2 months to go!!!

My "running for a reason" charity Half Marathon is in 2 months. Today I went for a run after work. I cut it short at 3 miles as I was feeling extremely discouraged. I felt deflated and pissed. I was weak and had no motivation to move forward. I felt like giving up. I felt like there was no way I could run 4 miles let alone 13. I have run a half before so deep down I know I can do it. I just had a horrible pathetic moment. I hated it. I came home and in my mail box was a donation of $100. Talk about wind in your sails---a reminder at the perfect time---why I am running this. Not only for me, but for others. Lisa and I have now raised over $900 for our run!! WOO HOO!!

My son showed me this video tonight---again perfect timing. Another fabulous reminder than I (and anyone) can do anything they set their mind to.

New shoes!

It is that time again-time for new shoes. I started with saucony ride 2, then to saucony triumph 8, now on to saucony triumph 9. What a fabulous revamp!

See how the new version is smaller, less bulky in heel and on the sides

The heel is not as high

Sole is completely redesigned

My husband got a new pair too!

Run Mama Run!

I am here! Do you see me waving my arm back and forth-jumping up and down? HERE I AM! I have not forgotten about this wonderful blog. I am still plugging along with my running. I went to San Francisco for a week and it put a crimp in my training. I am finally getting back on track.

GREEN BAY IS 84 DAYS AWAY!!

DETROIT IS 238 DAYS AWAY!!

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that." -Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." --John Bingham

"I often hear someone say I'm not a real runner. We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I never met a fake runner." -Bart Yasso

"I run because it's so symbolic of life. You have to drive yourself to overcome the obstacles. You might feel that you can't. But then you find your inner strength, and realize you're capable of so much more than you thought." --Arthur Blank

~2012~

In 2012 I will:

run two half marathons. Drink less beer. Drink more water.

Nourish relationships. Smile more. Challenge myself.

My whole family joined the YMCA. We are excited that this is something the family can do together. It is much more than working out. It is spending quality time with my family. It is about involvement in my community. It is about healthy living. It is about trying new things. Today is our first day. YIPPEE!

I registered for two half marathons already. My first will be The Cellcom Green Bay Marathon May 20th . I ran this last year (it was my first half) and I loved it. It is a must for me again this year. The second half I registered for is Detroit Free Press Marathon October 21st . It is an international half that travels from Detroit to Windsor, Canada---how cool is that? My BFF signed up as well. This will be her first half.

memba me?

HELLO! I have resurfaced! (if only for myself as I know I may have lost all my readers) but it is ok. I write for me and for anyone along for the ride. my writing is my reminder to myself that I have made a decision. I have decided to once again kick my ass in gear. enough is enough. summer is over. camping is over. food on the run is over. the scale tipping is over. I am ready to kick my own ass. I am ready to get back to where I was, and then go farther than I ever have been.

~I'm Hot and I'm Cold, I'm Yes and I'm No~

Summer. Is. Finally. Here.
Let's be real, summer here is short, so of course I want to enjoy every second of sun. We squeeze camping, drinking, and any sort of fun into every free second. Sounds great, right? The problem? HALF TRAINING! Yes I have another half around the corner---62 days to be exact. It has been HOT here. Wonderful for sitting in a lawn chair with a beer, not so wonderful for me to run in. I DIE IN THE HEAT, I tire so quickly. Today I am going to hit the treadmill in my basement. In my central air conditioned home. I HATE the treadmill, but I hate running in the heat even more. It is so hard to stick to my training schedule. I am a mama of 3. Kids have so much going on, especially in the summer. I run after work, but yet start to feel guilty that my husband is stuck home with the kids (especially after being home with them all day). I have to accept that I am a runner, but a mama and a wife and a nurse and a friend and a daughter as well. I need to allow all of my roles to take turns being first and accept that there are weeks where I can not run three times. I will do the best I can with the free time I can find. And that has to be good enough.

~New shoes, happy feet~

Ahhhhhhh I have new shoes. YAY! HAPPY BLISTER FREE FEET! I traded in my tired Saucony Pro Grid Ride 2 for a fabulous pair of Saucony Triumph 8. I got the last pair in November and trained for the half and ran the half in them. They were fine up until about 6 weeks ago when blisters started to appear. I went to a local running store and was fitted for my new pair. I have ran in them twice---blister free! I LOVE SAUCONY SHOES! YAY!

Good bye old:





Hello new:




This durable workhorse is a heel-striker's best friend. It props the heel up with a lot of soft cushioning and supplies a balanced, stable ride. Saucony dropped 1.5 ounces from the shoe by using lighter materials in the outsole and upper and sculpting the midsole. Overall, the Triumph's balance of stability and softness won over most of our testers, who appreciated its accommodating fit. Recommended for heel-strikers looking for a soft shoe with an outstanding fit.

