The last of the birthday celebrating and St. George Marathon Training Week #9.

Her birthday weekend ended on a high note.  We had the family over for dinner, dessert and presents.

I think Brooke blew out candles on four separate occasions this last week:)

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For dinner I made chicken rolls!

12-16 crescent rolls

Cooked chicken—> 2 large chicken breasts shredded

1/3 large onion-chopped

6 oz. cream cheese

3 Tbsp. butter, softened

1 garlic clove, chopped

Salt and pepper

Fill rolls, put some melted butter on top and then roll in crushed croutons.  Bake at 350 until brown.

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We had some salad, fruit and appetizers to go with the bomb rolls.

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I always feel bad eating really delicious food in front of babies that aren’t old enough for food yet.

Little guy, someday you too will get to eat all of the good stuff.

PS MY SISTER RAN PAIN FREE LAST WEEK.  Back surgery for the win.

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We did the present thing and this was her first year that she didn’t need my help opening them.

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And she ate more sprinkles than she ever has in her life.

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We also had a little ice cream sundae bar because it just felt like the right thing to do.

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Getting wild and crazy.

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Her piñata birthday tradition.  I hope she still likes doing this when she is 17 because we will still be doing this.

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No filter—>  Utah summer nights are kind of the best.

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Here is how week #9 went down for St. George Marathon training!

Monday:  8.3 miles @ 7:14 average.  1 mile warm-up (8:22), 6.2 miles @ marathon pace (6:51) and 1.1 mile cool-down (8:24)

Tuesday: 6 miles  @ 7:16 average.

Wednesday: 5 miles @ 8:26 average.

Thursday:  16 miles @ 7:03 average pace.  First 10 around a 7:20 pace and last 6 @ 6:36 average pace (on a gradual downhill/flat section).

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Friday:  9 miles.  First 50 minutes at a 7:47 pace followed by 12 x 30 seconds @ 5:45 with 1 minute recoveries at a slow jog.

Saturday:  7.5 miles.  10 minute warm-up. 12 x 400m @ 1:28 with 200m recoveries.  3 x 200m with 100m recoveries.  10 minute cool-down.

Sunday:  Off.  Mucho needed rest day.

51.8 miles for the week.  I haven’t had a 50 mile week in quite some time so it is nice to be climbing back up in mileage again.

I’ve got tough runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week!  These ones are going to hurt.

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How was your running last week?  Best run?  Hardest run?

Parents reading—>  how old are your kiddos?

Have any birthday traditions?

Current favorite show?  We are looking for something new to watch at night!

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70 comments

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Congrats to your sister for her first run post surgery! That’s amazing! Also, I’m having major mountain envy from your pictures.

I did not have a great running week as I had to cancel many runs due to family problems and then traveling. This week will be better!

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Four birthday cakes? Brooke is one lucky little girl! Glad you ladies had a fun weekend celebrating together!

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Love the birthday pics :) my kids are 8, 6, 4. Hardest run was my 17 miles at 4 in the morning before leaving for vacation. Glad it’s done!

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I had a light week last week because of traveling and my sisters wedding.

We love Orphan Black, Suits and Playing House right now!

So glad your sister is back to running pain free! How exciting!!

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Wow 51 miles.. Awesome job last week!! Unfortunately I didn’t get to run at all last week because of my dumb IT band :( hopefully I’ll. enable to get back out there sometime this week. Those chicken rolls look amazing, I’ll have to try those!

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Happy belated birthday to Brooke! :)

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Running last week went really well! Getting my mileage and speed back up there, and I officially have a few goal races I am now training for. :)

My sister has a birthday tradition she makes everyone do: You have to name one thing you WILL do before your next birthday. I really like that one.

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Your pictures are always so gorgeous! You should work for the Utah tourism department because I’m dying to visit now!

My running last week was great! It was my first week of half marathon training and I did 31 miles. My best run was my long run..hit all my paces perfectly and I felt great the entire time!

