12-miler - DONE!

Since we had soooo much going on Thursday and Friday, I decided to run my long run on Saturday. It just happened to work out perfectly, because my running peeps were running their 17-miler on Saturday and there was a great place to park exactly 2.5 miles into their route! I could meet them, run their out and back course, and get my 12 miles in - and I could catch up with everything that has been going on with them at the same time - SCORE!

The temps were great for a long run - 50 degrees! There was a little humidity, but nothing too severe. For some reason, I decided to wear a long sleeve technical shirt over my short sleeve one - that was totally unnecessary and I was taking it off before we reached mile 2. I brought my Garmin with me as well, since I just received a new power cord for it...the Garmin people are helping me trouble shoot the problems I've been having. The replacement Garmin they sent to me is now doing the same thing the old one did - turning off during my run for no apparent reason. Well, when I arrived at the meeting point for the run, the freaking Garmin would not even power on!!! Grrrr!!! And, this was the 1st time since April that I've run with a fuel belt...it felt a little weird to be wearing it again.

The first 7-8 miles felt pretty easy. I have no idea of our pace, but it felt like a good effort. I was happy not to push it too hard, because I really hadn't been running as much as usual over the past couple of weeks...I just wanted to finish the distance this time. Around mile 9 or 10, I started to notice my left IT band making itself known - it wasn't horrible, but it was there. At the same time, I began to notice that my hip flexors hurt. That pain was new to me, so I am wondering if it was just the different route. My usual neighborhood route is very flat. This route had the teeny bit of slope on the shoulder of the road, plus there were some gentle inclines that my body is probably not used to. Yeah, those last two miles were ugly - my hips hurt and it seemed like I'd never get back to my car, but we pushed on.

My goal is to do 2 more 12-milers between now and taper time...and, I am hoping that they will get easier each time. Next week is an easy, peasy 10-miler for me and it looks like it's going to be nice and cold - yay!

The rest of the day flew by...we decorated for Christmas, took the kiddos to McD's for lunch and then hung out around the house. I am loving the holidays with the kids! It's so fun to see them get so excited about the decorations and tree - good times!

Easing back into it...

This past week was a pretty easy one with the running. I decided to ease back into it, since it had been quite a few days since my last run. Unfortunately, I didn't get in any longer runs this week with Thanksgiving and family stuff going on beginning on Wednesday...time to kick it back into high gear now that the holiday stuff is over!

Monday, 11/23 - Treadmill run - 3 miles, 10:40 pace
Can you tell by my pace that this was indeed an "easy" run? I can!

Tuesday, 11/24 - Treadmill run - 2 miles, 10:03 pace
This wasn't a scheduled run day and I didn't have much time, but I knew there wouldn't be much time to run for the next few days. I decided to make this a progressive run - quality over quantity, I guess. It also happened to be my sweet Kiddo's 5th birthday! I had a Dr's appointment in the morning, so I was able to take the kiddo to breakfast beforehand. Good times!

Wednesday, 11/25 - no workout
The goal was to leave work around 3 pm, run a couple of quickie errands and then hop on the treadmill for a few miles before picking up the kiddos from school. Then, we'd be off to a hotel downtown where we could watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Yeah, good intentions. The school called me at 2 pm to let me know that the Munchkin had just thrown up. Yikes! So, I had to head straight over to the school. Next, the hubby called me to let me know he had to work late. Not a great start to the holiday weekend!

Fortunately, the Munchkin was okay. After talking to his teacher, it sounded like he was coughing a lot (from yucky drainage) and threw up a bunch of mucus. I was just happy he didn't have some sort of stomach bug. We were able to head to downtown as soon as the hubby made it home and enjoyed the parade. Oh and as I type this on Friday, those errands are still not done. lol!

Thursday & Friday, 11/26 & 11/27 - no workouts
We headed out to my cousin's house for Thanksgiving dinner after the parade, so no workouts on Thanksgiving. On Friday, I had a date with Target at 5 am, followed with breakfast with the family and some cousins in from Florida. I knew I'd be doing my long run on Saturday, so there would be no running again! This is where I begin to feel like a total slug - I did get the house nice and clean, the grocery shopping done and all the laundry washed, dried and put away though!

L-O-S-E-R-!

