Mom in the Mtns

Hi everyone!  While I was packing, moving, and setting in to Alaska, I had 6 lovely bloggers nominate me for the Liebster Award!  I’ve done this a few times before in the past but love it so much that I decided to do it again!  I also decided to combine questions from all 6 people who nominated me so that it’s not the longest post on earth  🙂

Big shoutout to the following blogs for nominating me!  I love reading your blogs as well and I’m really honored you added me to your lists!  Sorry it took me so long to finally do this, things have been crazy over here!  Thanks to:

Jen from Daydreams and Shoestrings

Meg from Meg’s Life Running

Abby from The Secret Life Coach of DC

Jennifer from Kinetic Fix

Jen from Going the Distance

and finally, The Half Mad Half Marathoner

 

 

1.  If you could run any race in the world, which race would you choose and why?

I would love to run the Boston Marathon!  I know I will never be fast enough to qualify, but I’ve always looked up to people who were able to run that fast and would love to be able to share a race course with so many amazingly talented people!  If I could magically get a bib I would so be there!

2.  Which of your races this year are you most excited about and why?

The Beat The Blerch Half Marathon in Carnation, WA in September.  It’s the inaugural race, there will be Nutella at the aid stations, and I get to run it with The Oatmeal himself!  I’m so excited to meet him!  Plus I just love the Pacific Northwest  🙂

3.  What is your favorite healthy snack that almost feels sinful?

Currently I am super obsessed with smoothies at the coffee shop across the street from my office.  They are soooooo good!  They have all natural/organic ingredients but they taste like milkshakes.  I still feel like it can’t be healthy for me to eat one of those every other day…

4.  What quote or song (or both) inspires you most in your running?

I may not always believe this, but I try to remember it as much as I can!

5. What is your favorite race distance and why?

I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I’m really into half marathons right now!  I love that they require training and planning in order to do them and even if I go slow it’s still a huge accomplishment for me.  5ks and 10ks require speed which I don’t really have  🙂

6.  Did you go to college/what is your highest level of education? If college, what do you have a degree in and do you use it?

I loved this question because this is something I never get to talk about, but I love learning where people went to college!  I got my Bachelors in history at the University of Pittsburgh (that’s where I met my husband) and got my Masters degree in elementary and special education at Arcadia University.  I was kind of using my special ed degree at my old job (job coach for high school kids with disabilities) but I’m not using either of them anymore!  Although I am still paying for both of them  🙂

Hail to Pitt!

7.  What’s a piece of advice you’d give to a new runner?

I would tell them that it sucks in the beginning, but it WILL get better if they stick with it for a few weeks.  Once they get their first runner’s high they’ll understand!

8.  Did you ever/do you have a television program that you just had to be home to watch? What was/is it?

TEEN MOM OMG.  Not being able to watch that show is probably the worst part about living in Seward!  I also am obsessed with Dance Moms, Catfish, and basically anything on TLC.  If it’s a reality TV show about people who have insane lives, I probably watch it!

9.  What is your favorite childhood memory?

As a kid I used to love going camping with my dad!  We would go to World’s End State Park back in PA, just me and him.  I would always try to get him to let me do the big scary trails  🙂

10.  What is your life motto?

11.  Favorite book right now?

Anything by Kate Morton.  I’m not usually into mystery-type books, but these are really interesting and historical which I love!  My favorite book of all time though would have to be The Help.  If you haven’t read it, stop reading my blog and go read that book!

12.  What would be your ultimate athletic achievement?

Currently it is running a half marathon in the rain  🙂  Running a full marathon would be the ultimate thing I could ever do though!

The guy behind me is clearly excited about my achievement  🙂

13.  What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?

I write down every time I workout.  Knowing that if I don’t work out I’ll have a blank spot on the calendar (of course 1 or 2 blank spots a week is okay!) makes me want to get my workout done!  Especially if I’m training for something!

14. What’s one piece of running gear that you can’t live without?

Other than my shoes?  I’m not going to say my Garmin since I’ve been trying to run without it whenever possible, so I’m going to have to go with my running headbands!  There is nothing worse than when your ponytail falls apart mid run and you have to stop and fix your sweaty hair.  I’m kind of a big fan of BAMR Bands right now but I do love all my Sweaty Bands!

Rocking my favorite yellow BAMR Band headband by the Rocky steps!

15.  What’s the most annoying thing you’ve had to deal with on a race course?

Freezing cold monsoon rain for hours!  And a group of 6 girls at Disney Princess doing walk/run intervals and stopping in a huge line in front of me, which made it possible to run around them.  Grrrr.

16.  How many running related stickers do you have on your car?

Ha!  Just 1, and Andrew things that’s enough!

Now it’s my turn!  I have so many running blogs I love, and I would definitely have to nominate the 6 girls above since I love reading their blogs!  Here are 10 more blogs that I’m loving right now and totally deserve a reward (I think I’ve nominated some of them before, but they are still awesome and you all should follow them too!).  If you guys feel like answering the questions that I had to answer, go for it!  Clearly I am breaking all the rules by not coming up with my own questions or even notifying the following bloggers, but I’m taking a chill approach to it this time!

Lauren at Run Salt Run

Angelica at Helly on the Run

Rebecca at Strength and Sunshine

Cyanne at Run Stretch Go

Lindsay at Lindsay Weighs In

Bree at Running Breezy  (I actually just totally caught up on her blog and realized she nominated me too!)

Amber at PB & PRs

Amy at Miss Adventures In Running

Maureen at Running on Cabernet

And all the fabulous ladies over at Scoot A Doot!

Everyone reading this:  answer one of the questions that I answered above in the comments!  I want to learn more about everyone who spent time reading this!