told ya

So, just registered for Warm your heart 5k on Feb. 26th. Looks pretty fun. Indoor, downtown Chicago, on the lake front. Realized after hitting submit that Abbi has a meet that same weekend. oops. Race is 9am Sunday, I'm hoping her meet is Saturday or later Sunday.
Now I'm off to find a race for January. Think I can find another one indoors? I'm a wimp in the cold.

I'll be back kids....

promise!!! Jan 2-hitting it hard. No resolutions just promises. to me and me alone. No one else can do this for me. It's all on me :) a friend of mine said it best, 2012 is all about me!!! I'm putting me first and if you don't like, see ya!

35:35 :)

yippeeeeeeee!!! RAM racing just posted the updated times for the 5k race this past weekend. A semi got stuck so the course needed to be re-routed, the length of the race was longer than a 5k. As it stands, I ran the 5k in 35:35!!! YAY!! I'm super happy with this time. super de duper happy :) my time improved from last week. YAY!
can you tell I'm excited?

I hope the link stays active for awhile- Hot Chocolate 5k result

Will run for chocolate!!

Another day, another race under my belt. Abbi and I got up at the ass crack of dawn dark and early this morning (5 am!) and headed to Chicago for the the Hot Chocolate 5k race. We were meeting my friend Jill and her daughters Aleigha and Chloe and also Jill's mom-aka Nana. It was cold, and dark, and way too early!!!

Aleigha and I ran the 5k and Jill ran the 15k. The race was HUGE! 40,000 runners were there this morning. Insane! I have never been a part of such a large running crowd before. It was crazy. It was unreal. It was so cool.

a gazillion runners headed to the start line

The race was set to go off at 7:40. 7:40 came and went before we even budged in our "O" corral. It was 8:25 before we were even herded down the street to the start line. Apparently, a semi got stuck under a viaduct on one of the streets on the course (why am I not surprised? when will these truck drivers learn their rig is just too big?) Once the race did go off, it was great-aside from all the walkers walking in the way already!!! I actually got choked up a little bit (dorkus) running past the Chicago Theater. Why? I have no idea. Maybe because I was running. Maybe because it was on an open Chicago street. Maybe I'm just really a dork.
Since the semi got stuck, the race route had to be re-routed. It's been said (on FB) that the route was 3.32 miles instead of 3.1 so my finish time (while still disappointing to me) is off a bit. I'm awaiting official confirmation for my "official" time. As it stands, I've been put in the record book with a time of 37:19. ugh. that's 9 seconds slower than last weeks race. ugh I only walked at the end when the course was going uphill. ugh ugh ugh.
On a positive note, I ran 3.32 miles in 37:19 minutes.
 I need to work on my speed and my uphill running too :)

At the end of the race, Ghiradelli supplied hot chocolate and fondue. It was soooooooo yummy. The hot cocoa was perfect. So rich, so creamy so whip creamy. The fondue was fabulous. They served chocolate with a pretzel, marshmallow, half a banana, apple pieces and a rice crispie treat.
 

Chloe and Abbi enjoying their fondue.
A super sweet woman gave us her
tickets for fondue.YAY!
I didn't have to share

All in all, I finished. I started and finished another run. That's all that should matter. I should not be beating myself up for my time. I finished and my oldest daughter was there to see me finish.

Fell off the wagon- but climbing back on

It's been a while since I posted. It's been a while since I cared enough to run. I get in these funks. I get in these crazy moods. I get crazy! Life gets in the way and I get even crazier!! Well, I'm back on the wagon and back to running and hopefully back to blogging. Just for me. And for whoever else may stumble upon my boring ass, no giveaway blog.

I've decided to run at least one 5k race a month for a year and hopefully finish big with a 1/2 marathon in December 2012. In Vegas. For the Rock 'n' Roll series*. I love Vegas. Running the 1/2 is my excuse to go back. I need to start saving now, but I think I should be able to save enough to get me there and have some play money too.
I started my journey of one 5k a month with the Monster Dash 5k on October 29th. I ran it with Ken. It was his first race ever. He loved it. He wants to run one again. He's  bummed that he passed up the Hot Chocolate 5k  that I'm running tomorrow, November 5th. I'm meeting my friend Jill and her daughter Aleigha in Chicago. Bright and early at the ass crack of dawn. I'm dragging Abbi with me. I plan to get up by 5 and be out the door by 6 to reach our destination by 7. The race starts at 7:40am. There's 40,000 runners running this thing tomorrow. Forty effing thousand. That's a ton of people. It's going to be a madhouse. It's going to be amazing. It's going to be awesome. I can not wait!! I haven't run since Monday. I hope I don't suck.
I lost all motivation this week. Why do I get like that??? How am I ever going to get to that 1/2 marathon if I never train. If I never run more than 3 miles. Why can't I stick to a plan? grrrrr.




