What is your One Liner?

Taper, taper, taper!!!  I love to taper. Well, so I thought.  It is actually making me a little antsy.  Maybe it has something to do with that my family and I are spending a much needed family time and a rest week at the beautiful Oregon Coast (well, Julie who is a California girl may not call it beautiful or a real beach) - but we Northwesterners embrace our stormy beach - though we are actually having GREAT weather this week besides my stormy 16 mile stormy run (more about that).  I feel like I am wrestling the race mind games that are creeping in, with wanting to be lazy with my family and the other side of me that wants to feel like I do after a GOOD run.
As you know - I am following SBS of Run Like a Mother's Advanced Marathon Plan & I have really loved it.  It was a great challenge & I ended up loving the specifics of it with just coming off training for the Seattle Rock n' Roll.  I also loved the fact that my running buddy Julie was following the same plan & SBS was keeping us accountable by checking in and have been inspired by her commitment.
 Back to Sunday, 16 miles on the agenda (well, actually training plan says 15-16 - how can they do that to me??? I can't run 15 and be ok with it when the 16 is sitting there staring at me, letting me know I didn't take on the greater challenge.  Taper or not - my will won't let me.) - the only stormy, rainy day we have had thus far and sun in the forecast for the rest of the week - of course.  I thought "suck it up - this IS the Northwest, where you have lived all your life - just go get it done!"  Knowing my family would be nestled in our warm beach condo, eating waffles and sipping on warm drinks......I set out to get er' done (ode to Ryan D.).  I was soaking wet and I mean SOAKING just minutes into my run - I was laughing at myself trying to jump over puddles initially as if it were going to save my feet from getting wet.  So - I just embraced it - I always think,  "well, I have started so I have to finish - hence the shirt I bought and love that it reminds me to finish strong..

There was a point in the run when the rain was storming sideways against my face and it HURT - I had to laugh.  The looks I got from a few people as I ran downtown as they enter a restaurant for their hot breakfast or for their frothy morning latte (what I dreamed of) like - "is she crazy or why would she be running now???" - it motivated me!!  It made me feel stronger - maybe because I actually think I AM a little crazy......I think any individual that pushes this hard to attain a goal that most people never attempt - whether marathon or not is indeed a little crazy.  

So, now the question - What is Your One Liner?? There are many things that motivate/inspire me (read earlier entry of what really drives me) in the big picture, but what are the words that journey through your head as your body wants to stop or at least take it down a few notches??  What gives your mind the override on your body and pushes you through to your goal?? Mine this time around has been..."this is for a bigger goal!!!" - knowing that it isn't just about the workout in front of me but the marathon I am convinced to conquer.
I am interested to hear what words come through for your needed inspiration - I may need borrow a few on race day - I have a feeling that I will need more than one!  Happy Training!!

Peacocks can be Warriors too!

On Sunday some of my family and friends participated in the Warrior Dash - such a fun event!! Take a look at the course map and click on all the obstacles. May not have been the safest chose of an event in the middle of marathon training (I did a LOT of praying to come out with no injuries), but was a great change of pace and a day of FUN! One of the highlights was doing it with my husband who has been sidelined for a while due to an ankle injury and surgery this last year that left him with some permanent accessories of plates and screws! He has slowly been running again and it was so fun to do something that we weren't all that worried about time or pace (well, I can never completely forget about my time or pace - I think it is ingrained in me) - but it was more about the obstacles & just enjoying a challenge with family & friends. Any event that reminds you to leave REAL firearms and weapons at home has to be a GOOD TIME!!

So- before I share pictures - an explanation of our costumes....we decided to go against the grain a little & thought it would be entertaining to look nothing like warriors (costumes were encouraged)

Ok - my dad was suppose to be hunting the peacocks but i think he looks like a character from a horror film- I think the kiddos were scared!

Warrior peacocks!!  We look like we are at a dance recital - haha!

Julie and I before the Dash!

Her, Ryan and his cousin Scott were in the leg an hour before us - so we got to see them finish and got the advantage of hearing all about it.  We all tried to get in the same wave time but I am so glad that we got to watch them - it was hilarious!

Look at Julie go - smiles as usual

Even smiling when she is down!!

Still smiling!!

Nice slide Ryan!!


Scott, Ryan & Julie survived the dash - Connor loved watching!!
Now time to wash up in the communal soak area - see below.  Had to do it quick & not think about how dirty it was in there!

Nothing like a big mud bath with a whole bunch of people you don't know!

Go Heidi!!

My sweet husband gets to race with me again!!  Well, he says 10k or less but I am working on him.

Peacocks love to play in the mud!

Love the faces!

We did it!  Good times.

Our sweet kiddos came to cheer us on!  Not so excited to touch mommy and daddy.

My dad with a beer for him and Andrew.  Have to enjoy a beer after something like this!!
Turkey legs were available too.

Have so many fun pictures - will put an album on Face book.  Such a fun day with a great group of people.  It was fun to have all of our kids a part of it to.  Can't wait for the next time it is in town.  We will have to see if we can get more of you to join!!????  Now back to training for 10-10-10 (Portland Marathon)......almost there.

A New PR, girlfriend time, good laughs, shopping, good food, hometown celebrity & a potty accident (no - there were no children there)!!

