My First Marathon aka race recap: Honolulu Marathon

When I first start running consistently in 2011, I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would someday complete a marathon. The idea of run 26.2 miles was daunting to say the least and I felt that women like me don't do marathons (plus size and slow.) Thanks to an increase in plus size/fat role models in the running world such at Latoya Shauntay Snell (aka runningfatchef,) Mirna Valerio (aka the mirnavator,) Martinus Evans (aka 300poundsandrunning,) Jill Angie (aka not your average runner) and other, they inspired me to tackle the challenge of completing a marathon!     

Below are photos from the marathon expo, race day, while on the race course as well as post race and finisher expo photos. If you're someone planning to check complete a marathon off your bucket list, I can't recommend this race highly enough. There is no course time limit so you can take as long as you need to complete the distance. I finished the marathon in 8:51:26 however the marathon course stays open until the very last person finishes which were two participants from Japan who finished in 17 hours.  

 

 

 

The race course was beautiful and the course support staff where friendly and helpful. I enjoyed that I could take my time to fully take in all the sights and sounds of Honolulu. The aloha spirit was definitely in full effort on race day.

 

 


After completing the marathon, finishers were given a shell necklace as well as the medal. On the following day, finishers had the opportunity to pick up their official finisher certificates as well as have the certificate laminated and framed.I am so happy to be able to check this off my bucket list as well as having completed my big running goal for the year of completing a marathon.This was absolutely the best way to end my 2019 year of running!

 
 

2019 52 Books in 52 Weeks Reading Challenge is Done!

Each year, I take on reading challenges as a way to get outside of my reading comfort zone. This year in addition to doing the 2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge, I also added the Mrs. Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks which contains a total of 52 books. 

Below is a list of all the books I read for the 2019 52 Books in 52 Weeks Reading Challenge along with their reading prompt. If you wanted to see more of the books I've read this year, you can check out my Goodreads profile at: https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/15431036.

2019 52 Books in 52 Weeks Reading Challenge:

1. A book published in 2019: Howard Stern Comes Again by Howard Stern
2. An author you've never heard of before: Introvert Doodles by Maureen "Marzi" Wilson
3. A book you've read before: Quiet Girl in a Noisy World by Debbie Tung
4. A book with a strong female lead: Counting By 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
5. A play: Antigone by Sophocles
6. A book set in Southern USA: Miss Julia Delivers the Goods by Ann B. Ross
7. A memoir on someone you admire: The First Time by Cher
8. Set in the Victorian Era: The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
9. A character with a career you wish you had: Cabin Fever by Mandy Smith
10. A plant on the cover: Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss
11. Published the year you graduated school (1997): The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
12. A graphic novel: My Boyfriend is a Bear by Pamela Ribbon & Cat Farris
13. Featuring music: Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks
14. The re-telling of a well-known story: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
15. An ugly cover: Zombie Raccoons & Killer Bunnies by Martin H. Greenberg and Kerri Hughes
16. A teen as the main character: Kingdom Keepers Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson
17. Set during a holiday: Anything For Thanksgiving by Wanda A. Wallace
18. A book picked out for you by someone else: Six Scary Stories by Stephen King
19. Gothic fiction novel: The Mirror Sisters by V.C. Andrews
20. A book about time-travel: Chronin by Alison Wilgus 
21. A title that starts with the letter "J": Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
22. Fantasy novel: Forerunner by Andre Norton
23. Ture crime novel: Murder Beyond the Grave by James Patterson
24. A self-published book: Delay, Don't Deny by Gin Stephens
25. The name of a color in the title: Gift of the Red Bird by Paula D'Arcy
26. A one word title: Vox by Christina Dalcher
27. A book that makes you mad: The Trump Prophecies by Mark Taylor & Mary Colbert
28. A book that discusses mental health: (Don't) Call Me Crazy by Kelly Jensen
29. A book published by HarperCollins: Wait, What by James E. Ryan
30. An author who uses initials: The Mister by E.L. James
31. A book that everyone's talking about: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
32. A western: The Black Hills by Rod Thompson
33. A book about a cult: Marcus Wesson by Nancy Veysey and Ryan Becker
34. Nominated for (but didn't win) the 2018 Goodreads choice awards: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
35. A sports related book: Ringside : A History of Professional Wrestling in America by Scott M. Beekman
36. A humorous novel: Problems by Jade Sharma
37. Set in South America: The Lady, The Chef, and the Courtesan by Marisol
38. An allegorical book: A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
39. Military related: fiction or non-fiction: It's My Country Too by Jerri Bell & Tracy Crow
40. A character that is an immigrant: Lupita Manana by Patricia Beatty
41. A book suggested by someone else in the challenge: A Summer To Die by Lois Lowry
42. A family member's favorite book: Sex and the City: Kiss and Tell by Amy Sohn
43. A children's book: Tell Me a Tattoo Story by Allison McGhee
44. An author who uses a pseudonym: Naked in Death by J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts)
45. A "beach"read: Welcome to Moonlight Harbor by Sheila Roberts
46. The first book you set in a bookstore/library: The Atlas of Reds and Blues by Devi S. Laskar
47. Set in a country you've visited (Canada): Childhood by Andre' Alexis 
48. Set in a post-apocalyptic world: The Walking Dead Vol. 1: Days Gone By by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore
49. A speed read: Art Matters by Neil Gaiman
50. A fairy tale: A Wolf at the Door and Other Retold Fairy Tales by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
51. An book about organized crime/the mob: Smaldone: The Untold Story of An American Crime Family by Dick Kreck
52. An audiobook: The Elephant in the Room by Tommy Tomlinson

