Run Hockenberry's RUN

So, my last blog which was in the beginning of April, basically was a rundown of all that has happened and what was about to happen.  April 10th was the BIG DAY.  My first ever Half Marathon!!!  Wake up was super early and that is NEVER a fun thing for me, ha!  However, I think with all the nervous excitement that I had going on and all the adrenaline that I was also pumped with, waking up at 0400 was no biggie.  We set the coffee pot the night before, because coffee is a MUST for anything.  Had Tim and my race outfits prepped and ready to go.  Made sure the bibs were in the car, headphones, phones, gels, water, sweat rags, etc was ready.  It was go time!  Once getting to the race, parking was NUTS.  No wonder why they tell you to arrive about 45 min prior to the start just to look and find parking.  Finding a spot wasn't too bad, (as long as we didn't get towed) and we then proceeded to the restrooms before the starting line.  OMG, the bathroom lines are ridiculous before a race.  I really never seen them bad before any of the 5 or 10k's I normally did.  So I guess I wasn't thinking they were going to be the way they were....  Needless to say, I had to pull a camping squat and pee between some trees before the start.  I'm not proud but I am also not patient!

And here we were.  In this massive crowd that not only made me nervous to be mixed in with, but also amazed at some of the runners that were there.  It was surreal and I just was so excited to begin. There were so many people from all over, not just here in Hawaii.  There were runners of all sorts.  One's that take running way too seriously (doing some crazy warming up and running miles BEFORE the half even started..), and then there were the walkers, strollers, and just people who were there to be a part of it and say they did it (like me).  It was awesome.  And while I hadn't run such a long distance since being in Basic Training, I am surprised at my endurance and drive to complete it.  Tim and I hung in and only walked uphill at the 10-11 mile marker, and that was it.  We finished with times of around 2:20.  For a first timer, that ROCKS!

Rocks so much that when we came home, I signed us up for a few more races.  The Metric Century Bike Ride, which took place on North Shore Oahu.  Then the Pineapple 10K, which when you finished this race, you were not only given a tee shirt and a medal, but a YUMMY Hawaiian pineapple.  And yes, while most people would rather get a pineapple at the store, this one was well worth the 6.2 mile run.  Then the best of all, I signed us up for ANOTHER half marathon.   Can I just say how much I love running?  Here are some pics from the ride we completed that was a first for both Tim and I.  Our bike rides have consisted of fun sightseeing rides, or maybe at the most--30 miles while we lived in Oklahoma.  This one was a doozy but what a beautiful experience.  It would have been a lot better if it was sunny that day and not windy but hey! We did it!

And we were only gonna do the 50.... Ha, we did the full!

Then the Pineapple 10K.  This one took place around some of the pineapple fields.  It wasn't very pleasant out at all.  Very humid and gross.  I was happy to get this one over with.  You would think after doing a half, that 6 miles would be cake.  Nope.  Just wasn't feeling this one at all.  Plus, it really wasn't in a beautiful area.  Maybe if it was along the beach or something?

And FINALLY, half marathon number 2 in the books!!!  This one I already knew what to expect with 13.1 miles, however, it was still awesome.  We got their good time, waiting forever in line for a port-potty... And then got right to the start and began.  I think the euphoria of the first one I did wore off by now, and I wasn't as thrilled as last time, but we still completed it.  I must've had so much adrenaline going that I didn't realize the injury in my foot that I am now currently nursing with sadness.  I hope this heals fast so I can get back out there and run.  I tend to get very cranky when I don't run...  (Sorry in advance)  Here are the pics from Half #2

porta-potty line :[

Of course we went to breakfast after all that!!!!

April showers bring...

I'm just realizing that it's been forever since my last post. Here it is April 5th, and I've somehow skipped February and March. Lots has happened since the last update so I'll try and go in order as things were. 

I'm not sure if I posted in my last blog but our beautiful Lulu had 7 adorable English Bulldog puppies and since then they have all been rehomed except for the only lil lady-Maxie-and she's ours! We have added her to our brood. She's the cutest lil fat face ever and she takes after her mama so much. I am so happy we were able to keep one of Lulu's pups so she's have the experience to grow with one of her babies. It has been such an awesome experience for me personally, to have a litter and to help lulu blossom into the mother she is. Not to mention, the fur-grandma I am now☺️. 

Here is Lulu with her 6 boys and 1 girl

Here is the lil princess, Maxie💗

All 6 boys are doing great and I get updates and photos all the time. We even hosted a "reunion" and it was so cool to see them all together again. Needless to say, they all slept great that night! 

Mason and Madison are both well, Keeping up their after school activities and awesome grades. There's no complaining going on as far as that is concerned, but with their hormones and attitudes, I'm ready for them to go off to college already! (JK) Mason is already 5'5, and I'm pretty sure he will keep growing for a while. His shoe size is almost same as Tim's and he went from youth extra large, to men's sizes in clothes. Omg and shaving! My little boy is now becoming a man. Ugh. And Madison also is growing so fast. She went from being a tiny little shy girl, to never being home on weekends, wanting her hair colored, and falling in love with boy bands such as Fall Out Boy. Where did my babies in matching diapers go?!?! What I'd sown times give to go back to those times. I'd freeze time and never let them hit these trying teenage times! 