Just put that big 'ol "L" on my forehead...I've been slacking with the blogging. I have been running (sort of), but just no time to blog. It's been a crazy week, but I'll leave that for the updates:

Sunday, 11/14 - 40 minute run

The running schedule called for a 40-minute run and that's exactly what I did. I woke up early (around 6:15) to fairly warm temps (for November) and headed out for a run around the 'hood. I met up with some of the folks from the neighborhood running group. They were headed out for their first 10-miler and a tad bit nervous about the double digits. The Garmin is still not working, so I have no idea of my pace. And, let me just say the mosquitoes were all over....jeeze, I thought we didn't have to worry about skeeters in November!!! After the run, I headed home to make the family breakfast, head to church and then hang out with the family.

Monday, 11/15 - 4 miles, treadmill

Back to the treadmill! I ran 4 miles @ a 10:32 pace. Nothing too exciting to report - although I did add some old school Green Day to my ipod which made for some fun running music.

Tuesday, 11/16 - rest day

I was going to squeeze in a little P90X here, but didn't get home from Dallas until around 7:45 pm. I definitely was not feeling like a workout!

Wednesday, 11/17 - 40 minutes, treadmill

For some reason, I just did not feel like running. My legs felt tired all day, even though my last good workout was on Monday. I did, after much procrastination, finally get on the treadmill for a 3-miler plus warm up and cool down. This was supposed to be a 60-65 minute run....

Thursday, 11/18 - no workout

I was feeling achy and just plain crappy all day. My throat hurt and I had a headache. By the time I got home from work, I was feeling flushed. My temp was only 100.2, but I decided to head to bed early....maybe this was why I did not feel like running the day before? And I thought I was just being lazy. :-)

Friday, 11/19 - no workout

I already knew I wouldn't get my Friday long run done in the early morning hours - the kiddo had her 5 year check up at 8 am and I was meeting a friend at 9:30 for a 10:30 showing of New Moon. I wasn't even sure if I'd get it in later in the day - I had to run to Sam's and Party City to get stuff for the kiddo's birthday party on Sunday, not to mention the weekly grocery shopping at Kroger's! But, I thought I could get it the run done in the evening or maybe Saturday morning.

Nope, not happening...by the time I got home from running errands, my Motrin had worn off - my temp was between 101.5 and 101.8 and I had the achy feeling again. Grrrrrr....I do not get sick often and when I do, it pisses me off! Fortunately, my sweet hubby entertained the kids and made me go lie down on the sofa.

I'll tell ya more about the weekend later...and I'll even have some pictures! It was a crazy one!

Slow Long Run

Ahhhh Friday, how I love thee! I got the kids off to school and headed home for my long run. On my way back from the school, I noticed 2 deer heading out of the woods and into the road directly in front of my car! Then, after a short pause, another deer darted across the road. It was an amazing site and almost exactly like the one during my run last week. Oh and the best part? It was a freaking fabulous 48 degrees! Yiiipppeee!!!

I started off rather slow...just trying to avoid a re occurrence of last week's crap out. Overall, the run went well. I found myself thinking a lot about work and other stuff, which really kept me from getting into that zone. You know the one - where my mind just wanders off, my eyes just take in the views of nature around me, my ears just listen to the rhythm of my footsteps beneath me and my feet just go. If I think about anything, it's my cadence and every now and then, I give myself a little mental push. When I finally did get into "the zone" it was around mile 4.5 and about the time I reached the neighborhood elementary school...I had to stop several times for cars and my pace and "zone-iness" went out the window!

When I finally felt myself picking up the pace a little (around mile 7), I decided that I'd run around some different sections of the neighborhood. That was about the time that my Garmin crapped out on me (AGAIN!). So, I ran some extra at the end just in case and later found that I had actually run 11 rather than 10! When my Garmin stopped, I was at a 10:58 pace...so, I really don't know what my final pace was. I am assuming about the same, but who knows. I did walk a bit to press the buttons on the Garmin, curse a lot and then press the buttons some more (as if it would help!). Needless to say, I really want to put my Garmin in the street and run over it. Then, I want to put the car in reverse and run over it again! Grrrrrr!

Anyway, it was a slow run. My slowest long run in a long time! But, I am happy to have successfully run 11 and feel pretty good doing it! I can work on speed during the week and hopefully run 11 & 12 in the next few weeks and get stronger and stronger!