*Rock 'N' Roll series may not make a stop in Vegas next year. If that's the case, I'll have to find a different race to run...maybe in Key West???? I love Key West just as much, if not more, as Vegas.

being sick sucks!!

AHHH!!!! I was 4.5 miles short of my goal last month. So effing bummed. I got sick. Not pukey sick, but no energy sick. All I wanted to do was sleep. sleep. and more sleep. It was like this for a good 10 days. Thank goodness that's over. Now I can get back at it!

I ran four miles yesterday, it felt good. After my run my legs felt like jello. Today the quads are sore. A good sore! Gotta get some runs in this week so I'm ready for my lakefront runs with my friends from out of town. GIRLS WEEKEND!!! woo hoo! no kids, no hubby, no house. Just girls and drinks and runs and FUN! It's a well needed break and I am looking forward to it! So glad I was sick the end of June and NOT girls weekend-yay!!!

So close!!!

AHHH! the end of the month is Thursday. According to my ticker, I have a little over 7 miles to reach my goal for the month. I've been sick since Thursday and have had NO energy what so ever. I'm waiting for Abbi to get picked up for gymnastics and then will be heading out to the gym for a quick run before work tonight..I'm hoping to eek out at least 3 of those 7 miles...wish me luck!

Gym or couch?

That was the question I was asking this morning. Guess who won?? Yep, the gym!! A few years ago the couch woulda won-not today and if you look at my ticker, you'll see I'm almost to my June goal! It's only 45 miles, but I.am.almost.there!!!! Woo Hoo!!!

Yesterday I ran 5 miles and felt like I could run 5 more. I was too worried about dinner and picking up Drew from his friends house tho, so I stopped at 5. Today I just ran 3.1, again I felt great-woulda ran longer but again was worried about Drew at his friends and I had to make sure I was home in time to meet Abbi after gymnastics.

Both yesterday and today, I was FREEZING after my run. I sat in the sauna and shivered, I had actual goose bumps! What is up with that? I'm usually hotter than hot but not yesterday or today. Is there something wrong with me? Scary! The sauna temp was 180* and I had goosebumps. That does not seem normal to me.

No Bueno

Due to extremely busy schedules, I'll be missing the gym today and tomorrow- unless I hit it at midnight after work. I'm a little crabby. I think it's because I need to get some "me" time.
I ran a mile yesterday at the gym then grocery shopped all afternoon. I hate grocery shopping. It takes me a good 2+ hours to get it all in. I wish I was an extreme coupon-er too. I spent a little over $170 for the week and it was for lunches, snacks and 3 nights of dinners. DISGUSTING!
I came across a coupon for $1 off band aids at Target today. Target has band aids on sale for 84 cents, so I'd make money-but I don't need anything else from Target so I'd end up spending more money in gas and other crap I don't need just to buy band aids... AGGRAVATING!

Back in the saddle again

I'm BAACK! Ran 5 miles today. It was easyish hardish. I'm following a 1/2 marathon coach app and it said to complete at least 5 miles in 1 hour 15 minutes. I finished 5 miles in 1 hour 49 seconds. Felt great to accomplish it too. I would have liked to be a bit faster, but I didn't want to push it too much and risk injury. Tomorrow is a rest day. Thank goodness! I will go for a walk tho. Need to get that exercise in somehow, so I'll take the kids and head for a stroll.

Ain't nuthin but a...

G thang. I love Snoop. I love his music. I love that he has, "puff puff pass" Tuesday's on Twitter. every.single.Tuesday. He makes me :giggle:
I was listening to him while on the the treadmill today. I must have been having too much fun, because by the time the song was over, the guy next to me looked at me like I was a freak and moved over one row. HA!
To all my (as read, only 9) followers, what do you listen to while running?

What a waste of a month!

