Fitness Friday-Texas Children's Hospital Fun Run

This year our first run of the year as a family was the Texas Children's Hospital Fun Run.  It is a 3K.

This race is affordable.  It is not a big race.  The after party is only open to the participants and volunteers.  This is our second year participating and we enjoyed ourselves. 

Check out of pictures and reasons why this is a fun run:

1)  Meet and Greets-

2)  Moonwalks, Slides, Games-

3)  Family Time-

4)  Medals-

 Last year, my daughter was in her stroller.  This year she actually ran most of the race.  She was so happy that she even started doing a victory dance before hitting the finish line.  Her moment was captured by the photographer at the race:

This is what she started chanting to herself, "You can do it" "Oh yeah, I am gonna win" "I got this"!  It was the cutest and funniest thing ever.  What a feeling it is to cross that finish line!
Start them young teaching them healthy habits.  I think we have another runner in the family.

Fitness Friday-Steps 4 Students 5K

I have a new found love for running and I know I sound redundant when I keep writing that but I do love to run.  But what I enjoy the most is that I get to do this with my family.  This hobby helps me keep up with my healthy lifestyle.  I try to find races that are available in my city that are cost effective so that we all can participate.  In February, we participated in the Steps for Students 5K for the Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese.  My friend's children attend and so it is great that we can help them with this fundraiser.  

What is a 5K?  5K = 3 miles

You do not have to run.  Most of these are fun runs that include family walks.  Everyone can participate and you can even push strollers that is what is so fun about this.  You can go online and find tools to help you get to where you want to be.  I am not where I want to be but I try, try, and will keep trying.  

This is the route of the 5K we did.

 The day was not too hot or too cold for a run.  I like when the route is a straight shot and not a lot of curves.  This even when through some streets with a lot of shade so it was perfect.  So how did we do, you ask?

1st Place-MJ 27 minutes
2nd Place-Dad 28 minutes
3rd Place-Mami 35 minutes

We had fun and that is all that counts.  I will tell you that none of us wanted to wake up this morning.  We had a lot of things on our plate this day.  But we made no excuses and went out there.  A practically 30 minute run and we were done.  Look I burned 355 calories in that 5K run, we had family time, and we helped a great cause.

Finding a race in your area can be as easy as goggling- Run/Walk in _____ city  

I challenge you to do your first 5K by the end of this month.  Good luck! 

Fitness Friday-I started, I ran, I crossed

So last week we talked about challenging ourselves.  Did you find a challenge?

My next challenge was the Aramco Half Marathon here in Houston on Sunday, January 13.  13.1 miles of a whole lot of running.  It rained.  It was freezing cold.  The wind blew.  I had not been running since it had been raining here.  I felt so unprepared.  I wanted to quit right from the beginning.  When the race started and throughout the race, I saw some inspiring signs:

-This was a great idea a month ago (I thought-2 weeks ago it was a great idea)
-Who suckered you into doing this? (My husband-I blame my husband)

Let us go back.  My husband had been training all year long to run in the Chevron Houston Marathon a full 26.2 miles.  Then the unexpected happened.  He injured himself 2 weeks before the race.  The doctor told him, no running, no marathon, not happening.  Well guess what, we had already paid the $100+ entry fee for this race and I did not want to lose that money.  All my friends willing to run where already running, so I decided to step up to the plate and run the race for my husband.  Except I cannot run 26.2 miles especially not without any training.  I have ran a half marathon before, 3 years ago, so I thought I could at least try.  So we paid another $30 to switch his race from a marathon to a half marathon, and now it was do or die time.  I did not get nervous until we picked up my package the day before.  Was I really doing this?  I only trained for a 5 days and then nothing the next five before the race.

So the day of the race was here.  I was at the start line ready, well not really, but no going back now.  The course starts in Downtown Houston and for the next mile you are going on a bridge.  It was drizzling before the race, then it poured, and just kept raining.  I wanted to quit.  My mind kept telling me- QUIT already!!  But I didn't.  Right when I was almost done with mile 1, and looking for a reason to quit, on the down slope of the bridge passes a blind runner, yeah, blind runner.  I knew I could not stop now.  I kept my pace and kept running-mile 2, mile 3, mile 4, mile 5, mile 6-YES.  I finished a 5K, and now a 10K-then I see a sign:

-If you were running the Conoco Houston Rodeo 10K Run, you would be finished (I laughed!  and wished I was done)

