Tuesday, October 31, 2006

BOO!!

 
Another Halloween come and gone... leaving in its wake enough processed sugar to keep us all high for the next 8 or 9 months!! Posted by Picasa

The Happiest Place on Earth!

 
This is me - in my element - with my very happy boys and MICKEY... who could ask for anything more?? Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Finally, a picture!!!

I know you all have been dying for a picture of me from my race. Seriously, I don't know how you have managed to make it this long! Your stength and resolve is quite inspiring! Truly...

Sun Chips got their images uploaded today so here you go... Please, note the change in the number of chins from one picture to the next... and realize that the first one was taken June 10th, the second one October 8th... (and in case you need some help, I'm the one with the glasses on in both shots)

Mileage for last week: 12 miles
Mileage for this week: A meager 6.5 so far. Hope to get to the gym tomorrow, Friday and Saturday morning before we leave for DISNEYWORLD!! The good news? The last 3 times I have run a 3.1, I've beaten my time from the previous attempt. Yesterday, I ran 3.5 miles in 40:22. Still - I don't plan to set the world on fire with my time, but I'm rather pleased with myself!


Monday, October 09, 2006

6 miles in 2 days

Got up early this morning and ran with the dog. It was rough going for a bit, I was stiff and running felt clumsy, but then I got into a groove and we did about 3 miles. A much easier 3 miles, I will say, than yesterdays. I wonder why that is... I walked a bit more than I did yesterday, but managed to keep about the same overall time.

3.05 miles, 38 minutes, approx. 1/2 mile walked.

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Some cool pictures from today...





All photo credits go to the Arizona Republic...

37:52



Today was the race. While it was harder than I'd planned, I was happy to run an average mile of 12:10. The whole thing in 37min 52sec!! I was hoping for closer to 36 minutes, but hey - I ran (jogged) the whole thing, and didn't stop! I slowed to a near crawl a few times, but made it through.

I ran for me, but I also ran in celebration of my dear god-mother who is a survivor. Whenever I thought I'd have to stop, I just thought about Georgia, and what hell she must have endured going through surgey and chemo and recovery. What I was doing for those 38 minutes paled in comparison. If she could make it through that, I could finish that race!!

The whole experience was wonderful. So many people (still have not gotten a full count, but estimations stand somewhere near 70,000. The crowd was punctuated by lots and lots of pink shirts (survivors) and nearly everyone wore a pink card attached to their race number. These cards were worn in celebration or in memory of someone who had breast cancer.

So, now I want to run another one. Don't know when, but sooner rather than later!

I want to shave at least 10sec/mile off my time! I want to run it in 36 minutes.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Adventures on the high seas

Water was rushing down the street so fast it looked like we'd be carried out to sea... so much for my connection to a snappy (albeit hijacked) title.

Tomorrow is my race. ACK! I needed to run some errands and Matthew wanted mommy/Matthew time, so I had him come along with me on said errands. I rue the day that he actually wants to DO something rather than think its just way too cool to be with me regardless of the mundane tasks we must finish...

I ventured into unchartered waters (see, another SEA analogy!!) to go to a place called the Runners Den. I've heard of this place from folks around me who like to run and have been told I MUST go there to get the proper shoes. Have not done so yet. Runners Den sounded a bit too frightening so I avoided it until now.

Having no choice, Matthew and I went to Phoenix so that I could get my t-shirt and my number for tomorrow's race. There were about a gagillion people there and while waiting in line to complete my purchase (a black hat with pink ribbon and some lucky socks) a girl who was volunteering outside came in and told the manager to call 911 because there was smoke billowing into the sky just about a block away.

Yes... house was on fire, First Responders were already on the scene - don't worry.

Matthew and I complete our transactions and head for home. We can see the plumes of smoke and Matthew comments that it smells like a hot-dog. I can only presume he associates the burning smell with the bar-b-que (and no, that is not commentary on Steve's skills as Grillmaster!). As we pass the street all a flutter with activity, I get a strange idea to see if we can get close...

We circle the block and are able to park. We're only about 2 houses from the one causing such a ruccous. The fire is mostly out now and neighbors are gathered about watching the firemen and police (and utility workers) so Matthew and I stroll up to a good spot and watch.

We were right next to the fire trucks and the firefighters and Matthew was in hog heaven. T-H-E-N.... A local news truck drove up - a news channel we usually watch - and Matthew wanted to go investigate. He was fascinated by the big camera, and the cameraman asked if Matthew wanted to be on TV. Are you kidding me?? He jumped at the chance, so the cameraman told him to go watch the firefighters... and he got some good footage and long story not-so-short, Matthew made the 6:00 news!!

If that weren't cool enough... the firefighters had Matthew help them empty water from the hoses and "help" bring them back to the truck! I think he was on cloud nine for the rest of the day!!

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Tales of a slug

Just because you believe that something will work out to your benefit, don't take this as a sign that you can be lazy. You are in a major career phase now and this is your chance to effectively use informal communications to strengthen your position with your coworkers. Don't worry about the rules; just say what's on your mind. Others are interested in knowing your opinion.

This is my horoscope for today. Eventually, when all the crap at work settles down I will blog about what's been going on for the last 7 weeks. I do, however, find todays horoscope for Capricorn to be, well, dead on. Freakily dead on.

I have been a slug this week. Ran Monday, and not since. Worked out with the trainer Tuesday and I pulled my right hip-flexor so I am NOT meeting with her today because I got about 3 hours of sleep last night (Chris either has an ear infection or is just going through hell with teeth) and if she so much as mentions squats, lunges or something else that moves my hip flexors, I will not be held responsible for my actions.

My race is Sunday, and I feel like I should be doing MORE to prepare, but I'm exhausted, running ragged at work trying to do the job of 3 people and Steve is gone this morning so I can't walk/run even if I want to before work.

Waaahhhh.

I need coffee.

Monday, October 02, 2006

The Race for the Race...

My Race for the Cure 5K is Sunday. How it got here so fast I have no idea!!

Went to the gym today once I got enough motivation under my belt to GO - been walking around all day in my gym-gear so at least I can't use that as an excuse to not go.

Ran (full on ran, not walked/ran) the 3.1 miles.

My time?? Best yet!!!

36:47!!