How to spend the day before a race.

On Monday T-dizzle told me that she had to go down to Carmel for a work meeting on Friday and I kindly offered to accompany her and told her that we should go approximately 6 hours before the meeting so that we could take our twinner babies to the beach (actually, that was her idea).  I promise Brooke really was excited to go even though her face is telling you the opposite.  

Our girls are just 2 weeks apart… Brooklyn and Brooke.  They were meant to be bf’s and we have already planned their whole lives out together.  

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You know how Brooke hates socks/shoes?  I am pretty sure she was in heaven when she was walking barefoot on the beach… quite the calf workout if you ask me.  We foam rolled them out later that night.

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Caramel is a little over an hour from San Jose.  San Jose forecast= raining.  Carmel forecast= paradise.

T-dizzle used to work in the area a lot and so she knows the best of the best and took me to this restaurant for lunch.   

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Lobster AND shrimp quesadillas?!?!  I can’t think of a better combination (excluding desserts).  

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We split the quesadilla and the club sandwich.  I automatically like people A LOT when they want to split their dish with me so I can try more than one thing on the menu.  

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And then my friend went to her work meeting and I took care of the two little hoodlums.  Mothers of twins…. HOW DO YOU DO IT?  

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After I got home I did what I do the night before every single race:  Eat pasta with red sauce and chocolate for good luck followed by seeing how many hours I can stay seated.  

Time to get my trail run on.  I am sure glad that it rained the last two days in our area… that is going to make the odds of me falling increase by at least 1,000,000.  

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What do you eat the night before a race? How do you spend your day before a race?  

Anyone have twins in their family? 

What is your long run this weekend?  Anyone running a race?

What time did you wake up today?

-I am shooting for 6:30

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97 comments

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I can’t wait to hear how the trail race goes! You are going to do awesome!
I eat oatmel the night before a race and spend the day w/family–they help me take my mind off the race–or talk about it obesessively and get pumped up;-)

My alarm clock (my toddler) woke me up at 6:22–the same time she has every day this week.

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good luck at the race! i’d be worn out watching 2 babies. Heck i can barely handle watching my nieces. You are brave!

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Good Luck!! Thoses quesadillas look delish! I beat ya….6:15. ;)

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Looks like an amazing beach.. I really wish there wasn’t snow on the ground here.. Glad you had an amazing day!

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Good luck!!!! You are going to rock it. I was up at 7 with the toddler. Sleeping in on the weekends is null and void 1. During race season (next half is next month) and 2. for toddler moms. ;)

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Wow that looks like an amazing beach!! Wish we had those around here!

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Good luck today. Can not wait for the recap!
It’s cold and snowy here = no run for me today.
Thinking of trying an indoor track next week, since I’m not a tready fan.
Ever track run? I’m just worried I’ll start to feel like a hamster… lol
But gotta do something to get miles.

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I need to be in Fremont by 6:45. I was going to wake up at 5:45, but my dog decided to wake me up at 4:30am. Garsh.
Oh, well. I did some core work and probably won’t be running today, but I’ll try to get in a longish run tomorrow!

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I get nervous to split meals; I get nervous they won’t order something good and then I will have to give up half my meal! I am not good at sharing food.

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I always eat pasta the night before a race too. It has become a tradition more than anything. I was up at 5:30ish this morning because I don’t know how to sleep in anymore. We do have twins in my family. I am a twin. My younger sister was also supposed to be a twin but the other baby didn’t make it full term. I know it would be crazy tough but I think it would be great to have twins.

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My dad is a twin! And they say twins skip a generation, so I am always a little concerned (um, excited?) that I may have them. Good luck on your race. Distract yourself from thinking about it!

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Just thought I’d share… my mom is a twin AND my husbands dad is a twin. I felt destined… but nope. We had two boys several years apart. : )

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Good to know! I just cannot imagine having to get 2 of everything! Not to mention time….

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Exactly! Could be fun if you had plenty of help. No more kids for me my oldest is in high school. : )

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I have twins (and no help aside from my husband) and it is AWESOME!!