Best of luck to all my running peeps doing San Antonio this weekend - Jamie, Stephanie, Mary, Lacy, Dawn, Toby, Sharla, Jay and Vic - go kick some asphalt!!!

PSA: Why oh why do people feel they must stop at stop signs and then just sit there? This happened to me 3x during my run...I was approaching the intersection and had to slow down to see what the person was going to do. Twice, the person at the stop sign proceeded to sit there and play with their phone. Ugh! So please, look for runners as you approach a stop sign in your neighborhood! Don't screw with their pace by making them slow down or stop waiting to see what you're gonna do! Okay?

First, let's talk workouts! Or should I say workout?

Tuesday, the Hubby and I cleaned house after the kiddos were in bed. The Hubster has martial arts classes on Wednesday nights and his parents are coming into town on Thursday, so Tuesday had to be the cleaning day. No workouts....

Wednesday, the Hubby ended up working late and didn't get to make it to his martial arts classes afterall. Unlucky for him, but lucky for me. It meant that with his assistance with the kiddos, I could hop on the treadmill earlier than usual. The schedule called for 55 minutes easy and 55 minutes it was! I started with a 10 minute warm-up, then followed with 40 minutes of running at a 10:30 pace, then began my cool-down at the easier than usual pace. Then, I decided to walk for another 5 minutes just to make my workout an even 1-hour. Overall, my 55 minutes running was at a 10:38 pace. This run started out a little iffy, but once I got into the groove, it felt great! So far this week, I am at 13 miles. I have 10 on Friday for my long run and then a rest day on Saturday.

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So remember that yummy protein shake recipe I posted earlier this week? Well, it may be awhile before I make it again. When loading the dishwasher yesterday, the hubby accidentally bumped the glass jar on our granite counter and it broke! Aaaaaccckkkk! So, I ordered a new one thanks to the friendly Kitchen Aid Customer Service Rep and it will be here next week. Maybe I will have to substitute a Starbucks skinny vanilla latte in the meantime. :-)

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So, I have been utilizing my little ipod shuffle during my treadmill runs. I have a nano, which was a hand-me-down from the hubby when he bought his iphone, but for running I still prefer the shuffle. I seriously need some new running music! So tell me dear internet people, what music do you like to listen to??? Share please!

Happy Veteran's Day!

Thank you to all of those who have served or are presently serving in the U.S. armed forces. Much gratitude to you and your families for all that you have done and continue to do. May God Bless you, and may God Bless America! And a big 'ol thanks to my favorite vet of all - my Dad (a Vietnam Vet)!

Random Thoughts

Let me start with running stuff....afterall, this is supposed to be a running blog! I've had 2 runs since the super duper sucky run on Friday and I am confident that it was just one of those days. On Sunday, I ran 4 miles around the 'hood. I'd love to tell you my pace and time, but my Garmin crapped out on me after only 9 minutes. In those 9 minutes, my average pace was 10:27 though. I don't know what's up with the Garmin. I tried to turn it on again once I was home and it would come on for a second and then turn itself off. The next day, I tried turning it on again and it stayed on for 3 hours. This Garmin stuff is becoming really annoying! I think that means I need a 405, hehehe! My hubby would probably disagree.

On Monday, I was doomed to run on the dreadmill. Since I haven't received this week's schedule from "the coach", I decided to follow last week's schedule again. I did the same 3 min hard/1 min easy (x10) workout as last week, but this time I increased the incline on the treadmill to 2.0. My final results - 1/2 mile warm-up, 4 miles at a 10:18 pace, followed a 1 mile cool down. Definitely slower than last weeks 10:04 pace, but maybe that was due to the extra effort required by increasing the incline. Regardless, it felt great!

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You might remember when I posted my version of the "green monster" protein shake here. Well, I quickly grew tired of that shake and found a couple of interesting recipes in the hubby's "Ab Diet" book. Since I didn't have all the ingredients for the ones that sounded good to me, I combined a couple of recipes and came up with this:

1 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon chocolate syrup (you can use 1 cup of pre-made chocolate milk instead of these two ingredients)
1 teaspoon instant coffee
1 1/2 cups spinach (fresh, not frozen)
1 banana
1 teaspoon chopped almonds (I use a 1/2 teaspoon of almond butter instead)
1/2 scoop of chocolate flavored protein powder
2 tablespoons of vanilla yogurt
ice (the recipes only call for 6 cubes, but I like to use a lot more!)

