San Antonio!! Finally!!!

We finally got to Austin, collected Lindsay and 2 beautiful vans (hahaha) and found some dinner at Maccaroni Grill. Got back on the road and hooked up with Katie at the hotel by 12:30!!!! We all crashed as soon as we could stop laughing and are up and ready to get this party started!!!!




-- Post From My iPhone

On the road

We are trying to get to Austin and this is what we see.. Everyone off the freeway!



-- Post From My iPhone

And the winning design is....

PLEASE NOTE: THE RUN LIKE A MOTHER WILL BE REMOVED!

Let me know if you want to change/add something. We don't have too much time to do so, but I can always ask! I'll place the order hopefully tomorrow. Make sure Erin has your shirt sizes. And, I have asked for the price, and will post that as soon as I know. They have an option to let you order online... I'll look into that. Sometimes that is easier than being the bank.

Nine days to go...

Lindsay

Welcome Shelley!!!!

We have a new runner!!! Wooohooo.... go Mary for recruiting!

On that note we have a little bit of a leg assignment shuffle  

Runner #1:  Jaime (no change)

Runner #2:  Katie (no change)

Runner #3:  Michele (no change)

Runner #4:  Yvonne (no change)

Runner #5:  Erin (no change)

Runner #6:  Lindsay (no change)

Runner #7:  Shelley 

Runner #8:  Leg 8: 3.3 Mary  Leg 20: 8.7 very Hard Erin  Leg 32: 3.3 Easy Mary

Runner #9:  Leg 9: 4.9 Moderate Lindsay  Leg 21: 5.0 Hard open for the taking  Leg 33: 2.8 Easy Michele

Runner #10:  Corrine (no change)

Runner #11:  Mary

Runner #12:  Julie (no change)

Shirt 3- Dots, dots, and more dots

And the last nominee...

Shirt 2- Peace and Quiet

Here is shirt 2... again, we can change colors, fonts, etc...

Shirt 1- The Road Less Traveled

Here is a mockup of the first shirt. I have 2 more options still to come. Take a look; form an opinion. The others should be here tomorrow. We can change layout, colors, etc. Once we have all three, will vote. I'd love to get them ordered by next Tuesday.

And, we can always add more names :-)

Happy Training!
Lindsay

Updated leg info!

Runner # 1 Jaime

Runner # 2 Katie

Runner #3 Michele

Runner #4 Yvonne

Runner #5 Erin

Runner #6 Lindsay

Runner #7 Mary

Runner #8  Leg 8 ~ Mary Leg 20 ~ Erin Leg 32 ~ Mary

Runner #9  Leg 9 ~ Erin Leg 21 ~ ??? Leg 33 ~ Michele

Runner #10 Corrine

Runner #11  Leg 11 ~ ??? Leg 23 ~ ??? Leg 35 ~ Lindsay

Runner #12 Julie

Please feel Free to email me and let me know you want to take one of the question mark slots!  Please  :)

New estimated start times and a question....

