Marathon-er

October 20, 2012
26.2 Miles
DONE!

Holy Smokes!

That was Hard!

But?

The Hard is What Makes it Great!!

26.2 Miler Highlights:

 

- I was Excited ALL Week! Not Nervous; Excited! I was Ready to Get Out on that Course and See if I Could Do This!

 

- At About Mile 4, I Started Talking with a Lady- She is 66 years old, and this was her 53rd Marathon! She Started Running when she was 51. In the years she has been Running, she has Overcome Cervical Cancer, Back Surgery and a Brain Tumor. This was her 8th Full Marathon this year, and she had done 20 Half Marathons this year. Her Training? She said she runs Once a week, and its a Marathon. Her Strategy? Slow and Steady. I Told her she Truly Inspired Me, and I Couldn't Wait to Share her Story. Wow.

 

- I Cried. A Lot.

Before we even left the house, I was teary, because My Dear Friends, had put signs up in My Yard during the night with Good Luck Wishes and "You Can Do IT!"s .

I Cried as I Crossed the Starting Line. (I'm Running a Marathon!)

I Cried at the Amazing Sun Rise.

I Celebrated as Each Mile Ticked by, and Thought "This is Going by Too Fast!!"

I Probably Hollered, "I'm Running a Marathon!" about 79 Times.

I Got Emotional thinking of all the Training We had done. All the Hundreds of Miles and Wondering IF I can Do it, or How in the World I was Going to Do it. Now, here was the easy part- just go run 26 miles.

I Got Very Emotional every time I saw My Fan Club alongside the road at random Miles, Waving Posters and Shouting and Clapping. Truthfully, I Sobbed. And Lemme tell You, its Hard to Sob and Run and Breathe at the same time- Quite Ugly.

In the last 4 Miles, I was Crying over Signs other People had made for other Runners.

And I got a little choked up at the Aid Stations and the Volunteers handing out Water.

At One Point, I think mile 24, I got a little Teary-Eyed

because I wanted to Be Done or Die!

And Yes,

When I Crossed the Finish Line? I Bawled. Big Time Ugly.

 

I had NEVER in My Life wanted to Run a Marathon.

But My Curiosity about "HOW and WHY in the World would Someone Ever...?" Won Out.

 

In My Running and Training, I've Learned that

I Learn So Much More about Myself in the Moment that I Decide to Keep Going,

than I Do in the Moment that I Decide to Quit.

I've Learned that I'm more Capable, and Stronger,

and Diligent, and Determined

than I Ever thought I was.

 

Also, I have the Biggest Support of a Husband.

He was Out of the Country on a Business Trip, Came Home to Support Me on My Marathon, then Flew back the Next Morning. Who Does That?

And? So many mornings when He has Gotten the kids up and dressed and fed for School, while I'm out Running, so that as soon as I Run home, I can take the kids to school. He Picked Me Up after 16 Milers and 18 Milers and drove me home. HE Believed I could Run a Marathon, before I Believed I Could. I Believed in Me, because He did.

 And? This was for My Birthday.
My Birthday was the Next Day, and I wanted to Do Something to Celebrate ME.
Five Years ago, On My Birthday I Held My New Born Baby in My Arms.
Last year, I Held My First "See Your Strength and Beauty Everest Birthday Run" and Invited any Friends who Wanted to join Me to come Run with Me up a Steep Hill we All Love to Hate. We Celebrated with Smoothies and Chocolate Cake Afterwards.
This Year, I Ran My First Marathon.
Then Celebrated with Friends and Hogged out on Chocolate Cake.

One of My Favorite Quotes is from Socrates:
"It is a Shame for a [Woman] to Grow Old
without Ever Seeing the Strength and Beauty
of which [Her] Body is Capable".

How Blessed am I to See and Do all the Beautiful Things My Body is Capable of.

In the Last 3 or 4 Miles of the Marathon,

Running Partner and I said

that this was the Stupidest thing We had Ever Done.

That we would NEVER do this AGAIN!

But,

The Next Day,

We were searching for more Marathons. 

10.27.2012

It's that Time of Year:

Happy Birthday

To YOU!

Breakfast in Bed

The Big FIVE 

J says the Funniest things,

LOVES to Play with His Brothers,

and Gives Mom and Dad Huge Ol' Hugs!

