Races and Places - 2012 race targets

Being at a running expo is always a good place to check out upcoming races in the area and surrounding area.  Here are some I'm intrigued in for the upcoming months:

• 12K's of Christmas - Seattle - December 18, 2011
• ResolutionRun 5K & Polar Bear Drive - Magnuson Park - January , 2012
• Tinker Bell Half Marathon - Disneyland (Annaheim, CA) - January 27 - 29, 2012
• Valentine's Day Dash 5K - Seattle - February 11, 2012
• Lord Hill Trail Run (5mi, 10mi, 20mi, and 50K) - Snohomish, WA - February 26, 2012 
• Lake Sammamish Half - Sammamish, WA  - March 10, 2012
• Mercer Island Half - Mercer Island, WA - March 24, 2012
• Dash Point State Park Trail Run (10k, half, and full) - Federal Way, WA - March 31, 2012
• RainMan Indoor Tri (sprint triathlon) - Seattle - April 1, 2012
• Whidbey Island half marathon (there's also a full and 5K) - Whidbey Island, WA - April 14 & 15, 2012 
• Big Sur Marathon - Big Sur, CA - April 29, 2012
• Dipsea - Mill Valley, CA - June 10, 2012 (If I can't get in, I'm doing the Double again ...)
• Rock 'n Roll Seattle half marathon (there's also a full) - Seattle - June 23, 2012
• Vancouver half marathon (there's also a 5K) - Vancouver, Canada - June 24, 2012
• See Jane Run Women's Half Marathon - Seattle -  July 15, 2012
• Disneyland Half Marathon -  Disneyland (Annaheim, CA) - August 31 - September 2, 2012
• GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon - Victoria, Canada - October 7, 2012

 I bolded the ones I'm pretty set on, but you never know.  This year I would love to try more duathlons and triathlons ... may just need to be a resolution!

Running wishlist

Tomorrow is the Seattle Half Marathon (a race I'm woefully under-prepared for).  Yesterday, "Black Friday" was the expo and I have to admit, I got a little caught up in the buying fever.  I stocked up on these rad running kicks:

• Nike running headband
• Nike dri-fit running tights
• Brooks neon arm warmers
• Sony spiral neck-band headphones

Tomorrow will be my first time running with arm warmers, so we'll see how it goes!  I have yet to heed the guidance of not trying new things on race day ... one day.

My wishlist has now grown quite a bit, too ... and honestly, I don't think I need all (or any) of these things, but everything with a new promise has me intrigued:

• CEP running O2 compression socks
• TriggerPoint GRID - foam roller
• Black Mountainresistance band
  
  

Giving Thanks - 2011

What a great Thanksgiving.  Yesterday we enjoyed an awesome, relaxing day with the boys cooking and playing all day.  We had a couple of my co-workers over for dinner - our first time cooking Thanksgiving feast.  As we completely neglected to take pictures of the dinner, here's the menu:

• Fried Turkey
• Candied brussel sprouts
• Sunchokes and parmesan
• Salad with goat cheese and persimmons
• Mashed potatoes
• Home-made pecan pie
• Deviled eggs
• Salmon dip

YUM!

Here's the boys playing away:

To wear: running in the cold

The weather outside is biting, and running should be delighting, but when it's so cold, you know, the wardrobe has got to grow.  How's that for a little holiday ditty to the tune of Let it Snow! :o) ?

But seriously, as the temperature drops, my running wardrobe increases - and I mean that in layers.  Here are some of my favorites:

What to wear: running in the cold by marathonmom featuring a fleece zip hoody

Under Armour fleece zip hoody
$70 - nordstrom.com

Activewear pants
lululemon.com

Patagonia socks
$16 - patagonia.com

Nike fleece glove
$20 - nike.com

running hats & headbands for yoga | lululemon athletica
lululemon.com

Forecast says ... running!

Today was a nutty wet rainy day.  When I woke this morning (at the too early hour of 5:45am) I thought Matt was maybe in the shower because the sound of water falling was LOUD.  But no, Matt was snoring, and it was raining.  Still is.  Even so, I laced up and made it down to the Burke-Gilman trail to meet up with a co-worker for a quick 5mi out and back run.  Wow - we got soaked.  At one point we were running through water up to our shins with nowhere to go but deeper water.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a bit dryer ...