Jaime: Leg 1 ~ 8:00 AM  Leg #13 ~ 7:35 PM  Leg #25 ~ 7:30 AM

Katie:  Leg 2 ~ 8:50 AM  Leg #14 ~ 8:35 PM  Leg #26 ~ 8:20 AM

Lindsay:  Leg 3 ~ 10:00 AM  Leg #15 ~ 9:25 PM  Leg #27 ~ 9:10 AM

Yvonne:  Leg 4 ~ 11:10 AM  Leg #16 ~ 10:15 PM  Leg #28 ~ 9:40 AM

Erin:  Leg 5 ~ 12:10 PM  Leg #17 ~ 10:50 PM  Leg #29 ~ 10:25 AM

Michele:  Leg 6 ~ 1:30 PM  Leg #18 ~ 11:30 PM  Leg #30 ~ 11:00 AM

Mary:  Leg 7 ~ 2:15 PM  Leg #19 ~ 1:00 AM  Leg #31 ~ 11:30 AM

Runner #8:  Leg # 8 ~ 2:55 PM  Leg #20 ~ 2:00 AM  Leg #32 ~ 12:00 PM

Runner #9:  Leg #9 ~ 3:25 PM  Leg #21 ~ 3:30 AM  Leg #33 ~ 12:35 PM

Corrine:  Leg #10 ~ 4:15 PM  Leg #22 ~ 4:20 AM  Leg #34 ~ 1:05 PM

Runner #11:  Leg #11 ~ 5:25 PM  Leg #23 ~ 5:30 AM  Leg #35 ~ 1:35 PM

Julie:  Leg #12 ~ 6:45 PM  Leg #24 ~ 6:40 AM  Leg #36 ~ 2:25 PM

Ok so here is my question... how attached are all of you to your leg assignments yet?  Would you be mad if I did a little rearranging?  Here is why I ask...  So Valerie is not going to be able to do this with us.  She is going to post later but I totally understand.  So we are short three runners.  While we are all trying to get more girls I am running through a worse case scenario in my mind and here is what I have come up with to help our shortage...

I know I can do longer mileage... so I am thinking if we could shuffle a little bit I would be able to do 2 runners in a row (ie... Runner #5 & Runner #6)  Given I just did 26 I am trained for longer mileage so I would be able to (not super speedy fast but could) 

That then leaves only 6 spots to split up between every one else  :)  What do you think?  I need to know what you are thinking....

Team meeting Recap!

Yea we survived our meeting!  And we actually accomplished a few things! So here it all is in no particular order...

Which leg are you?  Here you go... (Valerie Let me know which one of the three left you want to claim)

Runner #1:  Jaime S  (Leg 1~5.1 Moderate   Leg 13~5.9 Moderate   Leg 25~3.9 Easy) 

Runner #2:  Kaite G  (Leg 2~6.8 Moderate   Leg 14~5.1 Moderate    Leg 26~4.7 Easy)

Runner #3:  Lindsay  (Leg 3~6.8 Moderate   Leg 15~5.2 Moderate   Leg 27~3.0 Easy)

Runner #4:  Yvonne  (Leg 4~6.0 Moderate   Leg 16~3.5 Easy   Leg 28~4.4 Easy)

Runner #5:  Erin  (Leg 5~8.1 Very Hard   Leg 17~4.0 Easy   Leg 29~3.5 Easy)

Runner #6:  Michele  (Leg 6~4.4 Easy   Leg 18~8.8 Very Hard   Leg 30~3.1 Easy)

Runner #7:  Mary  (Leg 7~3.4 Easy   Leg 19~5.9 Hard   Leg 31~3.3 Easy)

Runner #8:              (Leg 8~3.3 Easy   Leg 20~8.7 Very Hard   Leg 32~3.3 Easy)

Runner #9:              (Leg 9~4.9 Moderate   Leg 21~5.0 Hard   Leg 33~2.8 Easy)

Runner #10:  Corrine (Leg 10~6.7 Moderate   Leg 22~6.7 Moderate   Leg 34~3.1 Easy)

Runner #11:              (Leg 11~7.5 Hard   Leg 23~6.8 Hard   Leg 35~4.8 Easy)

Runner #12:  Julie L.  (Leg 12~4.5 Easy   Leg 24~4.3 Easy   Leg 36~5.1 Easy)

These are the most current distances for each person (they made a few changes recently but it should be final now) I spoke with the Ragnar folks at the expo this last weekend and they said we can split up the legs for the non existent runners  :)  

Katie is in possession of a head lamp and reflective vest for those of us with legs in the dark.  As posted in the race bible any one running in the dark must wear both of these items.... as stylish as they are it is a lot safer!  