Have a great week!

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I’m glad your sister is running pain-free! Great job to you on training this week—51 miles is awesome!

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Happy belated birthday Brooke!

Running last week was somewhat tired. So I took two full rest days and one cross training day and only ran 4 times… result = this mornings run going MUCH better! Hope you have a fabulous Monday!

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My 20 miler over the weekend was my worst run ever:(
Best run was our Thursday morning breakfast club…6 miles and breakfast with friends!
I’m ready for fall shows to return. I’m not really watching anything right now.

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My best run last week was a 5 mile progression run and it felt really good! my long run was a little bit rough!

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So glad your sister had a pain free run!
-My hardest run was speed work on Friday ….whoa!
-My daughter is 5 :)!!!!
-I get her a b-day shirt each year (b-day theme inspired), that I save and I’m planning on making into a blanket when she’s 18. Hopefully she likes the idea, if not I’ll just keep it! LOL
-Big Brother is taking over my life.

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That birthday shirt blanket sounds like an adorable idea! I bet your daughter will love it. My mom did something similar for me as a surprise and it’s definitely one of my favorite things.

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Seriously such a good idea! I LOVE IT!!

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Thanks guys!! :)

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My son is 15 months, and seeing Brooke understand/ able to participate in her birthday is just so cool to me!

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Brookie will CHERISH these memories one day when she’s all grown up :) !

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I love hearing your training schedule! It motivates me and makes me grateful that mine is so much easier :)

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My running went really well last week. My best run was my 10 mile tempo run, and my worst run was my race yesterday.

I guess my birthday traditions are a nice dinner and cake and ice cream, nothing too crazy!

My current favorite shows are Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill. They don’t make new episodes anymore, but I just bought all 6 seasons of Gossip Girl for really cheap and my sister has One Tree Hill on DVD! They’re both full of drama and excitement!

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One Tree Hill!! Best show ever!!

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Great job with your training last week! And that is amazing that your sister is running pain free after her surgery- so happy for her!
So glad Brooke had a great birthday!

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I’ve been struggling with my runs. Today I’m headed out for 12 but it’s 9am and 80 degrees with 75 percent humidity so this should be interesting.
Wow 51 mile week! That’s amazing.

I think we started a new birthday tradition last year when my boyfriend and I took a drive up to Cape Cod for a bed and breakfast weekend. I think this year we are planning to do another long weekend possibly Chicago or upstate near Lake George.

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Ran/walked my longest distance ever – a 15K and it was brutal in the south Texas heat/humidity! But I lived to tell about it!

And since my birthday is two days after Christmas, having sleepovers as a little girl were non-existent so we always did family dinners. We still do that it just may not always be on our actual birthdays since we are split between Texas & California.

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Huge congrats Andrea on your 15k! That is seriously so awesome! I don’t know how you do it in those conditions.. I would melt.

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Love Brooke’s sprinkle cake! It looks absolutely delicious.
My best run this week was a 7km on Monday and my hardest was my long run yesterday because it was on a treadmill and felt like it would never ever end!
My family’s birthday tradition is the Birthday Duck – basically a duck shaped tea light holder that has a party at on, instead of candles on our cake. My mom always forgets to buy candles so this is a good solution:)
Grey’s Anatomy always, every day!

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Love Brooke’s sprinkle cake! And my favorite birthday tradition is just to make the celebrating as LONG and drawn out as humanly possible :)

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My Girlie is 9 and I swear her 3rd birthday must’ve been just last month!

We’re looking for a new TV show too. We finished Merlin and were going to start watching the BBC Robin Hood but it was just a little too graphic on the violence.

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I LOVE the tiara! Running last week was perfect! I did 12 miles on Saturday and it was my first long run of this training cycle that felt good. I needed that confidence boost as my mileage starts increasing. We have storms on the forecast all week and I’m traveling this weekend – makes me a little stressed about about getting in all of my runs!

