October (S)miles

How is it November already?!?

I love October. I know many do and yep, I one of ’em. The month is dear to me because like I mentioned in my previous post, it’s when I got married ❤ but I also love it because it holds my favorite holiday 😀

In high school, both when I attended and worked in it, I *lived* for spirt week. I absolutely love any occasion to dress up or use a costume. I think it’s largely due to my reading obsession where I really become attached to characters. It’s fun to become one every now and then! #nerdalert

When I had my first born, I was so excited to have a living breathing doll to dress. You better believe I took any opportunity to dress her up and when her first Halloween came, I was ready.

2012

I think I secretly hoped we’d continue a family theme, and when each year after that everyone was always on board with it I was the happiest mama on the block ❤

2013–Superheroes

My daughter wanted to be Minnie Mouse in 2014 so we worked around her 😀

2014–Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy

The following year, my daughter wanted to be a witch, lol!

2015–Devils and Witches

It was our son’s turn in 2016 and he wanted to be a pumpkin ❤

2016–Classic Halloween (Ghost, Black Cat, Witch, Pumpkin)

Both kids are digging the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles so this year was easy peasy!

2017–TMNT Heroes in a Half Shell #turtlepower

Oh man, I never thought it’d be so fun!!! I love my family ❤

October Miles : 98 (nope, didn’t care to hit the hundred, lol!)

–Did your family do theme costumes growing up?

–Do you love dressing up? What has been your favorite/most memorable costume?

Not A Whole Lot…

was planned last week after Sunday’s trail run/hike because my quads were massively paying the price. Yet, in true Helly fashion, I still managed to get in quite a few workouts.

Monday –I got on the stationary bike for an easy 30 minutes recovery (5 miles) and even did core work, but even planking hurt.

Tuesday –It was my very good friend and fellow Moms Run This Town chapter co-leader’s birthday so we did 4.3 very early miles. You can guess her age but I’m not telling.

Then I somehow thought it would be a good idea to run again later that evening and got in 4 miles with Runner Jenny. We kept a good steady pace, thank goodness, because I couldn’t muster any speed.

Wednesday –I went to my run club’s track to spectate only. I’m holding my first fundraiser for Team V–Run NYC (yay!!) and went to give out details–it’ll be another burrito sale 😀

I was coerced into running because that’s what running friends do, but I only did a lap around the track before I said no more. My legs were super tired.

Thursday –I took my kids to the gym daycare and got in another easy 4 miles on the stationary bike. More core work after.

I had all the intentions of resting the rest of the day but the opportunity to run with my husband came up (which is rare) and I couldn’t pass it. We got in a good 3.1 miler at a great pace (for me).

Friday –Rest Day

Saturday –Rest Day

Sunday –This was a big day, my daughter’s birthday party!! It was in the morning but I managed to crawl out of bed at the crack of dawn for a quick 5 miler. Afterward though, party time.

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my little family <3

my little family ❤

Despite feeling super sore early in the week, I was surprised I was able to get in as much as I did. By Sunday though, I was super tired and after all the birthday party fun, I crashed like whoa. Ja!!

Bike: 9 miles; Run: 18.3 miles

How was your week??

Do you remember birthdays from your younger years?? I do. My brother and I are were born in the same year (Him, January; Me, December) and our birthdays are three weeks apart, so naturally (arg) we’d share birthday parties. Our cake was literally split in half, one side princess, one side batman. I know I have a picture somewhere, lol!!

 

Hello. It’s Me.

Hi 2016 and blogging world!!! I feel like I’ve been off the blogging radar when really, it’s been a week since I posted…right? A week? Lemme check…

Anyway, I’ve also haven’t been able to catch up on reading others and/or commenting–the holidays are so time consuming!

I hope everyone has been doing well. We’re in a new year and everyone has recapped their 2015 and discussed their 2016 goals and well, I’m not sure I have a whole lot to say about either just yet, lol!

2015 was a tough year for me running wise. I had my first DNF and zero PRs or AG placements. I started the year with a half marathon where I was less than 15 seconds from a PR, had two half marathons where I was less than 2 minutes from sub 2 hours, one marathon where I was again, seconds from a PR. Yeah, it was that kinda year. Don’t really have much else to say about that, lol!

HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR: Running for charity

Looking back at last year, 2015 wasn’t about me at all. It was all about these two guys.

brother, husband

brother, husband

My brother had an absolutely amazing 2015 losing more that 75 pounds and finishing two half marathons and snagging a sub 2 hour one at that! There is no way that I won’t think of 2015 and not think about him and everything he accomplished. It means way more than anything I could’ve done.

My husband is on a rampage. He was never a long distance runner but has grown to love a sport I’ve loved for a long time. I’m so happy we can now share this amazing part of our lives. He completed his first full marathon in Chicago in October and improved his half marathon time so much this year, finishing with a 1:36:31 last month. He’s currently training for Phoenix full in February and I can’t wait to cheer him on ❤

I won’t look back at 2015 and be sad. Not one bit.

2016 is exciting. I have so much unknown as I don’t have a lot of races planned. I think this is good. With that lies so much promise. It’s nice to not have any idea of what to expect. The only thing we have planned is crossing the Grand Canyon (R2R2R) in May.

I’m home now, and I think that will help with my running–not having the stress of work and just being able to focus on family. I know that will be something positive for 2016 in many ways.

Like I said, I haven’t really thought about the future so I don’t have any “goals”. I think maybe this year I’ll just take it day by day and not put so many expectations on events/races/things.

That sounds like a pretty good goal actually 🙂

–2015 highlight?

–What are you looking forward to in 2016?

–Do you have any goals/resolutions?