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Good luck today!! Can’t wait to read all about it!

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I eat quite light the night before a race, have a pasta lunch instead. My Granny was a twin, she had a twin brother. I don’t know how parents of twins do it either! I woke up at 4am this morning, my son is sick :(

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Woooo good luck on the race, girl!

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Lol going down to Carmel today after the race! :) must find quesadillas! I love seeing babies “walk” in he sand. So cute!

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My grandma is a twin! Usually before a race I would eat pasta but this past time I had buffalo chicken tenders and a sweet potato and PRed so maybe that will be my new routine? GOOD LUCK IN YOUR TRAIL RACE!!!

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DH makes me spaghetti before a race. I love his spaghetti! I try to spend the day before as normal as possible.
I got up at 6a to try and run before my hair appt. I was so proud of myself. But it is raining, in PHOENIX! This girl will run in anything except rain.

The Kidless Kronicles

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I am a twin!
Good luck at your race. Have a BLAST!
I am heading out in windchill 8* temps for my 10-12 mi long run…

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Trail run races are the best!! You should come to Utah in the Fall and do Moab’s Project Athena trail marathon. It’s out of this world amazing!! I hope you have a blast today. You will be awesome! Oh wait…..you already are :)

I am running a boring indoor 5k at UVU today. Me and my friends are going to do the indoor course twice because 5K is just too short. We hope the race people don’t notice us doing it again. hahaha.

If it’s 6:37 am in Utah right now that means it’s only 5:37 am for you and that means you aren’t awake yet. Your alarm should be going off pretty soon. (unless you woke up early because you are so super duper excited about your race and couldn’t sleep ;) I wish I was running with YOU today. Utah is COVERED in fog. Can’t even see out the window very far!!

Have a super swell day!!

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Oh also, I have a piece of piano music called “Carmel by the Sea” and absolutely think it’s the most beautiful music. Whenever I play it I imagine what it looks like there and you provided pictures so thank you:)

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The girls are adorable! My maternal grandmother is a twin, my paternal cousin had twins, and my uncle is a twin too although not blood related. I work with triplets a lot and there is no way I want multiples, but the odds may be stacked against me!

Have fun on the trail race! I really want to do one too!

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Sounds like a perfect way to get some fun into a work day. I don’t know how people keep their sanity with multiple babies. One at a time was enough for me!

And yes, my mom is a twin and my husbands dad is a twin.

Best of luck today!

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The night before a race I always eat whole-wheat noodles with marinara sauce, and I’m super picky about what I eat for 2 full days before a race too. I don’t want to rish anything messing with my stomach!
Good luck today!!

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Well shoot! My first comment didn’t show up.

I’ll try to remember and retype. I am so excited for you to do a trail run today. Trail races are the best. I think you should come to Moab in the Fall and run the Project Athena Trail Marathon. You will think you have died and gone to heaven! Anyway….you will be awesome today in your race. Have a blast and I can’t wait to hear all about it. This mama is a total trail runner at heart. It really is my number one love with running. Utah is COVERED in fog this morning. I can’t even see very far out my window. How I wish I was there running with YOU!!

I am running a boring 5K this morning at UVU. It’s an indoor run around the halls of the campus. Funny huh? Me and my friends are going to try and do it twice because a 5K is just too short. I hope the race people don’t care. hahahaha. The best part is we get a tshirt and pancakes after.

Lobster and shrimp really???? Oh my yummmmmminess!!! Can you ship a few of those to Utah?

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Good luck!
My kid got me up at 5:47 this morning…ugh. No twins in my family! I also couldn’t imagine taking care of twins. One is hard enough!

Off to make bran muffins :). Have a great day!

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good luck today!

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Have a great time on the trail race! Hope it isn’t too muddy out there!

No twins here. Not sure if I would be able to survive twins :)

I just want to get 2 runs in this weekend – nothing long, but need to get some miles in bad!

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Wohoo good luck and best of all… have so much fun!!!!

