Back in action

Well...what a weekend! I rested my injured ankle for two weeks and came back full force. Here was the itinerary.

Saturday: 11:00 - 3:00 The Great Urban Race

Saturday: 5:00 - 10:00 Amanda & Kevin's wedding reception

Sunday: 6:30 am - 10:30 Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon (yes, I had to wake up at 4:30 am!)

Sunday: 12:00 - 5:00 Sean's 1st Birthday Party

I had to come to work on Monday just to get some rest!

The Great Urban Race was awesome! Think Amazing Race Chicago style. You and your partner show up at the Cubbie Bear for check in and some pre-noon beer - socialize a bit - and at noon you are handed a piece of paper with 12 clues and off you go. I had no idea that there would be so much physical exercise involved! Leanne and I jogged about 6 miles, had to do the crab walk, leap frog, and wheelbarrow across 3 tennis courts (think back to 3rd grade - it is much harder 30 years later!), take salsa dance lessons at Kingston Mines. It was a RIOT. See pictures below.

My Urban Race partner Leanne


Challenge: find someone on the streets of Chicago wearing high top Converse All-Star shoes and get a picture taken taken of that person with both teammates.

Challenge: find this hot dog joint and get a picture of you feeding your partner a hot dog


Awesome costume - back to the future

Cute costume: their shirts read "Never trust a big butt and a smile"


Most Awesome Costume: Smurf & Smurfette

Challenge: there was a riddle - answer the Berghoff. Now, find the Berghoff and get a picture of both teammates with 8 others under the Berghoff sign

Challenge: find a store - purchase either markers & coloring book, a matchbox car, or ? and find this location and donate the item. Get teams picture taken with the star dude.

Challenge: Find the Palmer House hotel - count the flags hanging over the entrance. Make your way to the Picasso and get your teams picture taken in front of the statue holding up fingers equal to the number of flags at the Palmer House.

That was Saturday afternoon. We finished around 3:00. I then had to rush home, shower, get the kids ready, pack up and head out the door to Amanda and Kevin's reception, which was lovely. Once I get some pics from that I will post.

10:00 pm - head home from reception - put kids to bed - get things ready for race in the morning - ARG!

11:30 pm - off to bed

4:30 am - alarm goes off and its time to get ready for the big race. I was very excited, and a little bit nervous because I have been off for two weeks due to injury. But all went well. I ran the first 7 miles at a pace much slower than I've been training at - but it was good to ease back in and make sure the ankle was doing alright. At mile 7 Alexis's friend hopped in to run with her for a couple of miles and thats where I picked up the pace. My goal was to catch up with the 2:15 pace group - which I did. My finish time was 2:13. Definitely not a PR - but it was a good, fun training run. I have to keep in mind that getting through the full marathon is my goal this year. Here are some pics from the race...

Alexis before...

Me before...

Me and Alexis after

Click here to view some more pics taken by the pros during the race... Jens RnR Half Pics

So...we get done, it was fun, as always - glad I did it, but time to move on. I hit the road around 10am, go home, shower, get kids ready, head out the door to the birthday party. Once I have pics from the birthday I will post those as well. An awesomely exhausting weekend!

Now that I know my ankle is back in action it is time to start training again. I have a 16 miler this Saturday which will be my longest run yet. I am phyched - hoping the mild temps stick around at least until that run is over.

Jeff is training for his very first triathlon. He will be doing that this coming Sunday in Naperville. I will have lots of pics to post from that event next week.

Happy training:)