But I knew I was half FINISHED!!  I kept going.  Right before mile 9 at mile 8 my body started cramping.  It wanted to shut down on me.  My left leg was giving me a hard time but I kept going.  Then at mile 10, my right back side started hurting.  It was our turn around point, but for the marathoners the signs said keep going.  I told myself I am near the finish, why stop now, the full marathon runners are still going.  I kept going.  I could see Downtown Houston in front of me.  My body was cramping and shutting down, every step I took, every step closer seemed like it was never going to end.  On the left side of us where the marathon runners running towards their finish line.  Just when I wanted to quit again, I thought- they have ran twice my distance and are still running-KEEP RUNNING and FINISH FOOL!!  As the last mile came, the Rocky song came on, and I gave it my all.  I ran across the finish line.

Previous Half 2010- vs- This Yr Half 2013

Hippity ROC Half     Time 2:57:53     Pace 13:35/M
Aramco Hou Half     Time 2:36:24     Pace  11:56/M

Though this was not on my list of things to do this year, I can now cross a Half Marathon off my list for 2013!

Never say never!!!  You can do anything you put your mind to!  So what is it going to be?  You don't have to do a half marathon, just put one foot in front of the other and take the first step to doing something.  What will your something be?  START-DO IT-FINISH...

Total miles for 2013 Goal-35.22

Color in Motion 5K- Houston

Hey guys! This is Morgan from Color in Motion 5k. I am so excited to be blogging and to offer Independentmami’s readers on Sweetly Complicated an awesome deal for the Color in Motion 5k fun run on February 2 in Houston. Color in Motion 5k is the funnest color 5k run! This race also benefits the local Houston charity, Girls on the Run.

**Use the discount code- INDEPENDENTMAMI to register and get 10% off race registration.**

So what is Color in Motion 5k? Color in Motion 5k is the most fun 5k race you will ever participate in. This is not a timed race so run, walk, jog, whatever your prefer. I don’t know about you but I’m always looking for ways to have more fun. If you can combine that with exercise, friends and a great cause, I’m all in.

Here’s how it works.

Come in white clothes and start moving.

At every kilometer of the race you will find a color pit where our wonderful volunteers throw color on you as you go by. Turning your white clothes into a pallette of color.

What also makes Color in Motion different than your average 5k race is the after party. Afterwards there is a big party with music, dancing, vendors and a color throw.

Doesn’t that look fun? Having participated in one, I can promise you this is an event you DEFINITELY don’t want to miss out on.

So what do you have to do to join in on this fun? Go to colorinmotion5k.com/event/Houston and sign up using INDEPENDENTMAMI to get 10% off, bring your friends and get ready to have a great time and support a great cause while doing it.

Morgan

***Disclosure-I am receiving a complimentary entry, so join me and let's get our coloring on!!

Fitness Friday-Running

A couple of years ago, I was challenged to run a race.  Who knew I would become a runner after that.  Now I love to run!  It is a way to clear my head, and I really do not see it as exercise because it is so much fun.  So today for my Fitness Friday tip, I am suggesting you try running/walking.  It does not matter what level of fitness you are, everyone can walk.  Start there.  Make it fun.  Join a group.  Ask your friends to walk with you.  Why not run/walk a race and challenge yourself?  Start now, and you will be able to do a race...

What about this race?  TXU Energy 2012 Turkey Trot

When:  On Thankskiving Day, Nov 22, 2012

While the rest of the world is just thinking about dinner, you can be getting a good start.  Burn your calories and have extra calories so you can have 2 slices of pecan pie.  (I have burned over 400 calories at any given race/walk)

Where:  Houston, TX (but if you are not in Houston, find a race near you.  They are races everywhere.)

Why:  2 reasons

1)  To help you get fit, start moving, and exercise
2)  To help Sheltering Arms Senior Services (Most races all support charities.  Pick from the many there are that you want to support)

HOW:  Easy.  Step 1.  Get off this computer and go outside.  Step 2.  Move one foot in front of the other.  Like I said it is easy, just start and start now.  Don't sit at the Thanksgiving table this year, and have a flashback to this post.  You will not be happy if you did not start. 

 My family, friends, co-workers, and other Houston Bloggers will be participating in this race.  Join us today.

THANKS!
***Disclosure-Entries for this race were provided by TXU Energy.  All opinions expressed are my own.