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Good Luck!!! :)

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Your day at the beach looks like a blast! Bahahaha hoodlums… perfect way to describe the angels ;)
GOOD LUCK TODAY! RUN FAST :)

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What a gorgeous pre-race day! Best of luck in today’s trail run!

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I’m running my first 20miler today!! First marathon is three weeks away, eek! Excited though, because even though the temperature outside will be around 8F (around zero with the wind) when I head out for my run, so I’ll need to bundle, but it’s much better than the -32F to -40F temps that have been keeping my runs this week on the treadmill. I don’t mind the treadmill, but 20miles of it? Not my thing!!
And I managed to sleep in until 7:30am, a big difference from my typical 3:12am alarm.
Have fun with your race today!! Can’t wait to hear all about it!! Thinking that you should use some of the mud as warrior paint, just to show Mother Earth that you’re on her side, and perhaps she’ll spare you a bad slip or fall. ;)

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Hope you have an awesome race today!!

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I am a mommy to 18 month twins. It is an amazing thing. My husband and I waited 6 years for one to show up and just when we were about to give up 2 showed up. They are fantastic little girls with completely different personalities. They don’t mind the ride in the BOB running stroller, I didn’t mind the resistance. So they helped me run a half a year after they were born! Good luck on your race

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Luck at your race!

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good luck girl!!

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Those beach pictures are lovely!

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Good Luck! You’re going to do great!! (Even if you do fall!)

I have 8 miles today and 18 miles tomorrow. I got my new Brooks PureCadence though so I can’t wait to try them on!!

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Good luck today!

The food looks amazing. I have not completed enough meals to have a certain meal or routine, but if I meet my resolution I will have 12+ races to come up with one this year!

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I always eat spaghetti with meatballs and marinara sauce. I try to spend the day before a race resting, but it’s often spent walking around an expo at bigger races.

We actually have four sets of twins in our family!

I planning to head out for 10 miles soon.

Today I woke up at 8 am!!! Oh the glory of sleeping in.

GOOD LUCK TODAY!!!

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I love to run, but try not to let it interfere with my “other” life too much. So I usually spend the day before a race being “normal”, but not the athletic version of normal (for me).

I’m racing tomorrow, and took my athletic rest day as a good excuse to get some work done, build bookshelves, reorganize our entry way, and go out to dinner with a friend. We ate Chinese dumplings. [We’ll see how they are as pre-race food come tomorrow morning!]

Otherwise, no super special plan except drink LOTS of water. :)

Good luck tomorrow, and have fun! :)

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My cousins are fraternal twins and the gene runs in the family.. it skips my generation though so I think I’m free from having them!

I woke up at 8:30 today… Good luck on your trail race! You are having so much fun right now!

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Good luck Janae! Can’t wait to hear how you did, but with plenty of chocolate, pasta, and sleep? I’m pretty sure you’re going to do awesome! I was up at 6 today, and it’s kind of sad that I actually consider that sleeping in. Dang internal clock is all sorts of messed up…

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Good luck! Hope you enjoy the trail race. I love them.

I eat pasta with chicken or pancakes with peanut butter the night before a big race.

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Have a great race!!

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Good luck on your race! Got up at 4:30 this morning to meet up with friends for 12 miler at 5:30. Temperatures are finally back to where we can run outdoors. 14 degrees but roads were snow covered and slick. Worse in some spots than others. Glad to be back outside instead of treadmill though.

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I can’t wait to read your recap of the trail race-I know you are going to do great! This morning was my first 5 mile run (in the snow), training for my first 1/2. It went great. We ran at 7, so I got up at 5 a.m. :( I had whole wheat pasta with marinara sauce mixed with veggies last night, it was very good. Then my standard pb, honey, and banana on a whole wheat thin bagel for breakfast before the run.

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I’ve been to Caramel and you are right, it’s like a little taste of paradise! So glad you had such a wonderful day of rest. Good luck on your race! You’ll kill it. ;)

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Good luck on the race! I expect a lot of pictures!! I’ve always wanted to do a trail race, may have to make 2013 the year that I do!