Bakersfield Half Marathon Race Recap

I recently completed my last half  marathon for the year which was the Bakersfield 1/2 Marathon in Bakersfield, California on November 17th. The course was fairly flat and the community support while running the race was top notch. Below are photos from before the race, at the start line, after the race and a final photo of the race medal.

Me before the start of the race

Bakersfield 1/2 Marathon Starting Line

Me after the half marathon

Me and online Facebook friend meet in real life

Me at booth after half marathon

Bakersfield 1/2 Marathon Medal

Bakersfield Blacklight Run Race Recap

      This past weekend, I participated in two running events, the Bakersfield Black Light Run on Saturday and then the Bakersfield Half Marathon on Sunday. Completing the black light run was memorable since I hadn't run this type of race before and also, my hubby decided to run this race with me. This was an fun run but definitely challenging due to it being set at the local fairgrounds which was rocky in some points and unclear race signage on the course. Below are photos from before and after the event.

Banner at Blacklight run

Hubby and me before blacklight run

Waiting for the run to begin

Hubby and me after blacklight run with our medals

Blacklight run medal

2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge is Done!

Each year, I take one reading challenges as a way to get outside of my reading comfort zone. For the past couple of years, I've been sticking with the Popsugar Reading Challenge which contains a total 50 books.

Below is a list of all the books I read for the 2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge along with their reading prompt. If you wanted to see more of the books I've read this year, you can check out my Goodreads profile at: https://www.goodreads.com/user_challenges/15431036.

2019 Popsugar Reading Challenge:

1. A book becoming a movie in 2019: The Kitchen by Ollie Masters
2. A book that makes you nostalgic: Courting Miss Hattie by Pamela Morsi
3. A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction): My Love Story by Tina Turner
4. A book you think should be turned into a movie: Black by Kwanza Osajyefo
5. A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
6. A book with a plant in the title or one the cover: Empty Bottle Full of Stories by R.H. Sin
7. A reread of a favorite book: Love Poems for Married People by John Kenney
8. A book about a hobby: Women in Gaming by Meagan Marie
9. A book you meant to read in 2018: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work by Richard Carlson
10. A book with "pop," "sugar," or "challenge" in the title: Sugar & Spice by Keith Lee Johnson
11. A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover: Thong on Fire by Noire
12. A book inspired by mythology, legend, or folklore: Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips
13.  A book published posthumously: My Life, My Love, My Legacy by Coretta Scott King
14. A book set in space: Sanity & Tallulah by Molly Brooks
15. A book by two female authors: Shifting by Charisse Jones & Kumea Shorter-Gooden
16. A book with a title that contains "salty," "sweet," bitter,"or "spicy": Hotel at the Corner of Bitter & Sweet by Jamie Ford
17. A book set in Scandinavia: The 100 -Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
18. A book that takes place in a single day: The Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker
19. A debt novel: How High the Moon by Karyn Parsons
20. A book that's published in 2019: Death Wins a Goldfish by Brian Rea
21. A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature: The Magic of the Unicorn by Deborah Lerme Goodman
22. A book recommended by a celebrity you admire: Braving the Wilderness (recommended by Reese Witherspoon) by Brene Brown
23. A book with "love" in the title: Gun Love by Jennifer Clement
24. A book featuring an amateur detective: Hope Never Dies by Andrew Shaffer
25. A book about a family: We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin
26. A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America: Eye Level by Jenny Xie
27. A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title: Aries by Joanna Martine Woolfolk
28. A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie: Between the Sheets (Read by Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad) by Molly O'Keefe
29. A retelling of a classic: The Pied Piper of Hamlin by Russell Brand
30. A book with a question in the title: Can I Taste It? by David Weaver
31. A book set on a college or university campus: Check, Please by Ngozi Ukazu
32. A book about someone with a superpower: Ellie Ultra by Gina Bellisario
33. A book told from multiple character POV: My Century by Gunter Grass
34. A book that includes a wedding: Something New by Lucy Kinsley
35. A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Megan Mullally
36. A ghost story: Infidel by Pornsak Pichetshote
37. A book with a two-word title: The Mister by E.L. James
38. A novel based on a true story: Josephine Baker's Last Dance by Sherry Jones
39. A book revolving around a puzzle or game: Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis
40. Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge: Walking with Peety (2018 Challenge: Book with an animal of the cover) by Eric O'Grey
41. A "cli-fi" (climate fiction) book: Thirst by Benjamin Warner
42. A "choose-your-own-adventure" book: Lost in Austen by Emma Campbell Webster
43. An "own voices" book: Black & Brown Faces in America's Wild Places Dudley Edmondson
44. Read a book during the season it is set in: Early Autumn by Richard B. Parker
45. A LitRPG book: Accidental Thief by C.J. Davis
46. A book with no chapters, unusual chapter heading, or unconventionally number chapters: The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
47. Two books that share the same title (1): All Through the Night by Connie Brockway
48. Two books that share the same title (2): All Through the Night by Mary Higgins Clark
49. A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom (e.g., Big Brother from 1984): Taming of the Shrew (break the ice) by William Shakespeare
50. A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent: Finding Grace by Daphne Greer

