What a difference a night makes

Something I've been thinking about since the weekend. A woman, a mom, went for a run at 6:30am on a route that she knew, and has been missing since then. I am so sad for her, for her family, her friends, her community. She is a teacher, so sshe has touched many lives. I have seen news about her on blogs, Facebook and even my local news in NJ. She is from Montana. The above is what I wrote last night with the intentions of linking you to Caroline, who made up a bib to wear for the safe return of Sherry. http://journeytoahalfmaraton.blogspot.com/2012/01/for-sherry-arnold.html This morning Beth posted the most horrible news. http://www.shutupandrun.net/2012/01/saddest-day.html?m=1 I am heartbroken. For Beth, the rest of Sherry's family, her friends, her community. It has left a hole in the running community. Especially among runners that are moms. How do we go out and do what makes us feel our best, be our best, with this fear during every run. Just because this happened out in Montana, far far away from NJ, there are crazy, sick people everywhere. Please be safe.

squeezing it in.

So I did it. I did end up getting out for that run. I had my 1 year old niece, like I watch every Thurs., and her and my little one fell asleep in the car. I decided to hurry and get dressed, to run. I parked at the local track and ran 800's (that's 2 laps). I got in 3 of them in about 13 min (1.5 miles) before I had to go pick up the Kid from school. Talk about squeezing in a run! Then, today I went to this local reservoir that is 5 rolling miles around. I've done it so many times. It's a beautiful run and my dad actually lives across the street. I met up with my tri group and brought along my BRF (best running friend). We even did an extra mile! So a total of 6 today and I feel great. We even saw a Bald Eagle in its nest squalking away, loud! They have babies there every spring. I see them often, but each time is still so cool. I've only signed up for 1 big race so far in 2012. The NJ Half Marathon! 17 weeks to go!! Then 12 weeks after that is the Jersey Girl Triathlon. My goal for 2012 is to do 1 race a month, or 12 total. I pretty much know what I'm doing each month, but I have no ideas for Aug yet. Another goal is to lose this pesky 20 pounds so I can drop some time off my races....as I say this I am getting a beer. Hey, what? I ran 6 miles today. Don't judge me. Lol.

just call it a comeback?

Wow. 2 posts in a week. I'm sure I have no readers anymore....but I'm trying to make a bloggy comeback. This last year I have started reading so many inspirational blogs. SwimBikeMom, Run Like A Mother, Canadian Runner in Exile, See Mom Run Far, Shut Up and Run, Racing it Off, just to name a few. I think they are on my blog roll on the side of my page. I think I have more that I need to update. I have to look through my reader again. They make me laugh, they make me cry, they make me feel like I can still get off my ass and workout no matter what kind of day I'm having. They keep me inspired. I am hoping I can inspire someone else. I think there is so many moms like me who struggle with weight and found a love of running and just want to support each other.
My posts my not be the best, and I will probably will have typos. I stopped blogging because once I got my smarty pants phone I was hardly on my regular computer. Now I will be blogging when I am thinking about it, from my phone.. I tried to post a picture, I can't figure it out....I'll keep trying.
Working on my goals for 2012. I did register for my 2nd half marathon in May. Running so far, its been 'eh'. It's the 5th day and I haven't run since Dec 31. Too many excuses. It's too cold. I hurt my lower back (ok, that's a real one). I'm too tired. My husband is working. The kid has after school today. I have to babysit my (1 yr old) niece. All excuses. It's up to 30 degrees this morning (yesterday was 15!) So I am going to get out for a run today! Hubby is home, so that helps.
Til next time!

recap of 2011

So, my last post was April 22. Sorry. I'm still here. I had a fun 2011. My big guy turned 7 and started 2nd grade (what?) My baby turned 3 and began nursery school. I keep telling them to stop growing, but they just don't listen!

I didn't do too well with that beautiful 30 lbs that I lost in 2010, I think 15-20 found its way back onto my thighs and ass...but I kept running all year. This is the longest I have been consistently running since HS. This Feb will be 2 year! Seriously. No end in sight.

My feet saw 462.59 miles fly by. So proud of that. I was in Tall Mom's 1000 mile challenge, but I got plantar faciitis over the summer when I was training for my 1st marathon....well, let me start in January.
I ran 71 miles in Jan. Crazy!!!! Most I've probably ran in a year since I graduated college. I was training for my 1st half marathon. I did 10 races.
I did the Mardi Gras Half in New Orleans Feb 13th. Fantastic experience! Ran 2:27. Thrilled with that.
Race #2 was a local 2 mile beach run in NJ. About 1/4 mile is run ON the beach. Great after party too! Do it every year in Feb. In April my girlfriends and I did a marathon relay. It goes from Seaside to Asbury Park. Our team was "Pain Now, Wine Later". So fun!!
Race #4 meant a lot to me and my husband. It was the Father's Day 5k race in June that was dedicated to our friend who passed away in 2010 from melanoma. I did 32:33, my goal was sub 30. I was disappointed with my time, but it ended up being a very hot day and I didn't do well with the heat. I was SO proud of my big guy. It was a month before he turned 7 and ran the 1mile race in 9:03!!! And he fell near the end and popped back up to finish. It could have been 8:xx something! My little speed demon.
Race #5 was my Jersey Girl sprint triathlon in Aug. Again, a bit disappointed. I didn't train like I did in 2010. Plus I am still riding on a hybrid bike...that I forgot to pump the tires. Duh. It took about 15 min longer to bike and it was hard.
Race #6 was a super hard trail 5k. It's one of the hardest HS cross country courses in NJ. I ran 35:44. The first time I RAM that course in 2005 I did it in 45+ minutes. Such a wonderful all women race that supports women's shelters that are victims of domestic violence.
Next up, race #7- my 2nd time running my local town 10k. It sucked. I think the weight was creeping back on. It ran it in 1:05 in 2010, and I ran 1:15 this year. It is a really hilly race and I know I should be proud that I beat 8 (eight!? What?) Other people...but I was bummed I did so crappy from last year.
Race #8, I headed down to Washington DC to run the Marine Corp 10k Oct 30th. Remember eager I mentioned my plantar faciitis? Well, I was training for the Marine Corp Marathon. I was supposed to do it with my husband and 3 girlfriends, but I got it over the summer after the June 5k, my first run was the tri, and I pretty much did nothing in Aug. It really was a fantastic weekend, and I really should do a recap....we'll see.
After getting new orthotics from my podiatrist over the summer, my foot has been all good. A week after the DC 10k I ran race #9 a 5 miler in Nov. Another all women race and the race medal is a flip flop pendant on a silver chain. Love it!! I did 54:53...last year was sub 50, so I know the lbs are affecting my running.
My 10th race of the year was my best! I did a Jingle Bell run in Dec. Last year I ran my best 5k time at 30:44....this year, all dressed up in my red sparkle skirt I ran 30:32!!! So thrilled!! And that was with my brand new Garmin I bought myself for Christmas.

