Updated estimated start times...

Ok finally figure out how to get it to post in the layout... only took two computers and half my hair being ripped out in frustration but finally thought of a way to make it work...

If you haven't sent me which legs you are interested in please do so in the next day or two so we can get this all squared away. If you have talked/emailed me I have them don't worry I don't need them again :) Also Katie and I think a little meeting for those of us that are local would be helpful and she has offered to have us over one night 8:30ish or so, once the kids are done for the day so if you are a local let me know what nights might work for you this week or next and we will see what we can get worked out. Thanks and in case you missed it the last 100 or so times I have posted it, my email address is info@theribbonspot.com don't hesitate to email me, even if it is a silly something! I love to get mail.... just ask Bart how much I like mail.... his mail got him a wife :)

slogans or trash talk? you decide!

Ideas keep popping in my head…for shirts and/or the van? (Full disclosure: I did poach some of these off the internet!) How saucy do we want to be?

Run like a mother
Mom mobile: we bust ours to kick yours
You’re a little cranky mom… shouldn’t you go for a run?
The woman who starts the race is not the same that finishes the race
Don't worry about the map...we'll show you the way!
Win or Bust? We’ll take both!
Some call it obsessive compulsive. We call it motherhood.
We kick asphalt.
Sometimes we run to forget, but we never forget to run!
We have the best set of legs in town.

word fun....

Maybe something that looks like this in vinyl all over the vans? Very fun little gadget found at Wordle

Ok Ladies we need to be serious....

HAHAHAHA.... anyone who really knows me knows I am not a super serious person so don't stress i am not mean.... just trying to cross things off my perpetual to do list!

So here are all the things that are somewhat connected to this race that I think "oh right I need to..." at 2 am.... in no particular order.  Get a pen and get these on your to do lists too  :)

1:  Looks like we have a start time!  8 AM which is great but does mean that if you scroll down and look at the legs move all of them ahead by 1 hour.  I'm sorry but I don't have it in me to type it all out again.... forgive me i am trying to hurry.  

2.  Team Running From the Kids is almost complete!  Almost isn't quite good enough though.  We have one in the works... I don't want to pressure her but I know she is reading this so just say yes.... we can make it work!  :)  Think of all the people you know... soccer teams, baseball teams all the moms you come in contact with branch out the worst they can say is no thanks your crazy.... but we all all ready know that.  We need to get this wrapped up before it is October!  Think Think Think then Ask Ask Ask!

3.   Lindsay and I have secured van rentals in Austin.  We need to start thinking logistics.  Tentatively we are planing to go down Thursday evening after all of the daily festivities (would hate to expect Dad to keep all of our balls in the air ~ we are super women you know)  I think we should carpool down to Austin leave our cars at the airport (where the vans are) pick them up and keep on trucking down to near the start  This way when we are done in Austin on Saturday we don't have to back track to pick up our cars.

4.  Speaking of vans.. did you know there are awards for the funnest decorating and best costumes and such?  I think we should decorate somehow.  So get some creative juices flowing.... start brainstorming and lets get some real ideas and turn them into reality!  After peeling off vinyl polka dots from Miss Kate's walls I have been stirring some ideas along those lines... but let me get your ideas too

5.  Do we want shirts or anything?  If so it would be best to get them started now so we can make them great and not be in a rush!  Again think think think...

6.      I know there were way more things than this but they are temporarily gone... maybe I will post again later with them... stay tuned!

Oh yea ... how is the training going... or not going?

Email me info@theribbonspot.com.... I would love to hear from all of you!

Running Perspective

Running Perspective

Erin and I ran the ‘Hottest Half’ this weekend. I made some observations along the route—my first half marathon. Hopefully this will help us as we get into gear for RAGNAR!

1- Not enough people wear enough deodorant. It was painfully obvious when people were smelly (and I am talking POTENT!) before the mile 1 sign!

