Race Weekend: The B's participate in LB marathon events

A few months ago, I was looking at signing up JT for the Aquarium Kids run. While checking it out I mentioned the 26.2 mile Bike Tour to Mr. B. We've been talking with the guys at our shop about doing a biggest loser challenge. Everyone wants to get into better shape. Everyone wants to be healthier, everyone is tired of feeling like junk, competition is healthy. I told our guys that Rock Steady would cover the entrance fees if they agreed to ride in the bike tour. So they started riding.  Each of them covering 10-20 miles a day. Mr B got a heart rate monitor and made adjustments to his bike to get his productivity up. We made up some awesome jerseys and they looked awesome.




In the excitement of sending my hubs off in the morning on his bike as I juggled los kiddos, I decided that I wanted to join that high. I wasn't going to buy a bike too and get to pedaling but I did decide to get my feet moving. I signed myself up for the LB 1/2 marathon with 27 days to get it in gear.

Last year I completed my first 1/2 marathon. Last year I took myself from being an "I'd rather die" non-runner to "I love running... when I'm done" 1/2 marathon completer. My goal was to finish in 3:30 and I came across the line at 2:59.50. I trained all year. I did a program called C25K which was nine weeks long and through intervals, I went from only being able to run for one minute to being able to run for thirty minutes without stopping. I participated in two 5K runs and a mud run before doing the 13.1 miles last October. I figured I could do it again.

HeaBug works out twice a week at her gym. One day for ninety minutes and the other day for two hours. Instead of sitting on my computer (catching up on blogging) I laced up my shoes and took my first run "back". The first day, I managed 4.11 miles in an hour. I felt great. I continued these longer training runs up and around signal hill. Sometimes slower, sometimes faster but I wasn't experiencing any shin pain (last year I had a small stress fracture in my tibia that caused terrible pain. I ran the 1/2 marathon through it and when I visited the Dr. a week later and x-ray showed the fracture). I upped my runs to 5 and 6 and even 7 miles. I got several good runs in and felt pretty prepared even with just a month of training.

We kicked off the weekend with the first event. The Aquarium Kid's 1 Mile Run. JT participated last year and ran an 8min 12sec mile. We were impressed. Our other Booth Fam was participating too. The Twins ran with the nine year old wave and did great! JT took off with the other seven year olds and AMAZED us by coming in 3rd! He's so fast and between baseball and gymnastics, is just so conditioned! I'm incredibly impressed.

We spent the afternoon downtown and went to the fitness expo to pick up race packets for Mr. B and myself. We picked up some gear from vendors and tried lots of samples. JT and HeaBug probably got more than their daily doses of protein and energy with all the bars, blocks, drinks and gels they sampled. We had a great time though. We headed home to rest up before our early morning ahead. Maga came over to spend the night with the kids so we weren't dragging them along.

Rock Steady guys were super pumped and excited to ride the tour. A few of us met up to take the train downtown. The bike event started at 6am so we needed to be down there before 5:30. We caught the 4:51 blue line... Yes. A M . I KNOW. That meant Mr. B was up at 3:15. And chatty. I am not chatty that early/late/whatever. He was excited but I was just trying to conserve my energy since my run didn't start until 7:30. They were infectious though. With their giddy excitement. You couldn't help but smile along with them. Breeze came along for support. She was the cheering squad of the Rock Steady Racers/Riders/Runner. She handled that like a boss.

The fellas got off to their start and later told of the crashes they saw and how difficult it was to maneuver between the 4000 riders along the 26.2 mile course. All in all they enjoyed the riding though.

My wave started at 7:30 and my goal was to beat my previous time. For the first few mile markers I stopped to take pictures of myself by the signs. After the 4th though, I was just committed to finishing. I spotted a friend around mile 5 and waved. I did a run/walking combo and felt ok. Admittedly I kept searching for Mr. B. He met me at mile 11 last year, right at the time I could no longer feel my feet. He had company at the end though so I wasn't expecting to see him but still hoping.  Crazy awesome sign holders cheered on the runners. I high-fived a lot of people. A lot.

There's a big sign one mile from the end that says "You're almost there". I started to tear up. Coming down the hill to the finish line, Katy Perry's Firework came on in my ear and I KNEW I could do it. I did a little jump over the finish. Got my foil blanket and my medal, took my picture, took out my earphones, and went in search of my blue bag with my banana and pretzels and my coconut water. Coming through the post race area I heard some serious Woot Woots and cowbell clangs... My posse was cheering for me from the other side of the chain link. At that moment, I felt quite on top of the world.

 Rock Steady Riders and Runner. Ride Hard, Run Fast. Don't Die.

