Happy New Year

5 mile race in Gettysburg, PA

Wow! I can't believe that we are staring down 2011. What a year it has been. As of this morning I have run 1000 miles since April 1st. ( I might have run more, but that is when I started calculating everything with my Garmin.) I have run 2 half marathons and 1 full marathon. I really did not see myself at this point last year at this time. I was about 25 pounds heavier, I was sad and I did not have any goals for the year. Something changed January 1. I made a decision not to feel sorry for myself anymore and to get going and now I am here.

I have been inspired by so many people this year. Some people have inspired me to run, some have inspired me to be a better person and some have inspired me to become a better mom. If I were to mention everyone we would be writing/reading for a long time. (Tonia, Ginny, Jen, Pam, Stacie to name a few.) Anyway Thank You! You have made a difference in me from Point A to Point B.

People have been mentioning their goals throughout bloggy land today. I thought long and hard about them during my run this morning. Goal 1/ to run 1500 miles in 2011. (I was going to go loftier, but I don't want to set myself up for failure) Goal 2/ To run one of these fall marathons Chicago or New York. If I get into New York, I don't know if I will go to Chicago. (okay I might do both am I crazy? Goal 3/ To cut out junk...I try to have a good diet, but I definitely get caught in the having 4 kids in a million activities and doing things on the run. My goal is to cook "good" food at least 5 days a week and then have left overs/easy stuff the other 2 days. and finally Goal 4/ To try to step back and not be so worrisome all of the time. It is definitely my personality, but sometimes you need to let things go. I am not very good at that and it is something that I want to work on this year.

Happy New Year everyone! 2011 is here!

Three Things Thursday

1. I am actually having a nice vacation home with the kiddos. Usually I am super stressed, by this point and counting the days until they go back to school, but I am actually enjoying that our routine is not so structured. I am also loving not packing lunches. I don't know why but, packing lunches is my downfall. I am constantly trying to pack the perfect lunch, one that fills them up, is healthy, but does have a cookie or two in it. Let's just say with 4 kids no one is ever happy.

2. I belted out 7 on my treadmill this am and can't believe how close I am to 1000 miles. I started this journey April 1st and I can't believe how far I have come. Tomorrow will be my last big run and then I will have made it to my goal.

3. I ate a large piece of Purple Velvet cake tonight. I know that I shouldn't have, but I did. I figure I am giving myself until the kids go back to school on Monday and then I am going to delve back in to my runners diet. Thank goodness I do run or else I would be a tank!

I am Awake

I am up early this morning. The new baby, I mean puppy has been up since 4:30 and then I couldn't go back to sleep. I am staring at my Christmas tree and about to start taking the ornaments off. As much as I love Christmas, I love taking it all down and getting back to "normal." No more needles, my living room back in working order and all of the kids' stuff put away. That is the beauty of January. I feel like it is some sense of normalcy around my house. September to December is just so crazy all of the time. I am looking forward to running, reading and enjoying my family. Hmmmm...that almost sounds like a New Year's Resolution.

In the next week I am hoping to sit down and plan my running schedule for the Year. I already have a 10K, 2 half marathons and 1 marathon on the books, now I just need to schedule the rest and save some money to pay for all of my races.

26 Miles to Go

Christmas morning run (no I am not pregnant)
Hoping that everybody's Christmas was as blessed and wonderful as mine. The kids were excited, I was excited and even Trav was excited. (Travis loves to buy others treats, but is not good at receiving. hmmmm....I don't know where I found him from). I started out trying to make everything orderly, but in the end with four kids it just gets crazy. I was also lucky enough to run a quick 5 K with my friends Karin and Lynn at around 11 am. It was nice to have that 30 minutes to get out that extra Christmas energy before the rest of the festivities began.

It has come to my attention that I have 26 miles until I reach 1000 for the year. I started calculating my mileage around April 1, so I am feeling really psyched with this achievement. Once December 1st hit I knew it was a possibility and then I knew I had to reach it. This year has been such an incredible for me. I feel like I found myself through running. I became closer to group of women who I love and of course I finished my first marathon. I have let running in full force and definitely am hooked. It also helps that I dropped a few pounds and feel great:)

Finally, I ran 6.1 for Sam today. This is a great program about a dad who ran 61 marathons for Autism with his final marathon being yesterday. People signed up to run 6.1 miles (Operation Jack) in order to support him on his endeavor. I was supposed to run yesterday, but was really under the weather with a bad headache and could not even fathom getting on my treadmill. I popped up this morning and ran 6.1 miles in 55 minutes, not a PR, but a great run non the less. I like these virtual races where I can donate some money to a good cause and a cause that is dear to me. I have a friend whose son has Aspergers Syndrome and Autism has become a special cause for me. It is hard to believe how many children are diagnosed with Autism every year, it is scary and could happen to anyone....So kisses to Jack and kisses to my special friend Mason, you are a real inspiration.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Dinner with Santa last night at our local gym. Love the look on Andy's face...they can never all have a great look!

Merry Christmas!!!

It's Almost Here...

I can't believe that Christmas is less than 3 days away. Our house has been turned into crazy town between the 4 kids, the puppy and the two cats. I caught the puppy, Nelly, eating the wrapping paper off of the few presents under the tree which then led to Andy saying that means we can open the presents. AAAAGGGHHHHH.....no that is not what that means Andy! (just so you know there are like 5 presents under the tree and they are little ones that my mom sent). My stomach has been really off this week. Unfortunately, we have been eating more junk than usual just because things have been so crazy and my stomach is not used to it. I did get in a quick 6 miles last night and will have no problem tomorrow on the TM probably, but I am trying to figure out what day I can get a 14 miler in. I am thinking that it might be Christmas Eve. I am hoping to be up by 7 am and can be done a bit after 9....please keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer for me. I am going to need all of the help that I can get.

Now the boys and I are watching the Polar Express. It always makes me a bit sad...couldn't tell you why it just does.

Good luck with the next two days bloggy buddies. I know it can be crazy...remember big breaths are important, at least that is what I keep telling myself.

A Bad Decision and a Good Decision

Yesterday I made a very bad decision....a bad underwear decision which is not usually my MO. I had on Nike work out pants that required some sort of underwear on underneath, I put on a thong just so I would not had VPL's at the gym...(visibal panty lines). I took part in my Friday Fit class and was then heading off for a run with my friend Lynn. When we went into the locker room to change I just threw on my winter running skirt outfit w/o taking off my undies. How would that be a bad decision you might say....hmmmm....well about mile 3 I could already feel some major chafe issues in my "underwear area." Not pretty, the sweat was even stinging. I hopped in the shower at the gym and had to bite my lip so as to not scream out loud. It was so painful.....yuk and it is still painful today. I am hoping that my 6 miler today does not make it worse. Not really helping with my quest for 1000....

On a good decison note, I picked up our new puppy yesterday. Needless to say we are in love. She is a corgi and her name is Nelly. She is smart as whip, sleeping and eating well, just perfect. It is like we have a new baby in the house:) Yesterday morning I was kicking myself asking what had we done getting a puppy the week before Christmas, but honestly, when else would I have taken her...it is a treat for our family.

Wish me luck on my morning jaunt...hopefully it is not to painful.