Running with baby

Ever since I  started running (about five months now!) I have wanted/needed a jogging stroller. My hubby's schedule is too crazy to count on him to be home in time for me to get a run in...even just a couple times a week. So I figured if I had a jogging stroller I could go when ever I needed to, not just be waiting for someone to be home to watch baby. When the big kids are at school would be ideal.
Well, jogging strollers are expensive. About $120 for a decent, no frills, not high end basic stroller. That kind of decided for me...No go. BUT.....I am a bargain hunter. A dang good one. I have been keeping my eye out at the consignment stores around here for some time. I have seen a few okay jog strollers that were high end, but second hand. They were all over priced and kind of yucky dirty.
A couple days ago I found this beauty. It isn't fancy, but it is clean, practically new, and it works! It retails for about $110 and I got it for $69. Still more than this poor cheapskate wanted to pay, but I needed it! I didn't get to run at all last week because of hubby's work. I took it out for a test run yesterday, I love it. More importantly, baby loves it...she fell asleep while we were out. I got in 2 miles. Not bad for a test run. I read reviews about this model online and some people complained that it shook while pushing it. It does, when the front wheel is in swivel mode. When you lock it in place it is as smooth as anything. I was worried it would be super hard to run while pushing another human + the weight of the stroller, but it was surprisingly easy. The momentum actually helped me stay at a more consistent pace. I am well pleased with my bargain.

Ponsetti Races 2011

There is a race here in Iowa City whos proceeds go to treating clubfoot problems in children. I had been hearing lots of good about these races and I needed another goal to keep me motivated to keep working on my running. I signed up about a month ago...I signed the kids up too, for the kiddie races.

Today (October 1st) was the big day. It was great going to a race that was just five minutes from home...I got to sleep in :0) The weather was so perfect! Just chilly enough to wear cozy things and run without dripping sweat...much. There were lots of fun activities for the kids before the races started and for them to do while they waited for Mommy to finish. They decorated pumpkins, made sidewalk chalk pictures, did hopscotch with "Herky the Hawk" and played giant jenga and giant checkers.

I had made a goal to run this 5k in 35 minutes because the last one I did I finished at a little over 36 minutes. The course was not bad except for the grass! I had never really run much on grass, and I have decided I don't like it much. The paved parts of the course went through a beautiful wooded area. I was listening to my showtunes all the way and I felt like I was doing pretty well. I actually kept pace for about a half mile with a girl who looked to be about 6 feet tall...awesome. I did need to walk (quickly) a couple of times but I finished strong. Until I saw the clock...it said 44 minutes!!! What!? Okay. I figured out that the clock was for the people who had started the 10k about 15 minutes before us. Whew! My official time was 34:23. Yay!!! About two minutes better than last time. I was pretty proud of that.

GO POOKA!!

Ribbons!

The kids had their races in age groups. Pooka shell surprised us. She ran so fast! She was the fastest girl in her age group! Bubba-do was so awesome. He finished in the top half of his group with a smile on his face. They proudly accepted their participant ribbons. Hubby and Savvy cheered us on. It was a great way to start the day...as a family. These races may be a new family tradition