3 Things Thursday.......

1. I don't have an edition today. Holiday weeks make my life totally random which for me is okay sometimes. I think that I get so wrapped up in the structure of my week that I forget it is okay to get off track a bit. That is hard for a girl like me....can you say OCD, but I am learning that it is okay. The laundry will get folded, my bed made and food on the table. My husband is a good sport and just kind of rolls with it.

2. Could the schools work on providing a somewhat decent lunch the last 3 weeks of school so that maybe my kids will buy? I am definitely to the end of the packing lunches gig for the year. The kiddos are sick of sandwiches. They are bringing their fruit home uneaten (is that even a word?) and I am tired of trying to think of something new to pack. Lunch ladies I get it, you are trying to clean out the fridges/freezers but could we drop the french toast sticks and ham slices for a little something yummy.

3. My Chicago/Richmond Marathon training plan starts on Sunday. Thanks to T, I have a plan from a previous marathon training. I am soooooooooo excited. I love training for something. I love the calendar, I love crossing out the days and I love the feeling of accomplishing something on a weekly basis. Woo-hoo!!!!! Let the fun begin.

It's National Running Day

I wish I could tell you that I ran today, but I didn't. Instead I hit the trails for the 4th grade hike with B and his class. It actually was a tough climb. A lot of tree routes, rocks and heat and humidity. I planned on running after the climb on the Mill, but a tornado warning in our area put a stop to that when the 4 kids thought we should spend the rest of the evening in the basement. ummmmm.....no, we are not spending the rest of the evening in the basement. My basement is not a fun basement, it is mud room and laundry room, not a hang out room. So, instead of a run I ordered a new skirt from RunningSkirts while Iz sat on my lap with her fingers in her ears waiting for thunder and a tornado.

The month of May was a good running month for me. I completed 2 half marathons and ran over 1oo miles (110 to be exact). My hip has not been bothering me as much, but I do feel twinges every now and then. June will find me starting my Chicago Marathon training. I have no races this month and I am okay with that.

Happy National Running Day friends! Hopefully you got your runs in and enjoyed the day:)

Run to Remember 2011

This race was not my best. I didn't say "wow! that was fun" or "I can't wait to do that again." I love half marathon's but woke this am with a feeling of weird dread. I needed a sub 1:50 for a coral placement at Chicago, but could tell this was not going to be my day....in the end it didn't even matter because of what I encountered at mile 12.

At mile 12 I had my stride back and I was bringing it in...when coming through the Theater District I had to stop. Runner down and when I say down, I mean down. I stopped immediately, this kid did not look good. I was a nurse before I was a SAHM and besides someone being dead I have never seen someone so white. "James" was white, shaking, salty and was throwing up. He also was somewhat unresponsive....not even somewhat he was communicating by hand gripping that really had stopped by the time the bike EMS guy hot there. I can honestly say I was scared for this kid. It also made me think about race preparation. I don't know this kid from a fly in the wall, but he was running in football shorts and sneakers. Had he trained? Had he properly hydrated? Was he there with his friends and they thought they could just throw down a half marathon?

I am a prepared runner....I start hydrating days before, eat certain foods, try to increase my sleep and do try to put in the miles. A half marathon is a big deal, it is not easy. Especially not in heat and humidity and not something that you should just jump into. We so many times hear the phrase RESPECT THE DISTANCE. 13.1 should be respected, it is not easy....

I have been thinking about James all night. I am hoping that they helped him and he is surrounded with his family right now. So...a prayer for James.

Happy Memorial Day everyone. We are so blessed to have so many Armed Forces that protect us and take care of us on a daily basis. If you see one today, old or young why don't you give them a thank you.

And it's the Last One....

I have 4 kiddos ranging in age from 10-4. They all advance this summer (3 in July....no funny Halloween jokes) and one in August. They are all very different....each one of them with extremely different personalities, but they all seem to follow their birth order personalities. S and B are 13 months apart and tend to fight over who is the oldest although S thinks she is an only sometimes. A is a typical middle and I is the baby. Today she is totally the baby and may single handedly send me over the edge.