2- Sweaty and drippy—these are the people to avoid! No, these aren’t the folks who are dousing themselves with water. These are the folks who just look like they have. I don’t know which is worse—the port-o-potty or having the run close to those dripping onto you. Yuk.

3- Water is the key. It will be warm on our run, so we have to make sure we stay hydrated. We could all invest in those cool ‘fuel belts’ because they really make you look like you know what you are doing; or the new fandangled water bottles that mold to your hand and don’t slip out. Another reason to go shopping?

4- Gadgets make you look cool. I usually chose my ‘pace person’ by their gadgets and/or outfit. Erin is especially knowledgeable in this area, as she has most of the gadgets. (Ask her about the ‘gutter’—it is sure to get some laughs!) And, she has all coordinating outfits.

5- Friends make it bearable. I had a rough, real rough, first half. There was such a comfort on the back stretch when Erin pulled up beside me to guide me the last part of the race. I truly couldn’t have done it without her support. THANK YOU! It gets me excited to have a van full of cheerleaders to get us through the rough patches.

6- Don’t worry about the competition. I kept looking around at others thinking: why are they passing me? I learned to get over myself real quickly and just focus on the task at hand: finishing the commitment I had made. It’s OK if granny zooms past you; she’s probably been doing this since they invented marathons. Just do what you can do!

7- The Olympics are over; we have 4 more years before we have to see people who can run circles around us on TV. Let’s be proud of our accomplishments in finishing together—and then we can go buy ourselves something ‘metal’ to reward ourselves!

Well, those are my observations so far. I look forward to running with y’all! And, I promise to wear copious amounts of deodorant-ha!

Let's pick our legs....

Hey ladies....

Here are estimated start times for each runner/leg based on if we get our first choice start time. If we don't get our first choice the worst it would change is 1 hour later. So email me at info@theribbonspot.com and let me know which runner number(s) you want so we can start getting this sorted out and get training for each of our own legs :)

Let me hear from each of you soon!!!! info@theribbonspot.com

1  Leg 1: 5.8 moderate/7:30 AM  Leg 2: 5.9 Moderate/6:40 PM Leg 3: 3.4 Easy/5:45 AM

2 Leg 1: 6.8 Moderate/8:30 AM  Leg 2: 5.1 Moderate/7:40 PM Leg 3: 3.3 Easy/6:20 AM
                

3  Leg 1: 6.8 Very Hard/9:40 AM  Leg 2: 5.5 Moderate/8:30 PM  Leg 3: 3.3 Easy/6:55 AM

                  

4  Leg 1: 6 Moderate/10:50 AM  Leg 2: 4.7 Easy/9:25 PM  Leg 3: 5 Hard/7:30 AM
                

5  Leg 1: 8.1 Very Hard/11:50 AM  Leg 2: 5.3 Moderate/10:15 PM  Leg 3: 3.5 Easy/8:20 AM
                   

6  Leg 1: 4.6 Easy/1:05 PM  Leg 2: 6.1 Moderate/11:10 PM  Leg 3: 4 Easy/8:55 AM
                

7  Leg 1: 8 Hard/1:55 PM  Leg 2: 4 Easy/12:10 AM  Leg 3: 6.7 Hard/9:35 AM
                

8  Leg 1: 3.1 Easy/3:15 PM  Leg 2: 4 Easy/12:50 AM  Leg 3: 5.1 Moderate/10:45 AM

            

9  Leg 1: 4.4 Easy/3:45 PM  Leg 2: 6.7 Hard/1:30 AM  Leg 3: 3.9 Easy/11:35 AM
               

10  Leg 1: 5.1 Moderate/4:30 PM  Leg 2: 6.7 Hard/2:40 AM  Leg 3: 3 Easy/12:15 PM
                

11  Leg 1: 4.7 Easy/5:20 PM  Leg 2: 4.3 Easy/3:50 AM  Leg 3: 2.9 Easy/12:45 PM
     

12  Leg 1: 2.9 Easy/6:10 PM  Leg 2: 7 Hard/4:35 AM  Leg 3: 3.9 Easy/1:15 PM      

1~ 7:30 2~ 8:00 3~ 8:30 all AM

So our start times have been requested.... I figured we may as well get out there and get going.... and then we could all get one leg in long before it gets dark  :)  

We still have four spots and only 9 days before the new people will have to pay $90 instead of the $80 by the 31st.  On that note if you haven't gotten me the money please do so soon... Thanks.  

