Failing

Two nights ago I took my test for the RRCA certification. I had taken the class to become a certified running coach. I printed out the test 2 weeks ago and have slowly worked on it when I had the time. I used my book, the computer, some old nursing books that I had and was feeling confident. I had always been a good test taker I kept telling myself and some of the answers I was completely sure about. Right? Well, needless to say, I failed. I got a 79 and you needed an 80 to pass. I had gone through it a couple of times and I had changed a couple of answers which typically I never do. I definitely was defeated. I have been feeling like I am having such a good year with my running, training and goals. This was what I felt was my next step in my running and I am now feeling a bit stagnant. So anyway....I am allowing myself the week to feel sad and next year I can take the class again for $100 cheaper. I will meet this goal and it will feel great when I do.

On a funny note, Siri is trying out for the Wizard of Oz at her school. If I hear "Somewhere over the Rainbow" one more time I might have to jump off of a rainbow. God love her, but she is definitely not the next Judy Garland. Happy Wednesday night everyone.

The Great Frog Escape

Wow! What a morning at the Warren house. Andy caught a frog to bring to school in his special bug/frog catcher and all was well in the world. It had grass, a little bit of water and some sort of berry in the container. Smiles all around. Smiles until Izzie picked up the container, dropped it on the floor and all of a sudden I have a frog hopping around the kitchen, a cat chasing it, Ben screaming, me screaming, Andy and Izzie crying and Siri finally catching the frog and calling us all crazy for screaming. This was supposed to be a great Friday morning. I didn't have to take Siri to school today, she luckily had the day off. I went for my run at 5:30 am, got a coffee, came home and got the kids ready etc...etc...instead it only takes one thing to throw everyone off. Chaos is not great sometimes and when you have a house with 4 kids it seems like there is ALWAYS chaos.

Now for my August numbers. Tall Mom Mel posted a challenge on her blog to run 80 miles the month of August. Well, I hit 80 alright, as a matter of fact I hit 132 for the month. I am midway through marathon training and feel great. Imagine these two legs ran 132 miles this month. It makes you realize how much you can do if you put your mind, heart and soul (and sole) into something that you are excited for. This marathon is my big challenge and it is keeping me going in all of my chaos.

Happy Friday!

Anyone affected by Earl? We might get some rain and wind:)

Shortened Run

The heat today was unbearable. I think that it made it to 97 degrees here in NH. Needless to say we did not make it to 14 miles, we made it to 11 and had to quit. I went through 48 ounces of fluid and my clothes were completely wet. My friend was pushing her 2 year old who was as red as a strawberry, he had had enough by mile 8 and our other friend went down with a calf (achilles?gastrinemus(sp?) injury and we had to call someone to pick her up. Thank God her mother was visiting and could come and get her on the side of the road. I am just glad I made 11, for me that had to be enough. My legs are still hurting and my chest hurts aaaarrrgghhhh....hopefully my weekend run will be better.

Today's the Day

Today is the day! I will have 4 little cherubs in school ALL day. How am I celebrating? I am running 14 miles this morning. YAY!!!! I don't have to get a babysitter, I don't have to do it on Saturday morning by myself and I don't have to push, pull or carry anyone. The only downside is the 95 degree temps and the extreme humidity pushing down on New Hampshire. I bought a new top yesterday and got some cool shorts. Our running store had Nike stuff at 20% off, but I bought colors that are going to match the new running skirts when they come out, particulary the blue and black argyle one from runningskirts.com. They said September and I am hoping that that means this week?

That being said it is Izzie's last year of preschool. I wish that I could say that I feel sad, but I don't . I think that when you have four you are either sentimental about every last thing that they do or you are ready to move on. She already thinks that she is "20" so I think that I am ready to move on. She cried all day yesterday because she wanted to go to school like her big sister. (Siri started yesterday). Then she told me that "it just wasn't fair!" because I wouldn't let her have soda and finally ended the day by telling me, "you are the worstest!" Can you tell that she has older siblings. My husband's concern? "If she is like this at 4, what is she going to be like at 14?"

How are you celebrating the first day of school?

Which camp are you in? Sad for your last moments

ready to move on?

Good Morning

I am up and ready to go. To run you say? NO, to go to the grocery store to buy salad stuff to make a garden salad for a lunch today at my 4 year olds preschool. You might be saying to yourself , "Why didn't she do that yesterday?" Well, I am saying that to myself right now. While I did get my 10 miler in yesterday, I then spent the rest of the day at the football field with my two boys and then off to a birthday dinner an hour away. While the football games were awesome, both boys won, and I loved being able to see my college friends, my friend found out that she was pregnant for her 40th birthday, I am tired. Tired from a lot of early mornings of running this summer, tired from 4 kids' and their constant summer activity and finally tired from getting everyone ready for school this week. Oh well, I am off and hopefully my last full day of summer vacation is uneventful!

Three Things Thursday

1/I ran 7 miles this morning in my new Somnios. I really loved this pair of shoes. Check them out on their web site. You do a couple of "tests" to see what kind of shoe that you need, they read your results and then put the shoes together for you. I don't have any stores around here that sell them, so I did everything online. Maybe someone will get certified to sell them around here soon. Anyway, I ran 4 miles outside with my friend Lynn then I finished up with 3 on the treadmill. I feel good to get a good run out of the way for the week. We had a lot of rain this week and it was nice to finally get outside.

2/My cleaning lady came today. I am spoiled as Silvana comes every other week. This summer I had to cancel her a couple of times and today I was so happy to see her that I kissed her cheek! My house was disgusting and with us not having Sophie anymore the crumbs had piled up. I would have to vacuum my house twice a day to keep up with everything and it just does not happen. So, YAY Silvana!!!

3/We are taking Ben and Andy to a Patriots preseason football game tonight. The four of us are so excited. The girls are going to my sister in law's home for the night. This was Ben's birthday present and we got awesome seats:) So...of we go. hopefully we will have a good time.

Running Inspiration

Today on Higher Miles Abbi posed the question of "running admiration." I love to think about those questions. I am inspired daily by my running friends, my running "blog friends," and even by myself. I am inspired in general by my parents, who were both runners when I was growing up. I guess if I were to tell my running story I would have to start with my parents.

When I was little, my father was a smoker. Then, when I was in middle school we lived in California. My Dad was in the Navy and got stationed at Port Hueneme, CA. One school year he went away to Guam and came home and did not smoke anymore. Not only did he not smoke anymore, he had started running. He was a real runner, he would run 6 miles twice a day sometimes. We spent every weekend driving all over Southern California while he did 10 K races, then 10 mile races, then finally a marathon. During this time my mother started running as well. Then the two of them were doing races together and my sister and I would tag along waiting at the end of the 10K route. Sometimes they would let us run with them at home or ride our bikes. My mom would always say that we complained the whole run and then would sprint home and beat them. I don't think that my parents were sprinters. My mother is now a walker. She has arthritis in her knees. My dad has slowed down a bit and does mostly 5 K's.

Now, I run for me. When I get up early (5am) I am so proud of myself and want to just continue to work harder. When I PR a 5K, I am so excited that I can't stand it. Finally, when I have racked up bigger miles (16 this weekend) I can't believe that my mind and my body can and want to work this hard. So, this week when I run another 16 I will try to constantly inspire myself and allow my body and mind to carry me through to the end.