Revisions

A few weeks ago when Steph and I were running, we exchanged phone numbers so we could text during the week. She carries here phone when we run so she was programming it as we trudged up a steep hill. She wanted to pick a ring tone for me so we were sampling all the options. She came across Adele's chasing pavement and I said, "ooh yeah I like that song". Then I realized, "hey it's kinda apropos cause you and I pretty much are chasing pavement" We giggled and it was set. On Monday she sent me an email about a hymn she heard at church and the funny thoughts she had while they were singing. Here is part of here email..... So we were at church on Sunday and the Communion Hymn chorus went like this  “…We will run and not grow weary, for our God will be our strength…”  Every time I sang it, I giggled because in my head I was saying, “well, when I  run, I grow weary…that’s for sure.  I wonder how far he’s running in the song…probably not 16 miles…” :)  Clearly yo...

Oy, all I can say about Saturday's run was IT WAS HOT!! We had a 12 mile course to do and it was Mission Viejo for what I believe is our last satellite training. I was mentally ready for a different course because we have done that one I think 3 times now but since it was our last I wanted to get some hills in. Who's silly idea was that? We started at 6:45 and by 7:15 we were all running with our tongues hanging out. Hot, humid, hills, not a good combination. Thankfully we had aid stations every two miles with smiling faces and cold gatorade. Steph and I decided to take it easy and just get the mileage in. We did it and I think I dunked all of my legs in the cold pool when we got back. Steph and I were chatting along the route and I was reminded that she is going to run the Disneyland half next weekend. As I thought more about that I said "hey, that means I have to run 16 by myself next week cause you won't be here". She said "yes, you will and it's 18 n...

I have never run this far in my life. And there were a few days last week that i didn't think I would make it but here I am, on the other side of 16. After such a tough week with my cranky foot, Saturday was actually pretty awesome. It was cloudy, which made for perfect running. It was a partly new trail, which made for good brain stimulation and Steph and I both felt pretty good. Coach Noah had us run in to Peter's Canyon and up a trail which was challenging but good practice for SF. The view from the top was awesome and so Steph and I stopped to take a few pics. Again we are practicing for SF because there WILL be pictures people. We carefully made our way back down the trail, don't want to twist an ankle so deep into this training and headed back on our way. We chatted and took in the scenery and stopped at the aid stations to refuel and walked here and there when we needed a break. It was funny to me that at one point I was just bored with running. I think we had been ...

Ok so it seems people liked the idea of the cookies I made last week so here is the recipe I used. It comes from Oceanspray and it was super easy and super yummy. Enjoy OATMEAL CRANBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES RATE THIS RECIPE Read Reviews (84) INGREDIENTS: 2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened 2/3 cup brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats 1 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 6-ounce package Ocean Spray® Craisins® Original Sweetened Dried Cranberries 2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 375ºF. Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in sweetened dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-...

SO every week we get an email from our Campaign manager to give us details about our upcoming run and fundraising and such. She always includes a mission moment to remind us of why we are doing what we are doing. Our team has three honored teammates but she also sends us info on other people who have been touched by Leukemia and Lymphoma. Today I watched the video below about a boy named Ari. Get out the tissues kids. Yeah that is why I am doing this.

Are you sensing a theme here? I do love me a pretty tiara. But that is not the main point of this post. This is a post of gratitude. I have got a ridiculous team of people around me that sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve them. I am not talking about my TNT teammates, although they are pretty fantastic too. This team of people has been with me a little longer and has seen me through a myriad of circumstances. Some of them not always so pretty. I met Paul Stately 9 years ago and while I was skeptical to say the least of chiropractic, he and his group have been such a blessing to my life. They have seen me through a sprained ankle, a broken toe, a car accident, surgery to remove a cyst from my foot, a few breakups and the death of my grandfather. And if you don't think those last two have any effect on your health and well being you are very wrong. Anyway, through it all they have always been there for me physically and emotionally. They have adjusted me, ultrasounded me, ART...

SO I have hit that one week where it all goes downhill and you get really discouraged in your marathon training. Our schedule dictated a 10 mile run on Saturday. Piece of cake right? It was another satellite workout so Coach Jen again gave us options to make our run a little longer. We could do 10, 12 or 14. RB Steph was feeling a little low so we decided to go for 10 and then see how we felt at the optional spots to do more. Not a chance. We got going and it was tough from the beginning. My foot had gotten aggravated on Friday by a pair of shoes that are now in the bin to go to Goodwill. SO from the get go I was struggling. It was overcast which was nice but it was Mission Viejo and hilly which was not so nice. At both extra mileage turnoffs Steph and I looked at each other and said "uh no". This was going to be a strictly easy, get the mileage underneath your feet, slow run. I had to stop numerous times to stretch out my right calf which I think was getting tight because I ...

This is going to be quick. It has been a busy few days since my long run on Saturday. 14 miles. Farther than I have ever run in one session in my life. I new distance record if you will. I know, I know I can be a little dramatic. But let me tell you friends 14 miles is far. But it was good. It was overcast, it was cool, it was an up and back with goldfish at the aid stations. My running buddy Steph kept me entertained and thoroughly encouraged. She even waited at the top of the last hill and yelled for me as I trudged up one step at a time, huffing and puffing the whole way. I can't wait to run 26 miles with her. On another note I have discovered that, although I love to go home from our Saturday practice and shower off and basically crash on the couch, it seems that it is best for me to have a full day planned. I ended up driving to LA, literally after jumping out of the shower and throwing my wet hair in a ponytail, to work a party for Quiksilver. I shot pictures in a "phot...

It's been a good week. Running is going well and I am ready for the big 14 on Saturday. For the record this will break my longest distance to date. Quite excited. On a more fun note. My mentor Michelle put together a happy hour for her mentor group so we could get together when we are not sweating it out and pushing ourselves beyond physical exhaustion and actually  have some fun. Just kidding, 14 miles will be fun right? Anyway we met at a Japanese restaurant at the Spectrum and had some appey's and beverages. We had sushi and dumplings and at some point the fried baby octopus got ordered and a conversation ensued as to whether they had an actual brain. Because the head was still on there, fried and ready for tasting and a number of us were not so sure about eating the head. Does an octopus have a brain or is it more of just a central nervous system? Can someone please find that out and get back to me? Google it or something. I have a lot of running to do and don't have ti...

Last week was so busy I never even posted my update. Good busy. I had a little scheduling snafu last week and thought I was to run 11 miles. i got online to check my yahoo group on Friday night about 9:30 and noticed that it said 12 miles. Wha ? Is that a typo? I am not ready for 12 miles, I am ready for 11 miles. Nope, no typo. 12 it was. Anxiety skyrocketed. Mind you that is not even half the distance I am going to be required to run on October 18 th , but my brain hasn't gotten there yet. SO I got up Saturday morning, lathered myself in sunscreen, filled my hydration belt and took a deep breath. It ended up being a really good run. New route which made for a nice distraction as I checked out my surroundings and I got a chance to run off and on with some new people from my team. Thankfully the weather was a lovely overcast gray which makes for a much cooler run. So this week I was all ready for a nice easy 10 miler. You know you are starting to get a little crazy when you hear ...