Whew!! May was super crazy busy! between sick kids, birthday's, mom's day and parties I put in 2 runs. Just 2 runs!! My ass does not thank me for this. gross! Buuuuuut (no pun) June is a new month and I am for sure back into the groove! Ran yesterday at the gym and while it wasn't pretty, I did manage to choke out 3 miles in 30.02. I'd like to speed it up a bit- so I think I'll work on that once I get the cobwebs really off the Asics.
There's a few races I'd like to run this month too. The Race to the Taste is the 26th this year. I'd love to run it with Ken, but we'd need a sitter for the kids..... The Old Canal Days race is June 18th. It's close to home so totally doable, but will I be ready by then? That's 16 days away. This course has hills too....can I do this? Yes I can! I'll be signing up (if it's not too late) by the end of today. I really really really want to run Rock n Roll 1/2 August 14th. I haven't found my courage for that one tho. There is still time. I can still train. Maybe just maybe that'll be my first 1/2

OK big kids are off to school and the kitchen is all cleaned up. The laundry is going to wait-the little girls and I are off to the gym!

Happy running!
$ue


p.s. head on over to Girl Get Strong! to win a $50 gc to prAna!!!

Race report!

Ran the Bunny Rock 5k over the weekend! It was sooo great! I finished with a time of 35:16. Considering I hadn't run the whole week pryor, I am pretty happy with the time. I can not wait to beat that time with my next 5k. I'm searching now- looking for a new race to run, hopefully I find one closer to home so we don't need to spend the night at grandma's again!

running!

I'm slowing getting to my goal of 45 miles this month! I'm so excited. I really think I'm going to hit it this time~ woo hoo!!!
My race is coming up and I'm getting very nervous. I hope I don't come in last!! I hope I don't hurt myself or look like a fool either!

Another Contest!

head on over here to enter to win a $50 GC to Lululemon for new workout clothes!!! Good Luck!

Precious Pitter Patter

head on over to Precious Pitter Patter for some fun and games tonight...tell her I sent ya!

:)

YAY!!! Know what I did yesterday??? I.ran.5.freakin.miles. Ha-le-lu-ia!! 5 miles-me-all at once. I would have run more, but my machine shut off on me. I guess I need to stop pressing "quick start". I feel great today, aside from some sorness on my left side. Dang it. I have no idea what the problem is on that side. My race is in less than 20 days! Yay- so excited, can't wait to see Jill and her her family!! Kids need to be signed up for the Easter Egg hunt...and I'm still trying to talk Drew into running the kids mile....

Pain

I was starting to have pain in my left hip area last week, so I was thankful to have a super busy week of birthday planning for my oldest baby girl Abbi.

I was so busy with planning the party, school functions and work that I could not get to the gym. So I thought great, a week to rest my hip.

This morning we headed to the gym. Kids are on spring break-momma had to get her run on. I ran for the first time in a week. 2 miles in 20 minutes. not too shabby but not too great either. oh well. I got off the dreadmill and hopped on the stepper. That's when I felt the pain even more. Ouch. I have no idea what is causing the pain, but it hurts. I'm thinking it's a hammy strain of pull? It feels like the tendon leading to my butt bone is over stretched or something. I hope it gets better before my race at the end of April!!! I'm thinking I'm gonna stick to the elliptical (snore) for a bit then ease my way out to running. I'm gonna get my Yoga poses on as well. Pigeon pose anyone?

Shades!

Yee hee hee!!! I found a pair of sunglasses!! woo hoo. They're nothing fancy, nothing great but they do the job. I found them at Walmart- for 5 bucks! Can't beat that. They are super light weight, have grippers on the nose for non slippage and pretty decent looking...

pay no attention to ginormous faucet...

  Now I just need to get out there and try those puppies out. Won't be happening tonight, I have to work. Maybe just maybe-tomorrow after work!

55 and sunny!!!

I'll be doing an outdoor run today, after Ken gets home from work....I'm scheduled to do an easy 30 minute run- I'll report back soon!!!

Damn, I really need those sunglasses!

