Running Tanks!

Thanks everyone for your awesome customized t-shirt web site recommendations!  Some of you went out of your way to find some designs (Thanks LB & Meg!), and some of you came up with some very interesting slogans.  Like Amanda's "You got chicked by a fetus!"---OMG, I was laughing so hard I started to cry when I read that!  How strange would that be to have that on a tanktop?!?!  It'd be totally perfect for me though...

I ended up using Spreadshirt.com (Thanks Genesis!) because I liked the color/style variety and the prices were reasonable (and I didn't want to pay nearly $30 for a tank top).  Plus, I went a little overboard and starting designing other tees and shirts and such, which led me to set up a "shop" just for sh*ts and giggles.  And YOU KNOW I'm totally working on a nekkid semi design!  It's in the works, folks!  Ha ha!  I'll keep you posted.

So, here is what I came up with:

TA DA!

It's already in production, too.  I'm pleased with it so far. :)

Also, since I'm crazy, I signed up for a 10K race in September (called "You Go Girl!") and I'm going to be an honorary member team Will Run for Ice Cream led by Jill and Tall Mom Mel.  Here is the team shirt that I bought from Nordies today:

Um, yeah.  I had to get a Large because I'll be approx. 8 months along with the Little Goober...I hope it fits in September!  Either way, I'll be run/jog/walking the race for fun.  Plus, I get to meet even more fabulous running bloggers too! (Like TMB!!)  And trust me, I will definitely run for ice cream even more in a couple months. ;)

Speaking of what you will "run for," I saw a maternity top on the Cafepress site that said "Will run for wine."  Uh.  Ok?  Not cool?  Normally I'd be all for that slogan, but on a maternity top?  Notsomuch. 

**And to quell a nervous comment from momof3...I totally agree!  I carry a water bottle with me wherever I go, and if I'm on a run longer than 4 miles, then there's water with me too.  Thanks for keeping me in check! :)

Avoiding the "Is she?" Debate

Even though I'm officially 18 weeks along, I still don't have a definite "belly" yet (I think).  And since the Seattle Rock 'n Roll Half is in a couple weeks, I don't want to be one of those annoying runners that sprints past you only to walk a little and you pass me, but then I sprint past you again, and on and on.  It's frustrating.  So, my plan is to make it obvious that I'm expecting.  I want to make a custom tank top.

My idea is something like this for the front:

And then I'm going to just have a little homemade sign on the back that says "Baby on board's 2nd half marathon" (because I would love to use the tank again for future runs/races).  Hopefully this little sign will let people know that I'm not trying to be a douche runner, but then again, I won't be in the same "pack" as my first half marathon...so it probably won't be as competitive.  My plan is to enjoy the experience!  I'm totally stoked!

AND, I get to meet more running bloggers!!

The problem with this design is, I have no idea where I can get it silkscreened/printed/etc without it costing me a fortune, or having to buy in bulk.  All I want is a pink athletic tank top with this yellow sign. Gah!  Plus, I'm running out of time.  Suggestions anyone? 

Last night's run: No nose assault!  It started to drizzle, but I loved it and it felt amazing to run in the rain again.  One thing though...I swear I ran into a bug, but after wiping my forehead and under my glasses, I couldn't find any bug remnants (I was wearing a baseball cap and my glasses aka "the bug windshield").  Flash forward an hour or two later while I'm sitting next to Trav in the computer room.  I take off my glasses to wipe the lenses and what is this?  I find a dead fly on the bridge of my glasses.  Trav didn't even notice because he was hard at work on the comp.  Gee, thanks!  Good thing I didn't go anywhere with a fly carcass just out of my peripheral vision, chillin' on my specs. 

Hee hee.

Because I Think I'm Cool Enough...

...I created a "fan" page on Facebook.

Yes, I couldn't help it.  I want people to "Like" me! :)  And I'm always on FB.

Be my friend?  Please?  Aw, schucks...thanks dahlin.

The Stink

Now, I normally smell people cooking dinner on my runs around the neighborhood.  Teriyaki chicken, meatloaf, pasta, garlic bread etc: it all smells delicious.  Not tonight.  I swear someone had boiled a raccoon or sauteed a couple sweat-soaked tube socks and served it with a side of horse poo.  Ok, I may be exaggerating a bit.  Actually no, maybe not.  This is what it smelled like for FIVE whole houses: hot cat vomit/cat food mixed with stinky bleu cheese.  It was horrendous!  I literally had to hold my nose for half a block.  Goodness people, what WAS that?

