Happy birthday Marathon!

Today marked the 2,500-year anniversary year of the marathon.  Happy birthday marathon!  You still look young, exhausting, and awesome to me.

Here's an ode to marathons past with a pic of the Boston marathon last year:

And, being that it's Halloween, here's a Halloween race last year and the boys trick or treating (or walking up, looking at candy bowls, taking a piece, then putting it back-ing):

Weekend Roundup - Halloween prep!

Twas the weekend before my birthday
And all through the house
Not a twin was un-stirring
Not even a min
The boys were all run
And we calmed them with ease
With a BOB and a run
The energy, appease

OK, long poemstory short, this weekend was rad.

On Saturday we met up with Lisa, Frank, and Lila for some pumpkin picking.

Sunday came a lazy day with two, count 'em TWO runs - much needed!  The first was a goodmorning sunshine run with the boys, and the second was all me-time around the lake (in the dumping rain).  Sunday afternoon we made enchiladas, and Sunday evening we had a dinner party with my co-worker and his wife.

And now ... it's my birthday! Hurray!  I cannot believe I'm 31.  Oh boy.  I guess at 31 the fun has only just begun?  More poetry to round out the day/week/year.

Tub Time for the Taylor Twins

Our boys love tub time.  If we leave the bathroom door open, after running in and pulling down all the toilet paper, they then make for the tub.  It looks like at one of their nanny's house they're the same way...

What I learned while running, helps me in business

A while back I wrote on "The Business Case for Running a Race."  Today I competed (yes, again) in a 10mi trail run in Sammamish, WA.  The race was nutty - it started with the temp being just 34F.  The trail itself was so covered in leaves that often I felt as if I were off course.  In fact, at mile 5 I did go off course ultimately running an extra mile ... but I still won ... :o) happy joy joy.

Here are my musings on running and business - deep thoughts from the trails:

• Looking back can just trip you up - seriously, in running, if you look back, you'll trip!  I did it.  It hurt.  You can think back to what you could've done better (e.g. hydrating, pacing, etc.) and leverage that to improve.  Same goes for business (minus the hydrating ... although that's pretty important regardless).
• The run can get rocky - it's just important to keep eyes open - on the trail I stumbled over branches and rocks.  From my trips, I realized in some areas I needed to slow down and focus more than in others (e.g. wide open fields).  In business, there are some areas where I'm definitely not an expert (e.g. financial projections), there are the areas where I need to slow down and focus more.
• Competition is foe and friend - during today's race I was running next to a man for the first few miles (side note, he was running in teva-like shoes ... weirdo).  While we were both going for the "gold," we also were both very much in it together - even while being lost.  In business I'm a firm believer of the "one team" philosophy - we're all in it to make the business successful.  At the same time, we all have our own dreams.
• Whining gets you no where - in a race whining is wasted breathing room.  At work whining is just ... well, ridiculous.
• There's no real finish - at the end of the race today I was already planning my next race.  At work we practice "sprints" (another running analogy for another time), at the end of each sprint, there's another just around the corner.

Does my butt look big in my spandex bike suit?

For the past two weeks I've been riding my bike to work (literally, over the river, through the woods, then through the city I go).  I typically ride in work clothes (ew, nast, gotta change that) because between my laptop, lunch, and some sort of high heal something, I don't have room for much else in my computer bag. 

A few funny things I've noticed while riding ...

• The spandex crew: a LOT of people around Seattle ride in their logo'd spandex matching outfits (even spandex hats - no joke - it's like a swim cap for the rain here I guess)
• Ya never know who the fasties are, and who the slow pokes are: when riding I'm constantly shocked at how the spandex crew can be SO SLOW!  I feel like I'm tailgating on my bike.  Then there are the 60 something men rocking shorts and an old sweater who could lap me around the city twice.  How do they do it?!  Dad?...  (side note, I do think my dad would be faster than anyone here - he should come - hint hint :) ).
• Cars are nice!: In SF I barely rode my bike - partly because the steep hills scared the youknowwhat out of me, and partly because drivers are so mean there.  I used to be one of the mean drivers, too.  Some bikers in the city give bikers a bad name and then everyone pays.