Cross train~

I didn't do another 4.5 today. I cross trained instead. If that's what it's even called. I just ran two miles, then I did the stepper machine for 30 minutes. Good workout. I know I need to do more weight training, but again, that fear I have...sucks. Monday I'm starting the Beginner's Running 1/2 marathon training schedule-
It looks like this:

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
1	Rest	2 mi	Rest	2.5 mi	Rest	3 mi	2 mi EZ
2	Rest	2 miles	Rest	3 mi	CT or Rest	4 mi	2.5 mi EZ
3	Rest	2.5 mi	CT	3 mi	Rest	5 mi	2 mi EZ
4	Rest	3 mi	CT	4 mi	Rest	6 mi	3 mi EZ
5	Rest	3 mi	CT	3 mi	Rest	7 mi	3 mi EZ
6	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	Rest	8 mi	3 mi EZ
7	Rest	4 mi	Rest	4 mi	CT	9 mi	3 mi EZ
8	Rest	4 mi	CT	3 mi	Rest	10 mi	3 mi EZ
9	Rest	5 mi	CT	4 mi	Rest	11 mi	Rest
10	3 mi EZ	4 mi	Rest	3 mi	CT	12 mi	3 mi EZ
11	Rest	CT	Rest	3 mi	CT	5 mi	2.5 mi EZ
12	Rest	2 mi	20 minutes	Rest	20 minutes	Race Day!	Rest Day!

I'm hoping to get my long runs in Saturdays-before work. That may just mean I'll have to get up waaaaay early to get them in! It's starting to get warmer- so those early runs may just be what I need~  The 1/2 isn't until August so hopefully, this will allow me enough time to double weeks when I have to.

I told myself that I'm going for a trail run tomorrow. We have a trail by the house that's 2.65 miles around. I trained a bit last year and walked for most of it. I'm hoping that this year I'll run it all the way around- I think I can do it!! I have a hard time with my speed when I'm not on the treadmill. I love the treadmill because it tells me where I'm at. On the road, I usually end up starting too fast and burn out only after a few minutes.
Is that why runners wear those heart rate monitors? I'm always seeing them check their watches while running. Does this help them slow down or speed up? What monitor is the cheapest, yet best option??

Great run!

Great run today- No pain, no boredom ( I was watching CNN-maybe that's the trick) everything felt great! I ran 4 1/2 miles today- in 49 minutes! So freaking proud. I'm following the B210K program and usually when the little guy says, "You are half way done"- I'm walking. NOT today! I felt great, had a 5.5- 5.7 pace going on the treadmill and just felt like I could run for hours. Thank you Anni, for not having poo, thank you for not crying!
I also wanted to rejoice in my speed. I'm still s l o w. Buuuut, I'm getting better! Much better. When I started running way back in 2007 my speed on the treadmill was 4.0. HA! Today, I kept my pace between 5.5 and 5.7. Then I decided to kick it up a notch and ran at a 6.0. For 12 freakin minutes!!!!! That's crazy talk to me :)

This running thing still amazes me. Amazing that I, "Too many Twinkies", can run any amount of time. To actually run 4 and a half miles and not be dead-it's amazing! I'm starting to get my legs back too-that right there is motivation enough! I'm still searching for sunglasses tho. It's eventually going to get warmer outside and I will need them definitely on the Bunny run. Just don't know what to look for.

All in all today was a great running day for me. I surely do hope it's the same way tomorrow. I'd love to get another 4 1/2 miles under my belt!!!

B210K

Have you seen the C25K? Ya know, couch to 5k? I used that app last year to get me to 3.1 miles. I used it on my iphone and ran and ran and ran and finally graduated and was able to run 3.1 miles. YAY! Well, the lovely people who made that app, also made a B210K, bridge to 10K, app as well. That's what I'm using now. I just finished week 3 Day 1. It's a 5 minute warm up, run for 17 minutes, walk for a minute and repeat 2x's cool down 5 minutes. Whew! it was tough!!! Thankfully Day 2 and Day 3 are the same thing. I *might* have to stay on week 3 for more than one week tho. It was hard for me! The first two 17 minute runs were easy peasy. It was the last one that got me. I got bored and wanted to stop. How do you trick your mind into not being bored? Got any tips for me???

March check in...

So, today is March 3rd. YAY!! Almost spring time!!! You know running season is upon us when all of the treadmills are in use at the gym. All the runners out there are getting themselves ready for outdoor running and races. Myself included! As you know, I set a 45 mile goal for this month. So far, I've got 4.5 miles in. Today was a cross training day for me. I wish it was a running day tho. I ran a mile today and it felt a w e s o m e. I felt as if I could've run that 1/2 marathon no problem. Why is that??? I struggle with some runs but other runs, such as today's easy run,  was just that-easy. I even sped it up some! I sure do hope it comes easy for me tomorrow....I wanna run!!

