|| 4 Things Friday || What We’ve Been Up To!

I know it is supposed to be 5 things Friday, but I wanted to catch people up on what we have been up to and well, there just was not 5 things so you’re getting 4 things friday. We have been pretty busy lately, life has been keeping us on our toes and when I am lucky, in bed by like 9:30……but that does not happen nearly enough. I thought it may be easier to just break down what we have been up to in this format versus a zillion different blog posts – though I know my aunt would love a zillion different blog posts. Sorry!

|| ONE ||
We celebrated our 3 year anniversary back in March and I had no idea what I wanted to get Kyle for his anniversary gift. I didn’t want to get him the normal clothes, video game, books, whatever that I normally did, so I thought I would get him Darius Rucker concert tickets since Kyle always says he misses our date days. WELL…our super babysitters {also known as the grandparents} were traveling so I then had to get creative. Well. I ended up getting us tickets to Tree Top Quest in Buford and let me tell you, it was A LOT of fun. Terrifying at times [there may have been one part where I told kyle, “I am frozen, like cannot move” and I also told kyle multiple times, “we have a baby at home, we cannot die”], but the ziplines were fun and the challenges were challenging at times {for example moving logs} but we had a great time. There was one “course” that was literally just zipline after zipline and that was refreshing after Course #4 where I literally thought I may have a heart attack {it did have one really long and fun zipline though}. We got to just spend time together and have fun together – something that we rarely get to do.  Totally recommended for anyone who wants an out of the box  day in Atlanta and I was shocked we had something like this that wasn’t in the mountains of Georgia.

|| TWO ||
Little Sassy had her first {and last} Saturday Gymboree “session” or play date – whatever you want to call it.  The poor girl was a trooper, she was teething {and got 3 teeth at once} and she had a double ear infection {that we didn’t know about} so she was a little out of it and not so sure what was going on. Honestly, I couldn’t quite figure out what was going on. But… I think this place would be a great idea for a future birthday party or maybe when she is crawling or running or just moving around better – but everything there she has at daycare.  We just do not see the added value since she gets all the same things Monday – Friday …and right now she can’t even crawl to move around on the various “activities” so truthfully, it was kind of a waste – which was a bummer because I had such high hopes and expectations and thought it would be a great addition to what she gets at daycare to keep her learning and busy and it just was not that.  BUT.. she did LOVE their waffle balls and she may have had 3 at one time. I do still want to do Mommy and Me tumbling classes when she is like 2 … so hopefully we have more success then. 

|| THREE ||
We had a little mini vacation in Orange Beach, Alabama for my best friend’s wedding #takenbyclaytonn and we had so much fun.  The grandparents had a long, fun filled weekend with the little one.  We disappeared Thursday morning to meet up with an old college friend and his wife and then stay with his family in Gulf Shores. On Friday we ventured over to Orange Beach and after the Bridesmaid Brunch laid out by the pool, floated the lazy river, drank some beers, and got a little sunburned {sorry dermatologist, I just missed a few spots}. We just had fun catching up and doing nothing and for reals, I need a lazy river in my life full time OR I need a full time job that is just floating a lazy river. It was just relaxing to get away and make it a point FOR ONCE to be on PTO and actually be on PTO.  We had the rehearsal on Friday night, the dinner, and then we all {Kyle, my friend from college, his wife, and me} headed to the FloraBama – which I had never been to before and probably was not missing anything.  But, I can now say I have been there & evidently, I was supposed to drink a Bushwacker or something like that. Whoops. 

Saturday was the wedding day. Kyle and my friends got to spend all day by the pool – with one strict instruction – do not drink too much – while I was with the bride getting her ready and myself ready. It was a fun wedding, a gorgeous wedding, and I could not be happier for Greg and Heather.  T hey are 2 of the nicest people in the world and I wish  them just a zillion years of happiness, good times, great memories, and lots of beautiful babies. And I was honored to be part of their day and to help H-Bomb get ready and to love on her and Greg!  And, I may still be using the sunglasses because well, they were awesome and such a fun touch and I could use some more sweet potato fries. I loved having a reason to escape reality and celebrate 2 amazing people and their families.  We cannot wait to go back and bring McKenna with us because we think she will have the best time on the slides and the lazy river.   CONGRATS TO HEALTHER & GREG!!