If you like the Starbucks Mocha Light Frappacino, you will like this! You can also use a packet of Swiss Miss diet hot chocolate instead of the chocolate syrup if you want fewer calories and sugar. I actually look forward to drinking this in the morning, it's sooo yummy!

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Aerosmith's Joe Perry announced that Steven Tyler has quit the band. So what's gonna happen now? Joe Perry and the band are looking for a replacement lead singer. Aerosmith with no Steven Tyler? After 30 years - with Steven Tyler?

I.don't.think.so.

So glad I had the chance to see them live before this happened! Didn't think a Runner Mom could be a fan, did you?

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Speaking of being a fan, I saved the best for last....I have been a HUGE Rockets fan for over 2 decades. I love basketball and it's really the only sport I can tolerate watching on TV. Naturally, a huge part of the Rockets for most of the time I've been a fan was #34 - Hakeem Olajuwon. I *heart* Hakeem and was heartbroken when he was traded to the Toronto Raptors late in his career. While the hubby is not much of a NBA fan, he was a UH fan in the days of Phi Slama Jama and is still a fan of Hakeem. I still remember watching the Rockets play the Celtics in the NBA finals in '86...and of course, there were the back-to-back championships in '94 and '95! Ahhhh, the good old days! So this weekend, while attending the wedding of a friend, you can only imagine how excited I was to see #34 himself! I was super stoked!

Super Duper Sucky Run

It was bound to happen sooner or later. I've been having so many great runs lately, that a bad one was bound to sneak in there eventually.

Friday should have shaped up to be a great run...the skies were sunny, the temps were low (mid 50s) and the humidity was pretty low as well. I took the kiddos to school, got a few little things done around the house and was off. I'll admit, for some reason that 1st mile is always the toughest. I have to get the cobwebs out, get my rhythm - both pace and breathing - and get into the groove. In that 1st mile, I usually question my sanity and do the internal whining. Fortunately, after that 1st mile, I usually get those thought out of my head and really enjoy my run. Even in those final miles, I've been loving it!

However, Friday was different. I made it past the 1st mile, but never really found my groove. In fact, my legs felt like lead, my breathing was not right (I was out of breath) and I just did not feel like myself. Before I even hit mile 3, I was ready for a walk break. A long one. And I gave in and walked. I looked at my watch...my effort felt like a good 10:30 pace kind of effort. Maybe faster. But my pace was 10:50. I started running again and before I finished mile 4, I felt like I needed to walk again. And I did. It was a quick break, but within 5 minutes I was ready to walk again. And I did...for what felt like a looooonnnngggg time. Then I proceeded to run again and walk again. As I was approaching my section of the neighborhood again, where I would normally get some energy gels/chews and refill my bottle, I decided to call it a day. Rather than put myself through the misery of another 4 miles, I decided to stop. Besides, at the pace I was going, I wouldn't have time for another 4 miles! So, my ten miler ended up being 6.35. With all the walking, my pace was close to a 12/minute pace. Yeah, I am almost embarrassed to type that!

I don't know what happened but I figure it could be one of the following....

1) The lack of sleep for 4 days straight catching up to me - having a sick kiddo and hubby has been hard. I slept on the couch one night, with a 4 year old who was throwing up every hour the next night, then in the kiddos bed another night and then with the kiddo and hubby the next night (where I had a 4-year old's arms and legs all over me...we need a king-sized bed!).

2) The lack of good nutrition the day before - I worked from home on Thursday in order to stay with the kiddo who was not quite ready to return to school. I've been great about not touching the Halloween candy all week, but when I am home all day with the bowl just a few feet away, I tend to lose all will power. I SWEAR that candy was calling my name!!!

3) I was getting whatever crap the kiddo and hubby had earlier in the week. I was hoping that this was not the case.

4) It was just one of those running days. We all have them.

5) A combination of one or more of the above.

Regardless, I think I can honestly say this was the worst run I've ever had. Ever. Not even the gorgeousness of the sun shining through the trees or the 3 deer that crossed the road in front of me could inspire me to get my legs moving...they just wouldn't go. I swear my perceived effort was much, much greater than the actual effort! I am trying not to beat myself up about being such a wuss. We'll see how the coming week goes...hopefully, it will be MUCH better!

