As You Wish

As requested by my big brother, here is a picture of me in the sweatshirt he sent for my birthday. I LOVE IT! Thank you!!

And, just for fun, here are a couple pictures of my goofy kids.

Carson, age 8, and feeling MUCH better today, along with Hailey, age 6, who never misses an opportunity to tease her brother.


My now TEENAGE son, Gabe. Hugs, anyone?

Happy (Late) Thanksgiving

I have much to catch up on here! I had a few days break from my usual routine over the Thanksgiving holiday. My kids were on a trip with their dad, so I only had myself to worry about for a change. When I run during the week at 5:00 a.m. I can't see much of my neighborhood. Last week I actually got to run in the daylight! On Thanksgiving Day, I ran alongside my friend Julie while she rode her bike. I tried to keep to a slow and steady pace while holding her dog's leash - a bit challenging as Molly is an energetic, curious pooch!

I enjoyed a fabulous Thanksgiving meal at my friend Lisa's house. Her family was there as well as some close friends. It was a wonderfully relaxing afternoon of delicious food and fantastic company. I am so thankful for God's overwhelming provision for me and my kids. We have so much - both in tangible things and in lives filled to overflowing with the best kind of loved ones.

Saturday morning was the "highlight" of the break with my 16 mile run. It was not the nightmare of the 12, but definitely not so breezy as the 14. I have concluded that one must approach these long runs with awe and respect. You can't go into a long run terrified or thinking, "I can't do this." But you also can't treat them lightly. I don't believe I rested or ate the way I really should have in preparation for 16 miles. But I survived it. I did ok. Becky kept me going! After my ice bath and probably 45 minute shower, I finally felt refreshed enough to leave the house again. But I was walking like an old, old lady the rest of the day.

Sunday was better, but stairs were still an issue. And then - magically - Monday morning I hit the ground running . . . literally! It was WAY cold that morning when I met Alicia and Anita Nell. (Alicia's ankle is slowly improving and I'm so glad to have her back in the mornings! Whatta trooper!) But I had SO much energy and felt SO great! I was just amazed!

I had to take today off due to a sick little boy. Carson was up sick several times in the night and I just didn't feel right leaving the house this morning. This was only the second time I have missed a day on my training schedule. I think that's pretty OK.

I got a birthday package from my brother today. In it were two shirts for the marathon I'm running in January. One is a Team In Training shirt that says "If you think running a marathon is tough . . . try chemotherapy." The other is a super soft red hoodie sweatshirt with Rock N Roll Arizona Marathon on the front. The sleeve says "Rock On! Arizona" on it.

I do believe that my mom knows just what I'm up to and why, but I so wish she were here and that I could see her standing at that finish line when I cross it. She was such an encourager and loved rock and roll! That is why I have chosen this particular event to participate in. I know I'll be an emotional wreck the day of my race. I'll be thinking of her with each band along the route and at the victory concert afterward.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Yesterday was my 36th birthday. What a great day! I received a number of serenades - most of which were the traditional lyrics. Only a couple opted for the "you look like a monkey and you smell like one too" version. I received lots of great cards and gifts and even Disney Princess cupcakes! Thanks to my friends and family who made my birthday a super fantastic day!

Here's Gabe and I at Flying Pie Pizza. No, Gabe is not trying to look like he just walked out of a Shakespeare play. That's actually a cheeseburger on his head. And that's Winky the Lobster on my head. I could have sworn it had two eyes when I put it on . . .

Feed Me Seymour

Yes, it is 2:00 in the morning. I'm no longer much of a night owl these days, so I was pretty much turning into a pumpkin by 10:00 tonight. But then I was awakened at 1:00 by (in the words of Pooh) a rumbly in my tumbly. I tried to just go back to sleep, but there was no way. I am amazed at how much I can eat these days. I've always been a lover of food, but all this running has taken that love to even greater heights.

The 7 miles on the treadmill was great today. All together I walked maybe 8 minutes out of the whole run!

I must back up though. Before this week I had never, NEVER been on a treadmill. I'd seen people jogging away on the machines and they made it look pretty simple. One foot in front of the other, right?

I believe it was Monday that I tried the treadmill at my gym for the first time. I felt pretty awkward, but managed to keep my feet under me as I jerked along. Well, I had my iPod on the little shelf directly in front of me and kept hitting the cord with my arm. That would pull the iPod right off the shelf and it would end up dangling in front of me. I'd pull it up by the cord, put it back on the shelf and try to keep my arms out of the way. Well, that cord kept swinging, so I kept hitting it. Finally, I hit the cord so hard that the iPod came disconnected from the headphones and fell down on the treadmill belt! Of course I looked down to see where it landed and make sure I didn't step on it or anything. That's when the stumbling and grabbing for the bars began before I developed the presence of mind to push the stop button! The iPod went shooting off the end of the treadmill and landed face down on the floor. Somehow, thankfully, I did not do the same, but it was pretty touch and go. And fortunately the gym doesn't start getting really crowded until closer to 6:00 when I'm leaving.

I know now to run the headphone cord under my shirt and tuck my iPod in the little pocket of my shorts. And to use the treadmill in the furthest corner of the room.

Well, I've finished my snack, so I think I'll try and get back to sleep. Good night!

The Words of My Father

How many times did I hear my dad make comments about stores that opened late? "What? They don't open until 9:00? The day's half over by then!" Until now, I never really shared that sentiment. I was a big fan of sleeping in and didn't really care what was open before about 10:00. But today, I heard my father's words coming out of my mouth.