|| FOUR ||
We ran our annual 5k together {The Brookhaven Bolt} and I pushed McKenna in the stroller. Kyle ran ahead of us like he normally does and then he came back to get a few more miles and ran to the end with me. Kyle and I were not happy with our 5K times, but Kyle did forget his water bottle with me so he had to start farther back than he likes to so he did lose time weaving in and out of walkers and strollers and slow people. My time, truthfully, wasn’t bad – it was faster than the last 5K we ran where I pushed McKenna by a few seconds, I just thought it would have been faster. Granted, the first half mile or mile I couldn’t find my groove – when I did, I was golden – and this race is pretty hilly so it was harder. but still. I thought it would be faster.  As always, this was a great race. The turn out seems to get bigger and bigger each year, but it is always very well executed and it is a challenging course which is always a plus.  It does benefit an elementary school so I hope McKenna’s school and PTA puts on a similar event. I would LOVE for her to be part of some kiddie run club that preps for a community race like this.

…I think that is a pretty detailed life update… we have some house improvements on the list for this summer that I am looking forward to. and should provide some blog content – maybe. But all in all life is good. we are looking forward to the summer, even though we have no plans.

Last Year–> This Year

This picture is so fun to me. To quote my friend Mary, “this actually looks like you ran a race, then had a baby pop out by the end”. =D

The left is Kyle and me last year (plus McKenna since I was 7.5 months pregnant) at the Brookhaven Bolt last year.   The picture on the right – Kyle, McKenna, and me this year at the same race.

What I love and think is fun is:

1) I planned to wear the same outfit on purpose. For this side by side picture. Kyle on the other hand. Evidently he only has 1 outfit he likes to run in, so he runs e.v.e.r.y race in the same thing. {boy needs more race wear} So while it looks like we planned this, only 50% of it was planned.

2) McKenna. Girl. Get it together. She looks SO not amused and SO unhappy. I promise. We don’t torture her. But evidently, the dramatics are high and her teenage years just may be painful

We had fun this morning. Of course, my FitBit no longer wants to sync so on a good “step” day no one will EVER know. First World Problems. Kyle and I were not happy with our times, I am more content with mine. But… another year done, now we just wait till the 2016 Brookhaven Bolt.

Brookhaven Bolt 5K - 2014

Yesterday was a big day in the Shanahan house!  Kyle and McKenna participated in their first ever 5k.  Kyle ran his and let me tell you, I am SO SO SO proud of my budding little runner man. McKenna (and momma) walked their 5K and Kyle is SO SO SO proud of me for finishing.  33 weeks pregnant and participating in a 5k – I feel like that is impressive and that this picture should go in little M’s baby book since we have to track things before her birth! ….and I can tell her that she was a running baby before she was even born!

We got up early, typical race morning, and my not so morning person husband was actually pleasant to be around.  I was hoping my Lululemon tank was still long enough to cover my ever growing belly and I wouldn’t have to redneck it up with my stomach partly showing – and thankfully it did.  {Seriously pregnant ladies – well worth the high price, but the Lululemon Cool Racer Back tanks have been a pregnant girls workout life saver since the tanks are so so so long} I did get a bit nervous when my  running shoes were too small due to feet swelling, but since the weather was so cool and not May like, the swelling went down pretty much immediately when we got outside.  We grabbed some breakfast and then trekked from the ‘burbs into Brookhaven for the race and since this was my 3rd time participating I knew the drill which made the morning a lot easier. We ran into my brother and his friend before the race and chatted with them then we all split up at the start.  my brother and his friend went closer to the start, so did Kyle, and I buddied off with my friend Evin who was pushing her oh too adorable son in the stroller.  I was (and still am) so grateful I had Evin to chat with because it made the walk so by so much faster and we were just ticking off miles.  Plus, I think the cooler temps were a big help and helped keep the swelling down since I never really got hot or broke a sweat.

