I am either crazy or motivated!

Last Thanksgiving while in WI visiting with my sister-in-law and family, my brother-in-law and I made a pact to do the Green Bay Cellcom 5k. My brother-in-law had been a runner for years, yet never entered a race and I was a non-runner. We followed through and finished the 5k in May and had a BLAST. This brings me to this thanksgiving while out to dinner on Saturday night my brother-in-law and I decided that we would do the half marathon at the Green Bay Cellcom. Was it the drinks? Was it the nostalgic feeling we had discussing our previous race? Was it that enough time had passed to forget the ugliness of training? Or was it that we really did catch the running bug and were ready for the next challenge? Regardless of what it was, it happened, and we agreed with a smile that we would do it knowing that we certainly wouldn't win, but we would finish. Hell yes we would finish the race.

Training starts tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m. on my dusty lonely treadmill. Wish me luck, good god I need it!

Happy Fall!

Fun family fall project. Press leaves in a catalog for a few days, or if you are like me and live in 2009 and don't have a catalog in your home (ummm hello online shopping) iron the leaves flat between 2 paper bags. Seal with clear contact paper (one sheet on each side) cut out in desired shapes (they make fun placemats too). Easy as that! They last for many years as well, just store them flat!

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........I hate my treadmill........just thought you should know........that's all for now........

I am a slacker, and I paid for it today

Good god life has been busy and I let my running go on the back burner (I haven't ran in so long I am embarassed to admit just how long it has been). I started my first job as a nurse about a month ago and I have been working 40 hours a week training. Summer with 3 kids means softball games at 5:30 pm, summer cook-outs, beer, sun, and family time. I have a 5.7 mile race in October to prepare for and yesterday I decided ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH and I needed to get my ass back in gear. So this morning I headed out on my usual course. IT SUCKED. It was as if I had never ran before. My lungs, my legs, and my mind were all a mess. My legs felt like rubber bands that were pulled tight. My head was telling me to dive out in on coming traffic as an easy way out of the run, and my lungs were telling me if I didn't stop I would pass out, oh and I seriously thought at any minute I would puke. Yep I had that much fun. I did 2.6 miles and really it was a walk and not a run. It was LAME. But out of all of my misery I learned one thing. THIS IS WHAT YOU GET FOR GETTING OFF TRACK. YOU DID THIS TO YOURSELF. I know I can do it, I have done it before, and I will again. I am pissed at myself for getting off track, but I will focus that energy on getting myself where I want to be.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh

So my life for the last few weeks has consisted of studying for the NCLEX (Nursing Licensing Exam) I took it on June 19th and I PASSED! WOOOOO HOOOOO!!! I even got my license from the state in the mail already......it feels great. So now the job hunt continues!

My family went to Wisconsin Dells for a week and returned home yesterday. We had a blast as we always do.......we just love it there.

So needless to say my running has been lack luster for a few weeks. I need to get back on track. I will get back on track, I have a race in October to prepare for! Samantha is doing great with training and I bet she will soon be able to run circles around me. I am VERY proud of her!

And I have a taker!

Sammy and I are in for the Great Turtle in October! WEEEEEEEEEEE Mackinac here we come!!!!

I plan on following the Novice plan by Hal Higdon. I am excited for another goal, for motivation to keep up with my running, and for Samantha to start training. This is something that we can do together! EXCITING!

I ordered a new Garmin Forerunner 201, I am waiting very impatiently for it to get here....UGH. It has been a week! WHERE ARE YOU?

Mackinac Island

Those that know me, know that Mackinac Island is one of my favorite places. It has become a ritual for my husband and I to go in August for my birthday.

If you aren't familiar with Mackinac Island, click here: Mackinac Island Info

So anyway, it is one of my favorite places to be and I will never grow tired of visiting. It is the most romantic place, so charming, a perfect getaway. Now that I have just finished my first race, I am ready to plan my next. I need a goal, something to train for and to look forward to. I came across these:


Click here: 39th Annual Eight Mile Run

Click here: Great Turtle Half Marathon and 5.7 mile run/walk

PERFECTION! So now I must decide if I want to train for the 8 mile in September, or attempt to train for the half in October! Anyone want to join me?