Thoughts on Day 3

Day 3.
After taking a some time off from running I am now going to do my 21 days straight of running.  I do this to jump start my training and I am start slow.  Today I ran 3 miles in 30 minutes. I don't mind starting off slow  but I look forward to an easy long run again.  I wonder how long it will take me to get to that easy run? Will it take 2 or 3 weeks?  While I was running my mine drifted to the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon.  I am sad because I won't be running this year.  I have been lucky enough to have taken part in 6 Rock n Roll marathons.  Looking back at my first I remember thinking "I was pretty fast"... well lets just say I was not.  I kept training and year after year I got better and better.  By the time I ran St. George Marathon in Utah I ran 3:53, that was my best finishing time ever... I was so excited.  That's what went though my head on my short run today.   A bunch of great race day thoughts and how much I love  running marathons.  I feel like Wonder Woman after I am done and the distance doesn't bother me anymore.  I used to stop and cry at mile 17.  By the time I ran my 3rd marathon that stopped happening.  Heck I haven't hit the wall in my last 7 marathons.  I do know I have to continue to train right so I don't hurt myself.  That means getting all my runs in, going to bed early and drinking lots and lots of water.  So tomorrow I will be doing a semi long run with my dad running ahead of me.   He loves letting me know he is ahead of me...  I am sure it will be fun and hard but If I want to run a full marathon and a 50k this year, I need to run, run, run... I will keep you posted and by the way I did 6 pages in my smash book today.
 I will share them next week...

XOXO
G

A sweet visit to Universal Studios

Here are a few pictures from our visit to Universal Studios.  This is the second year we've gone for Christopher's Birthday.  It was a perfect day at the park... On another note I got up this morning and went for a short run.  I ran 3.5 miles and I was slow :-(. I just have to keep at it and before you know it I will get myself back to where I want to be... I am looking up training schedules for the race I am doing in Sept.  I will share it with you as soon I find one I like.

Starting Over

I had to take a little time off from running... Sad I know but my doctor just gave me the OK to start up again.  Getting up really early is not easy for me, add to that getting dressed and going outside to run... Well let’s just say I’d rather stay in bed…  This morning was different even though I know that the first run is the hardest.  It’s crazy how people love to procrastinate…
 

Here is my running story…  
I started running 8 years ago when I lived in Boulder, Colorado.  I was married at the time with two wonderful babies under 3 and an 8 year old.  I was having a hard time losing that spare tire around my waist.  There I was watching Oprah and she was talking about how she had trained for her first marathon. I am sure you heard her story of how it gave her a huge self-esteem boost… The one thing that resonated with me was when she said… “if you do anything for 21 days it becomes a habit.” I remember running upstairs and pulling out my calendar…

I circled 21 days and decided to walk every day for 21 days.  I got out my double stroller and drove to the local reservoir.  It was a big loop and there were always moms walking, jogging and running there.  Once I started and I never looked back.  I really feel that first step helped me get strong and changed my life.  I built self-esteem and I started standing up for myself.  My first marathon helped me come to the realization that I could do anything I put my mind to... My will win gave me the strength to get out of a miserable abusive relationship.  Running literally saved my life.  I was able to understand that “Anything in life worth having is worth working for.” Running has taught me so many life lessons and more importantly it has given me inner strength and awareness.

This year my goal is to run my first 50k. My new 21 day habit starts today.  My run this morning was slow but who cares ?  What matters is that I got out of bed and went for a run... It's ok to start over.  Just to remember "never give up."

Their First Race

Here we are about 20 minutes before the start of my kids first 1 mile race. We chose the Strawberry run because my girlfriend was doing it with her kids.  My girlfriend and I also thought it was a good distance to introduce our kids to running a race.  Yes I am secretly hoping they love this sport but, I am trying not to push them to much..

My little man is in the orange shirt and I am totally "that mom." I cried with excitement. No one saw me cry, I acted very cool.. OK well I tried to act cool.

This is Bella she was wearing her Strawberry theme outfit, Kinda.
She was super excited the whole time.  I ran along side her so she could see me and I was cheering her on the whole time... That was neat.

Here we are ladies and gents....My kids with their first official bibs and medals....

And of course moments like these are always better when shared with good friends... Ally is a great friend and I have known her for years... Happy Running and I hope you had a nice memorial day..

A Celebration

My heart felt very full yesterday when my mom invited us all over to celebrate my sons 11th birthday.  I am very grateful to have such a wonderful and very real family.  The best thing about family is that for the most part, especially in mine, we all know each other really well and we love each other just the same. There is nothing that could stop me from loving my brothers or sisters.  I feel such  a loyalty to them.  I love having a group of people that I am a part of for life.  Yes, we annoy each other and it's not perfect but the love is always there.  So when my mom invited us over to celebrates my sons birthday I was  excited to have my son experience of having everyone show up for him.  My son has grown up so much in the last 5 months.  He is able to understand how cool it is to have a lots of cousins, aunts and uncles.  While at my moms house we were able to put my sister in her wheel chair and she hung out by the pool.  She was very excited pointing to the kids in the pool and looking at the dog and feeling the warm sun on her face.  Having her out of her room and hanging out with us made the day extra special.  We are really lucky she is happy, healthy and still with us. The celebration of my son's birthday was a success.  As my moms boyfriend said to my son, "Christopher we are very lucky you had a birthday so we could all get together and celebrate you," that sums it up.

Snail Mail Rocks

My birthday has now passed and today was the day to send  out my Thank You cards. I decided that it was also time to send out all my I love you cards too.. I feel so much better and writing snail mail just feels so good. I feel like I just had a really great therapy session..Have you ever done that just written every one you love mail... I am doing it more often. Why not..