Kyle ended up finishing the race in about 31 minutes and then he turned around and came back to find Evin and me and walked with us a little bit.  Evin’s husband did the same thing – so by the time Evin and I got to the finish line we had her husband and Kyle with us.  They bounced off the course before the finish line to not mess up their chip times and then we all hung out for a bit at the finisher party. I finished in 54 minutes, which is pretty impressive since we (1) walked and (2) I am 33 weeks pregnant!  I thought it would take me well over 1 hour.  ….but the competitor in me and past runner had to beat myself up a little bit for being so low in the age group rankings + overall rankings and kyle keeps reminding me that I  (1) walked, (2) am pregnant, and (3) beat over 200 people who are not pregnant and participated.  Look at him, always being so encouraging. 

Kyle and I bailed out pretty quickly, after not feeling bad for 3.1 miles, my hips and back started hurting and I was having a little bit off discomfort so we headed to brunch {where I had the most depressing hot chocolate} and then back to the house for me to whip out the heating pad for my back and take a nap.

But it was another good run for the Brookhaven Bolt.  And Kyle asked if we could do it every year and he asked when our next 5k will be.  So, I think we have another one tentatively on the books for October and we will push McKenna in the jogging stroller – bundle her up and go for a little jog.  I think I have a little running man for a husband now and that make me excited! ….he was even saying that he thinks he could totally go a 10K.  I told him to pump the brakes and to let me catch back up in the running world before he goes off the deep end.  Do I have a future marathoner?!

May. You’re Packed.

this month is going to be NUTS. and I mean NUTS. we have something on the books pretty much every weekend this month. There is one weekend that is 100% free and unscheduled, but I know we will make it busy.   Is it too early to be grateful that it is a 5 weekend month – even though that really will not make a difference.

WEEKEND NUMBER ONE:
Kyle’s Mom and Step Dad are coming to Georgia to visit.  We will have them in town all weekend (+ a few work week days), not sure what all is on the schedule or what we are going to do.  at that point, I will be 31 weeks pregnant – so who knows how I will be feeling, but I am hoping for good! I have been feeling good 90% of the time so far but I am also well aware that my luck can turn whenever.  But we will have to get the grocery shopping and laundry in the mix somehow which is always a challenge when you have people in town.  But. it will be good  to see them and I know kyle will enjoy having them in town and catching up.

WEEKEND NUMBER TWO:
This weekend is going to be oh so fun.  Not that having Kyle’s family in town won’t be fun.  But by bestie Heather is coming in town and we are going to the Braves game with a group of people & we get to meet her mysterious boyfriend.  And… this is her 1st Braves game so of course we have to make a big deal of it.  …and they have a built in DD!  Plus – it will just be fun to hang out and catch up with her.  I adore her and do not see her enough!! 

WEEKEND NUMBER THREE:
We have Kyle’s 1st 5K on the schedule and I am planning on walking it with a good girlfriend of mine.  Granted – it is in the morning and we will have a full afternoon I am pretty sure Kyle and I will need a nap afterwards.  That is after we probably grab brunch.  from there – we need to get the car seat installed in our car (WHAT?!) in case anything happens and we need the car seat before July.  Then that night is my friend Afton’s birthday bash – dinner, drinks, and dancing.  And seeing how I will be 33 week pregnant at that point and exhausted from the 5K, I think I will be excusing myself after dinner.  And this will be the 1st weekend with a free Sunday, so I predict I will be working around the house and Kyle will do yard work on Sunday.

WEEKEND NUMBER FOUR:
We have our first baby class – the baby essentials one that teaches you well, all the baby essentials.  Like bathing, feeding, soothing, diapering, dressing, all that jazz.  it is only a 3 or 4 hour class on Saturday, but I think it starts pretty early.  Sunday is unscheduled so far – which is good.  But it will be used for errands and chores around the house and yard work and baby stuff more than likely.  This is a shorter class so we will have lots more time on Saturday to do other things. 

