Race Weekend!

Well...it was another successful weekend of racing. Mason and 1 ran a small 5k that was run by a church near our house in effort to raise money for kidney transplant/donors...which is always a good cause.. So we ran that race....and both won our age groups! Ha ha... I was the 1st female to cross the 'big finish' with only 1 guy and 1 kid (yes, kid...he passed me at about the 1/2 way and stuck right in front of me the rest of the way.. I just didn't have the heart to get competetive with a 13 yr old...especially at a church event!) in front of me. And Mason was right with me in his stroller with no one his age in sight! So that was a nice saturday morning.. My coach had recommended we do a short 'brick' that day, so I did a little bike ride prior to the run.. So that was a nice little warm up day to our 1st tri of the season, which was the next day (sunday). Most of our tri team went to do the Carmel Sprint Triathlon this morning... It was BRISK!! To say the least.. The swim was indoors in an amazing high school pool.. Then it was a chilly jog to get on our bikes, just a 10 mi bike and then off for the 5k run! I did well... I actually wound up getting 2nd (or 3rd.. .not sure...it said 2nd on the results at the race, but on-line says 3rd... either way, I'm OK w/ it) in my age group. As it turns out, if I'm ever going to really be up there in the ranks.. I'm going to have to start caring about those darn transitions! I always view them as "oh, what's a few seconds for taking my time getting shoes, socks, etc (and chatting a bit w/ folks around me)" But...from looking at the results...it makes a difference. SO. I don't know... I guess I'll start thinking about it more. But at least I know my actual events (the swim, bike and run) are going well.. I did a 7 min mile average on the run! I think that may be a PR even when I have fresh legs! So that's kinda cool. I like to see improvement! So that was that. 1st tri of the season down... Next up is either an olympic distance in Bloomington (back to those hills!) in early June, or maybe a mid-range distance (just short of olympic) in Terre Haute at the end of May. As usual...I'm itchin' for that next race, so I'll more than likely go for the earlier date. But, again... I'd say this season is off to a good start! My wonderful husband and Mason were there, of coarse, to witness it all... And Matt took some stunning video that I'll try to edit and add something from it.. either pics or video.. so stay tuned!

Fundraising update!!

On the fundraising front...I MUST update you all that I have (since my previous post not even a month ago) reached 100% of my minimum fundraising goal!!! YAY!! That's really exciting...and again, I have all of you to thank for that.. So, THANK YOU ALL!! This is my first foray into the world of fundraising and it has been a great experience. All the money I have raised so far has been from individual donations (and the couple events that I did...but those were still individuals participating and donating..), so it's truly been a 'power of one' situation and it's inspiring to see, to say the least. I also must add, however, that this doesn't mean I'm done collecting donations for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society... the $4200 personal goal that I had set was my minimum requirement for the event that I chose (Steelhead, in case ya forgot), but now that I've reached that, ALL donations/money raised above that goal will continue go to LLS and their efforts to cure blood cancers and improve the quality of life for patients and their families... So please don't hesitate to continue to add your donation, if you haven't already. ALL of your support means the world to me and I'm honored to be able to do my part to help raise money for all those that are so greatly in need. Please remember that with these tough economic times, we all struggle, but charities and medical research continue to need our help!... So please just keep that in mind. As always, I thank you for checking in with me and I thank you for your support.
So keep on keepin on! (I feel like I should have a 'catch phrase' or a 'signature sign off'...how do ya like that one.. No?? Too much?? ah..I'll keep working on it..)

Ready. Set. GO!

Hello! Well...race season is now in FULL SWING, so 'ready, set, go' is something heard a lot around here these days (actually, we hear it mostly from Mason who has taken a liking to 'racing' himself just about anywhere..any time... dr's offices, through the house, any ol' place will do! I'm pretty sure he always wins, too, which is good for the self esteem..). My 1st race o' the season was the IU Mini (or 1/2, to most) Marathon, which was a HILLY half, to say the least, and was on a rainy day (luckily I didn't start in the rain.. That's always a bummer... I just got caught at about mile 8 and then it didn't really get pouring until I was less than a minute from the big finish, which was therefore dramatic, for sure!) the 1st weekend of April.. I'd say it went well. Other than the weather, everything else was smooth as butter! I felt pretty good the whole race, except for my legs getting a lil tired by the end due to those hills! But for not really following a training plan, I fared purty darn well. In fact, I ran this one faster than the 'oh, so flat' Indy Mini Marathon just a little less than a yr ago! (my time at IU this yr was a 1:52 and I think, if memory serves me, the Indy mini was about a 1:56) And the hills, I must elaborate a bit to give you folks that are going 'hills in Indiana??'...trust me.. These folks were serious about giving us midwest runners a hilly challenge. It was pretty comical, actually (at least I thought it was). Most of it would be long, gradual climbs and then you turn a corner and BAM! a short steep son-of-a-hampster right there waiting for ya! And in the last mile of the race... TWO more hills packed in there! And if there was a downhill...I don't remember it. But anyway, it was fun. Matt and Mason were there with their new (courtesy of my fabulous husband) 'Team Blunck' shirts on to cheer me on. It's always so amazing to see them...and Mason's really starting to recognize me more as I come running by! The down side of that... he started calling 'up' when I came by the 2nd time and then started crying when I passed?! Oh, dear...we'll have to work on that one... Any way. So racing has started and is going well. Training is still fun and going well... I was even able to get some good runs and trainings in while we were out in Baltimore visiting family and watching the O's home opener (don't ask... for those that are fans, they were a bit bitter about the finish..), which was fabulous fun. We (being Mason and I..Matt has to work) have the Komen Race for the Cure 5k this saturday.. Mason will be riding in style in his stroller, which I will push while I run the 5k (even though they'd prefer we stick w/ the mile family walk...but if I'm going to get everything together and get out there by myself on a saturday morning... I'm running 3 miles darn it... So LOOK OUT! Here comes Team Blunck!). Then this sunday I have my 1st tri of the season! It's a sprint...the swim will be in an indoor pool, but the ride and run are outdoors... I'm looking forward to it! I'll let ya know how all of that goes... Here's some pics of the IU Mini and our trip out to Baltimore..

Here's Mason and I before the start at IU Mini in Bloomington, IN

blowing kisses to my little man! (this was before the tears started...Mason's, not mine..)

Here's my guys! 'Team Blunck'..FULLY decked out in O's gear..