Lots......

to blog about, well lets see March 16th was the Carey 1/2 marthon ...here is a an email that I sent out to some friends of how the race went:

Just a quick race recap to let you know how our 1/2 marathon went today.......I set a new PR of 1:58 - 9:04 avg pace....my goal going out today was to do it under 2hrs, It took everything and then some but I did it. I have never felt so spent after a run, I had to hold back throwing up if that tells you anything, I really didnt want to embarrass myself in front of crowds of people LOL! But its an awesome feeling once that passed.....This was the 30th anniversary of this event - I must be all about the 30th year of stuff, Marathon 30yr etc...its kinda cool, anyway....this race only allows 1000 runers to run, and we realized quickly we were the underdogs and with some very good runners. Especially when at the start we were holding a 8:55 pace and people were passing us like crazy - a little discouraging, but I tried to stay positive that these people cant possibly hold that pace the WHOLE 13.1 miles or could they?

I started getting a stitch at like mile 1.5 (side pains) SHIT! I tried to do my "labor" breathing - seriously this is what I am thinking. I am thinking Don we are going way too fast - but the competitor in me was like dude no more people are going to pass me - so I just kept at it ....the stitches kinda subsided but never completely went away. You have to understand this is one of the most hilly courses in the area - that is why the FAST runners love to run it - its a challenge. I swear we hit like 5 super BIG hills - 2 of them being at the end - I was actually kinda freaked at a few points when my breathing was wheezy - in my 2yrs of running - have never had labored breathing like this - but this hills man! The miles seriously were melting away, I had moments of out of body experience, where I felt super strong and then others when I kept saying Don shit, shit shit - Kenye & Eminem are my new best friends (sorry Amy, I know you love Kenye too, but you will have to share LOL) they surely pulled me thru some of those rough spots.

There weren't too many highlights, it felt cool passing a lot of strong men, thats just the woman in me :) Not too many people walked on this course, I felt like I was running w/ the best of them. At Mile 10 I thought whats another 3, but seriously was I wrong - those were the worst miles. I kept thinking of Ethan telling me "momma go get a medal" and Adriana's Smile - chinese food & starbucks - between the grunts and yelling profanity - All in all I am on top of th world right now and just wanted to share yet another notch on the race belt w/ all my favorite ladies! If you want to know Don seriously makes me sick - he had a bum knee this week, and was under trained - and came out saying oh the hills werent that bad w/ lots left in him - where does this guy come from? he isnt human!!! but I love him. Oh yeh, the race shirt is super COOL (most race shirts are kinda cheeze) but I am loving this one, a girl has to look good in her race apparel.

Seriously I really did almost throw up, but I guess when you do something so bad it hurts, its a good thing right ??

We had a fun week of spring break spending time w/ friends - We celebrated Tommy's 3rd birthday at Wacky Bear @ Spring hill mall - the kids really had a good time - then it started snowing ugh!! When will it finally get 60's & Sunny daily?? Ethan & I took a trip downtown on the train to meet up w/ Tara & Brandon - we spent a fun day downtown & Picked up our race packets for the Shamrock Shuffle.

Shamrock Shuffle day came we drove down to the city, got a little turned around w/ parking but made it to the start w/ time to spare - it was cool for me being relaxed and having flashbacks to the marathon start. The race was way over crowded for a 8K, but I enjoyed it - Liz was able to get a new PR - Tara finished like a champ, for some one who has little interest in running - I was impressed. I was just happy to see my friends enjoying something that is a huge part of me.

We spent a relaxing, fun weekend at the Wilderness resort in Wisconsin Dells this past weekend - Amy & I spent some time in the hot tub w/ drinks - Thanks to our wonderful husbands who allowed us some peace & quiet - A good time was had by all - the kids were exhausted by the time we headed home!

Amy & I signed up for the Chicago Marathon, I am a little nervous b/c Amy has been having some knee pain - awaiting results from an MRI to see if some past knee injury is lingering - please God make everything okay !!!! I really dread training thru another hot summer alone, I am sooo looking forward to training w/ Amy and seeing the excitment as she reaches each and every goal as the miles get longer. Saying lots of prayers that Amy's knee will be okay.......

Well this is getting long - I guess I just need to quit being lazy and post more huh?!?! Waiting for my dad & Fran to come visit - they should be here very soon TGIF!!! enjoy the weekend friends!