Well, that's it for 2011. I'm still moving, and that's most important. I am already signed up for a half marathon in may....but my goals for 2012 will come up in my next post....soon!

Mardi Gras Race Recap

Ok. So its been way too long. I almost felt like I couldn't post this. But I am. My pictures are still in my phone or in my friend's cameras. But here it is. My first half marathon recap. The end makes me laugh. Those were my feeling just after I got home, and now I am signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon in Oct.


The race was Loooooong!! I was doing fantastic for the first 10ish miles. I felt great, I was doing about a 10:30 min/mile and thought if i can do this the whole way it' be easy. Well, when I hit the 10 mile marker, I thought... All I have left is a 5k. I've done so many 5k's. I can do this, no problem. That thought lasted about another half mile or so and then my legs turned into lead. At mile 11 I thought I needed to walk a little, so I started to and it hurt more to walk that jog, so I jogged again, at this point I was probably doing 12 min/miles and it was painful. But I got through it, and when I saw mile 13, I literally started crying. Like real tears going down my face. I am choking up writing this, I started crying last night when I was telling Joe about it. I had no idea I would have been SO emotional. I was physically and emotionally exhausted. When I finished, I cryed again. I got my medal, got my picture taken, picked up my water and snacks and found a spot to sit and wait for KC and the other girls to find me and I sat and cried again. For the next half hour or so I went through waves of wanting to throw up and feeling like I was going to pass out. I didn't do either, but I got up and walked and drank my water. Felt better and went and got my medal engraved.
I will do it again. Not anytime soon (maybe the fall). It was amazing.

Breathe

I need this necklace. I need to breathe. I am freaking out a little about this marathon. I know it's a long way away, but I have a map that I had picked up from the expo in New Orleans. I keep counting the miles. There are a LOT!

But I can do it. I can breathe.

If you would like a chance at getting this necklace, head over to Amanda's blog and leave a couple posts for a few chances to win. I just got another chance! :)

I think I have officially gone insane

So Hubby signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon yesterday. He has been thinking about this for about a year, even more after his friend, Kevin, passed away last June. Because, you see, Kevin ran the MCM in Nov '09... and then Melanoma took him in June '10... and he ran it around 3:30. He was an amazing runner. So Hubby wants to run in his footsteps and honor him this way.

I texted a friend of mine (KC -that I did the Half in NOLA with) and she decided to do it too. We were playing with the idea of another Rock & Roll in San Antonio or Vegas (them doing the full and me doing the half) but when she priced airfare, it was a little too expensive. So plans changed and 2 of my friends also signed up for the MCM. I was faced with a couple little 'runner bullies' (said in love) texting me that the 10k isn't a challenge, if I miss the sign up I may regret it (it's already 90% full as of 9am this morning), I don't want to be standing there watching. Anyway. They got to me. Hubby told me to do what ever I want to do, and I signed up.

For a Marathon.

I think I need my head examined.

But it will be all 4 of us doing our first marathon. It will be a great time. It will be an amazing experience to share. I felt a little out of the loop when I did my first half and my other 3 friends were each doing their second half. I am excited to do this all together. It will take a lot of training and Hubby and I are going to need to juggle the kids. I like to run in the morning and he likes to run at night, so we have that going for us. i just feel bad for him, because he will be the one missing the 'kid time' since he works. But he works 5 on and 5 off, so he is around more often than a M-F type worker. We are also very lucky to have lots of grandma love living really close (and in the summer the kid's great-grandma that lives WITH us!) The baby will be in nursery school 2 mornings a week in Sept, so I will have that time to use in training for 2 months. Perfect for when the runs are longer. My friend KC also has 2 little kids at home like me. She is a teacher (so she does have off all summer). But, she is divorced. She is lucky to have her mom living with them to be her support while she trains. I think starting running was one of the best things that ever happened to her. And it has connected our friendship. We are thinking about starting a blog about getting through marathon training as moms. I will keep you updated if that gets done. :)

I think I have officially gone insane. When did I become one of those runner people??

I know I haven't posted my half recap, and I WILL. Promise. It is sitting in my draft posts, done, but waiting for some pictures to be added.