C is for CUPCAKES!

I have been making cupcakes like a madwoman. Maybe that is why my blog has gotten so neglected. Here are some of my latest creations.

My daughter's 5th! Red Velvet Cupcakes with Pink Old Fashioned Boiled Icing and Rainbow Sprinkles.

Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream and sparkling sugar.

Candy Corn inspired cupcakes.

Vanilla Cupcake with Vanilla Buttercream and Spider Mix Sprinkles.

So proud of this little beauty!

Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Cream Cheese.

More Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Cream Cheese.

Can you guess my most popular seller?

There you have it! Cupcakes are running my house :) And I have five dozen to create this evening. 

God Bless.

HCA Va Richmond 8k

My races have been limited since I got hurt near the end of the Nike Women's Half in DC, but I have still be racing. I just took a large portion of the summer off. 

My husband and I raced the Picasso Trail Race 10k last month. We both did pretty well. I earned a 10k (even on a trail!), fourth overall female and first in my age group. My husband hit first in his age group and completed his first 10k race. 

This past weekend I raced the HCA Va Richmond 8k that is in conjunction with the Richmond Marathon and Half Marathon that I ran last year. My running partner from the half marathon last year was registered for the full marathon and since I didn't want to push myself to hard after coming back from an injury I signed up for the 8k. One week before the race my friend injured his calf and backed out of the full marathon.

Race shirt.

I woke up at 3:30am race morning to be dressed and ready for a 4:30am pickup time. Race time wasn't until 7:00am but we knew that we would have to fight for a parking space. We arrived in Richmond about 5:25am and immediately found an awesome parking space. We left the car and headed into the lobby of the Omni hotel to stay warm and dry (it was misting). We found a table and just hung out. I ate my Honey Stinger Vanilla Waffle, one of the few things that I can eat before I run and then just waited. About 6:15am I peeled of my cheapy (like $3) warm up pants, headed to the bathroom and started to get race ready. 

We left the hotel and walked out to realize that it was raining. The rain was predicted to quit at 6:00am so we weren't expecting it. As we walked up the hill towards the Capitol Building the rain got harder. I found my wave (wave 1, never had that happen before) and began to warm up. My friend told me that I didn't have to bag check that he would hold my stuff. Later he told me he did this so I could stay in my sweatshirt as long as I possibly could so my singlet would be dry as possible before I started running. The announced told us "three minute warning" so I peeled off my wet Oiselle trials sweatshirt and handed it over to my friend to stuff inside my Oiselle spike bag. I said goodbye and focused on the start line. I was a ways back from the start line even though I was in wave 1 but I knew that I would be ok since it was chip timed. 

Race outfit, though I decided against the armwarmers just before the race.

The gun went off, I made my way to the start line and took off. It was raining pretty steadily and I immediately started having a side ache but told myself I was pressing on. I began praying in my head "Lord, help me make it safely through the race." I had my calf and SI joint taped with KT tape for extra support. I wasn't in pain but the support was a precaution. About a mile in I was thinking about how great my calf felt, and how blessed I am. The rain had dramatically stopped at this point, but then I realized my shoelaces where banging me in the shins. I can't even tell you that last time I had to stop mid race to tie my shoes! I hurried over to the edge of the road and retied both my shoes then got back to racing. 

See my spiffy Oiselle temp tat? I'm a sucker for temps even though I have two real ones.

At about mile three I realized why I had a side ache. I hadn't used my inhaler pre-race which helps regulate my breathing pattern and generally prevents my side aches. I threw up a quick prayer thanking God that the side ache was my only issue from not using my inhaler and that my breathing itself was fine. I really felt like I was in my race groove at this point. I started picking out people in my mind that I wanted to pass, and I did.

The last portion of the race is a good downhill. It can be really hard on your quads and shins but it is so great for your time ;) I knew it was coming and couldn't wait to fly down it to hit the finish. As I rounded the corner for the downhill I threw it into high gear. I crossed the line at 45:05. I had set my goal time for this race to  be anything under 48. Not my 8k PR but a great race for an injury comeback. My last mile was also my fastest mile I have ever clocked for a race 8:12. It was a great day and I feel truly blessed to be making a comeback.

Love the medal.

God Bless.

My apologies.

My blog has been severely lacking and for that I apologize. I can't even fully explain why I have been behind, I just have. But check back early next week for a full cupcake update (maybe all the cupcakes are why I am so behind!) and an HCA Va 8k race update.

God Bless and Happy Friday!