WE Love this KID!

Pumpkin Patch-ness

You've Had a Birthday

Shout HOO-RAY!

Breakfast and Presents in Bed

Look Who's 10!

 

I have to Say that B has really become so Helpful to Me,

He Does what he needs to,

he's Thoughtful and Responsible and so Smart!

We Love this Dude!

 



Surprise!

We're Going to DISNEYLAND!

 

We kept our Plans to Go to Disneyland

a HUGE Secret 

for Months and Months!

Then One Regular Dull Monday Evening,

We went on a Little Drive to the Airport,

and Dad Said,

"Lets go in and buy a treat at the Airport,

but We have to take these Suitcases with us,

so that they don't know that We really Don't have any Tickets,

We're just here for some Treats".

We go in, but don't find any treats, Dangit.

We walk back out,

and Start Wishful Talking about

If we could go anywhere Right Now?- Where would we want to Go?

Eldest Child Wishes outloud to Go to Disneyland.

And Mom and Dad Look at Each Other,

and Say, "Let's GO!!"



The Kids thought We were Joking.

[I Think they were Wondering who We were,

and What Happened to Their REAL Parents]

 

Even Better?

When we Got to Our Gate,

and the Families of Good Friends,

are also there,

Going to Disneyland!

Yah, We all Planned it all like that :)

 

 

On the Last Day,

the Coolest Thing was Seeing This:

Seeing the Spaceship Endeavor on its Final Flight.

The crowds of people all came out,

and looked up at the sky

(the Shuttle was so Low!)

and then

Everyone Started Clapping.

That?

Was Awesome!

 

On the Short List of Favorite Rides:

Cars Land, California Soaring, California Screaming, Tower of Terror, Pirates, and Splash Mountain.

 

We? Had a GREAT Time!! 

San Antonio

 

We Spent a Few Days at a Convention for Husband's Business.

And Because He is in Business with His Brothers,

that Meant,

that My Sister-in-Laws and other Family Members

were there, too.

So,

While the Men Folk had to spend their

time in Borning Ol' Meetings,

Me and the Ladies Got to Kick it,

at Pedicures and Manis.

 

I was SUPER Proud of Husband and Co.

for Getting a Huge National Award,

that has come with Years of lots of

Hard Work and Stressing!

 

After the Meetings Concluded for the Week,

We went out and Explored

The Alamo-

You know,

as in "Remember the Alamo!"

[Yes, well, now I know why One should Remember the Alamo].

 

And after the Alamo,

We got to Get all Gussied Up

for a Fancy Night of  Dining and Celebration. 



Sometimes

I Get Behind on this Ol' Blog, Here,

And Then I have to Play Catch-Up

Like, Now.

But I'm Not Fully Caught Up. 

So, One Day?

I'll Catch Up Some More.

Wanna Know What's Keeping Me?

Lots O' Painting, Running, and Primary Stuff Galore.

Oh, 

and Taking Care of those People Who Live at My House,

Who Think they need Food.

And Clean Stuff.

Our Dear Sweet Kathy

Returned to Heaven

1950-2012

Kathy was Ryan's Aunt,

and Never having a Family of Her Own,

Ryan and His Brothers, 

Were Her Family.

Our Kids were Her Grandkids.

She was a Second Mom to Ryan,

Another Grandma to Our Kids,

a Dear Friend to Me,

and a Big Part of Our Family Business.

She Loved Us so Much,

and was such a Comfort to Us,

after the Passing of Ryan's Mom, 

Less than a Year Ago.

Ryan's Mom and Her were Sisters,

and the Best of Friends.

Kathy has Missed Marilyn So Much this Past Year,

that We Can't Help but be Happy that They are Now Together.

Her Death was So Un-Expected,

and at Times, 

I Find Myself thinking of Telling Her Something,

Or Doing Something for Her,

and Then have to Remind Myself,

that She's Gone,

and It Doesn't Seem Right.

We Love Her,

and Miss Her So Much.

09.01.2012

Over the Labor Day Weekend,

We Borrowed a VW Camper Van,

Pulled it 'Round Back of Our House,

and Spent the Entire Three Nights of the Holiday Weekend,

Picnic-ing

Watching Movies,

Playing Games,

and

Sleeping Nice and Cozy in it.