In the post race high, I signed up to run the Surf City 1/2 Marathon and the OC 1/2 Marathon. If you run all three, it accomplishes the Beach Cities Challenge and you get a special medal. Next year, when we do LB again, I'll be a Beach Bum... 3 consecutive years.

I love running... when I'm done. No really. I think I don't hate it anymore.

Happy 50th Birthday Maga

My Sweet mom, Maga, turned 50! We had ideas to do an awesome birthday party but with the last minute surgery and the crazy that is life, I dropped the ball. Sad Face...

But I decided to throw her a Virtual Birthday Party and via facebook and email, reached out to some friends and family and asked for little anecdotes about my mom. This resulted in over 10 pages of sweet stories telling of what a wonderful woman my mom is.

We celebrated her birthday in person by taking her to a craft boutique in Seal Beach. There were SO many cute things to look at and buy. She was most excited about a CD that she found full of awesomely sung primary songs. Then we met more of our family for lunch at Papalucci's on 2nd street and walked to Frosted Cupcakery after that. It was a FUN and YUMMY day!

She's truly one of a kind and has the most amazing spirit. She is courageous and strong and kind. She genuinely cares for others and is one to strive to be like. We love her so much. Happy Birthday Mama!

September School Events: Food Trucks, Picture Day and the Back to School Bash!

Every 3rd Tuesday, our school's foundation hosts Tuesday Night Appetite which is a food truck gathering. It's always a hit and this time we tried the Buttermilk Truck! Cinnamon waffles and fried chicken! Yes please!

and HeaBug got some shave ice from the Haleiwa Shave Ice truck... must say it's was jammin ono!

Hea Bug had picture day for school... She's just the funniest. I just picked her shirt, the rest was all her...

At the beginning of the school year, we attend a Back to School Bash, which is an evening where families come and hang out, listen to music, eat food, play games and finish out the night with a movie on the grass.

It's always a good time and this year our little Beat Boy JT was REALLY feeling the music as he and another little fella were tearing up the dance floor. They owned it.

The Booth Ohana Flag Raising

We bought a flag pole at the fair. We carried that mess to the car too... We are hard core.

The following weekend, our buddy Leyva came over and helped Mr B dig the hole to sink the post into. They got it put up pretty quickly and the next morning after the concrete had set, we put our American flag up 20' in the air!

We ordered our Hawaii flag so they'll ship it to us and we can fly two at once. Pretty neat.

Grandparent's Day at Pre School

Maga and Tutu came to HeaBug's preschool and spent the morning for Grandparent's day. They read stories and did a special craft. Maga is coming along SO well with her new knee. We joke about her and Tutu with their canes... It's funny but we are seriously proud of her progress and so glad that this time off is allowing her to do cool things like come to school for stories!

Hau'oli La Hanau Kai Boy!

For Hawaiians, it's tradition to have a huge birthday party for your baby when they turn one. Kai Boy celebrated his birthday in for real Hawaiian Style. The son of our dear friends the Mabry's we were excited to get to celebrate with them. The food was delicious, the decorations adorable, the atmosphere chill and we had a great time supporting our friends.

We got to watch dancers and the Aiau Ohana several Hulas and at the end of the night for the finale, I was invited to join in dancing Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai. It was such a fun experience and HeaBug was beyond thrilled to be up there.

Hau'oli La Hanau Kai Boy, we sure do love you. And thank you to the Mabry and Aiau Ohana for including us in this special day!

LA Fair 2012

We REALLY enjoy going to the LA Fair. The OC Fair is weak sauce comparably... maybe that's just our occasional pettiness towards Orange County in general talking... silly yes, whatevs.

Regardless, we always have a great time. Things have really changed for us though since Mr B had a big gall bladder scare last year. Fairly health conscious family that we are, the Fair was official "let your hair down and eat all the fried goods you want" time... There was a bout with fried avocados and a bloomin' onion and that kicked off a chain of events that led us to the hospital two weeks later with a Mr. B in excruciating pain. Come to find out through tests and ultrasounds, he had Gall Bladder Sludge. Not stones, it was sludge. A sandy substance in the gall bladder. We were sent to a surgeon for a consult after his painful flare up was over (thank you ibuprofen and lots of fluids) who suggested he get it removed. Mr. B was NOT up for elective surgery because of all the risks even with small surgeries. So our other option was a lifestyle change. To keep flare ups under control, we avoid greasy and fried foods, whole milk dairy products, highly processed foods and eat more lean meats and fresh fruits and vegetables.
So this trip to the fair included chicken and veggie kabobs with naan, lots of yummy muscle beach lemonade, and the go to favorite of a lifetime... Roasted Corn On the Cob... YUM!

We didn't head to the fair until about 4pm since that day the high in Long Beach was 100 degrees so at the fairgrounds, it was 104! By the time we went, the initial sweltering heat had dissipated and we were able enjoy walking around.