Running in Place

Kids asleep - check
Running clothes on - check
Procrastinating by playing on Facebook - check
Finally got on the treadmill - check

Fortunately, the Kiddo and Hubby are both doing better. The hubby can finally eat some food again and the Kiddo is not running to the bathroom every hour...in fact, she was doing great until we switched her from water to Gatorade. Yeah, her tummy was not ready for that yet. Poor baby! Thankfully, the Munchkin and I are both fine so far...I'm just hoping it stays that way.

I really, really didn't feel like running! But I figured I'd better run while I can, since I don't know what tomorrow will bring with the illnesses in our house!

The schedule gave us 2 options:

1) 60-65 easy followed by lots of stretching

2) 3 min hard followed by 1 minute fast (10x), then 10 minutes easy cool down

I choose option 2. I started with a 5 minute warm up, then got right into the intervals. The result was 4 miles at a 10:02 pace (40:08)! I think this is my fastest set of intervals on the treadmill so far...yeah, this is "fast" for me. :-) I followed with a 1 mile cool down, which actually put me over the 10 minute cool down on the schedule.

It felt great to hammer out those miles...stress relief at it's best!

Poop, puke and more puke

Ugh, the stomach flu has hit our home once again. It was just September when I had it (yes, the day of the Eastside Tri too!), then the Hubby and then the Kiddo...luckily, the Munchkin made it out unscathed!

This time, it started with the hubby on Monday. I know when he misses his martial arts classes that he feels like complete and utter poop! He was feeling better yesterday, so he changed the sheets in our room (I slept on the couch in an effort to avoid getting it!) and sprayed everything in the house with Lysol. Still, I was leery about entering our bedroom (aka the "hot zone") when I arrived home from work...especially the "powder room" where the toilet resides. But, when the hubby managed to hold down some soup and crackers, and later even ate a Kit Kat from the Halloween candy bowl, I knew he was better. I still handled everything kid related last night - just in case he was contagious - took the kiddo to dance class, got the kids bathed and fed, tucked them each into bed and made lunches for the next day.

But, it seems that I let my guard down too early...by 10:40 pm last night, I knew something wasn't right. The Kiddo woke up:

Kiddo: Mommy! (pause) MOM-MY!
Me: What is it Kiddo??? (yeah, I'm rolling my eyes because I think she's trying to avoid going to sleep)
Kiddo: I love you!
Me: I love you too, now go to sleep!

This is not uncommon when she 1st goes to bed and is trying to avoid going to sleep...but at 10:40 it seemed weird. Then, 20 minutes later I heard it again, but this time more urgent:

Kiddo: MOM-MY
Me: What is it Kiddo?
Kiddo: I HAVE TO GO POO POO!

Yep, this was not a good sign of things to come. Knowing that, I decided to bring her downstairs to the "hot zone" where she could be near me and closer to a bathroom. From that point until about 4:00 am, she woke up every hour to throw up. Fun times, I tell you! And, she kept wanting water. More and more water. But, her tummy didn't even want water.

Ugh, it was a Starbucks morning for sure!

Fortunately, the Munchkin and I both seem fine so far...let's just hope it stays that way. As soon as the kiddo starts showing signs of improvement, I am gonna arm myself with rubber gloves and clorox spray and start cleaning like crazy - and I will be starting in the "hot zone". Wonder if I can borrow the local HazMat crew for an hour or two? In the meantime, I need some of that yellow tape to rope off the entire area - DO NOT ENTER!

Needless to say, there were no workouts yesterday.

Return of the late night dreadmill.

No Y membership means no lunchtime runs, which also means I will be doing my runs on the treadmill at home after the kiddos are asleep. Yuck.

I don't know why I'm whining, because I've been doing this for years. But, that doesn't make it any more fun and therefore I will continue to whine!

Anywho, the hubby ended up not going to his Hapkido and Jiu Jitsu classes tonight. I know, you're thinking, "Great, then that means you could have run outside, right?" Not this time. The hubster has a pretty bad stomach flu (at least I hope that's all he has!). In fact, it's so bad that I think I will be sleeping on the couch tonight. I don't want to get whatever he has, and I certainly don't want to pass it on to the kids! So, I hopped on the treadmill after about 45 minutes of procrastination and managed to get in 6-miles...I was still running when the 10 o'clock news came on...and if you know me, this is when I usually stop. But kept going - I had a 1/2 mile left to go. And, I think I actually had a negative split (if that's even possible on a treadmill). All I know is that last mile was at a 10 minute pace, because I was just ready to get this run done!

