Pat's Run 2017

This past weekend Justin and I ran in the 13th annual Pat's Run benefitting the Pat Tillman Foundation. It was my 9th time running this race. Crazy! I never sought out to run it this many times but it just kind of happened and now I am committed. My mom came over early Saturday morning to watch the girls while they were still sleeping so we could head out to the race. I ran really well last year and I knew I was not going to be able to run that again but I still went out and did okay. A couple of my co workers also ran along with Justin's brother. Justin stayed back with me the whole run and I thought it would help but I actually think it was worse because I just complained to him the whole time about it being hot and the hills being so hard! It was not even close to my best time but it was also not close to my worst time either. Hopefully next year I am in a bit better running shape. They also changed up a few things for this year's run. For the first time ever, the route was reversed. That was weird. Also, they started a medal series so we got the 1st of 4 medals over the next 4 years. That was kind of cool because I have always wanted to do a medal series. This year they also introduced a beer garden after the race. I know it sounds weird to have a beer at 8 AM but it's free! That was fun. We got lots of fun swag at the expo after the run and then headed home to see the girls. All in all, it was another good year out at Pat's Run. See you next year!

There were 28,000 runners!

Me and one of my co workers in her first race!

Representing the Governor's Office

The start line and the finish!

pooped!

Post-Race Jamba and beers!

So proud of Jared for knocking out his first race, too!

Three Larkins!

See you next year!

Pat's Run 2016

This past Saturday I completed my 8th Pat's Run benefitting the Pat Tillman Foundation. Justin had a trail run the next day so he did not sign up for the run this year. My little sister and her boyfriend were running as well but I drove by myself. I got up early and did a little foam rolling at home while my coffee was brewing. I made some peanut butter banana toast and ate it in the car on the way out to Tempe. I must have been on my A-game that morning because I got out there really quickly and early. I grabbed some free samples and promotional items before the race started so that I would be able to leave right after I finished. I luckily met up with my sister and her boyfriend right before the race started. My sister passed me around mile 1 and I stayed shortly behind her until mile 3 and then there were a lot of turns and I couldn't see her but I think knowing she was ahead of me was good for me because I ran a new PR. Last year (here) I finished in 34:40 and this year I did it in 33:36. I know that doesn't seem like a lot but it was hot and shaving a minute off is a big deal for me in only 4.2 miles. It was a little weird this year because normally you finish on the 42 yard line but Sun Devil Stadium is under construction so we finished outside but I was just happy with how fast I ran. Running has never come easy to me so the fact that I finished 37th out of over 2200 females aged 20-29 makes me pretty proud. Hopefully next year it is not so hot!

Hard to see but Tyrann Mathieu from the AZ Cardinals speaking before the race.

Post-race choco milk!

 

Katy's race pics

official results

so many people still running as I walked back to my car. Over 20,000 people out there!

Pat's Run 2015

This past Saturday I ran my 7th Pat Tillman Run! This year I ran along with Justin, my sister Kim and her husband Doug, and my two sister-in-laws, Carly and Stephanie. Everyone had run it before except for Kim and she was actually running in place of Katy who had surgery and couldn't run. Katy and my mom watched the babies so we could all run. I normally don't like such big events, but I have learned how to manage the big crowds and handle this event so I still like it. We lucked out for the 2nd year in a row and got cool overcast weather. It was still warm and sunny at points but not too bad. I wasn't putting any pressure on myself to finish at a certain time but I knew I had a chance of beating my best pats run time from 2013 and I did. Only by 23 seconds (4.2 miles in 34:40), but still I am very happy with that. I am getting faster each week. It feels like it has taken forever but I am getting there. When I was 7 months post-partum with Everly, I ran my worst ever Pat's run here. At 7.5 months post-partum with Aspen, it feels pretty good to have gotten my best time in this event mostly because I know I can get an even better time. Hopefully that happens next year! Last year when I ran at 21 weeks pregnant I felt like I had to pee the whole time (read here) so it was nice to run without that pressure, too! After the run we got some free promotional items and Justin took Everly into the Kids Zone to go on a bouncy slide before we left. Of course, getting her to leave after that caused a threenager meltdown and then she passed out in the car on the ride home, haha. Never a dull moment!

my pre-race fuel (banana with some natural PB)

 

In corral 2 of like 20 something corrals and Justin and Kim before the start.

 

Right at the start of the race

 

Kim finishing on the left and Steph and Carly after the race on the right.

After the run. I was pooped!

Everly being 3 and Aspen in the same Sparky onesie the Ev wore 3 years ago.

Me and Aspen on the left and Kim, Katy and the boys meeting the Chic Fil-A cow on the right.

Cam spinning the Wells Fargo prize wheel and Ev climbing the bouncy slide.

Ev sliding down the bouncy slide and passing out in the car after!

Pat's Run 2014

Last Saturday I completed my 6th Pat's Run! It is a 4.2 mile run that ends on the 42 yard line of ASU's Sun Devil Stadium in honor of Pat Tillman and it benefits his foundation. It's probably one of my favorite runs. I didn't post about it last year, but last year I ran my fastest time ever. The year before, I had run my worst time ever. It was still fun and you can read about that race here. While I did not run my best this year, I was 21 weeks pregnant and I am pretty happy to say that it was also not my worst time. I ran at a 9:30 pace and I feel like I could have done a little better if I didn't feel like I had to pee the whole time, but that kind of comes with the pregnancy I guess. It's really kind of crazy to me that I ran better at 21 weeks pregnant this year than at 7 months post partum with Everly two years ago. I have obviously made a lot of changes and I hope to continue to maintain those. I was joined at the run by Justin, his sister Stephanie, my littlest sister, and my brother in law Doug. We were also lucky that my mom and sister helped with Everly so that we could both run. My sister is recovering from knee surgery and although she still could have run faster than me, she stayed with me the whole time and we crossed the finish line together which was pretty cool. Everly got popcorn in the kids area after the race so she was happy. When we were walking back to the car she kept saying, "this is so fun!" Haha! I don't have a ton of pictures as I don't run with my phone on shorter runs anymore but I did steal some race photo proofs so enjoy!

The 3 Larkins finishers!

 

He had some good race photos...for once!

 

He didn't run once in April, and still ran well...men!

It was her first Pat's run and she killed it!

Me and the sister. I don't even really look pregnant.

 

Popcorn freak. It wasn't even 9:00 AM yet.

Kitty Love Friday (And an Anniversary!)

This past week (April 15th) marked 3 years for us in our home so I thought I would add an old picture this week from shortly after we bought the house. Even though we don't plan on moving, 3 years is a really cool year for us because we received the first time homebuyer's credit and if you moved before 3 years was up you would have to pay it back so now we are free and clear! When we first moved in 3 years ago it was just us and Oscar! Now he has to share the house with 2 hound dogs and a baby girl! When we got the house we painted the entire inside. These pics are from when Justin was painting our 1/2 bath and Oscar thought he would help!

I decided to share a pic of how the bathroom turned out because I was afraid you might be concerned after how the paint job started out in that first pic! Haha! 

We have a busy weekend and week coming up! Tomorrow is the Pat Tillman Run ( I will share pictures after)! This year will be my 4th time running the 4.2 mile run and Justin's 2nd time running! We didn't run it last year due to the pregnancy but we did run it 3 years ago despite having just got the keys to our house the day before! It is an awesome run and I am excited to be back in it! Also, next Friday I leave for Vegas with my sister for a soccer tournament. It will be my first overnight away from Everly so I have a lot to prepare for! Have a great Friday!