I ran...

I went for my run after work tonight. Darby and I suited up and ran for 4 miles. I cleared my head and still made it home in time for boboli pizza dinner! Thanks for the words of wisdom and encouragement - you really do have to take time for yourself, then everything else seems to fall into place. I need to hit the hay - lots to do this week.

keep running!

I'm still working on the 50k answer... we'll see how the week goes.

here is a photo of darby and I in front of Emerald Ridge High School, it's pretty darn nice up there - I'll have to do more exploring around the campus in the daylight.

Oh yeah, 40 degrees and not raining - I love running!!!

OK this is it - I'M DOING THIS NOW...

Ok this is it – I’m doing this NOW (in a guilt free tone)….

I have been cranky lately, part of it is because the job that I love has had to reduce my hours in order to keep everyone working, partly because I added a second job, which is keeping my mind off of the first job’s reduced hours, and partly because I miss my running! Yes, I miss my running. With two jobs, and the holidays, I feel like going for a run is a luxury. I feel like going for a run takes away time from my husband, which is very slim these days as I’m always going to/coming from or tired from a 16 hr. work day. I feel guilty for wanting to take the time to go for a run. I feel guilty because I have another marathon on December 20th which will wipe me out for a whole Saturday right before Christmas. But most of all I feel guilty for feeling guilty. My parents raised me better than this, I can do what I want, I can make myself a better person, I can be a marathon maniac (even if I couldn’t do it in Las Vegas – again due to the whole job hours cut/two jobs issue). So that being said – I AM DOING THIS NOW, I AM GOING TO GO RUNNING WHEN I WANT!! Even if it means no quiet mornings at home or sleeping-in one day a week – I can’t be happy until I go running. So that being said tonight I’m going to take Darby, my steadfast running partner with me and we are going running after work (I only have one work today – later this week will be a little more problematic, but I’ll get there when I get there). On tonight’s run we will have a few goals; run by the glow of our headlamps (yes, she wears one too, she needs to see the sidewalk also), run in the cold (but thankfully not rain), look at all of the Christmas lights, run down the big hill by the high school and run back up it, and the most important thing – decide on running a 50k with Michelle and Rick on the 20th as my last goal in obtaining my Marathon Maniac status – well at least try and talk myself into it – as Michelle says, it’s only 5 more miles than a marathon….

I thought about making a list here that includes all of the items that I am not able to get done because I am out running, but I don’t think that works too well with my guilt-free mantra. So, let the list grow, I’ll get to everything later, I mean really, who cares if I don’t get the cards out early, or the dusting goes another week (or month, whatever), I’ll do that stuff later and probably better and faster after I have gone for a run.

I read Cyndi’s blog and she is so dang positive about her running, that it occurred to me that my running is for me, it is my time away, it is what makes me happy right now, I need my runner’s high back….

So her is to making & taking time for me - no strings attached.

Run Macha Run!

marathon update.....

well, i've been really busy, stressed and overwhelmed. Work has turned nerve-racking - we are going through some layoffs and reduced hours (which is really hard when there are only 5 people in the firm). So I have started a part-time seasonal postion at the mall in retail - something that I've never done before. Needless to say my October and November have been very stressful - my report for the Portland Marathon is still half done - someday I'll get to it.

I did want to report that I ran with the world-famous Michelle during her second marathon of three in a row, yes 26.2 miles on Friday, 26.2 miles on Saturday and 26.2 miles on Sunday - she is amazing, you have to read her past few posts - oh yeah, each one was progressivly faster - holly cow!

Saturday I completed the Ghost of Seattle Marathon along the shores of Lake Washington and Seward Park, it was a balmy 50 degrees and I ran with Michelle, Margaret and for a portion with Steve and Robin. Our goal was to keep Michelle moving - which by the way, we had no trouble with - she finished strong and happy!

I've been running in the past couple of months when I get the chance and I did well during the marathon, but I did forget one key item - body glide in a very important area at my undies - I have huge chaffing spots - yikes..... and it's because my fancy REI undies are too BIG!!!! I've been resting - oh yeah did I mention that I had to work the retail job after running the marathon - yeah, you know, 6 hours of running and then 4 hours selling lotion - I was beat!

The weight loss has been slow, but steady. Ups and downs, but I just keep working at it. I did have to buy a pair of jeans and they are a size 12! I was wearing an 18 this time last year - yippeeeeeeee!

I'll get better about posting, just trying to keep my head above water at this point.

Again, everyone go and congratulate Michelle on her awesome weekend - what an inspiration!

Next up is the Pigtails Flat Ass Marathon on December 20th for my Mararthon Maniac Status!

Keep on running, slow and steady!