WEEKEND NUMBER FIVE: 
Saturday is an all day event at Northside Hospital.  We have our birthing  class from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.  So Saturday is shot.  The poor pups will have to be locked up all day long – and by locked up I mean have free reign of the upstairs.  Sunday is a free, unscheduled day but well. I think you know how it may be spent.  Yard work. Errands. Baby Stuff.  Plus this is a holiday weekend and we wanted to go see if we can get  a furniture deal to work on turning Kyle’s man cave into our family play room. 

our May is pretty action packed and revolves a lot around the baby.  which is to be expected as we are in the home stretch {which is crazy to me because I feel like we were just announcing the news}.  But. I think we will have time to fit some other things in.  I still want to do the laundry room make over, but I predict that being tabled till June {if done at all} because May is full and I cannot see us fitting in IKEA unless we go on a Sunday.  But… with all this on the schedule, May will just FLY by.

Brookhaven Bolt 2011–Race Recap

I cannot believe it has taken almost half a year to run a race.  I have been crazy lazy this year and I have a half marathon coming up in November so I thought I would kick off training by running The Brookhaven Bolt (that is how I kicked off training for my 1st half marathon and it worked).  The Brookhaven Bolt was the 1st 5k I ever ran 2 years ago so I feel the urge to run it each year, but last year I told myself  i am never running this race again but there I was Saturday morning at the start line.

I got up Saturday morning after hitting the snooze on my phone 2 times to see that rain was in the forecast so I began to hope that the rain would hold off.  Brushed my teeth. Got dressed. Grabbed my iPod and Garmin and I was out the door.  That parking situation was MUCH better than previous years.  A designated area rather than having to fight for a spot on the neighborhood street .... and the walk to the start was not too bad.  BUT then I noticed people walking back to their cars with their race bags and thought great, they're handing things out pre-race and I was 100% right.

I get to the race number pick up spot and for the 3rd year in the row is was an utter disaster area.  I went to my "designated" line (U-Z) to pick up my number, told them my last name VINES and I got looked at like I had 456 heads.  The woman did not even talk back, just stared. I then asked "am I in the wrong spot to pick up my number" and then I got a "no" just a no.  So again... I said Vines and more stares.  Finally I got my race number and was shuffled to get my shirt and race bag.  Even bigger cluster.  Then I had to walk back to my car.  So between parking to the race start, race start to car, and then car to race start my Garmin said it was a 1 mile walk.  AND.... Me getting their 45 minutes early to warm up and stretch was gone.  I had used it walking and picking up my number.

So, the race started and it was smooth.  For once it appeared that people lined up in the right spot.  The dogs and strollers were in the back (I did get passed by many of them though).  The course was awesome and for the 3rd year in a row it was different – but a good different.  At one point I actually thought, this is the easiest course so far and then BAM we rounded a corner to a huge hill and the hills just kept coming.  BUT!  I made myself run up at least 50% of each hill.  75% if I could.  I think the last mile was the hardest mile – originally I thought it was because of the hills (then I looked at the elevation map) but I think it was more because my legs were tired from pure barre yesterday and then the actual running. The course was fully stocked with water (my guess: they learned their lesson from last year).

I could have PR'd if the last mile was not so hilly and if I had not lost so much time on the 2 water stops ... excuses aside, I am pleased with my finishing time and performance , but I am way past pleased with my 34:47 finishing time.  My 5k PR is 33:39, so I was just about a minute slower than my best ever 5k.  Which means my hilly hilly neighborhood is making me stronger and better.  Now... if I would just run more.

The weather was nice.  Not too hot not to cold not really humid and the rain held off.  The skies actually opened up about 5 minutes after I finished and started to stretch. I will do it next year.  My only complaint was the registration area.  Maybe next year that kink will be worked out.

Likes:

• The course - pretty, not too hard, and the little families on the course were so super cute.
• The post race "festival" ... fully stocked with food and water and super awesome vendors.
• The starting area was clearly marked & the radio guys helped everyone know where they were going.
• The shirt, classy ... but I do hope they move past cotton sometime soon and onto something wicking. 

Dislikes:

• being given my race and race bag before the race.  i lost all my time to stretch and warm up in the walking back and forth.
• the race number pick up area.  for the past 3 years it has been nothing but disorganized.

