Zoo Update

One of our cross-
training nights, the
Speedy Cheetah is
scooter-ing in style!

Well, the last couple of weeks have been busy! The second official week of the Running Zoo turned out to be Spring Break, which I thought would have worked out really well. Michigan weather, however, had other ideas. We didn't accomplish much during that week, though we did head to the Kroc Center one day and played some basketball, ran on the track, and went swimming. It was a really fun day!

The Couch to 5K app has been really great and enable us to run 5K in about 8 weeks. I am thinking it will take more like 10 weeks, since the girls are not consistently running. I have been making an effort to go even if they are not feeling like it. Or a few times Lillian rode her bike while I ran/walked. We haven't yet quite figured out what time is best to go.

We spent the day at the
Kroc Center! Swimming,
Basketball, Running and
Rock Climbing! That is
the Dashing Fox nearing
the top!

In PE at school, they are focusing on running right now as well in preparation for the 5/3rd Junior. If they run or walk at least five miles at home over the next couple of weeks, they get free entry into the race.

Another motivating factor for me is our walking program at work. If I can log 1,000,000 steps by mid-September, I earn a bonus day off this year! The last two years I have reached 500,000 and received a half day off, but would like to really hit it big this year!

Here is a summary of the 'animals' in the Running Zoo...

The Coopersville Crew:

Lillian: Dashing Fox
Annabella: Speedy Cheetah
Me: Scurrying Mouse
Brecca: Leaping Leopard
Zak: Swift Snake

The Greater Grand Rapids Group:

Grammy: Zippy Zebra
Auntie Anne: Tireless Tiger
Anna: Persevering Puma

The Jinja Gang:

Aunt Beckie: Wallowing Warthog
Aunt Cree: Trotting Tortoise
Izaac: Racing Roadrunner
Ellie: Strolling Lion

The Mile-High Multitude (of one):

Aunt Murf: Sitting Sloth


Everyone is doing something a little different, but we are all trying to be more active! Thanks for joining us!

Inception and Day 1

My precious ones after their first 5/3rd Junior race in 2013

So not too long ago, Annabella talked about signing up for Girls on the Run. It seemed like a good idea and would be a safe endeavor for someone with monocular vision. Well, Mom (yeah, that's me), missed the sign up period for this lovely program so Annabella was a bit bummed when the girls started changing into their bright pink shoes after school one day and she wasn't included. Oops.

So, ingenious thinker that she is, Annabella thought that we could just do our own version of Girls on the Run. I thought about it and agreed that it would be a good idea and found some sample training plans online. This also was a great plan since Lillian is not old enough to do GOTR, but is definitely interested in joining us. So, we had our plan and were ready to go.We even did a prep run/walk prior to our "official" start date!

And then...Annabella got Strep Throat and we were sidelined for quite a few days. And then it was Easter weekend and we just decided to try again the next Monday. And so we did.

I found a Couch to 5k app that would tell us when to start walking and start running without us having to keep checking on the time. It worked great and we are ready to go again this afternoon for our second run/walk. On the off day, Tuesday, we were supposed to do some cross-training to keep our bodies moving. I didn't do a whole lot, but the girls went to the playground with their friends and ran around and played basketball for nearly an hour.

Also, the name "The Running Zoo." We wanted to think of something to call our program since we didn't want to use the name Girls on the Run. The girls thought about having t-shirts made with our logo on it and each person in the Zoo has an animal name. Mine is "Scurrying Mouse," Annabella's is "Fast Cheetah," and Lillian's is "Dashing Fox." So we came up with the name "The Running Zoo," not to be confused with the petting zoo. Since Dad works at a screen printing shop, we are hoping to get some t-shirts made up with our logo (yet to be determined, maybe a picture of all of the "Zoo" animals?) and then with our animal name on the back. These girls are really getting into this ;).

We made one of our initial goals to be to run the 5/3rd Jr. for 1 mile (or longer). Then, we'll shoot for a 5k after that. I will try to update this ever week or so, and let the girls do some guest blogger writing as well.