Trail 5k recap

Yesterday my friend and I ran a trail 5k. It was my first trail race and her first race ever. It was at 10:30 am and it was very warm out already. I got there and was delighted to see that her 10 year old daughter had decided to join us. The 12k runners started first, then we were off. I had never ran on these particular trails and all I have is one word: HILLY. Good lord. The first half was OK, but about half way through my knee popped. PAIN. I literally walked the last half of the race. There was no way I could run the hills with my knee. I wanted to cry. I wanted to quit. I was pissed. I seriously considered walking around the finish so that my time was not recorded. But I thought about what that would say about me, and my character. But most of all what would that say to my friends daughter who ran that day? I finished, I literally walked across the finish line. I was still mad. My friends daughter finished 1st in her age group (I belive she was 9th OVERALL!!) and my friend finished her first race and she ran strong and did fabulous. Running is more than exercise, it is an emotional and mental challenge. I may not run well each time, but I run. I can not control my body, but I can listen to it. I can encourage and cheer on others, and hope to inspire others to run. Running has taught me so much more than I could have ever imagined when I started. After I digested the days events I look back and appreciate them. Because without set backs how can one truly appreciate moving forward?




P.S. to redeem myself, I did come home and go for a 10 mile bike ride with my husband. :)

P.S.S today my knee feels fine.........figures.

Green Bay 13.1 Recap

Saturday Jaime and I met Kim and Nigel at the expo. We got our packets and shopped. I bought more Bondi Bands www.bondiband.com (because a girl can never have enough), a spi belt www.spibelt.com , and an Amphipod handheld water bottle www.runningwarehouse.com/descpage-AHHL12.html .

Sunday morning we got up bright and early and enjoyed coffee and peanut butter toast along with a power bar. Jaime, myself, Mark, Chris and Catrina all were running. Sheri was out with an injury but bless her soul mustered up enough courage to come spectate. We got to Green Bay about 30 minutes before the race, we SEARCHED for the bag check, no one knew where it was. we finally found it. Did some quick stretches in the bathroom line and the hopped in the starting line. Jaime and I ran with no ipods. we wanted to truly be in the moment and wanted to hear everything. I do not regret this decision and I think next time (yes you heard right) I will run without music again.

Jaime and I started out at a nice pace, being very careful not to let the excitement of the day make us run too fast. We knew the importance of not burning out too quick. This was a long race. We paced our selves. We ran with no garmin or watch, again it was a decision. We really just wanted to run the race without stressing about time or distance. We trained together all winter. She is 12 years younger and faster than me. We knew that there would come a point in the race where we would part, but we planned to run as much as we could together. The first few miles were fine, lots of crowd support and energy. I saw my first spectator Kelly at mile 5. To hear my name was so fabulous. A HUGE burst of encouragement. We saw Jaime's family and her dad was just beaming for her. It was awesome. We crossed the 5 mile mark in under an hour and I remember saying outloud "we got this" At mile 6.5 Jaime started to pull ahead (that sounds much better than me pulling back) and we gently broke apart. We didn't speak, it just happened as we knew it would. I watched her get farther and farther in front of me. It was ok. This was our race, yet it was MY race as was HERS. I wanted her to run the best race she could as did I and I knew if I stayed with her I would tire. So I plugged along. At mile 7-8 I saw Nigel with a fabulous sign for me. YAY another spectator. It was so nice to see a familiar face. This was about the time where there was a band playing in a driveway and some guys were handing out beer. There was NEVER a point in the race that I felt I couldn't do it. Actually I thought "this is easy" now yes I am a SLOW runner, but a runner. I ran the whole way. The training is the killer, the race is fun. At about mile 11 I could see and hear Lambeau. I was almost there. At mile 11 I heard my necklace gingle, it was a gift from my BFF. I smiled. As I entered Lambeau I saw Kim and Nigel cheering for me, I remember yelling "I have nothing left" I ran through the players tunnel and out around the field. There were spectators in the stand and it was great to see Crystal. Back through the players tunnel and out to the parking lot. This is where I saw marathoners running beside me. I cheered and told them they were kicking ass! I saw Kim and Nigel again and I sprinted to the finish. I did a "Lambeau Leap" over the finish and my time was 2:33. I heard Sheri yell "I am so proud of you" I know that this day was so hard for her. I DID IT. I set a goal and followed through. No one got me to that finish but myself. No one trained endless miles after work for me. I did. I stuck with it and made it. It felt FABULOUS.

Jaime and I (P.S. she finished 10 minutes ahead of me)

Half Pics!!!!

http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event_video.asp?EVENTID=75604&BIB=4332&S=230&PWD=

My professional half marathon pics.....recap coming soon!!!!!!

MINE

There are some things in life you do for just you. Some things that some understand and others don’t. Some things that matter so much to yourself, yet seem minimal to others. These things that we carry close to our heart, our soul, our being. These things are ours. Our moment, our thing, our journey. While you hope that your loved ones understand how much this means to you, some will and some won’t. You need to remember that these things are for you. For no one else. Cherish this, as it is yours.

Sunday, May 15th, I finished my first half marathon. This was a goal that I made for myself a long time ago, yet really set in stone at Thanksgiving. I trained after work, on weekends, any free time I could carve away from my family. I know it was a sacrifice. For myself and for them. The day came yesterday and I ran. I did it. I completed my race. My race against myself. While some don’t get it, some chose to ignore it, some chose to disregard it, I embrace it. Because my embrace is all that matters. A full race recap will be later. But for now one of my favorite quotes:

“The miracle isn’t that I finished, the miracle is that I had the courage to start.”