It's been rainy here the last couple of days and since today is only a 7 mile run, I figured I'd just hit the treadmill rather than run at the park with my team. Anita-Nell suggested getting in some runs on the treadmill anyway to get used to running in warmer weather to prepare for Phoenix. So I was wide awake by 6:00 this morning. I put on my shorts, grabbed my iPod and headed to the gym.

No cars in the parking lot. Completely dark building. The sign says they don't open until 8:00!! Are you kidding me? I wanted to be DONE by 8:00! I'd like to actually have a DAY! Well, my gym is the smallest of all the gyms I have membership to, so I decided to try the newest one that is much bigger. It's not too far from my house, so I toodled over there, confident that it would at LEAST open at 7:00 for Pete's sake! Once again, empty parking lot. Dark building. Stinkin' 8:00 again! I couldn't believe it!

So, now that I've finished griping, it's finally almost 8:00. I'm off to the treadmill.

Running Buddy!

Thanks so much Anita-Nell for meeting me this morning for a great run! I enjoyed getting to know you and hope we can run together more! And thank you for the cold weather running gear - what a blessing!

I've been kind of hitting a wall this week. I felt like I was coming down with a cold or something, so I've been at the gym rather than running. Also, my faithful Alicia hurt her ankle and has not been able to run with me. If Anita Nell had not been coming to meet me today, I may not have made it out of bed . . . But, as usual, I'm SO glad I did get up! Great company and a great run! It was a cold clear morning and the stars were AMAZING!

I will post later about Anita-Nell's history. She is planning on running all the Rock N Roll Marathons and Half Marathons this year - a total of 7. For now let's just say, if you thought I'd never be a runner, wait until you hear her story . . .

Eye of the Tiger, Baby

Thanks, my friends, for your encouragement and prayers for this morning!

I was so scared about doing 14 miles today. After my discouraging 12 miles two weeks ago, I was really terrified about this run.

Well, for the first time, I must say . . .

I ROCK!

It was a FANTASTIC run! I was energized and excited at the half way point and had to be careful not to push myself too much. I still had 7 miles to go! As we neared the end, I started to get sore and tired, but never experienced the injury type pain I had before. When we headed into the last mile and a half, I was SO pumped! I couldn't believe how great I was feeling and that we had DONE it!! What an amazing experience!

And I'm not as sore after this run as I was last time. When I stopped at my usual Quick Stop to get ice, I actually bounced up onto the sidewalk to go into the store. Usually it's about all I can do to just lift my leg up onto that curb.

Thanks, Becky, for being my running buddy! It was great spending the nearly 3 hours with you this morning. Thanks to my coach and my mentor for keeping us encouraged as we ran. Thanks to all my fantastic friends who not so gently told me to knock off the negative attitude that said, "I can't do this! I'm so terrified!" Instead, they told me, "You can do this! You rock!"

And thank you, Lord, for the strength to finish strong and for holding off the rain. I asked my friend Lisa to pray for the rain to stay away until the afternoon. Well, it rained all over the valley this morning, but never a drop on us as we ran. Then on the way home at 12:04 it started raining on me!

You know, some people run the distance we ran today and end up with a medal. We did a half marathon and then some. So, for you Becky, here's your medal:

Slugs and Chihuahuas

My dear friend, Code Name KW, said I needed to blog about this.

I understand it’s true among runners that some days you just can’t seem to get into your run. It happens. Wednesday was one of those days for me. I told Alicia I felt like a slug. It may have had something to do with the “migraine hangover” I was experiencing. I get migraines pretty regularly and I had had a particularly painful and tenacious one the night before. For whatever reason, I had the hardest time putting one foot in front of the other Wednesday morning.

But then there was yesterday.

My daughter, Hailey, is a big fan of the recent movie Hairspray. We have been listening to the soundtrack in our car almost daily, much to the chagrin of my two older boys. Hailey loves all kinds of musicals and, well, let’s face it, Zac Efron.


She’s 6 years old and already her room is covered with teen magazine posters from High School Musical 2. Anyway, I digress.

Fortunately I share Hailey’s love of musicals, so my iPod was armed with the more energetic selections from Hairspray when I hit the gym Thursday morning.

Rather than a slug day, I had what I like to call a Chihuahua day. When I’m running, a Chihuahua day finds me practically prancing next to Alicia or darting back and forth from one side of the street to the other trying to run farther or faster. At the gym, I’m going a super speed on the elliptical and smiling!

Ok, little Chester here is actually a terrier, but this was the image and attitude I was imagining.

By the time I reluctantly stopped myself it was ten minutes later than I should have stayed. I have a pretty tight schedule in the mornings in order to get out the door by 7:30 with all three kids. So ten minutes can just about break a morning for me. But we made it!

So now I can just say whether I had a Chihuahua day or a slug day, and y’all will know just what I mean.

Nothing Wasted

A dear friend of mine lost her mom very suddenly over the weekend. I was so surprised at the intense feelings it brought up in me. My heart just broke for her and for her children who have lost their grandma.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I wouldn't really understand what she is going through without having gone through it myself. So loss and tears do not have to be a waste.

Bless you, my friend. I love you and am praying for you.

Novembrrrrrrr

It's getting mighty chilly around here in the mornings. When you walk on the grass and it crunches, that treadmill starts looking more and more appealing.

Saturday I met Becky at the park to run 7 miles. Our regular team run was off, so we were on our own. We met at a different park than usual, so at least a good chunk of the run was a change of scenery. It was a beautiful morning with the sun just starting to come up when we arrived at the park. We ran along the river and admired the mist rising off the surface of the water.

The run went fine. It's weird to think of running that far and saying, "Oh, ONLY 7 miles." By the end my knees were pretty sore though, so I'm apprehensive about next weekend's 14 miles.