The rest of the run was amazing. Humid out, but very refreshing!  Gus actually said I was going at an 8:40 pace (and I felt like I was) for a little bit.  Slow down!...as soon as I pass the stink block...

Insole Winner, 4-Miler & Lunch with Mel

I am a day late at announcing the winner for the Sorbothane® Ultra Work Sport™ Insoles...so sorry about that everyone (busy Saturday).

 Congrats to Stephanie at Girls Just Wanna Go Run!

Please send an e-mail with your shoe size and address to zoe@runzoerun.com.

Friday was a pretty decent day here weather-wise, and I was able to get off work early and go for a run!  I ended up going 4.2 miles and it felt pretty darn good. :)  There were two major hills that I decided to conquer, and I made it!  Only walked a little after the hills to catch my breath.  Checked on the pile of crap bags, and found that they were still there, plus another one or two. Grrrrr. I need to make that sign.

Not only did I get a nice run in on Friday, but I got to have lunch with MEL!  I haven't seen Mel in forever (please don't tell me it's been since the Mercer Half in March?!?!), and it was fun catching up.  Note: Mel is still very tall. ;)  By the way, she finished the Green River Marathon yesterday...and is on her way to Maniac Status!! Woot!

Short and sweet post.  There's a break in the rain...I'm going for a run.

The Magic Word: *Giveaway!*

Enticing much? :)

Alright there, peeps...don't forget to enter my RxSorbo insole giveaway!  I use these insoles in my walking shoes and they make my feet feel über good.  You have until tomorrow to enter, so check it out.

Since yesterday was National Running Day, of course I had to get in some miles.  The weather was once again, crappy, so the treadmill seemed like my best bet.  Running on the treadmill is harder for me lately because I get so freaking hot!  Instead of just running a full 3 miles, I broke it down into three 1 milers.  It gave me a chance to get my HR down and cool off before squeaking in the next mile.  Which reminds me that I need to use that treadmill lube on my poor Smooth Fitness...it's squeaking horribly.  I'm sure it didn't bother Travis as he tried to work on the computer.  Heh heh. *evil*

A little while back I was tagged as a Versatile Blogger by Tall Mom Mel & Khianna.  Thank you ladies!  

Here are 7 random facts about 'lil 'ol me:

1. I cannot put a bra on like everyone else.  You know, cups first then hook?  I have to hook it in the front, then swirl it around.
2. I walk on my tiptoes if I'm barefoot/sockfooted on linoleum or hardwood.  Always have, always will. 
3. One summer (I think it was back in 2002) while in Massachusetts, all 5 of us sisters weighed the same (115).  It was weird, we thought the scale was broken, but our Uncle tried it and it wasn't.  We are all different heights, so it was kind of awesome.  Yeah, that was random. 
4. Speaking of sisters, my big sister Karrie has a fashion blog and she was featured on Glamour.com a few weeks ago!  I brag!  I'm proud!
5. I met my hubby on College Facebook....Facebook before it became what it is.  :)
6. I'm an iPhone junkie.  I love it tons and it has changed my life!  (Really!) In fact, I now work for a small iPhone app company run by my bro-in-law. Plus, I don't run without my iPhone...it's my music source and my in-case-of-an-emergency access to a phone. [Shameless biz promotion...look up iCollect Movies or World Customs and Cultures in the iTunes app store]
7. Perhaps at least one of these should be about running?  Yeah. ;)  Ok, my running hero is my Uncle Doug (aka Coach Fish).  He's an amazing runner, and this year he's making a comeback into racing (starting with the Osterville Road Race in July!!  I'll be there!).  My goal for him is Boston. But, he could totally qualify in his sleep.  His goal for me is Boston too.  So we'll see how this pans out after Goober comes along!  Woot!