Time is going by so fast... 

Tim has been busy between here in Hawaii-and Korea, Alaska, Japan, the mainland, and everywhere else. He's traveled more since we been here than he has in his whole military career. He is definitely racking up his miles. I have finally started working at the vet clinic here and I wasn't really able to spend much time with the kids for their spring break. Tim was able to take some vacation time and do stuff with them. Things I wouldn't normally do or agree on. Mason was enrolled at the youth center most of the break so Tim and Madison had some awesome father-daughter time. Parasailing was one thing that the two did that I would've probably never agreed to. It was a first for both of them and they had a blast!! 

What a view!! I would've worried about sharks and whales the whole time, lol.

While they were having a blast, so was I. I finally met and held a sphinx and it was so cool!!! 

I have signed Tim and I up for more races and we even are getting ready for my first half this weekend!! We do it for the shirts and bibs! 

Mama and her girl

Wish us luck for the run!!! My goal: to not stop running/jogging! Half marathon here I come!!!

2016 Will be The Year!!!

I have decided that 2016 will the year of all years.  There will be a lot of things that will happen this year, GOOD things.  December came and went, and the New Year was welcomed with open arms for once.  Not that 2015 was bad or anything, but I just knew that I wanted it to hurry up and be a new year.  A time for new resolutions, new choices, new goals, etc.  We participated in the Make A Wish Jingle Run again.  I absolutely love running for a cause like this.  And, we beat our run time by a minute or two from last years run.  We ran through downtown where all the Christmas lights were and I tried to take pics, but I haven't mastered how to do that while moving.. Ha!

Before run at home

Before run Selfie

just a small view of some of the crowd

Here we go!!

At the end of December, I received my Bachelor's degree.  That was something I have longed for for the last 10+ years.  It seemed that every time I wanted to finish my degree, we either moved, or I changed schools and lost credits.  I had such trouble with figuring things out between what it was exactly that I wanted to take and what I wanted it in, and when it came down to it, I finished finally.  I think it's just been one of those accomplishments that ended 2015 perfectly!

My long awaited BA ;)

So, 2016 is going to be the year of many other accomplishments.  Tim and I did our first ever Ultra Relay Run with some friends that also like to run ;).  We had no idea what to expect but man, was that the most fun yet most tiring race ever done yet.  It was up at Kualoa Ranch, where some movies like Jurassic Park and 50 First Dates were filmed.  This ranch is not a flat farmland ranch like I normally would picture.  This was the opposite.  It was mountainous, and rugged, and dirty!  We first read that it was a 4-something mile path, yet our app read that it was over 5 miles.  (Doesn't seem like a huge difference, but when there is hills involved, its a HUGE difference!)  Then we were in a team of 6, which later became a team of 5, so we all had to do two laps around the trail that ended up adding to about 11 miles each.  It was through hills, cows and their patties, streams, trees, rocks, etc.  IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!!  I have been pushed physically before like when I was in basic training, but gosh, that was in 1998-when I was 19!!  I was so physically spent that for several days after, it hurt everywhere ha!  Would I do it again?  Yup! That may definitely happen before we leave here again.

where the start was

Our little set-up

part of the mountain we had to run 

Team All for the Shirt 

Go Baby!!

This was me-before my first run around

happy and full of excitement ha

Tim finishing up last lap

WE SURVIVED

Sun setting after relay was done

We all made it!

 I wanted to run the half marathon that I never got to run due to that back injury in Oklahoma.  I signed us up for it.  Tim and I will be running in it (as long as no injuries happen during this training) on April 10th.  We started the Nike training program for the half marathon on the 18th this month.  Definitely not fun.  Yet, we are pushing ourselves more then ever.  Carefully of course.  I sure don't want another bulged or ruptured disk and Tim doesn't need any new pains either.  It's a gradual mileage climb, then it tapers us down before the actual run.  But, I signed us up for some other things too before and after the half.  On the 2nd of April, we will be running in the Ford Bridge 10k again.  This run was pretty ugly last year, so I am hoping this year we will have a funner time.  I never thought I would use the words "running" and "fun" together, but that is what it is to me.  Fun.  So, we do a 10K, then the half, and a road bike ride on the 24th of April.  That's three big events!!!  I can't wait.  It's going to be fun.  Oh, and....  we also signed up for the Marathon for December 2016!  Might as well while it's under $100.

Three of our events...2016 goals

Kids are great!!  Both Mason and Madison are doing wonderful in school.  Mason has grown taller then me, and I am not quite sure how much taller he will actually get lol.  Maddie is still small and petite, yet her personality isn't.  I just wish I could stop them from growing so fast.  It's still hard to wrap my mind around that I have a freshman.  Like, seriously, when did that happen?  Oh, and to top this news.  Our oldest, Makayla, has reenlisted for another few years and she has been promoted to Sergeant too.  She will be heading to Alaska in March where she will spread her wings some more with her new unit.  Not to mention, with our future grandchild! Yes, I did say that...  We are going to be grandparents!  Woohoo!  Can't get anymore blessed than that!  Bring it on 2016! We are ready for whatever comes at us ;)