I has cried about something since she returned home from her friend's this afternoon about everything. From not getting her clam chowder (helloooooo...it is 90 degrees outside) or making her nachos to not carrying her in to school to pick up the boys, (it's hot and she is heavy). I am drained and frustrated as evidenced by my quote of the day...."I if you can't walk yourself then I will have to call St. C's and you will not be able to go to Kindergarden next year." Really, really did that really just come out of my mouth? She looked at me like I was crazy and I am. I mean seriously she is signed up to go to all day kindergarden next year and I am threatening that she won't go. The heat is obviously getting to me because I am actually making silly parenting comments which I will never follow through on. So...I is now set up in front of the tv with crackers while I read blogs for a minute and when T gets home she is all his. Happy Memorial Day everyone!

TTT...it's Spring/Summer Edition

1. The weather here is DELIGHTFUL!!! 80 degrees, sunny and light breeeze. After 2 weeks of rain finally we are having summer. While I am feeling happy for myself, I am still very sad for the people in Missouri. I can't imagine losing everything in my life, my home, my car, my family...it is just the saddest story ever. I don't know if anyone saw this story, but the Boomtown Half was supposed to be run this weekend. They are encouraging runners to come out still, but to help with the clean up and if you can't go out, then how about signing up for the race. The proceeds will go toward helping the people of Joplin.

2. I am going to use the next couple of weeks to get used to training/running in the warmer weather and humidity. My fuel belts are out. I got a new supply of Nuun and I have been running around 9 am at times. I will be completing some of my summer runs early...(4:30ish) so that I will have my days to myself and the kiddos. Unfortunately our long runs are scheduled for Friday's at 10 am. Let's just say that I will be ready for Chicago.

3. I got my sunscreen out today. I am bad about sunscreen, I have a pretty dark complexion and many times just go with it, but I am starting to get some wrinkles around my eyes and it is probably time to start taking care of my skin. 40 is beating down my door....also the idea of skin cancer is very scary to me. My friend's mother had skin cancer last year and it was pretty traumatic, not what I need on my plate right now.

What is the weather like where you are? Do you use sunscreen? What time do you like to run?

And Today....a Snake

Today was just a fun 6 mile jaunt with the besties...we decided to do 6 since I am running a half on Sunday and didn't want to go to far. I will run tomorrow and then take Friday and Saturday off. Anyhoo....coming down our dirt road we noticed something...and that something was a SNAKE. Let the screaming commence. The three of us have run half marathons, a marathon, (GJ has run 3 marathons), have 10 children between us, but see a snake and forget it. M almost ran it over with the stroller and then her 2 year old wanted to see it...I took him over and even he screamed. Poor M--I made her take the picture. IT was not a rattlesnake by any means, just a Garter snake. Needless to say there is always a little excitement on the dirt roads of NH. Happy Wednesday.....

It's Tuesday....

Well Tuesday has arrived in good ole NH...and wait for it...wait for it....it is not raining. Woo-hoo. To bad my washing machine has been broken since Thursday and instead of enjoying the great outdoors (i.e ....weeding my garden) I will be doing 10, 000 million loads of laundry. Between everyday clothes, running clothes and lacrosse clothes well...I will let your imagination wander. The boys are officially out of socks though so I am sure you are feeling me right now.

I went on a longish run yesterday with my 2 running besties...8 miles. It was rainy, drizzly and a touch humid out when we ran yesterday. I also did not have my car. (H took it to get new tires) So in not having my car, I did not have my Body Glide....I am paying for it today. My thighs (okay they rub together it doesn't matter how much I run or how skinny I am) look like I rubbed them on the pavement for about 2 hours. If you can imagine the shower after my run and putting on pants after my shower. It was not pretty. Today I have shorts on and they catch each other every once in a while. YOWSERS!!

I am doing the Run to Remember Half Marathon on Sunday so I wanted to get one more longer run in before Sunday. Can you believe this will be my 4th half this year? It will also probably be my last one this year. My Chicago Marathon training officially begins June 6th so that is where my heart will be for the next 4 months. I have to admit though I do love a half marathon. I like the training time, the fact that the race is over in about two hours and that you feel a great accomplishment after. Chicago will be my second marathon with Richmond following a month later. If you remember I didn't have a great 1st marathon, so I will be hoping to redeem myself at Chicago.

Any big racing plans for other people out there? Do you race in the summer or take it easy?