Now I must pass this on to 15 awesomely versatile bloggers!  Since this has been going around already, a few are dupes.  So consider yourselves even more versatile. :)

• Morgan aka The Redhead:  She just moved away from sunny Florida to be with her hunny.  Commence the "schmoopy."
• Tall Mom Mel: So glad I met this mama last year at Fleet Feet!  She's so inspiring, and fun to run with.
• Laura at Jog for Joubert Syndrome:  She runs/blogs/lives for a very worthy cause! 
• Glenn:  I keep telling him to change his blog name from the Running Fat Guy to the Running PHAT Guy.  He's hardcore!
• Emily:  Um, what more can I say about the runner behind "Sweat Once a Day?"  I admire her so much!  She makes BQ'ing look like a walk in the park. 
• TMB: Completely jealous of her Running Skirt collection...and her race day style!  And I definitely look up to her when it comes to running while prego. 
• Erica at Run Mommy Run!:  She's hooked on running now!  Her little girls are adorable!  And she's always very encouraging in comments. 
• Karrie:  Um, Hello Pretty [Awesome].  Enough said. Love you sis. 
• Nikki:  Shout-out to the other prego running mama!  Woot!
• Liz:  Writing Mommy extraordinaire. Overall tough chick and cool sis-in-law. 
• Kerrie:  Following her running journey has been a trip!  She's got a couple half marathons under her belt and it hasn't even been a year yet!  Plus, her 'Bu has butt-warmer seats...ahhhhh. :)
• Katye:  Love this girl.  Who couldn't?  She's got personality and determination and some killer shoelaces!
• Penny:  I love Penny.  She's always smiling and has the coolest race day outfits!  Plus, her dog Velcro is the sweetest looking pup. 
• Billy:  He's a character.  Plus he's crazy insane when it comes to trail running.  I think he spells his name wrong though.  It should be Billë. Ha!
• Lindsay:  Chasing the Kenyans is right.  Hello speed racer!  Reading her race recaps makes me want to run fast with her.

15!  Wow!  I could go on...you all are pretty wicked awesome I think. :)

Crap Bag

Remember that Friends episode where Phoebe changed her name to Princess Consuela Bananahammock? And Mike's rebuttal was that he was going to change his name to Crap Bag? If not, here's the clip:

Well, the topic of today's post is Crap Bag. Literally and figuratively, of course.
(Special shout-out to the master of poo-talk: Beth!)

First, literally...

Remember how I mentioned a few months back that there's a dog owner in the neighborhood that picks up his/her dog's poo in a bag, but then leaves that bag on the sidewalk?  Well, it's still going on, and the crap bag pileup is getting ridiculous.  I mean, it's so ridiculous that I had to stop and take a picture.  Yes, I stopped my run to take a picture of poop.

I am going to make a sign and put it over the bags that says "Pick up your CRAP." Seriously.  It's disgusting and stupid.  

Moving on...

Second, figurative "crap"...

I know I'm pregnant and all, and that my body is doing something it's never done before, but MAN, it's still frustrating.  Is it wrong that I'm worried my legs/lungs/heart won't remember what it's like to run under an 8 minute mile or at a sprint at all?  My body is starting to hate me after 2 miles.  Especially on the treadmill!  And since the weather has been, well, crappy, I've been using the treadmill a lot more.  So, this makes me overheat a lot quicker and get even more frustrated that I have to walk more often.  But when I do run outside, I feel like I'm going at a snail's pace, and that my lungs are going to explode on the first hill.  Running right now is making me feel like crap. :(

(Skip this part if you don't want to hear the rantings of a prego chick)

Plus, I went from pretty much "marathon training" back in February to running 2 miles here and there.  I've seen all my running buddies get BQ's and awesome PR's and I'm so happy/proud/excited for them...but a part of me is bummed because I miss really racing and being able to run those longer distances.  It's hard to read about people moving forward with their goals when mine seem to be moving backward.  Sure, this is a new "chapter" in my running life, and I'm not supposed to know what happens, but I miss kicking ass instead of having my ass kicked.  I do need to look at the bright side more often: I'm going to be a MOM; I've ran 4 races so far since being pregnant; I can still lace up my shoes and run for a bit, walk for a bit, etc; my goals/dreams are simply on hold at the moment; I'm not the only one out there that feels this way.

Ok, ranting done.  I feel better.  

My Memorial weekend was very low-key.  In fact, I slept a lot.  Hung out with Travis and Murphy kitty too.  But, Murphy and I took a lot of naps together.  He's my sleeping buddy-in-crime.  Here's Murph in action:

This is after I got up from a nap.  Murph was using my pillow. :)

Got a couple of miles in over the weekend, and some really high incline power walks on the treadmill.  But, it was raining the entire weekend and of course I wanted to be outside.  The sun finally made its debut at around 5:30pm on Monday evening...thanks a lot for that, sun.  What a long-weekend slap in the face. :P  Oh well, I still enjoyed my lazy weekend!

Don't forget to enter the RxSorbo insole giveaway here!!