Inaugural Eugene Women's half marathon, girl time, shopping, laughs, tears, reading from one of my favorite mom running authors SBS of Run Like a Mother, good food.......what more could a mom, wife, friend, runner ask for?

So, first - I am a week late on this post that I have been so excited about. Partly because of the crazy start of school, but mostly because I have been dealing with a nasty virus on my computer for a couple months now and it finally took over my computer. The hijacking of my husbands computer only keeps me up on e-mail and an occasional facebook message. I am now the proud owner of a new Mac book & I am in love!!! So - I am back to posting about my running and otherwise happenings in my life.

Now onto the the Eugene Women's Half......What a great event for several reasons but mostly because of these beautiful faces....



As I posted before Julie and I are following the same Advanced Training as Sarah of Run Like a Mother & this race was written perfectly into it. I was excited to see where I was at in my training, as a half marathon finishing time can be a good indicator of what you canplan to do for your marathon. Well, I set a new PR!! The plan that has been kicking my rear end is working. Thank you to SBS for sharing her plan with other runner mom's and thank you to Andrew Kastor, coach of High Sierra Striders in Mammoth Lakes, CA. for writing the plan for her. My previous time at Race for the Roses was 1:46:42 and here are my Eugene stats:

Ashley Shaddy
bib number: 1397
age: 35
gender: F
location: Vancouver, WA
overall place: 54 out of 1558
division place: 12 out of 265
gender place: 54 out of 1558
time: 1:42:45
pace: 7:51

I pushed hard for that time, but felt good...... except for finishing with wet shorts. Yes, I had a potty accident. Not the run down your leg and fill your shoes kind of accident, but I certainly finished with wet shorts. I was fine until mile 11 - when I had already passed all the opportunities to empty my bladder. I suddenly HAD TO GO - but told myself -"You only have 2 miles, you can make it." I always like to try and pick it up a little the last mile and FINISH STRONG.....so at mile 12 as my legs and arms went into a faster gear my bladder began to remind me that I have carried 2 babies in this body. As I could hear & see the finish nearing, I could also feel the evidence of my weak bladder in my shorts. All I can say is NEVER say NEVER - because I can remember having a conversation with Julie about marathon running and whether I could pee myself & I told her I didn't think I ever could. So, I guess I can & I did....should have brought the Go Girl that Julie bought me as a joke. The funnest part was telling Julie right after she crossed the finish line - she folded over laughing so hard that I am surprised a medic didn't come check on her. So, if my pants look a little padded for Portland Marathon - then I sporting a depends....hmmmm.....actually I may have to consider that. Isn't it in to have a Kardashian looking booty anyway?

Julie (see her report here) also set a PR, Meredith had a run with an incredible story, Amy had a great run, Lindsay finished her first race EVER - way to go, & my sweet friend Lisa who planned to run but was injured - was the most unselfish & motivating cheerleader!!!

Other than a great event with a beautiful course, great volunteers and spectators (THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!), I had an amazing weekend with some incredible women that I have already been blessed enough to call friends and a few that I was blessed enough to know better. It can do so much for a mom to get away with her girlfriends to relax, to finish a conversation, to laugh, sit and drink a cup of coffee (I mean sit there and drink ALL of it - how often do we do that!!), shop without kiddos, eat good food.......it is just refreshing to get a moment to breathe & spend time with people who are willing to share themselves - the good and the bad.

A few highlights and a few of my favorite things from the weekend:

When we got into town we went to Cafe Yumm & that name fits it perfectly. It is a perfect combination of a asian & mexican rice and bean bowl. Hard to explain, but SO good. I loved it so much that Elsie & I drove to the location in Beaverton last week for a Yum Bowl and I left with a craving fulfilled, a big bottle of Yum sauce so I can duplicate at home & a new fan as Elsie said "I like Yum bowls with enthusiasm!" She hears enthusiasm in her mommy's voice often when I speak of food.

If you are a mom and run or want to run ...you need to own Run Like a Mother -

It is a fun read & very motivating. We attended a reading that Sarah was doing when we went to pick up our race packets - it is always great to hear from a seasoned runner who has little kiddos running around as well & knows the obstacles of fitting a run or a training schedule into our mommy worlds. We took a picture with our local celebrity (at least in our little world- haha).




We did some shopping at the packet pick up area in the Fifth Street Market - super cute! Great kitchen store called Hartwick's - attached to a great little shop that makes YUMMY coffee.

We had a GREAT carb loading dinner at a newer restaurant called Osteria Sfizio. Super great girl's night or date night spot if you are in the area. They had homemade Ginger Soda that was so delicious!!

After the race - we not only got mimosas but we got to have a free mini spa treatment from the Aveda spa nearby and I found my favorite product that I have found in a while. I know this has nothing to do with running, but as much as I love running gear - I love other fun product to:



My hair has seriously never felt softer. Put it on when wet, dry hair and have your hubbie run his fingers through your beautiful soft hair or just enjoy it your self (the only area we mom's like to celebrate being SOFT).

Last, but not least - found a super cute pair of Mommy flats at a super cute shoe boutique Miss Meers.

So, great friends, good times and great run......thank you God for keeping me moving and giving me beautiful experiences and people to take on my journey.