Not even close.....Bud

For the month of February, I set a goal of 45 miles to run. I'm not even close. Bud.

As of today, I have 20.3. :(  I did put in 3.5 today, and will put in another 3.5 tomorrow. I'm disappointed, but I'm not giving up. I'm setting 45 miles for my March goal.
There is also a race in March that I would like to run. It's the  St. Paddy's Day  5k/8k run/walk to benefit the Special Olympics. It's downtown Chicago and being run on March 20th. I've already requested the day off from work, so I really have no excuse not to run it. I'm just afraid to run it.

^FEAR

Function:
verb
Meaning:
1 [+ obj] : to be afraid of (something or someone)
2 [+ obj] : to expect or worry about (something bad or unpleasant)
3 [no obj] : to be afraid and worried
4 [+ obj] : to feel respect and wonder for something very powerful ▪ fear God

 I haven't had much time to work on my outdoor runs, and I'm afraid I won't finish. Give me a treadmill, and I'm good to go. Outdoor runs, are still by far the hardest for me. I recently downloaded the Bridge to 10K app to help me along the way with my outdoor runs but time, kids and coldness have put a stop on my outdoor training. Soooooo, for the month of March I'm also setting a goal of at least 10 outdoor runs of at least 3.5 miles. I have until March 17th (also known as my wedding anniversary) to register for this race. If I cannot run 3.5 outside by then, I'm not wasting the money to register. wish me luck! 

Date change!!!

Well, I was set out to run the Chicago half Marathon on June 4th of this year. Turns out there's two Chicago 1/2 marathons. The 1/2 on June 4th is not the race I thought it was. Dumb. The Chicago 1/2 marathon I want to run is August 14th! This is the race that I will be running. I guess it's good, gives me a little more time to train, but it's also bad, it's a lot hotter here in August! I do not like being hot.


The race on August 14th is the popular Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half . This looks like a good time! I'm a little relieved to have more time to train...I need it!  It also gives me more time to convince Ken to get a hotel room race weekend!! Race starts at 6:30 am. That's waaaay early. If I were to drive to the race, I'd have to leave by 4:30 to find parking....no fun. A little weekend in Chicago sounds very fun in my book right about now~

Running is like a box of chocolates...

 You never know what you're gonna get. Hard run, easy run, mediocre run, boring run, fun run, loooooong run. Yesterday it was 40* here in Chicago land. That's flip flop weather! I got home from church, put on my shoes and set out to run outside. My first outside run in a while. I learned a few things on this run.

1. Wind- it can be your friend or your foe. Running against it is hard. Running with it is easy! I like running with the wind, it pushes me ever so gently. :)
2. Hills- hills suck. the end.
3. My new shoes rock! No pain during my run made it so much  more enjoyable.
4. My fitbit is my new best friend. More on this little gadget to come. I love this thing and will never stop wearing it.
5. This blog is pretty much what I thought of while running. What will I say next? When will I get a chance to update? Will anyone let me try out there gadgets?? please?
6. Speaking of gadgets- I need sunglasses. Where does one go to get running sunglasses??
7. Back to those hills, I need to get outside more if I plan on finishing the Bunny Rock in April. those puppies were tough yesterday!

I ran 3 miles and didn't die! The first 10 minutes in I wanted to give up-but I didn't and I am happy that I just kept going. I passed my house at the halfway point and I said I could stop, but I didn't, I knew I would be angry with myself if I didn't keep going-so I did just that. I kept going. I thought of my friend, Mary, who had just said she had  her best run ever. She ran 9 miles. All at once! Wow!!  is all I thought, I cannot wait til I can say I ran 9 miles. She really kept me going. Thanks Mary!

Hard run

wow. that. was. hard.
Back from the good ol' gym. I never went last night. I wasn't feeling well. I was actually asleep by 9:30. So this morning, my plan was to get the 3 big kids off to school, bundle up Anni and hit the gym. hard. My intentions were warm up, run 20 minutes, walk 1 minute, run 20 minutes, walk 1 minute, run 20 minutes and cool down. yea well intentions were good, but it didn't happen. I'm not sure if it's because I only had an apple and coffee for breakfast or if it's because I'm still not feeling well but I only mustered 1.5 miles.