On a training note... have you thought about your feet lately?  I know my feet love new shoes.... fancy ones... spiked heel ones.... flip flops.... and also my running shoes.  I would strongly suggest going to your local running store in the next few weeks and getting fitted for some fabulous new shoes, good shoes, right for your feet and how you run.  If you are like me you all ready know what those new shoes are.  Did you know running shoes last 300-400 miles before they start to break down?  That is about 3-4 months.  The beginning of September would be a great time to get new ones to get them broken in, your feet accustomed to them and have them not be on their last legs for your three legs  :)

New look... new commitment!

So I don't know about all of you but this Texas heat is killing my want/desire to run!  Let me re-phrase.... I want to run.... I just can't!  So in honor of recommitting to training I thought a new look was in order.  I hope some of the rest of you are feeling the same way...

So a few things...

1.  Look the the right.  See that lovely team list that still has 4 spots with question marks!  We need to get this part wrapped up for many reasons.. a few of which will be subsequent numbers  :)  Put those feelers out, think of maybe the not so obvious people in your life that you would want to have an amazing unforgettable 24+ hours with, without daily life creeping in.  If you find some one... get their email address to me and I will send them a link to fill in their information and check the waiver.

2.  Did everyone else get the pace/start time email?  If you didn't and want to read it let me know I will forward it to you.  Katie G. ~ we need your knowledge.... when do we want to start?  Does it matter?  Does it make a huge difference?  This is me asking for HELP... and that rarely happens... just ask Bart  :)

3.  Have you read the Race Bible yet?  Did you even know there was such a thing?  Here is a link to it... Texas Race Bible...  Well I was just reading it and read that you have to provide 3 volunteers, or you can pay $120.00 and not provide any.  I am kind of on the pay $10 each and not have to find 3 more people... but let me know what your thoughts are.  (The book isn't very clear... at the beginning it is every team and farther into it it is only teams with some one within 100 miles?)

4.  We need to start thinking about what legs we all want/can run.  Check them out here  Email me what your thoughts are for yourself... which ones you want/don't want and I will compile the emails and see where we stand....

5.  Here is the training for next week.... happy weekend everyone....

Monday:  Easy~30 minutes hills   Intermediate~5 Miles

Tuesday:  Easy~rest or easy cross train   Intermediate~6 Miles Hills

Wednesday:  Easy~40 minutes   Intermediate~5 Miles

Thursday:  Easy~rest or easy cross train   Intermediate~8 Miles

Friday:  Easy~30 minutes   Intermediate~5 Miles

Saturday:  Easy~60 minutes  Intermediate~12 Miles (Hey look Lindsay.. our moment of insanity falls right in line with our training....  hahaha)

A New York Run!

Well, it’s august! Only 3 more months and we’ll officially be “running from the kids”! I can’t wait. I just returned from vacation a few weeks ago and have to admit that I didn’t run as much as I had planned. I also enjoyed eating much more than I told myself that I would. But, one cannot go to New York and not enjoy the culinary experience that great city has to offer. Pastrami sandwiches and cheesecake from Carnegie Deli topped my favorite list! If any of you have been there, you will know just what I mean.

I did enjoy some of the most beautiful runs I’ve ever had while I was there. Picture magnificent wooded hills early in the morning (dew still on the ground), cool breeze coming off a picturesque lake, a baby fawn with it’s mother feeding on the berry bushes off the side of the road, and a cute little New England town in upstate New York with architecture dating back to the early 1700's. Now that's a run!