I AM NOT READY

I could puke. I am nervous, scared, excited, upset, worried...mostly nauseous. My knee injury really set my training back. I AM NOT READY. the half is a week from TODAY. I wish I could rewind about 2 months and have a do over. I could cry. Ok now I am crying. Seriously. This half meant so much to me and now I feel so defeated. I feel kicked down, I am pissed off. I did not train enough. Not even close. WHAT DO I DO?

Let the truth be known

My right knee sucks. There I said it. I am disappointed in my body. I feel let down. Now I know there are people far worse than me, for christ sake my dad had a stroke a few weeks ago and here I am bitching about my knee.

I have gone to PT for a few weeks. I have had U/S therapy, massage, and even rocked one of these stylish patches for 8 hours.

I still hurt. I have a stabbing on the lateral side of my knee which wraps inward behind the knee. I have had a few diagnoses: meniscal tear, IT band Syndrome, tendonitis.....etc. At this point I have refused a MRI and injections. Part of me probably doesn't want to know the truth, the other yeah I am in denial. The race is 17 days away. I just can't swallow the idea that I can't run it. Not yet. It just breaks my heart. Soon I will have to make a decision. But tonight I will not.

Awesome Giveaway

Check out this giveaway http://runningdivamom.blogspot.com/2011/04/air-sports-watch-product-review.html

I have been following her blog for a while and she is so inspiring! I hope to be half the runner she is some day!

~The Stick~

I purchased The Stick today, check it out: www.thestick.com

Anyone have it?? I had a fuel belt to exchange at a sporting store and had a store credit, so I chose The Stick. I will let you know how it goes......

I live in one of these cities!!! Can you guess?? Go ahead and tilt your head to read......




My cat Annabelle enjoyed The Stick


As did my 5 year old!

~34 days~

Only 34 days until my first half. I am struggling with IT band issues. Today on my 4 mile run I had to stop in my tracks. The pain in my knee was unbearable. It took me 20 minutes to walk about .5 mile. I came home and iced and took a celebrex. This is so upsetting to me. I am giving this training all I have and yet my body and mind are not on the same track. It just breaks my heart. My dad had a stroke this week. Again breaks my heart. He is lucky, as it could have been much worse. Yet, seeing him struggle to walk and swallow, is almost too much for me. I am coping by being sarcastic and cynical. Someone has to be. We all can't sit around and cry. I put on a brave face for my family, and grieve silently. I want to run this half for him.

~63 days~

63 days until my first half! I am so excited. My running partner Jaime and I have been religiously training. She is Running for a Reason and has raised $330 for charity! We run on an indoor track and are hoping to get outside soon. The cold, ice and snow have kept us indoors.

19 days without beer! This is seriously a world record for me! I have given it up until after the half.

Jaime and I have decided that we will NOT be running with an iPod. We do not train with one anyway. We want to truly experience the half. We want to hear all the sounds. The cheering, the cowbells, the talking.

My foot is giving me problems. The lateral part of my left foot HURTS. It goes from an ache to a stabbing. Any ideas?

Dart Fish Gait Analysis

I have been having medial knee pain. I work at an Orthopaedic office and had a sports medicine doctor look at me. Everything looks good. He felt that pain was coming from my form. He sent me for a dart fish gait analysis. Here is what I found.

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to. ~Bill Vaughn

It is happening. I am aging. I am happy with what I have become, yet still pause and wonder when it all happened. 3 kids? really? one who is 15 and in high school? how is this possible? I look at my skin, my hands, my hair and see aging. I am not displeased with what I see, just see change. I don't recall growing older, or feeling this change. I still feel as though I did years ago. If I close my eyes I feel as though I did when I was 18. Yet when I open my eyes and look down at my sad stretched stomach, when I hear these 3 children calling me mom, when I remember my responsibilities as an adult, it still baffles me how I got here. I love my life. I am blessed. I am complete and satisfied. Yet I look back and wonder how I got here. Why was I so lucky? You see my stretched belly, my few grey strands of hair, my aging hands and face. They are reminders of who I am and where I have been. They are the reminders to me of my past, the good times and bad. they are reminders of why I am what I am today. I have learned so much already on this great journey of life. I look forward to many more amazing rides, even the bumps and curves, for I have learned far more from the rocky times than the smooth. Life is an unbelievable ride, one we need to stop and cherish each day. As this new year begins I hope that my family enjoys the ride, that we remember to buckle up and hold on tight, for this year year has wonderful potential.

"Nobody said it would be easy, they just said it would be worth it."

139 days until my first half. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Santa was very good to me, my wish list consisted of mostly running things. Could it be I am now a runner? Did it happen? I got more Bondi Bands. I LOVE these. LOVE. Santa knew and got me 6 more. I also got a medicine ball with work out DVD. I also got a home gym. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS. I really need to step up weight training and this will make it so much easier. We are also going to finish the work-out room (drywall and carpet). I plan to paint fun bright colors and write motivational quotes and words on the wall. It will make working out and the treadmill much more desirable.