Hello Kayano

So, I'm totally a fan of supporting local Ma and Pop's... such as Eric's Running Unlimited store in Palatine Illinois.  But if you don't have a local running store where you can get the expertise you need, your best bet is to figure out your own gate, arch, pronation, etc... go at least a half a size bigger... and try to buy from a place with a good return policy since most the time it takes a run or two to figure out the shoe  is not the right fit!

If you've been reading my blog you know I bought my Newton's (which ended up being not so great) from Road Runner Sports.  http://www.roadrunnersports.com
I love their 90 day return policy and free shipping, (with VIP) both ways!

Course my procrastinating self took 96 days to return them... and I was a little nervous that they would send my shoes back saying sorry... but it wouldn't cost me anything to try... so I did!
With my credit I decided to order the Asic Gel Kayano 18's and some arch and ankle support dry fit socks.  A friend told me that the Kayano's are a lot like my Asic Gel 2160's that they no longer make, so I figured I'd give them a try.

Road Runner Sports didn't even hesitate!  They sent me the new shoes and socks with out even slapping my wrist for it being after the 90 days!  I'm seriously impressed and grateful for their exceptional customer service!

Here's the Kayano:

And here's my review on it:

OK, let's take a few things into consideration.
1.)  I sprained my ankle pretty bad about 5 weeks ago and went through a pretty bad 6 weeks of pregnancy followed by a miscarriage... so my training runs have been few and far between!

2.)  I just got back from two weeks of vacation in Las Vegas and California.  And even though I didn't gain a pound, continued juicing and eating well... let's be real, fitness and weight are related but not the same thing.  You can be skinny but not in shape.  At the moment, I am neither... but working on it! ;)

This all adds up to 5 to 6 weeks of setback which had me feeling heavy, sluggish and slow this morning when I got up early to get a run in.  Probably doesn't help that we've got 95 degrees with humidity making it like a 100+ degree sauna!  I am hacking up crap like I have pneumonia again!
There really is something to humidity verses 'dry heat' as they call it in Vegas... I had an easier time running in 105 dry heat in Vegas then I did in 95 with humidity here!

All this to say that it may not be the Kayano's fault entirely that I wasn't feel'n it!

I thought the Kayano, while better then some of the other shoes I've tried... was a bit heavy and flat.
I like a more rounded front toe.  And I had some pain in both feet/metatarsals and some pain under my left knee... that's new for me.  So I'm not 100% sold or unsold yet... it's the first run on the shoe, and the first real run in a while... so to be fair, I'll give a it a couple more before I judge.

But at this point, I'd rather run on my Asic Gel 2160's.  I only baught 3 extra pair since they no longer make them, and now I'm thinking I should have bought 5.
For me the saying goes "when the shoe fits, wear it and buy 5 more!"
The right running shoe and the perfect pair of jeans require more than one purchase, in my humble opinion!

So the race is in exactly one month.  I'm a little worried, but not too bad... mostly getting excited!
The humidity has me worried a bit so I'm praying the weather is freakishly cooler on race day, but we shall see!

Gotta tell you about this dream I had that I think was really cool!  My Birthday is the day after tomorrow... I had a dream recently that I saw my Grandma.  She's been passed away 5 years now.
In my dream, we were at a party... I asked her what we were celebrating?  She said her birthday... and mine too really!
I thought it was weird since my Grandma's Birthday is in July and mine is in June... I just shrugged it off as close enough, cool to see her!
But then I realized something... the race, is July 21st.  My Grandma's birthday, is July 21st.
This race is no doubt a rebirth for me... and now a perfect way to celebrate her life as well!
I feel she was letting me know she's still with me and witnessing my growth.
It was nice to see her again, even if it was just in a dream.

"If You Worried About Falling Off the Bike...

You'd Never Get On." - Lance Armstrong

This was posted on the wall of the YMCA in Las Vegas where I was visiting and had the honor of watching my nephew and his basketball team take 3rd overall for the season!  YAY Griffin!!  Good job buddy, and HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!!  We loved being there with you guys and swimming in your beautiful new pool!  

I thought I ought  to take a picture for the blog since worry is something I do all too often and all too well!  

I worry about injury, I worry about not being able to run... or finish this race! 