Wish you were all there running with me, I imagined you were. Looking forward to our Saturday morning runs when everyone returns! In the meantime, keep running ladies!

It is JULY!!!!

Ok so it is all ready July!!!  So here is the training for this week and a few housekeeping things so make sure to read to the end  :)

Monday:  Beginner  15 Minutes, Intermediate 5 Miles

Tuesday: Beginner Rest or easy cross train, Intermediate 6 Miles

Wednesday: Beginner 15 Minutes, Intermediate 5 Miles

Thursday:  Beginner Rest or easy cross train, Intermediate 5 Miles

Friday:   Beginner 15 Minutes, Intermediate 5 Miles

Saturday:  Beginner 25 Minutes, Intermediate 8 Miles

Ok so on to housekeeping.... Everyone should have gotten an email link to fill in the information for registration.  If you didn't get it or need me to resend it let me know and I will get it out.  We are registered as a team and paid for but need to get some specifics from everyone.  On that note, I need to collect the $80.00 from everyone.

We also still have 3 spots so put those thinking caps on and let's get our team filled! 

I hope everyone's training is going well... just a few things... remember to listen to your bodies.  If you need to take a day off to lets say rest a sore knee don't beat yourself up over it.  Your body will only give you 100% if you give it the right rest.  Also with our lovely Texas summers don't forget to hydrate... lots and lots of water.

HAPPY RUNNING!!!! 

Meet Lindsay

Now it’s my turn…

I don’t know if I could come up with 100 things about me like Valerie, and I am not as creative as Katie, so hear is by best effort at introducing myself.

1. I like lists. (Erin, stop laughing!)

2. I have a great family: husband, Dave and two fantastic kiddos: Kate, almost 1 and Lincoln, 3 years. They are the reason I run.

3. Running has been a new found love of mine. See, I gain monster amounts of weight (65 pound range) with my pregnancies and then have to work it all off. And that is where the running comes in. I am proud to report that I lost the 65 ‘Kate pounds’ in 9 months. As they say, 9 months on, 9 months off! (Please no pregnancy stories about how you only gained 13 pounds)

4. I love to travel. I studied abroad twice in college: Europe and South America. I have been all over Europe, parts of South America, parts of China, Mexico, the Caribbean, Russia… and look forward to more!

5. I am a special education teacher. I currently teach 6th grade language arts, math, and reading. This coming school year I will also be teaching geography and science (with Susie!). I have taught HS American Literature, Contemporary Literature, World Literature, Spanish 1 and Spanish 2. (If I was a baseball player, I would be a utility player for sure.)

6. I graduated from Georgia Tech (GO JACKETS!) with a BS in International Affairs, and graduated from the University of Utah (GO UTES!) with a Masters in Secondary Education. (OK, so I do have to brag a bit here… I graduate summa cum laude. I am proud to be a dork.)

7. I love to learn. If I had the time and the money, I would be a permanent student. I would love to get a PhD someday: perhaps social work, educational leadership, or special education.

8. My car radio is always on NPR. Love it.

9. My husband and I met on a blind date. My first and last. Yes, it was truly love at first sight. We met, got engaged 4 months later, and married 4 months after that. Bliss.

10. Favorite places include: Nordstrom, especially the shoe department, Atlanta (my home town), Georgia Tech football games, my couch with a good book (a rarity!), a secluded beach with nothing to do, and sitting next to my husband on a plane going on a trip.

11. While I do love a good television show, my best free-time hobby is reading. I prefer to read contemporary lit and world lit. I went through a world lit phase where everything I read was about poverty, childhood issues, graft, corruption, and/or the third world. I had to phase in some good crime drama, chick lit, adolescent lit, and an occasional classic to help temper that. I was about to start too many charities at the pace I was going. They were a bit too much of a buzzkill.

12. I don’t like chocolate. I don’t eat it. I don’t really even like the smell. But, I’ll make treats with it. I can’t explain it; it’s just part of me.

