form and great progress!

Speaking of good form, I tried another new fitness class today which is a much as about good form as the technique. My friends and I visited Pure Barre, which uses a ballet barre to target the arms, abs and tush.

As much ab exercises as I do, this class killed me because we were working targeting trouble areas with completely different exercises and a localized focus. In fact, a lot of the Pure Barre exercises reminded me of the old Jane Fonda exercises from the 80s. Remind the tush lifts? We did about a gazillion of those today.

I found this YouTube to better demonstrates how the class raises the barre on fitness. There are Pure Barre studios all over the country, so check the site to find one near you.

My allergies were killing me this weekend and I came down with a horrible head cold, so I over slept and missed my Saturday run. Oh well.

Still feeling crappy, I didn’t run on Sunday either and since I had a Mom Squad taping, I didn’t run on Monday either. For this week’s Mom Squad, we talked about the Yahoo CEO who called “all-hands on deck” with her employees. You can watch that WTSP Channel 10 Mom Squad segment here.

Now, gather ’round to hear a cautionary tale about the importance of surrounding yourself with friends who don’t sabotage you like mine do. Let my story be a lesson to you. To protect the guilty parties, I have changed their names.

On this chilly, frosty Florida morning, my darling friend, “Marisa” didn’t want to run. She wanted to stay inside her toasty warm car instead of running laps. Tried as hard as I could, I simply could not convince her to run in the cold with me. Then in a clever and crafty way, she manipulated poor “Laribel” into skipping sprints with some Starbucks. It was mutiny, I tell you! They sabotaged my speedwork! My laps were bamboozled by a steamy, frothy hot vanilla latte!

When “Marisa” returned us to the scene of the crime, I felt guilty for guzzling down a latte and missing my sprints. Wanting to PR for my half marathon this Saturday, I eagerly wanted to run some sprints to prepare for the race. So, I ~~guilted~~ convinced “Laribel” to run them with me. Since we were pressed for time, we only did a quarter mile warm-up, 4 quarter mile laps and a quarter mile cool down. Nothing fancy, but it took the guilt away.

0.25 mile warm-up
Time 2:12
Ave Pace 8:51

Lap 1
Time 1:54
Ave Pace 7:37

Lap 2 – 0.25
Time 1:52
Ave Pace 7:30

Lap 3 – 0.25
Time 1:49
Ave Pace 7:17

Lap 4 – 0.25
Time 1:54
Ave Pace 7:37

0.25 cool down
Time 2:15
Ave Pace 9:01

I am just thankful to have some speedwork to report to my readers and for not listening to the advice of my bad influence friends to “make up some stats”! I am also really grateful for not shitting myself in the middle of the track, since I didn’t know how my body would handle coffee before running.

And thank goodness for good influence fitness friends, like Kat, Jenny and Chrissy!

Do you drink coffee before running? Do your friends encourage or sabotage your work-outs?

*Also linking up at*

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