10:33 pace, 1:03:18

The bad thing about running on the treadmill at home is that I can find so many other things to do instead of running. And, while I'm running I can think of things to do. For example, I take sips of water much more frequently than when I am on the road or at the Y. Or, my neck will get all sweaty, so I'll hop off the treadmill real quick to grab a ponytail holder from the kiddos room. Or, I'll stop to go adjust the thermostat or turn on the fan.

Really, I have to stop this crap and just run!

Ugh!

Whew, what a weekend!

The weather in Houston has been un-freaking-believable!

After weeks and weeks of 100+ degree temps, Mother Nature decided to give us a nice break. Lows in the upper 40's/low 50's and highs in the low 70's - that's what I'm talking about! It almost makes you forget that April/May will bring us the 90's again. I intend to enjoy it while I can!!!

Friday, 10/30 - Neighborhood long run, 8.5 miles

The schedule called for 8.5-9 miles. I intended to do the whole 9, but after getting the kids to school I did a few things around the house until I only had enough time for 8.5. Oh well, that's how it goes. Plus, my tummy felt weird - almost like an "I drank to much the night before" feeling, but I hadn't been drinking. I almost talked myself out of running in the morning and came really close to postponing the run until the evening. But then I asked myself, "if it were Saturday and you were running with the running group, would you still show up?". Of course, the answer was "YES". So out to the asphalt I went.

Overall, the run felt great. I think I've mentioned the other lady in the neighborhood who does a long run on Friday mornings...well, I ran into her again. This is the woman with 0% body fat and a killer 6-pack who runs like the wind. Yeah, she was my inspiration to get my feet moving a little faster. I ran for just over 1:30 at a 10:42 pace. Not too bad.

After my run, I headed to the kid's school for their Fall Festival. Due to some miscommunication, I missed out on the kid's trick or treating but I did get to each lunch with them. So cute! Let's just say I have a ton of respect for their teachers...I couldn't do it!

The kids before school...the Munchkin would not let me put him in his costume!

The kiddo with her friends at school...time for lunch!

Saturday, 10/31 - HALLOWEEN! (rest day)

So much fun! The kiddo had her musical theater class in the morning and she got to wear her Halloween costume...I am so glad when the kids can wear them more than once! Later, we took the kids to the neighborhood playground - gotta enjoy the gorgeous weather!!! Before we knew it, it was trick or treat time. The munchkin refused to nap - today of all days! But, both kids had a great time trick or treating. The kiddo showed the munchkin the ropes - how to say "trick or treat", be sure to say "thank you", etc. The munchkin had no idea what to think of all the chaos. He stared at the kids in costume, remembered to say "thank you" about 50% of the time and would not let go of his big green jack o' lantern bucket for anything! It was all so cute!

Finally a picture in his costume...sort of. He did not like to Elmo hood on his head!

Riding around the 'hood in style. Yeah, this is the life! See that look on the Muchkin's face? It says take my bucket and die!

At home and out of the costume. See? He's still hanging onto that bucket!

Sunday, 11/1 - Neighborhood 3-miler

Miles = 3.15, Candy = 6

The one thing I do like about the time change is that the sunrise is soooo much earlier! I woke up at 6 am to try to sneak in a run before the kids woke up. Naturally, the kiddo woke me up about 5 minutes before the alarm clock went off. So much for being sneaky!

For some reason, I could not seem to get my feet moving. You'd think with the perfectly awesome temps (47) and the gorgeous sunrise, I'd be inspired to get going...but, I could not seem to move faster than a 10:48 pace for most of the run. I guess that's okay, since it's supposed to be my "easy" run anyway. I sped up a little in the last 1/2 mile, so my final pace was 10:40 for 3.15 miles. Oh, and I saw 6 pieces of dropped candy on the sidewalk from the night before, lol!

Later, the kiddo and I had a "girls night out" and went to see Mary Poppins. I have to admit, the movie kind of gets on my nerves and I wasn't sure I really wanted to see the musical. However, I was more than pleasantly surprised with the stage production. It was awesome! And, the kiddo and I loved that Mary Poppins flew with her umbrella right over the audience at the end. What a fun way to end the weekend!