As far as transportation to all of our needed to be places.  Those of us up here is the Dallas area are planing (we think) to leave here around 3 on Thursday.  I can drive and take 3 or 4 others (depending on how much stuff we all have) and we will need 1 other.  Michele or Sharon is this an option for you to drive?  We should roll into Austin around 6:30 or so.  Grab Lindsay and some super stylish vans  :) some yummy carb filled dinner and off to San Antonio.

Or van reservations are made from the airport in Austin so we can park our cars there so we have no back tracking after we are done to collect our vehicles.  

Valerie... what makes most sense for you.... meeting us in Austin or San Antonio?  Mary is from San Antonio.  Do you guys have logistical plans for after?  Let us know how we can help.  We are planing to head back to Dallas Saturday evening.  

Lindsay has gotten us a couple of room in San Antonio for Friday night.  We will be sharing beds but that seemed pretty minor given we will be sharing vans for the following 36 hours  :)

Here is the race day checklist put out by Ragnar and how we are doing with it....

Mandatory:

1.  Two Headlamps or flashlights (I know we have one but do we have 2 Katie?)

2.  Two reflective Vests (again...)

3.  One Race Bible per vehicle (no worries we have 12 spiral bound ones  :) so for those who didn't get them last night I have one for you)

Supplies:

1.  Sleeping Bags/ Blankets (Please remember we are in vans so don't go crazy with the blankets  :) )

2.  Pillows (see number 1)

3.  Ground cover (some tarps?)

4.  One first aid kit per vehicle

5.  GPS if you have one (several of us have iPhones with some GPS on them)

6.  Laminated directory with everyones cell phones (Send me those cell phone numbers ladies)  

7.  Personal, Medical and contact information for each runner (send me this to and we will make a great little sheet for each van)

Food:

We are going to bring coolers and hit and HEB Thursday night to stock up.  If there is something specific you are concerned about though bring it with you

Fun Stuff:  (what I consider the most important part of the list)

1.  Blow Horn

2.  Cow Bells

3.  Frisbees

4.  Rubber chickens

5.  Van decorations

6.  Costumes

7.  Noise makers

8.  Candy (aka the food of life)

9.  Music

10.  Hula Hoops

11. Other fun stuff...

Lindsay.... and everyone... as far as shirts what we finally decided was that we can go with your company.  Each of us and our drivers can get 2 (1 short sleeve and 1 long sleeve so we are prepared)  to wear at the finish line.  Several of us (ok mostly me) are kind of particular about what I run in. (i hate chafing.... no wait i loath it)  so we are going to get them to look great at the end.  Our only color preference is not yellow.  Maybe long sleeve black and short sleeve white?  As far as what is on them ....

I need everyone to send me words!  Your kids names, your husbands names, important words to you, mantras, inspiration and I need them by Friday at the latest!  I am going to drop them into Wordule and get a cool graphic to print on them!

Ok my brain is on overload and it is time to get kids so that is it for now.  Things you need to do now!!!!...

Start an email to info@theribbonspot.com that has your words, let me know what shirt size you want, any more questions you have so the next post might make a little more sense and hit send!

Happy running... we are almost there!

  

Newby

Hello Everyone, I'm Mary the newest addition! And I am so excited!!
I am a 'little' obsessive when it comes to running, just ask my 8 year old son Lance, he has helped volunteer for running events and in August he won second place at the Silver Stars 5k for his age group! Let's see, well, I started running in the summer of 2005 when I received orders for an unaccompanied 1 year tour to Korea. I was sitting in my apartment missing Lance and was sick of feeling sorry for myself. So I put on some very untrendy running shorts and a regular bra and just started running (yeah I know it sounds like forest Gump). Granted I only lasted 30 minutes with numerous walk breaks, but everything in my mind cleared and I felt so good, yep,I was addicted! And it just keeps giving! I finished my time in the Army and moved to San Antonio to head the Breast Imaging Center at BAMC, and I knew no one. Once again running helped me out by introducing me to some great people that have become my surrogate families! I love challenges like these and can't wait to get out there!!

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!