I was waiting, hoping the kid room would call me down to get Anni cause she pooped or was crying. nope. didn't happen. So I stopped the treadmill and sat in the sauna for 15 minutes and watched the old wrinkly, short, chubby men in speedos walking around the pool area. There's always tomorrow to add to those 45 miles this month, right?

Training, or lack there of

In January, according to my handy dandy runkeeper.com gizmo thingy on my iphone, I ran a total of 41.3 miles for the month. The over achiever that I try to be, set up a goal of 45 miles for the month of February. How many miles do I have you ask? This, the 8th day into the month: Two. Two measly stinkin miles. Why? I have four kids. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. 4 kids who each have their own type of activity that needs to be done. Yes, even my baby Anni, has an activity every week. I have four kids, who always seem to be sick lately. It started with Andrew, my oldest. Headache, high fever, body aches. Thankfully no puke or butt pees. Just fever and headache. Then came the SNOMG of 2011. The BLIZZARD of 2011. We were stuck in  the house for two days. My poor Abbi was sick then. The healthy kids played in the snow, while my little Abbi laid  on the couch, unable to move. Thankfully I bought Just Dance 2 for the Wii. That is by far the best arm workout I've done in a while! whew- Finally kids go back to school, and I can get my run on!! yeeeee Got 2 miles in, then got called to the kid room at the gym cause someone pooped in their pants (insert eye roll here) darn those babies that don't know how to go poo poo on the potty yet, don't they know momma's gotta get her run on? Oh well. 2 miles is 2 miles, I'll take it. I'm all set to go to the gym this morning, and wouldn't you know it, the same baby who poops in her pants is now sick. :( my poor little honey. You know she's sick when she passes out on the couch watching Caillou.

  So no gym this morning. The 45 miles for February ain't looking too good. Unless I suck it up and go to the gym tonight once my beloved husband gets home from getting our taxes done. I swear if we owe Uncle Obama anything this year, I'll scream. I have no idea how the unemployment or lack of jobs last year will effect the outcome of our return. We usually get a pretty penny back. This year, I'm afraid. very very afraid. I might just need to get my run on tonight, to let go of the aggravation of the outcome. We'll see.

I see I'm rambling again. I do that a LOT.

I do not like working out at night. I like to be home with my kids and Ken. I like getting things ready for the next day. I like sitting on my butt on my very comfy couch not doing anything. I like my workouts during the day. This gives me an excuse to NOT do laundry, empty the dishwasher, sweep the floors..."Whys the house look like a tornado hit it honey?" "Oh, I was at the gym all day, didn't get to that yet!" If I don't go to the gym during the day, that means I must clean house-booooooo.

Tonight tho, like I said, I might just suck it up and run a few miles. Gotta add to that mileage before this month flies by

A new beginning~

So, here I am day 1 of the rest of my life. I'm setting up this blog to track my progress and let whomever (or is it who ever) wants to, come along for the ride! My hope for this blog is help. I hope it helps me stay accountable to my training. Training for what you ask? The Chicago 1/2 marathon on June 4th, 2011.

First, a little bit about me. I'm Sue. Just Sue. Not Susan, Susie, honey, sweetie, darling. None of that. Some call me mom, or mommy, or even momma. Sometimes I'm even called bitch. I'm not upset with that name, because quite frankly, I am a bitch! I'm  a believer in Christ, a mom, a wife, a daughter, a friend. and a runner.

I've never written a blog before. I had a hard enough time writing papers in high school. The thought of writing a blog in the past scared me! I have no idea how to write, I sometimes don't know how to spell, and puncuation??? forgetaboutit-I suck at puncuation!!!!!!!!!!! I love the exclamation point. I always overuse it. Maybe it's beacuse I'm always so happy and chipper and EXCITED! Maybe it's because I just don't know what else to use. I don't know. I do know I'm getting away from what this blog is about. running. running.....r u n n i n g. Like writing, I've never been good at running. In grammar school and high school, it took me 35 minutes to reach a mile. I hated running. I remember in 8th grade we had a track meet and I was supposed to run one whole track, allll the way around. No way. I slept in. My team kept calling me and calling me. Finally I got up and went. I ran. People cheered. I have never run so fast or so hard in my life. I thought I was going to die. We still lost that meet even tho I ran so fast and so hard. My body cramped and hurt and I was full of sweaty grossness. I swore to myself from that day on I would NEVER run again. And I didn't

I never ran again after that meet, until after the birth of my 3rd child. My sweet Allison. I looked at a picture of myself and thought, "OH my god, I am soooooooo fat!" I was disgusted! I could not believe how heavy I had gotten. I swore I was going to do something about it. My husband, Ken, and I joined the  gym in March of 2007. At that time, it took me 20 minutes to complete a mile. Again, I thought I was going to die. I didn't. I kept going. By May of 2007 I was able to run, yes actually run, a half mile. I was so proud of myself! It took me 4 minutes and 27 seconds. The total length of Moby's "Lift me up" radio edit song. I was soooooo proud of myself. I said I can do this and was determeined to get to a mile by July.