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My daughter turns 7 months old on Friday! Ahh — it’s going SO FAST!

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That whipped cream is awesome. It sounds like it was a really good birthday weekend for her. My hardest workout last week was my mile repeats!

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I love that you had an ice cream sundae bar — so fun! My son is going to be 12 in October which is completely crazy to me! I remember his third birthday as if it was yesterday (Bob the Builder cake :) )….Time goes so so fast I am already planning his Bar Mitzvah.

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How come you look so pretty while you’re running and I look like something my dog threw up?!?! lol

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Happy belated birthday to Brooke! Looks like a fantastic weekend celebrating!
Best Run was Wednesday- 5 miles. Worst was 7 miler on Friday. I was tired!
Awesome week of training!

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2 girls, one just turned 4 and the other will be two in October. The most tradition I can think of that we do for is that I take new pictures of them for the wall every year.

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I think this was the first week I’ve ran since January with zero pain, so it was an awesome running week! Our bday tradition is to let the bday person pick every food/meal for the day and my mom’s family puts butter on their nose (so weird!) I have an 8, 9 1/2, and 11 year old :) We are really into HGTV and cooking shows lately. I know. I’m old ;)

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I don’t know how you can run such high mileage with only one day off! That is very impressive:)

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House of Cards and Bloodline on Netflix!! So good. I’m also obsessed with How to Get Away With Murder on abc but I’m not sure when it is starting up again in the fall. Brooke and my dad share the same birthday!

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What a fun birthday weekend! Nice training last week too. Jake is 14, Freddy is 13, Kylah (step-daughter) is 11, Katie is 10, Ethan (step-son) is 9, Callum is 18 months.

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Looks like a great Birthday Weekend!

Max is 3, turning 4 in December. We don’t really have any birthday traditions other than balloons and cake. Max also knows that Santa comes close to his birthday, so he associated Christmas with his birthday.

I only ran 1K last week – as part of a Kid’s race. It was Max’s first race – fun!

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Happy Birthday Weekend!!! My younger daughter’s 1st Birthday was on Saturday. Our tradition is on your birthday you get a cupcake for breakfast. My older daughter will be 5 in November.

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Aww happy birthday Brooke!!
Watching Americas Got Talent and can’t stop!!
For my kids I make them a cake and frost it(whatever kind they want) and then I get out all the sprinkles,candy etc we have in the house(I’m a pastry chef so there’s a lot!) and they decorate it themselves…mine are 9 and 15 and they still love to do it!!

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My daughter, Olive, turned 2 on Saturday. One year behind Brooke, so it’s fun to read about her and see what’s in store for us. No traditions set yet…aside from making the day super special and doing the usual cake and presents.

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August 15th really is the best day ever right!?!?

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I danced for fifteen years before I started running, and the ballet freak in me swooned a bit at your back leg in that last photo: Look at that extension! Pointed toe! That turn-out!

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My worst (tough) run this week was the Pikes Peak Ascent on Saturday. It was also my best run because I was able to complete it!!

Love the sprinkle cake! My little girl is 6 and I have been thinking about going sprinkle crazy on her next birthday cake.

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HUGE CONGRATS on Pikes Peak Ascent… you are my hero!

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We make a version of chicken rolls. I highly highly recommend adding shredded cheese to the cream cheese mixture! Love that someone else appreciates the deliciousness of chicken rolls!

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BRILLIANT. How have I not tried that yet? Thank you!

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My kids are 7 and 9, and thanks to netflix we’ve been watching a lot of Reading Rainbow and Bill Nye around here lately. Spoiler alert: The songs get stuck in your head as an adult just as easily as they did when we were kids. As for grown up shows? I’m showing that I am truly 80 inside and have been watching Murder She Wrote obsessively lately.

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I am so happy that your sister is running pain free, that is amazing! And her little guy is sooo adorable!

I ran a really great race on Sunday, I’ve had hamstring trouble for months, and on Sunday they magically decided to behave!

