Sparklefarts is BACK + Harrison's SoDak Visit

My apologies that the ol’ blog has gotten all sorts of boring since Fargo. To be honest I’ve been in a little bit a lot of bit of a slump. Every time I go out for a run I’m keeping a close “eye” on yet another body part that’s causing me concern…. Hip, knee, IT band, shin, ugggggggggh. My running is boring ergo my blogging is boring.


However, last night we may have turned a corner of sorts. It was raining and thundering as I was wrapping up my evening of work. On my drive home the rain stopped. Jeri: 1 The air was still crazy thick, so I was thankful it was only an “easy paced” run. After icing my shin Wednesday night post-run and Thursday morning, it seemed to be…. Fine. Ok then.

I took off for my run and had no shin pain. Whoo! To be safe, I concentrated like craaaaaaazy on my form. A ways down the bike path I realized I wasn’t having any hip or knee pain either. Hmmm…. And I wasn’t sucking air like normal in the humid conditions.

Sidenote: I have never seen weather like this, so it’s worth noting. The rain had stopped, as I mentioned before, but there was a thick mist from the ground until about 6-8’ in the air. It looked (and felt) like it was raining from the ground up. It. Was. Crazy.

I checked my pace and was shocked at my pace that felt so easy…. Oh hai failed marathon pace! And I was even more shocked when my heart rate was staying low. It was a completely effortless yet strong run and was exactly what I needed as I’m starting my bttw training for my fall half marathons.

I did 5 miles in 45:38 for a pace of 9:09. I did 4x100 pick ups in the final mile at 6:56, 7:00, 6:45, 6:01.

Average HR 156

Glittler/unicorn/sparklefart runs.......... great to have you back!

And this is about 100 years old by now, but on Father’s Day I got to see my adorable little nephew who lives down in Texas. Boohoo. Here are some great photos of our day together.

 

Harrison and Aunt Jeri at the falls.

Cute even when he's being a turd.  Dare I say he gets that from his auntie? ;)

So I was named after my dad (Jerry) and Harrison was named after my dad's dad (Earl Harrison). Neato eh?

Family band practice at the Pavilion science center.

I refused to let him win.... at anything.... all day... Probably paybacks from his dad never letting me win growing up.

If I can't figure out the origami, how is a kid supposed to?!?!?

Butterfly house. H made a new friend.

Can we discuss how tired I look in this pic?  Wow... long day with a 4 year old... you win kid.

And more exciting news:  I just found out on Tuesday that in November Harrison's going to have a little seeeeeeeeeeeeeeester.  YAYZIES!

The Good News.... And the Bad News

I managed to have one of the suckiest weekends on record while having one of the greatest Sundays ever.  Impressed?  You should be.

The Good News:  I got to spend the day with my favorite little boy, Harrison.  Only two people assumed and commented on him as my son, or me as his mother.  I'm not surprised at all.  Oh hai mini me!

The Bad News:  More than ever I wish my bro and SIL lived closer than Texas.  :(

The Good News:  While at the science museum in the "fit center" I learned that I have only lost one inch off my vertical from high school.  Considering I was a high jumper and plyo fool back in the day I was legitimately impressed, especially for all the mileage pounding I do on these lil leggies.....

The Bad News:  I landed not-so-gracefully on one of my attempts and my knee hurts like a biatch.  :/  d-u-m-b!  That's me!

The Good News:  Harrison commented that he wants to be a runner and that he's FAST.  Warmed my heart a bit obviously.

The Bad News:  Apparently I'm not the type of aunt who'll let my nephew win in a foot race.  That'll just teach him to get faster right? ;)

The Good News:  After my match up, H took on some other little kids on the "track" in the fit center.  I'm proud to say he worked some 6 or 7 year old boy as well.
The Bad News:  There isn't any.  He's da bomb.


The Good News:  I attempted to get acclimated to the heat and humidity on Saturday.  I spent Friday night and part of Saturday morning hydrating.  I wore a flimsy tank and shorts.  I carried a water bottle.  I set out for my 9 miles at 4:30pm.

The Bad News:  I think I almost died.  My close-to-ten-minute pace was generating heart rate levels akin to what I was pulling on my 8 minute tempo run pace earlier in the week.  I felt like I was breathing in part water, and was gasping for air.  I took walk breaks.  I ended up turning around at mile 2.5 and calling it a day with 5 miles.  It was the least amount of fun I've had running since May 21st.

