Injuries, MIT and Boston

Wow it has been forever since I've updated the blog-guess I better get on that! :)

I began this year training for a half marathon, but two weeks ago the plan to run the half got nixed by my very first running injury (I've been very lucky!), a strain in a muscle in my foot that makes running or walking very painful. So I'm doing Physical Therapy and exercises at home to get it better as soon as possible and get back to running. For now I'm doing biking and some ellipitical. I'm going to try swimming this week too- although I'm not a strong swimmer I can least get some movement in.

I'm very sad to not be running the race I planned with my friends, but there will be other races and it's important to get an injury healed and not let it nag. I know my friends are going to do awesome at their Marathon- they have all been running so strong this season.

We also had our MIT banquet recently and as always I enjoyed spending time with my running family. I'm incredibly blessed by their friendships.

And now on to Boston- I had several friends who ran the Boston Marathon on April 20. It is HUGE deal to run Boston because you have to qualify to do so. I'm continually amazed that I get to run "with" people who have qualified, run and finished a Boston Marathon- simply amazing. They make me want to run better, to run stronger just by being around them.

So on with healing this foot and getting back to running ASAP, so I can run a strong marathon in the fall. There will be speedwork in my future- one of my friends swears by the fact that her speed work took her from a 10:30/mile pace to a 9:30/mile pace in a year. I would love to go from my 12-12:30 pace to 11:30 or 11:00. But like Jeff says if you want to run fast you gotta run fast.

Last Day of 2008

Today is the last day of 2008 and tomorrow a whole new year will begin! What will I remember about 2008? Here is a short list:

• Training for and running my first marathon- there will be many more (I hope!) Marathons in my future but there will never be another first marathon.
• The great group runs that I had during MIT! And the not so great ones when others were willing to cheer me and support me.
• Having another nephew born in Febuary! I love you Dylan Daniel!
• The election season of 2008 that seemed to stretch on FOREVER.
• The two scandals that occured and landed Ohio as front page news- Marc Dann and Joe the Plumber.

I had great 2008 and I'm looking forward to a great 2009!

Here are some of my goals for 2009:

Run 1,001 miles this year (my friend Jenean suggested 1,001 just because!)

Work out with weights twice per week.

Keep my kitchen picked up- always a struggle for me.

Better organization in general and getting my basement scrapbooking area really set up to scrap down there.

I wish each and every one of you a healthy and happy New Year!!

A New Season Training

Yes a new season of training is upon me! Yeah! I love group running more than anything an I'm so glad to beginning my training offically for another half marathon this spring. I love having a plan each day and knowing how many miles I need to run each week. When left to my own devices I tend not to run as much as I should!

I will be missing the run tomorrow though because it is my nephew Peyton's first ever Christmas program so I'm going there instead. It's okay though I'll catch up with everyone next week. Although as my running friends pointed out to me missing the first day of MIT is a little like missing the first day of school.

I can't believe that Christmas is two weeks away now! I'm almost done with all my shopping and all I have to do to my cards is put the stamps on them (after I buy said stamps) and put them in the mail.

I'm going to my parents house for the week of Christmas so that will be fun, and I'll get to do some trail running at the awesome trail near their house. A good break for me from the assphalt I run on here at home.

Pictures of the Marathon Finish

Peyton was waiting at the Finish Line for me! So special- he also drank my Gatorade, but that's okay!


Crossing the Finish Line!! BIG SMILE and a sigh of relief too!!

Thanksgiving Week and Cold Weather Running

Yes it's Thanksgiving week, which for me means a short work week (off on Thanksgiving and the day after), and my traditional Thanksgiving Day Race. This year will be my third year running the Flying Feather 4 Miler- it's a good course and the reward is a bottle of wine or cookies. I'll probably get the cookies for the nephews this year.

It's been cold here so therefore I've offically broken out the cold weather running gear- tights and long sleeved shirts are the order of the day and of course a hat and gloves. I really don't mind running in the cold at all- in fact I find I like it much better than the 90 degree heat we trained in all summer long.

I've been proud of myself of how I've done "between seasons" of MIT this year, the best ever actually as far as keeping up my base of running. My plans for this season are a half in the Spring (Flying Pig) and a full in the Fall (yet to be determined which one).

So this Thanskgiving I'm especially thankful for the ability to run, for family and friends who support and love me, and for the many, many blessings I have in my life. I'm so blessed and have so much!

Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving all!! Enjoy your time with your friends and family!

Election Day Eve (or something like that)

Well after tomorrow we will be done (at least for a bit) with polictical ads and I for one am glad! Living in the swing state of Ohio we get a ton of them.

But tomorrow is all about exercising our right as Americans, our right to elect our leaders an I for one am grateful for that right. I will never forget, nor do I want to, being a college student and watching news footage of students just my age in China, standing in front of tanks for the right to vote. I still can't see those pictures without tearing up and remembering it's my right, and my privelage to go cast my ballot tomorrow.

I will remember not only those students from a land far away, but also the women who fought for this right for women to vote.

So if you haven't already go and VOTE tomorrow! And I heard on the news that Starbucks is giving out free coffee if you have your I voted sticker and Krispy Kreme is giving free donuts. :)

Fun with Friends

Well it's now a little over a week post marathon, and my legs feel fine- but I got a bad cold so I was not running on Saturday as I had wanted too- boo!! But I'm starting to feel better so I am planning on joining my friends for the run on Saturday.

Tonight my running friends and I met up for Mexican (yet another reason to run) and had good fun, laughing and chatting and celebrating finishing our fall races. It was so much fun to hang out with the girls. They are all so fun and enjoyable and bring me much joy!!

On Thursday I have my small group meeting at my house, which means I'd better get going on the vacuming I still have to do.