May 6th 2007. Day before my 30th birthday.  My dad, my brother my baby Allison (who had just turned 1) and I, went to a small little airport about 45 minutes away from the house. I put on a blue jumpsuit, jumped in a little propeller plane, strapped myself  in front of an instructor and juuuuuuuuuummmmppppedddddddd!  It was truly the greatest feeling in the world. floating, watching the earth. seeing my family waving at me. and then we landed. well, we crashed. I was smooshed between the earth and 220 pound man. We slid. I hurt. I cried. Ken was right. Something bad happened. I cried some more. The ambulance came. My dad said it was the biggest ambulance he had ever seen. I was loaded up. Transported to a hospital. Turns out I dislocated my hip. My right hip. I was sad. There would be no way I could get to my mile by July.

I recovered. I took it slow. My ortho doc, Doc. Lee said I could pick up running again, but to let my body tell me when to stop. By December, I was running again. I was able to finish that Moby song again. I was happy, again!

Fast forward to June 2008. My brother got married. I was running a whole 6 months by then. Still struggling to get to a mile tho. But I was running. 3 times a week. for 20 minutes at the gym. I had rock star legs! I was sooooo proud of my legs. I was still heavy, but I was able to wear a nice sexy little black dress to the wedding and not look like a whale (at least I thought so).  After the wedding I continued to run and finally was able to reach a mile and a quarter-woooooo hoooooo!

Then WHAM! BFP. bfp. bf to the mother effing p. I was pregnant. How the heck that happened, to this day I still do not know. Well, I know how it happened, I just don't know how it happened. We were done having babies after Allison. Now here I am pregnant with #4. I've always wanted 4 and now I have them. Thank you God! running was put on hold yet again. I still hit the gym, did the stepper, walked and did a little running, but with my busted hip and a little being growing inside, it wasn't easy, or comfortable. I will say this. I was lean. I had a big belly, but I also had a  great ass (cue Al Pacino, please). May 2009 my 3rd baby girl was born. My little Annelise finished off our family. As soon as she was 3 months old, we hit the gym. I started running. again. and again, it was hard. again, I thought I was going to die. I didn't.

Wow, took a minute to proof read.....this is getting long. Have I lost everyone already? Please don't leave. I promise to wrap this up-quickly.

I love my gym. We're members to Lifetime Fitness. I swear a person could live in this place. It has everything. I love it. love it love it love it. In April of 2010. Ken lost his job. We had to give up the gym. I was sad. again. How would I continue to run? Where would I go? What would I do? Ken suggested running outside. I looked at him like he was nuts. "Are you crazy?" I asked. Running outside is hard. hard, and people driving by can see you. I did not want to run outside, but I also didn't want to stay fat. So I started the C25K. Oh em geeee. I thought I was going to die. I didn't. I sucked it up, and kept going. I once got chased by a dog. I once wasn't watching my steps and stepped in a nice pile of horse shit. Highlight of my day that was, really. I once ran after a thunderstorm. It was the greatest run I had ever had. It was cool, misting, and God was putting on a great light show off in the distance for me. I ran 2.1 miles that night and felt freakin awesome.

Present day. February 8th, 2011. We're back in the gym cause Ken, the great guy that  he is, got up and got himself a jobby job. I'm back to running. I even got a new pair of runners. I got the Asics Kayano 16s from DNA Athlectics in Crest Hill. I love them. They're pink. I love them, they cushion my feet. I love them because I ran 2 miles the other day and I didn't realize I had gone that far already. I love them because now I am commited to this running game. June 4th of this year is the Chicago 1/2 marathon. I'm training for this race. Right now as it stands I can run 3.1 miles in 35 minutes. Back in 8th grade, I woulda died. Today, I can do it and you know what? I can run 13.1 miles in June, too. You know why? Cause I suck it up and run!