Race Recap:Fort Collins Human Race 1/2 Marathon

On Saturday, July 27,  I completed my third half marathon for the year which was the Fort Collins Human Race Half Marathon in Fort Collins, Colorado. The race was the first time race run in a different altitude however this didn't really impact my running experience. Here is my outfit laid out the night before the race.

Running using 4/1 intervals (run four minutes and walk one minute.) has worked well for me and the course was pretty flat except for a little section of running on unpaved road. I enjoyed this half marathon because of the beautiful scenery on the race course. I finished in a time of 3:06:51 and am happy to check off Colorado from my list of states to run in. Below are photos from race day.

Me before the start of Fort Collins Human Race 1/2 Marathon

Half marathon scenery

                        Half marathon scenery

Half marathon scenery

Me after the 1/2 Marathon

Me post race with race medal

Fort Collins Human Race 1/2 Marathon Finisher Medal

Anniversary Trip to Colorado and Attending Vegfest Colorado

     This past June, me and hubby celebrated our thirteenth wedding anniversary by taking a trip to Colorado to attend the annual Colorado Vegfest in Broomfield, Coloardo. Here's a photo from the airport at Grand Junction, Colorado 

 Since I'm a librarian, no trip to a new state would be complete without a visit to the local library. The library employee was friendly and I was able to get a souvenir library card.

 As we drove to our hotel in Broomfield, I used the Happy Cow App to locate vegan options nearby and was surprised to discover Brothers BBQ which offers bbq tofu sandwich as well as the impossible burger.

Brothers BBQ in Broomfield, CO

BBQ Tofu sandwich with fries

Broomfield, Coloardo was also home to another source of yummy vegan food at Ganesa Thai Restaurant.Below are photos from the restaurant as well as the food we ate while at the restaurant.

Ganesa Thai Restaurant in Broomfield, CO

Vegan tomyam soup with vegan seafood

Vegan pad see ew with tofu

Freshly made mango smoothie

Veggie spring rolls with sauce

 The second day of our trip, we attended the annual Vegfest Colorado vegan festival in Broomfield, Colorado on July 27. Below are photos from our day at the Vegfest.

Roadside sign for Vegfest Colorado

Me at Vegfest Colorado

Lemon coloche

Vegan philly cheesesteak

Vegan mozzarella sticks with sauce 

My favorite food from the Vegfest was veganized Taco Bell food made by the Vegan Van food truck which is shown below of nacho fries, a crunch wrap and gordita crunch.
 

Me and vegan chef JL Fields have been online friends since 2009 so it was a fun to surprise her by coming to the see her in person at Vegfest Colorado. After she finished doing a vegan meal prep demo, I surprised her, gave her hugs. I was lucky enough to have been chosen to be a recipe tester for one of her most recently cookbooks "The Vegan Air Fryer" so I had her autograph her cookbook for me as well.

While at Vegfest Colorado, I also met Kitten the Vegan Pirate, a woman who lost over 300 pounds by adopting a vegan diet.

Before leaving Vegfest Colorado, I stayed for the closing talk given by former German strongman Patrick Baboumian. Patrick was funny, engaging and interesting. During his talk, he spoke about his upbringing as well as what lead him to become vegan and how veganism has impacted his athlete pursuits. After he finished his talk, I purchased his new book and took a photo with him.

Vegfest Colorado was fun, informative and entertaining. I can't wait to attend my next out of state vegan festival!