One month of blogging down!

So as my first month of blogging comes to an end, I have realized how much I actually am addicted to it! There is an entire running community out there, especially Mommy runners, who are an awesome support group. This blog started out as a way to get the word out about my running scrapbooks, but it has developed into much more - a place to track my training; a place to vent (I can't seem to figure out how to NOT PUSH ENTER when I am making a draft copy of a post....see the previous 2 listings that I had to delete!); a place to try to win cool running stuff!; a place to connect w/other running, working, blogging Mommies; as well as a place to promote my scrapbooks.

Thank you to my new followers, it's been fun so far!

Don't forget to check out the giveaway that my scrapbooks are featured in, with a chance to WIN a $15 gift certificate to my Etsy shop! Go on over to Running Diva Mom's blog to enter, or click here!

OK, now I CAN push enter, this one I don't need to save for tomorrow :)

Who goes to the gym and forgets her sneakers? Oh yeah....

...that would be me. Well, that is only partially true. I had sneakers on but...

They were a 1/2 size too small. Pre-pregnancy. Had ran a half marathon in them. Had trained for said half marathon in them. Had backpacked all over Europe for 2 weeks in them.

They are my OLD sneakers that I throw on when it's raining out and I don't want to drag mud and rain into the gym and onto the treadmil. I then CHANGE into my new ones once I'm there. Oops!

I had a 4.5 mile run scheduled for today. For me, that is pretty long for a treadmill run. I REALLY didn't want to use the sneakers as an excuse, but in the back of my head, I was remembering how my arch was just beginning to feel sore at around mile 5 of my 7-miler on Sunday. I have some mild plantar fasciitis in my left foot that kicks up every once in a while and I didn't want to aggravate it in my crappy shoes. I had stretched Sunday when I got back from my run and also stretched it a bunch yesterday at work (ahhh the benefits of being an Orthopedic Physical Therapist!) and it was feeling fine. So off I went - using my long-sleeved shirt to cover the display so I won't CONSTANTLY look at it - and I was able to complete 4.5 in 42:54.

No arch pain, no problems, felt great, and the shoes didn't fall apart :) So maybe it's not too bad if you forget your sneakers!

My scrapbooks are a give away on Running Diva Mom's Blog!

I was so excited when Jamie from Running Diva Mom contacted me to do a scrapbook giveaway on her blog! She is currently training for the Madison Marathon, so I made a mini-chipboard album in the colors of the marathon's logo for her. I love the way it came out and she loved it too!!!

If you would like a chance to win a $15 gift certificate to my Etsy site so you can create your OWN marathon scrapbook, visit Jamie's blog here, and enter her giveaway!

OK, I'm off to the Y for a quick 4 or 5 on this drizzly day! Good luck in the giveaway! ~Laura Elaine

I have found my Mother's Day present....hint, hint...

While watching the Sox, catching up w/my blogs, and checking out Etsy tonight, I came across the perfect t-shirt for Baby Stephen to wear - aka my Mother's Day Present???? (please?)
Super cute!

Click here to see the Etsy site where it is listed.

1-mile $1 Virtual Race

I read about a virtual race for the first time the other day and thought it was an awesome concept. Jaime at Running Diva Mom is hosting a virtual race to benefit Girls on the Run. What it entails is donating $1 or more to her Girls on the Run fundraiser and then running one mile on May 16, 17, 18, 19, OR 20. You then submit your times and see how you did against the other competitors. So cool! And for a great cause! Check out all the details here on her blog post.

Hope to see a lot of people joining me for the race! :)

Cuts and Clips

I got my hair chopped a few weeks ago, and I really like the way that it came out - shorter layers in the front, probably shorter than I've had in a long time. The only problem was trying to keep them out of my face while running! I was using bobby pins at first, but since they weren't really doing the trick, I decided to seek out my fellow Etsy-ians to see what kind of help they could give me. And I found the perfect solution from Patricia at Run Wild Jewelry! Hair clips with a stamped "13.1" on them plus some decorative stars. Actually, she only had 26.2 clips listed for sale on her Etsy site, but she had a bunch of half marathon jewelry also. I contacted her to see if she would be willing to make up a pair of 13.1's for me and 8 days later, they were in my hands! I tried them out yesterday for the first time, and again today and they work perfect! No fly-away pieces and they are super cute!

If you have been looking for marathon, half marathon, or tri jewelry, please check out Run Wild Jewelry here! She has great items and can even personalize them (Boston, NYC, Austin, etc.).

GoLite Hydro Clutch Water Bottle Giveaway

Jamie at Running Diva Mom has another awesome giveaway, this time for a GoLite HydroClutch Water bottle. Check it out here.

Why does poop always interrupt my runs?

It never fails.

I was on the treadmill today at the Y, feeling good, running fast (for me!) at 6.6 mph for almost 2 miles. I only had a little more than a mile left when I hear,
"Excuse me, are you Stephen's mom?"
"Yes"
"He has a poop."

Great.

"Ok, I'll be right there."

I turn off the treadmill, unplug my Ipod, wipe down the treadmill, walk out of the cardio room, walk upstairs, go into the women's locker room to get a diaper and wipes, go to the Child Watch room to get Stephen, take him to the family locker room, change him, return him to Child Watch, bribe him to stay there with the empty wipe container (note to self: fill the wipes in gym bag!), go back downstairs, plug Ipod back in, start treadmill and finish 1.2 miles at 6.4 to 6.0 mph.