My 3yr old daughter was a twin, but her twin didn’t make it. Pretty sure my little Miss B has plenty of spunk for 2 kids as it is though!! She was also my alarm clock, once at 2:30am (made daddy get up), and then again at 8:30am…

So we obviously didn’t make it to our 7am 10mi training run with the group, but we got 5inches of fresh snow and it’s 9degrees out, so the treadmill is sounding like more fun!!

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My niece and nephew are twins! They are almost 2 now and loads of fun.

Looks like a fabulous choice to go to Carmel instead of staying home in the rain. Look on the bright side–the rain surely will have cleaned all of the dust off the trail. Or something like that. Have a GREAT race!

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My family has a set of twins for the last 4 generations. I have boy/girl twins that are 18 months. To say its hard is an understatement :) but they sure are fun! They are attention getters everywhere we go. People just love to look at twins and comment on them.
Good luck today, I can’t wait to hear about it!

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Those are beautiful beach pictures! Good luck today!

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Hope you have a great race!! Good Luck!

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I love sharing meals with friends.

My mother had twins (boy and girl) and they were always running in opposite directions. I’m so glad I was not blessed (cursed) with twins…lol

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i am a twin and my mom just said that the door jumper was essential! we were just sit there jumping around and sometimes hitting into each other..haha good luck at your race! i’m sure you’ll rock it!!!!!

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i am one half of a boy-girl twin set. i am 52 seconds older… there is a reason our parents nick named us “double trouble” (and it was the license plate of the first car we shared… DBLTRBL)! we’re 25 now, but i think my parents are still recovering. :)

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Those french fries look amazing!! Makes me want some!

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Ahhh I LOVE Carmel!!! Isn’t it the prettiest place ever?! I need to try those quesadillas next time I go, too. YUM. I don’t know how mothers of twins do it, either. They are superwomen. I babysat twin boys a lot growing up and OMG that’s work right there. Hope you have so much fun on your trail run! I know you’re going to ROCK it!!! I woke up at 7:45 this morning :) Weird for a saturday, but I just couldn’t go back to sleep, so I didn’t fight it.

xo

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LOVE their names!! ;)

The night before a race I usually chug a gallon or 14 of water and eat as many loaves of bread as possible! Haha

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Hi! I love your blog. It’s encouraging, honest, and fun. I eat pasta with red sauce every single race-eve too! My long run this weekend is the ING Miami Half Marathon tomorrow morning. So excited! My hometown is Boynton Beach, FL (hour N of Miami) so it’s a real treat to run close to home as I now live in GA. What trail run are you doing? I did my first one in October in Pine Mt, GA (Northface Endurance Series) Beautiful run! I hope you enjoy!

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Up at 5:15….15 miles done!

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I actually have 3 sets of twin cousins. Two girls that are 17, two boys that are 18, and two girls that are 27! Call me crazy, but I secretly want twins!

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Good luck on the trail race!

The babies are so cute, Brooke has the greatest outfits!!

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Hi Janae! I am a new reader/commenter and I love your blog! I’m currently training for the Boston marathon (first time!) and long run was 16 miles this morning and I was up at 5:30am ahh! Good luck on your trail run you will totally rock it!

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Good luck today! Enjoy!

I’m a twin, and we have a brother who is 11-months younger than us. So within the span of a year, my parents went from zero to three. It’s amazing to have built-in friends though :)

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Have a blast on your trail race! Can’t wait to see a recap.

No twins, but two that are 14.5 months apart. It’s always entertaining….

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Wow! That food looks incredible! Your blog has the best food pictures! And the beach! I need to repent due to the amount of envy and coveting I’m currently experiencing!

I hope you had a fantastic race! I’m sure it wasn’t easy, but I’m positive you were strong and incredible!

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No twins, but I’m a triplet (two brothers). I’ve never had to take care of multiples, though (or any baby, for that matter!)-I’m not sure how my parents did it!