I have a 24 yr old son and 26 yr old daughter…I think I must be your oldest reader!

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Jade! CONGRATS on your awesome race on Sunday. So so happy that your hamstring is finally behaving!

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My daughter turned 2 June 27. Since then we’ve had 3 family birthdays. Every time I tell my daughter it’s such and such birthday she tells me “my birthday is coming.” I hate to break it to her but it’s not for another 10mo! I’m so glad Brooke had such a great birthday. You can’t go wrong with sprinkles and princess dresses!

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Congrats to your sister! Also an ice cream sundae bar is always a good idea!

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I am looking forward to running consistently again now my kids r back at school and my youngest twice a week. Happy bday to Brooke she’s so adorable!
My kids 10, 7, 4
Want to know what others watch too. I don’t watch any tv.

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I’m so glad that you and Brooke had such a good weekend and that you sister was able to run pain free :)

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I thought my family were the only ones to eat Chicken Squares! Glad other enjoy them too :) Speaking of – I haven’t had one in way too long.

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The past few weeks have been nothing but birthday parties for me too! On Saturday we celebrated for my brother and myself and the week before that was a big surprise party for my mother. Happy birthday to Brooke!

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You look amazing during your LR (or any runs). I love that your dad will keep you company on runs and will be your personal photographer. Now that is LOVE. :-) Happy belated birthday to your peanut, Brooke. She is so grown up (but will always be your baby).

My girl is 4 and boy will be 2 in September. Just two more weeks. They get big too fast. Sometimes I just want to hit the pause button.

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I forgot to say, glad to hear your sis is running pain free. That is amazing news.

AND shows I am loving — well, Empire but new season doesn’t come out till 9/23. :-) OH, I saw the last episode of Younger and want to watch the earlier ones before the new season comes out. I like Hilary Duff. :-) I know she’s not the main character but still love her.

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So sweet!!: ) Best run was running and getting lost, but having a great time with my friend!: ) Kiddos are 8, 6 and 3. We love Royal Pain and Call the Midwife is a great one, too!

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Congratulations on your baby’s 3rd birthday! That’s so exciting. I don’t think she’ll outgrow pinatas. I still love candy at my (unstated) age.
I am not watching much in the way of regular TV shows these days, other than a somewhat mild obsession with Fixer Upper reruns on HGTV. Otherwise, I’m reading. Just finished Your Daily Brain about what your brain is doing throughout the day. Check out http://runwright.net/2015/08/17/what-your-brain-is-doing-right-now/ if you’re looking for a book recommendation instead.

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Hooray for your sister running again!!! I am so glad she is feeling better :)
Love that Brooke had an awesome birthday weekend!
My kiddos are 8, 5, and 2.5
I’m not watching anything right now – I am so behind on all the good shows!!

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i love this. what a fun family

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Wow, that cake looks delicious! I think Brook should celebrate the rest of the month too! :) I’m training for the Chicago Marathon in October so we just started doing 17+ mile weekend runs. Gosh, I forgot how much those hurt.

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That’s awesome to hear about your sister!

And sprinkles, ice cream, and a piñata?! Yeah, sounds like a great birthday to me!

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Hi
Fairly new to your blog…I like it! Just saw that the marathon you are training for is St. George. I’m sure you’ve run it before, but it was my first! Flew at to Utah from Georgia with a friend, and met another friend…who I hadn’t seen since we were 13> The whole experience was SOOO awesome. I was able to qualify for Boston with the help of some of those downhills – which led to another great experience this year: Running the Boston Marathon. That one with my mom and daughter.

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Runs were good last week! My highest mileage week ever – 31 miles. Not up to where you are but really good for me because I felt good after each run.

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Saturday was a fun run for me. I was on vacation in Anaheim and decided ro do 10miles in the city. I live in Houston so it was really nice to get out of the muggy heat/humidity combo and just enjoy the run for once!

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I can’t get over how much Brooke looks like Curly

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