Day 705

I am officially crazy! Of course this is not news to any of you! I like to run...yes, I am one of those weirdos. LOL I don't get a chance to run many races because of the kids and Marc's work schedule. I have a few 5 milers, the 10 for TX a few times, and 3 half marathons. Of course the next step is the full marathon right??? Someone at church this week asked me if I have a 13.1 sticker on my car....I don't. I just don't feel like it is that much of an accomplishment....I know, that there is nuts. I think most people that are just casual runners can up and do a half marathon. For me I feel like the half is more of a common thing. The full marathon is the real deal! I don't think the casual runner can just up and run 26.2...that is MILES. I have lots of training to do because my body kinda doesn't like to go past 12...then I feel it. LOL So, today I took the plunge and signed up for the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. Who is with me?????

Day 662

As you all know I LOVE to run. Other than being a form of exercise it is a great stress reliever for me. Well since injuries from the half marathon and the cold (I normally love to run in the cold)--I have not run much and surly not outside. I spend my time running inclines on the treadmill. The last few days I have gone back to running outside. I was quickly reminded that I need to be on guard by these signs posted on all of the crosswalk stop signs. I think I might have found the REAL reason I have not been running outside. Last month there was an ATTACK in the morning on one of the trails I frequently run. I think subconsciously it got to me. I have not run outside since that attack. When I run it is just me, my feet, the concrete, and my ipod. It is where I look. It is where I think. It is where I pound out my frustrations. It is where I get energized. It is where I stand in awe of God's creation. It is the ONLY time of my day that is just for me. But now because of some sick individual I feel robbed of that. I have always put my safety pretty high up there. I don't run on trails off in the woods. I also stay off of the ones that venture too far off the busy streets. There have been times when I have left the trail and ran on the road because I have felt uncomfortable by someone who has passed me or is running kind of near to me. I keep my ipod low enough to hear the squirrels jump away from me, so I am always on alert. Well now, I feel like I am just staring off into the brush the whole time I am running. I am trying to hurry up and get back to the most open area. I am studying the face of every person that runs or rides by me. My outside run is no longer relaxing because I am tense the whole time and I don't like it! Obviously it is something I need to work through because even if/when this moron is caught there will be someone else there to take him place. It is just so frustrating. Marc has offered to ride his bike with me on my long runs. That is very sweet of him, but I am not that fast, he would fall over. We have also discussed me getting mace to clip onto my belt and maybe getting a single jogger--I have a double, so Hannah can tag along. Today on my second trip around the short loop I felt semi-comfortable because I did finally see people. All of the women were in groups of 2 or more. The ones that weren't had dogs with them. My dog can't even walk a mile, so that is not an option. I really don't want a running buddy because then it is not ME time. Oh what to do.......

Day 616

We are finishers!!!!!

Josh and Samantha did the EP5K this year. I am so proud of them! Samantha beat Josh too!

Samantha's time-35:18

Joshua's time-37:21

Upon getting her medal, Samantha looks at it--it says EP5K fun run---She asked, "why do they call it a FUN run? It was NOT fun!" She wants to run the half next year....

I am also a finisher---13.1 miles. :) I was unsure going in because my legs were so messed up. Just a few days before running .5 a mile caused me great pain. I managed to get a better time than I expected. My time was 2:24:52...my original healthy leg goal was 2:20 and I believe I could have easily done it if I wasn't already in so much pain. After mile 7 I had to stop and stretch my calves about twice per mile. After the race I also realized I pulled something in my hamstring....ouch! Oh well....I am ready to do it again!

Sunday 1/17

Day 614

Today is a two parter! This is from Friday 1/15

It is Samantha's 9th birthday. We also went downtown to pick up our race packets and hang out at the expo for a while. The kids always have a blast getting lots of free stuff. Josh even won 2 tickets to the hockey game!

Here are Josh and Samantha with their packets.

Caleb is taking care of Marc's packet

It didn't last long...they weighed down the stroller.
Love this girl!
Hannah wanted to play a football game
She won these bandanas LOL

Samantha rocked it and ended up winning the toy car.

It was a cold and rainy day, but the kids wanted to go to the Chase Bank Tower observation floor. It was a LONG cold wet walk, but we did it anyway! They had a blast looking out at everything...I preferred to stay a safe distance back LOL

Happy birthday to Samantha!!! Why is there a 2 candle??? Because I forgot to buy more candles, so we used a two and 7 ones. LOL It worked!

She got to open her gifts from us.

She got a new outfit.

Friday 1/15

Day 555

Love it or hate it???? As a driver I absolutely HATE these signs, especially at the intersections with a crazy short green light followed by a forever red light...this is one of those intersections. Let me give you a different perspective though. As a runner I LOVE these signs!!! This also happens to be an intersection I frequently cross while running. Earlier this year it was horrible! I would say about twice a week I would nearly be hit by a car that would decide to speed through the light. Let me just say I usually err on the side of caution. I look at the cross walk sign, the lights, AND the cars before I decide to step out into the street and I was still nearly run over... ridiculous!!! I got to where I would wait until I didn't see any cars or all 3 lanes had an already stopped car before I crossed. Then these signs went up along with the cameras and my world changed!!!! Sure as a driver I now try to avoid this intersection during rush hour, but as a runner I am in heaven!!!! I could run on a yellow light if I wanted to...I am still cautious, so I don't! I am wishing all my intersections had these cameras...ok don't shoot me! LOL Speaking of running and intersections...I miss 4-way stop signs. One street I run on and across (several times) replaced all the 4-way stop signs with red lights. It messes with the groove of my run to have to stop all the time...for a while. 90% of the people at the stop signs will just wave you on, but at the red lights...UGH. It is funny, you can always tell who the runners and walkers are among the drivers you pass. The ones who use the trails will stop and let you pass. The non-users will speed to an intersection to beat you there. Seriously....just so they don't have to wait for you to cross the street. It is not like I am going to slowly stroll across the street in front of you! LOL Sometimes at the end of a long run I am more than happy to slow down to let you pass in front of me! Enough of my ramblings...any opinions????

Day 549

Today I went for a run. I know my friends are like so, what else is new? Well, with horrible headaches for nearly a week plus a baby girl with a double ear infection, it has been a while. I took off for a short run--planned on 4 miles. I got about a mile away from the Y and start encountering these signs (photo). It seemed every turn I took had one of these lovely yellow signs. I pressed on and detoured some and just ran in the street other times. Once I didn't see the sign and ended up having to run through a gigantic hole. Sometimes you just gotta laugh.....