Highlights:

• Seeing my friend Ty from college and catching up.
• Realizing that I was not going to die and was close to my PR time.
• Being reminded how much I LOVE running & running local races.  Gotta find a June race!! =)

weekly round up.

i survived another week. i hope you did too.

monday: 2.03 mile run.  it was supposed to be 2 miles but what can i say, i am an over achiever.  started training for Rock and Roll Savannah and welcomed the hot summer sun in all in the same day.
tuesday: lazy.
wednesday: lazy.
thursday: lazy.
friday: pure barre at lunch with the office girls.  and taking a week off from that place is not a good idea. just a heads up.
saturday: brookhaven bolt 5k. race recap to come soon. 3.1 miles.  AND I took Mulls on his 30 minute walk! :o)
sunday: 30 minute walk with the dog.

i did figure out (per my garmin) that each 30 minute walk is about 1.5 miles.

total miles ran this week:  5.13  ...now, if i could get to working out more consistently that would be awesome.

random work out thoughts:

• man. nike frees are not good running shoes for me. my legs hurt.
• hello hot summer sun in atlanta.
• must actually follow my training plan to savannah.
• pure barre sucks if you don't go at least 1 time per week
• i actually am not dying (while running the 5k)

brookhaven bolt 2010 & my runiversary

I guess you can call this my runiversary. this time last year, i laced up for my first run in over a year to begin training for the Nike women’s half marathon with team in training. yes, you read that right. i went into a 5k to start training. i went into a 5k 100% unprepared but because i just wanted to do it. i remember thinking ehh how hard can 3.1 miles be?! Well, I remember it not being easy, the hills kicking my butt, and being thankful that I ran into friends that I could walk with …i cannot fully remember how long my first ever Brookhaven Bolt and first ever 5k took me, but I feel like it was pushing 40 minutes.

I decided to celebrate the event/day with running the Brookhaven Bolt again this year and had many hopes that I would have a better showing. Well… I kinda did, I was no where near happy with my performance as I hope to be, but the day started off a bit rough.  I overslept.  My alarm went of at 6:30 am – M-F Alarm – and I hit dismiss thinking I could rely on Kyle’s alarm… the one he never turns off until this weekend!  Yikes.  I woke up at 7:18 for a 8:00 start.  Thank god I slept in my running shorts & sports bra.  Threw on a shirt, popped in the contacts, brushed my teeth, threw my hair in a pony tail, grabbed my shoes, and ran out the door. A sign that this was going to be a mess of a race was when I parked my car, got out, passed a volunteer on her cell phone, and then was chased down to say I couldn’t park there.  Why wasn’t I told when I got out of my car, oh oh because she was too busy chatting it up with a girlfriend. As I got up to the packet pickup table the disorganization really started.  I waited in line and as I moved up and got to the front the table workers greeted a group of 5 who just walked up and cut the line. Whatever. Fine. But then another volunteer walked up and approached the person BEHIND ME! With a hello flip of my hands the table finally noticed the 5’9” runner in hot pink.  I grabbed my number, put it on my shorts and went to warm up… a little irritated and thinking to myself “I knew I should have pulled into Big Peach on my way home to get my number”.   As I am warming up I see a car of volunteers driving the wrong way down the road into a mass of runners and another volunteer running to the car screaming YOU CANNOT GO THAT WAY!! I shake my head and I slink to the start line and realized that my Garmin, which I pulled in last night did not charge.  so with 34% life left, I prayed that it would make it through the race.