To continue my riding-scapades, I've decided I need to get properly suited.  No matching spandex onsie thing, mind you, just prepped for the onslaught of rain that's around the corner.

Biking in Seattle by Marathon Mom featuring a biker t shirt

Superdry Goldwing Biker T-Shirt
$42 - buckle.com
Biker t shirt »

The North Face Women's Boundary Triclimate Jacket - Dick's Sporting...
$249 - dickssportinggoods.com
Sports activewear »

Rvca Camo Rain Ii Pant
$70 - swell.com
RVCA »

Nike LIVESTRONG Eclipse SE II SI Women's Shoe
$65 - nike.com
Print shoes »

incase bags - Courier Messenger Backpack Dove Gray
$150 - moxsie.com
Gray bag »

Bike clip art - vector clip art online, royalty free & public domain
clker.com

A perfect 10!

Today lived up to being a perfect 10 (for 10-10-10).  We woke this morning to the rain (and the boys who have learned that jumping in their crib is a ton of fun).  I took Cole and Wilson for a short run around Gasworks park down along the water.  Back home we all cleaned and continued unpacking (the boys kept putting their toys in the moving boxes, but they were trying). 

Post nap, we made our way to the Farmer's Market in Ballard - LOVE that farmer's.  I bought a bunch of root vegetables (beats, turnips, and a handful of things I don't know the name of) to make baked vegetables with garlic and salt. 

Back home, more unpacking, and a walk around town, and we were beat.  We treated ourselves to takeout Indian food.  A perfect way to close off the weekend.

"Cool Outfit" - urban bike riding to work

Yesterday, while riding over the Fremont bridge into downtown Seattle, I got stopped at a red light (yep, on the bridge).  A car pulled up next to me and seconds later I heard the window roll down.
"Cool outfit" said a man
"Thanks"
"It's very urban.  I love it."
"Thanks"
"Where'd you get it?"
"Uh ... second hand stores in SF?..." (I mean really, who buys outfits in one go?  My closet is a collection of second hand + hand-me-down + kicks bought while traveling digs)
"The urban style is all the way there?"
"Yes ... I think"
"Well, I love it"

Considering the business-esque driver liked my outfit, I thought I'd share.

Urban bike ride by Marathon Mom featuring flat heel boots

3.1 Phillip Lim Mohair-blend mini sweater dress
$450 - net-a-porter.com
3.1 phillip lim dress »

Aminaka Wilmont Asymmetric leather jacket
$1,755 - net-a-porter.com
Asymmetrical jacket »

lululemon athletica - Insight Pant
lululemon.com
Activewear pants »

Jil Sander Buckle-detailed flat leather boots
$995 - net-a-porter.com
Flat heel boots »

Areaware + VAMMOOF
$600 - econsciousmarket.com


p.s. I have the versions of these pieces that were $30 or less.

We have a home!!!

Well, it's been an absolutely nutty few weeks.  We've been in corporate housing trying to get to know Seattle.  Both of us have been working like mad-people and both trying to get some normalcy for the fam.  Last week Matt's parents came to help us move into our new home (which was spectacular).  We now have a home where the boys can run (literally - they're both totally mobile), push (in carts - they're not shovey boys), and play.

A dose of vitamin R

I'm functioning on sleep deprivation + stress, so please forgive my randomness... or should I say pure radness?!! 

This morning, while biking to work, I was daydreaming on what might be a fun viral campaign.  Insert, "vitamin R."  Bam, this is going to be hot.  Here's the thought - vitamin R = vitamin rad.  It's that easy.  On a tangible note, it could be marketed with a revamped bottle of Bayer - just scratch off the bottom of the B, add a new simple but fab label, and there you have it - a jar of vitamin R.  Here's how the word is spread: take over the rad twitter feed (it's good ... but definitely not rad), start a vitamin R Facebook fanpage, logo thousands of t-shirts with a red square and the letter R, recruit for a rad mobsquad, and GO!  Who to sell vitamin R to?  Everyone!

Done.  That easy.  Rad is coming back.

Oh boy, I need to get some sleep.