13. We are running this race on my 30th birthday. Very cool. Very excited about that!

That’s it for now. I am very excited to be part of this. Thanks to Erin for helping get us off and running. Yippee!
LME

We have 13 DAYS! & This weeks training...

Hey Ladies~

So it is the 17th of June today which means that we have 13 to get this team basically finalized and get registered!  So here is the plan... (unless someone else has a better one)  Everyone who is in please send me an email to info@theribbonspot.com and tell me yea or nay!  I have registered team Running From The Kids and have paid the entry fee so if everyone could get me the money we are set  :)  We are team number 003 :)

We are still waiting to hear from a lot of you for your introductions.... don't be shy we don't bite....

Now on to the training for this week.  Remember this is what they suggest.... modify, alter, do what you need to do to fit what feels right and good into your lives.  I know we are all busy and have the little people home for the summer so sometimes it is hard to get out. Do what you can  :)

Monday:  Beginner... 15 Minutes

Intermediate... 3 Miles

Tuesday:  Beginner... Rest or easy cross train

Intermediate... 4 Miles

Wednesday:  Beginner... 15 Minutes

Intermediate... 3 Miles

Thursday:  Beginner... Rest or easy cross train

Intermediate... 4 Miles

Friday:  Beginner... 15 Minutes

Intermediate... 3 Miles

Saturday:  Beginner... Rest or easy cross train

Intermediate... 6 Miles

Happy running :)

Training for this week....

Yes it is true it starts this week if you are following the training plan they have on the site :) So here is what this week has in store.... Enjoy

Monday: Beginner run for 15 minutes and Intermediate is 3 miles
Tuesday: Beginner rest or easy cross train and Intermediate is 4 miles
Wednesday: Beginner run for 15 minutes and Intermediate is 3 miles
Thursday: Beginner rest or easy cross train and Intermediate is 4 miles
Friday: Beginner run for 15 minutes and Intermediate is 3 miles
Saturday: Beginner rest or easy cross train and Intermediate is 5 miles

Keep us posted on how you are doing! Happy running :)

Meet Katie

I have about 30 seconds to say Hi! and to let you know that I think Erin is the most enthusiastic runner I've ever met. An idea to get to know a few new girls has blossomed into a full blown past time, complete with a blog! thanks for taking the ball and running with it Erin (pun was totally intended;)

I'm older than 30, and have learned that age is a matter of mind. I look forward to running with young at heart moms and feel so blessed to have a body that can put one foot in front of the other. My life is full of chaos and disorganization, even though organization is something I've always felt I was good at. I wouldn't change a minute of the experiences we've had and feel so thankful for the package that is my life..this package includes a fantastic, supportive, fun loving, talented and hot to trot husband John along with 6 great kids ranging in age from 13-2. 4 of our kids are "home grown" and two came by way of adoption. It has been a fabulous ride getting them here, and my every breath is devoted to making sure they have the tools to be good and worthy individuals (okay, some of my breaths are also used talking to friends on the phone, looking at ideas for our house and garden and even making a few scrapbooks here and there. Oh, I guess I also use some of my breath when I sit and watch Arrested Development or the Office, but not as much, so I don't sit down very often. As you get to be my age that metabolism slows girls, and you have to stay on your feet more just to use up those slow burning calories ;)



Having run one of these relays before I can speak with experience when I say the following things:

1. This will be challenging
2. This will be fun!
3. I want to be in the second van (tell ya why later on...)

can't wait to work hard toward something worth achieving. So happy to have all of you work with. And as for those two last few spots; perhaps its time for me to make some long distance calls to sisters and former running buddies to fill them up!

Did you know it's June?

OK, don't want to freak anyone out, but did you know that today is June 1st. According to our training guru/runner extraordinaire, we start training in 8 days! So enjoy those cupcakes ladies, because tomorrow we run! (Well, not really tomorrow, but you know what I mean!)

Let the games begin!

LME