Really? Well, I guess I should just be grateful that I was still able to get the run in! I even jumped on the bike after for a quick 3 miles. I have a 10 miler on May 16 - The Boston Brain Tumor Ride - and really haven't done much biking so far. Yesterday I was outside on the bike, pulling him behind me in the bike trailer and had to stop 3 times to retrieve a sippy cup, Elmo, and a toy hammer before I even clocked a mile! But then he fell asleep and I was able to get in 6 miles. :)

How often are you interrupted during your runs? What is it usually for?

Hope you all have a great weekend!
Laura Elaine

Check This Out!

One of the parents at the school my husband teaches at created a blog to document all of the "extra curriculars" that the teachers are involved in, such as fundraising, community service, etc. We are featured in the blog today! Check it out here!

Boston Marathon PaperBag Scrapbook Album

My newest venture: Paper bag albums!

I had ordered just the bare album (2 of them actually) a few months ago, but hadn't sat down to figure them out yet. It was so easy, and it came out great!

So who out there is running Boston in a few days???? Need a place to put all of your pictures after? Check this out! I have it listed on my Etsy site, check it out here.

The album is made up of 4 paper bags securely stitched together, making a total of 16 pages in the album. There are 10 mats for photos or journaling, plus 2 bonus mats on the pull-out pages. The cool thing w/the paper bag albums is the actual openings of the paper bags - a great way to stash extra memorabilia!

Let me know what you think!

Laura Elaine

Random Thoughts from a Sunday Morning 6-miler

So as I headed out the door this morning, I realized I was really excited to be doing this long run. It's the longest so far in my current 1/2 marathon training, and it's been about 7 months since I've run six miles or more. It ended up being a great run, not just for running, but for thinking. Here are some of the things "running" through my head this morning :)

1) It is perfect running weather this morning - 50 degrees and overcast, no wind

2) I actually got to enjoy running today - I didn't have to rush back to shower and go to work; I didn't have to worry about being interrupted on the treadmill at the Y by the Child Watch people to tell me that Stephen needed a diaper change; and Sunday mornings are always such a nice time to run because of the calm and quiet out there

3) Change is always good - I decided to listen to my "Chill Mix" instead of my "Running Mix". Maybe that also kept me relaxed - Bob Marley and Jack Johnson instead of Lady Gaga and Eminem. Usually I like the fast stuff, but today the chill stuff was perfect

4) I saw a blimp. Yup in the middle of Central Mass, not near any stadiums or ballparks or anything like that, I saw a blimp. It was advertising Direct TV. Weird, but it kept my mind occupied for about 5 minutes/half a mile

5) I have a new scrapbook idea! With so many runners racing for charity, I figured I would use my extra pink paper and do a Race for a Cure book. Stay tuned for progress...

6) The half mile hill back up to our house after the long runs continues to kick my butt. But I will not let it conquer me...I will not walk...although I'm not sure what I was doing was running, or even jogging...some might call it shuffling...but I DID NOT WALK! :)

Enjoy your Sunday!

Boston Marathon Pre Made Scrapbook

I've been back to work again! With the upcoming Boston Marathon, I have been getting all of my yellow and blues ready to go! This is an awesome 6" x 6" album, made up of 5 chipboard pages decorated front and back in a Boston Marathon theme. Thre is room for 9 - 10 photos, as well as room for recording your bib number, finish time, race pace, and your finish place. It is a must-have for any runner participating on April 19th! All materials are acid-free and lignin-free. Pictures will slide under all embellishments. It is available on my Etsy site (click here) or I can custom make one for you!

Boston Marathon Pre Made Scrapbook Pages

4/30/10 ADDENDUM: THESE PAGES HAVE SOLD! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ORDER PAGES LIKE THESE, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME VIA THIS BLOG, OR VIA MY ETSY PAGE, HERE.

With the Boston Marathon occurring in the next few weeks, I have begun to create some scrapbook items for you to document your achievement!



Hope everyone's enjoying this beautiful weather! Happy Easter :)

Pics

OK, here are some of the running-related scrapbooks and pages I have made...

This one is a mini-chipboard album to document a marathon

This is a 2-page spread for the NYC Marathon:

Here are 12" x 12" premade pages for the Disney Princess Half Marathon:

So I'm new to this whole blogging thing..

Hello! So I am brand new to this whole blogging world, but it seems very exciting!
I am always looking for new ways to get my custom scrapbooks noticed, and this seems like another great way.

I specialize in custom-made scrapbooks to document running and race results. My favorites are the mini-chipboard albums, as they are a great way to display photos and are SO EASY for you to add to! Most of the mini-chipboard albums that I create have room for 10 photos, as well as room for journaling about your event (time, pace, place, etc).

I have also created some pre-made pages to display your achievements and add to your own scrapbook. These are usually 12" x 12" with room for 4 - 6 photos, also with room for journaling.

I LOVE custom orders! My husband and I are both runners so I cater to races that we have done, or also ones that I know are popular and a lot of people have done. If you don't see a race that you have completed, but would like a scrapbook, please let me know and I would love to chat with you and design it!

These all make great gifts, whether it's some one's first 5K or they are a seasoned marathoner.

I currently have my work on Etsy, but will hopefully be posting some pictures on here very soon. Please check out my Etsy site for samples of running scrapbooks, as well as other scrapbooks:
www.etsy.com/shop/LauraElaineDesigns

Thanks for reading!
Laura Elaine