The Good News:  I got to spend Saturday evening with one of my favorite people, Molly. 
The Bad News:  She's only in the 'Dak for another day before she heads back out to San Diego.  Dearest lady friends, please all move to my city immediately.  I miss having great girlfriends to spend time with.  [insert sad face.]

The Good News:  I cleaned my apartment for the first time in.... a very. very. long time.  FYI I'm a messy chicka.

The Bad News:  My shoe shopping obsession came to light.


Happiest of happy birthday to one of my favorite runner girls, Susan!  I hope you have the greatest birthday and welcome to 27.  Can't wait to seeeeeeeeeeeeeee you in less than 4 months (no I don't have a paperchain countdown going... that'd be creepy........ :D)

Check out Erin and Lauren's sweet medal display giveaways! (I seriously want one of these SO BAD... hint hint... mother.... Xmas stocking stuffer?!?!?

Happy Birthday Harrison

Today is my adorably wreckless nephew Harrison's 4th birthday.  I haven't got to see the little bugger since last spring and miss him dearly.  I hope you have a great day little man!  Make sure to keep the cheesy full teeth smile for-ev-errrrrrr.

Sunday I hit the trails to finish up my 16 mile long run.  I was kicking myself for not checking the weather forecast for the weekend and opting to do my long run on Sunday.  Until I started running on the trails.  Yikes.  We had an ice storm last weekend, and the temps have been very cold all week long, so there has been zero melting.  Then on Thursday and Friday we had some beautiful snow fall (seriously, it was actually the snow I loooove).  Big thick, white and fluffy.  "IT'S SO FLUFFY!"

However ice covered with 3-4" of fluffy snow equals major running shitshow.  I had my yaktrax on but to say that it was slow going would be a grave understatement.  My stride was super short to keep from falling on my face, and every time I'd attempt to push off I'd slide back a few inches.  I imagine this is what it's like to run in sand.  P.S.  Remind me never to run 10 miles in sand.

I resigned to the fact that it was going to be a SLOW run after the first mile clocked in, and I'm glad I did because I would've been in a state of depression otherwise.  Let's just say that my fastest mile was 10:15 and that was my final mile in which I took my yaktrax off and ran on the road for the remaining 1/4 of a mile to get my heart pumping.  Oh well.  Looks like the weather should be great for this weekend's long run, so poof, the 6+10 mile long run disaster is gone from my brain. :)

And now more cute pics of me and H.

Taken on my Dallas 09 trip.

Clearly we're #1.  Random work trip to Dallas last spring.

My infamous "stick."  Harrison was just working some IT band issues out after watching me do it all weekend..... too bad thats your shin kid.

Mini me.  <3

Easy Run + Texas Ya'll!

Monday I had to wake up early to get my run in before taking off to Dallas for a work conference.  I was supposed to get in 8 easy miles, but a) it was atrocious weather out b) I didn't want to wake up before 7am (I normally get up at 7:30-7:40 for work, 7 is EARLY! :P) c) I'm really embracing the taper.  I decided 6 would be just dandy.

I put on capris, a long sleeve, and a jacket for the first time in a LONG time (thanks for being nice lately, SoDak weather).  I love running running in the rain.  It's actually my favorite weather to run in, however, I loathe running in the cold while it's raining and the wind is gusting.  When I reached the 3 mile turn around spot the wind smacked me in the face.  It was SO COLD.  (Once I got home, I realized the wind chill was 33 degrees; that explains it.)  I tried to fit my hands into my light jacket's sleeves, but they were beyond numb by the time I got home.  Also my legs felt like they were at least 1200 lbs. a piece.  Clearly the lactic acid was still a-chillin' post 20 miler.  Holy cow.  Oh well, heavy legs equate to the easy pace I *should be* running my easy runs at. :)

I did 6 miles in 58:50 for a pace of 9:49.

After rushing around to get ready and pack it was off to the airport.  I arrived at the airport *as* my flight was boarding (oops!) was the 2nd to last one to board.  Arrived for my connecting flight as my 2nd flight was boarding.  Of course it was in Chi-town so I had to run all over the airport.  Made it, had terrible turbulence and almost barfed on the plane, and finally arrived in Dallas. :)

My brother came and picked me up shortly after I checked into my hotel and brought me back to his place so I could see my little nephew.  Being the adorable 3 year old that he is, he had to show me how he could do EVERYTHING.  And I snapped a gazillion pics in the process. Enjoy.

We're #1 obvs.

My bro and Harrison. H is literally a mini-Keith.

We both smile showing *ALL* of our teeth.  Love it.

Brings new meaning to cheese, huh?

Had to play w/the editing on this one.  He's just so cute. :)