My frustrations really got high after the race started.  I like to consider myself a mid-packer, not the fastest but also not the slowest so I tend to line up in the middle.  Well, the runners had a 8:00 start and the baby joggers had an 8:05 start at the back.  Imagine my surprise to find baby joggers walking with all the runners and said baby joggers were impossible to pass. (couldn’t race volunteers enforce the baby joggers in back thing!?)  On top of the baby joggers I felt sandwiched in with the moms who wanted to walk for the school & gossip so I had to pick them off one by one and swerve everywhere to get around them. I was trying to find my groove & settle into my run only to have to walk .13 miles in. annoyed.  On top of everything it was really hot and really humid and with water advertised at mile 1 and 2 and I was longing for some water.  Mile 1 comes, no water, mile 1.10 no water, 1.20 no water.  I am at this point thinking ok, note to self, if I do this race again next year it is BYOW (bring your own water).  So I get to mile 1.35 or something and there is the water station with the water cups filled just enough for 1 gulp, no where near enough water to begin to hydrate.  Same thing went for the mile 2 water stop and by 2.34 miles I wanted/needed to vomit since I had sweat everything out… thank god for mile 2.4 something at the Post Properties girls and their water stop.  Midway through the race I was at 15 minutes so I really thought that I had the chance to PR.  Ehh.. not so much.  The start of mile 2 is when I body quit and wanted no more and it became a fight with my brain to just keep moving and run.  I was sweaty, thirsty, felt like I needed to vomit, and just a hot mess.  Mile 2 was spent mainly walking up the hilly back end of the course (per the elevation map thanks to Garmin Connect, the slow up hill climb to Ashford Park started at 1.49 miles and we just went up and up and up, with a few small downhills).  Near the finish, I was stopped by a volunteer to let a car out of their driveway … I do not know why I thought that I had the right away, I was mistaken I guess, but a 30 or so seconds later of standing there, not moving I was okayed to continue on...  The hunt for water at the end was awful too.  Spectators and previous race finisher had taken 3,4 cold iced water bottles leaving everyone else with hot gross Fiji water bottles.  I have never wanted my AC blaring car more than I did this morning.

The disorganization was just too much for me and I honestly do not think I will be adding this 5k to my 2011 calendar.  It made me wonder if the race director was even a runner or had participated in other local races to get a feel for how a race was to run.  Last year I thought it was a great event, but then I became a runner and was able to compare this one to others and yikes.   …or maybe I should just stick to big 5ks, 10ks, and half & full marathons, they are just run so much better.

Race Stats:

Mile 1: 9:56 pace

Mile 2: 11:25 pace

Mile 3: 13:03 pace

.1: 9:28 pace

Finishing Time: 35:23 – not a PR but also not a PW.

Overall Pace: 11:24

i have accomplished SO much in 1 year.  I am getting faster. I have run 2 half marathons and 1 full marathon. I have begun to realize that “just getting out there and running” is not enough. I have started to incorporate cross training. I guess I am able to call myself a runner.

So, happy 1 year to me… I am excited for another year of one foot in front of the other right left right left.

bring the spring 5k

This morning I ran my first 5k of 2010. I do not know how I chose this race but I ran the bring the spring 5k which benefited the Embry Hills UMC Youth Fellowship. Once I signed up and checked out the course, I realized it ran through my brother's neighborhood and I though to myself, wow that is going to be a hill race. And yes indeed it was hilly. A little past mile 2 was the worst of it and the pollen count in the thousands did not help much.

I was kinda worried about this race all together. Not only was I super unprepared, the pollen is out of control, but Kyle and I went to Medieval Times last night (yes, it is a real place, not an imaginary "Cable Guy" place) and well Chicken Leg, Pork Rib, and Garlic Bread isn't exactly great pre-race food. We got home super late and I was asleep by like 11:30. Seeing that I had to be up by 6:45 I knew I was going to be exhausted when my alarm went off.

Overall, the race was a good one. It was pretty disorganized which was a little frustrating. We were scheduled to start at 8:00 and were told everything was running just a little behind... which meant we started at 8:30 am. Once I got running everything that irked me was forgotten. The course and the neighborhood we ran through really is pretty, hilly, but pretty. The volunteers on the course were really excited to be there and cheer us on which was nice. As I mentioned, a little after mile 2 there was quite a slope UP and when I saw it I muttered a few words to myself and tried to truck up it only to fail since I could barely breathe (Atlanta is in major need of a good rain to wash this pollen away). Around 30 minutes I thought to myself that I was not going to PR but I was wrong. I ran my fastest 5k to date by 2 minutes and 11 seconds. Go me!

Here are the mile breakdowns:
mile 1: 9:33
mile 2: 11:10
mile 3: 12:33
last .1: .31
finish time: 33:39
average pace: 10:51

Next on schedule: The Brookhaven Bolt 5k - it will be bittersweet since that was my first race ever! ....Now if I can run it in 30 minutes flat, I will be super stoked!