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Good luck at the race!!

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Haha my husband thinks having twins would be the coolest thing ever…pretty glad we won’t get much choice in the matter ;) Plus your pics are making me NEED to go on the epic Cali road trip my husband and I have on our bucket list. So pretty :)

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I got up at 5:30am to volunteer at the Mom’s on the Run, Expo in Farmington MN.. I’m the volunteer running coach for the group. I had a great time meeting many types of women all wanting to start getting fit! A great way to spend a Saturday morning. Now it’s time for me to get my own business running!

The beach looks absolutely fab!!! Ugh!!!!! I want to be there!

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Pre-race meal = pizza, always!
I have twin nieces who are now 25. They were a handful to watch as babies, but so fun!
Ran 6 miles on Oahu this morning! Diamond Head at sunrise ;)

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Good luck on your trail run!!
I always love your outfits, but this one is so cute!! Where are your jeans from?

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No twins in my family, so I don’t expect to have any, but geez it sounds hard! Quite a handful!

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My cousin had twins. They were a lot of fun but she would call my mom during the day sometimes and have her help (She lived next door) so she could get an hour of sleep or take a shower. They are 12 now and I still can’t tell them apart! I just call a name and see who looks.

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Brooke has got to be the most beautiful baby girl that I have ever seen! Good luck with your race!!! :)

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Good luck Janae!!

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The first time that I got up was 4:00 am…..ugh……realized it was Saturday and slept two hours more. :)

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Lobster/Shrimp quesadilla sounds outrageously good!!

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The night before a race, I eat pretty much the same thing I normally would, but usually add a slice or two of bread.

My bro and SIL just had twin boys on November 1! I visited them last weekend – lots of diapers, lots of formula, lots of laundry, lots of spit-up….but SOOO FREAKIN’ CUTE!!

I’m hoping for a 9 miler this weekend.

I woke up this morning at 6:30 and had zero desire to move!

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I have two sets of twin boys and a single in the middle. It’s awesome! It is easier the second time around – ha!

Rest day today and got to sleep in!

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7 mile run today.. Up at 445am.. Got to fit it in before work. Before a race I usually have a veggie burger at night..and a some sort of sugar like a Wendy’s frosty.

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I am still figuring this one out…I’ve only done 4 long races but two of them were at night. I havent figured out what to eat the night before that is good for a morning race. I’m always so worried that something will upset my stomach. But I don’t know why considering I don’t pay attention to what I eat at all the night before long training runs!

I grew up obssessed with twins (I think it was my love for the Sweet Valley Twins) and ended up marrying one! I sure hope it skips a generation though!

We ran 10 miles this morning and I got up at 7:40 to do it.

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Good luck at your race! I always eat pasta before a race and I have a Luna bar in the morning.

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Can I just ask — where the heck did your boots? They are so dang cute!

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Oops! * Where did you get your boots?

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Thank you! They are Steve maddens and I got them at Nordstrom rack!

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Lobster & Shrimp quesadilla, can we say yum and wow! I’m sure that was delicious!
Brooke looks so cute with her feet in the sand!

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I ran my longest run yet! 17 miles in 2 hr. 30 min! It was below freezing temps (17 or so) with snow on some of the route, BUT I did it! I have my longest run in two weeks and then I am smooth sailing until my first ever marathon in March! :)

The picture of Brooke in the sand is adorable! :)

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I love your boots! You are quite the fashionista! Do you mind sharing the Deets on your boots? I think I also asked you about your gold watch a while back. I ended up getting it too!

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You are so sweet! Love that watch! They are Steve Madden and I love them!

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I am a twin-mum… First two years were hard, but we survived… Running kept me sane…. They are almost 8 now, and running still keeps me sane (or puts me at least in a good mood :) ).

Kath

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My dad has a twin sister! I’m expecting my first right now and I was soooo hoping to have twin boy & girl for that reason, but there is only one baby in there. I’m beginning to think that will be PLENTY! :)

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