It's a new week

It's been an okay week, I think I am still recovering from the 12 miler w/ Don on Saturday, let me just tell you it kicked my butt! Don will never let you down when it comes to pushing you and always performing well, he pushed me all the way to my new PR 12miles @ 9:05 avg pace - No kidding - this girl can run, huh?!?! He made it look so easy, How does he do that? I think at the beginning we were both thinking this sucks, its 25 degrees w/ flurries, and we are out here - WHY? Because we are addicted, its our drug (well atleast mine anyway) - So w/ that said I think I am READY to run the March Madness Carey 1/2 on Sunday - those hills may not leave me w/ the time I want, but I have proved to myself in the training - that I can improve my time drastically so that is good enough for me :)

Getting ready to go run 4 easy miles w/ Amy & Liz - The weather is finally warming up, and w/ daylight savings its still light out woo hoo! This will be good, getting to do the 2 best things running & talking works for me!

So its an easy week on the running front w/ 9 miles this week - Ethan has his first Kindergarten music performance on Thursday, I cant wait to see him sing w/ his class - he is soo excited. My little boy has grown up so much this past year, I cant believe he is going to be 6yrs old. Where has the time gone? Well better go get ready to run......

Bring it on Hills.........

Well I went out this morning w/ a fellow runner Frank, he is a way experienced runner, so it was a good companion for the 11 miler I completed today on the Carey March Madness course that Don & I will run in 2wks. The HILLS were a kick ass workout, but they didnt kick mine - I kept my arms a swinging & my breathing steady, and finished the run @ a 9:38 average pace. My legs are feeling pretty sore right now, and I have some new blisters trying to break in a new pair of Brooks GTS 7's - but its the same size/model as my old ones - whats up w/ the blisters?? Ugh!!

Waiting for Don to get back from his run, and then we plan on taking the kids out to the mall - I am really looking forward to my evening out w/ Jenny & friends of eating & some cocktails/dancing - I definatly need to wear my comfy boots as my poor feet cant take my real cute ones the joys of being a woman! I am ready for the spring running season .........but it was beautiful running thru the hills/subdivisions w/ the snow covered ground & deer running all over - wished I had my camera on days like today - a beautiful running day regardless of the hills.

Enjoy your weekend friends!

Back on the Saddle

Well today I am going to go outside and attempt my 5 miles, I should of done yesterday! Our TM is still broken. Service came on Wednesday only to tell me what I already knew parts were broken and needed to be ordered - hopefully by Wednesday it will be fixed! The weather is warming a bit, well when I say warming its not so windy that it hurts your skin - but its still cold. Good enough for me to get out and log some miles though! Its been a LONG week, I did use Amy's TM a couple times this week - Thanks Amy! But all and all logged 7 miles this week - and they didnt even feel like strong ones. The race is 3wks away - hoping for some Sunshine & 30's weather to get me thru the last few weeks of getting prepared to this this thing!

Halt on Training....

Well I have attempted many times to start a blog, but life has gotten in the way and it kinda falls apart, but this time around I am going to make a good effort to keep this going. It's good to get out whats in my head and keep up on my running goals. For some reason when I see them in print, its easier to keep myself focused to actually achieve them......So the next race is coming up March 16th March Madness 1/2 marathon in Carey IL ...this is supposed to be a great course to really push yourself w/ its share of rolling hills. Now on to the really miserable part, our Treadmill is broken. The belt was slipping and my wonderful husband thought he would attempt to fix it, yeh right! So, now a part is broken and its in bad shape. Luckily we have a service agreement w/ Sears to come and fix it. They will not be out until Wednesday :( Training is a little halted for the time being as its 12 degrees w/ some nasty winds - I am not liking winter right now!!! I seriously need some days in the 30's w/ no wind & sunshine to get outside and kick it into gear. I am done w/ the many layers, black ice, snow, cold and wearing hats ugh!!! When is spring coming?? I have 5 miles on the books for today, and unless Amy calls me back to be so kind to let me run on their TM I am just screwed for today's run - I can try and play catch up, but it wont be pretty - It was presidents day and we took the kids bowling. Well, bowling didnt really work out as it was over an hour wait for a lane jeez! So we let them play in the arcade and then took them to Mcdonalds play area - their I indulged in a Qpounder, fries YUM!!! Isnt helping when I cant run it off ............So.. I am still going back and forth about signing up for Chicago 08 should I ??? I did finish in Chi 2007, but I still want to run it the way it should be ran and meet my goal time......Amy seems interested, maybe I will have a partner to log all those gueling training runs or maybe if Don would stop running like a kenyan (well not really) but he is damn faster than me and commit to run it w/ me we could cross the finish line holding hands like I envision in my head LOL!!! I will keep you posted on my decision.....