I worry about everything... running related or not!  And it's really a bad thing, I need to get a grip and do like Nike says "Just Do It!"  Or don't, whatever!  

The only thing worse than not reaching your goal is not having one!  

(Or worrying your hair 50 shades of Grey!)  ;)

So I just need to have the goal and stop worrying and fearing it... holding myself back!

SO anyhoooooo....  I just got back from a 2 week vaca out in Las Vegas and Southern California.

Visiting family and friends, and taking the kids to set foot in Disneyland and the Ocean for the first time!

I think we enjoyed the ocean more!  :)

I am very pleased with myself because even though I was on vacation and certainly allowed myself to cut loose a little bit on the 'eating right and training' thing... I didn't gain a single pound back!  

I also did my fair share of juicing and even made it out for a run or two!  

Albeit, one of the runs was on the beach trying to fly a kite with my 3 kiddos... but hey, it counts!  

Have you tried to run in sand?  Not so easy!

While in Vegas, I picked up this Ninja blender at Wal Mart for just under a hundred.  My mom's blender needed upgrading so I just got it for her and I got to use it while I was there!  I introduced her to the green monster (kale, coconut water, pineapple, ice) concoction that's supposed to cure all that ails you and she actually liked it!  Or at least she pretended to and sucked more than one down with me!  My 2 year old daughter loves them too, and she's my picky eater... so juicing is about the only way I can get her greens and veggies in!

As a review on the Ninja... I loved the multiple blades inside up and down, makes a lot of sense!  And love that they come out for easy more thorough cleansing!  It didn't create as smooth of a juice as my Vitamix does, but hey, at a quarter of the price... I'd say it's a pretty good investment!  I was impressed!

P.S. It made a real good frozen Margarita too! ;)

So the suitcases are already unpacked and the laundry already done, not bad for my first 24 hours home!
Usually the suitcase will sit there for weeks!  Tomorrow, I'm off to the grocery store to get my juicing produce and hope to squeeze in a good run before the hubs goes back to work!

It was a great, much needed trip!  But it's good to be in our own beds again, and we're looking forward to getting back into our routines!

Evan Dollard a.k.a. "The Rocket!"

I'm tired of talking about me!
And if I'm tired of talking about me, I know you are tired of hearing/reading about me!  HA! :)

I've never done anything so 'self absorbed' before for any such length of time, honestly...
I'm starting to become annoyed with myself!  Do you ever feel that way?  Weird, I know.

But really, I'm not doing much exciting right now in the ways of progress.
I feel like I've taken 10 giant steps backward with this pregnancy (surprise) and miscarriage.

And to top it off, the kids are out of school now so I've lost my 2 hour window to run with one kid.
In a week were going home to Las Vegas to visit family and friends for 2 to 3 weeks... so I'll update when I can but I think both I and you (my lovely readers) can probably use a break!

In the meantime I'll be doing all the right things, as often as possible and coming back strong in July (Race Month!)

For now, I want to talk about an inspiration of mine, Evan Dollard.  A.K.A. "the Rocket!"
He's from our area here in IL. and my husband first met him at Lifetime Fitness (our gym) where he was teaching little kids how to rock climb.
Then, years ago we watched him on American Gladiators where he played with SO much heart and determination... he stood out from the crowd!
I'm not even a big fan of gladiator type stuff, but I am a big fan of Evan!

His mom had passed recent to American Gladiators and he no doubt played to win, for her!
It was amazing to witness!  I rarely reach out to people but I was moved and so sent him a friend request on Facebook and an email telling him how much I appreciated how he played and how he was such a pleasure to watch!  He is such a nice and down to earth guy, he took the time to write me back.

Recently I see him posting about this new show he's competing in, American Ninja Warrior.  I tuned in just to see Evan compete again, and low and behold... there he is with all the same fire, conviction and dedication if not more than I witnessed the first time around in Gladiators!

Not only did he qualify in the top 15 out of 30 people to go to Vegas, but he holds the #1 spot with a time of 3:03!!  I was on the edge of my bed watching 2 feet from the TV, it was so exciting!
We're very proud of him and hope he wins the whole thing!

Don't forget to tune in and cheer him on, NBC Monday at 9/8C     GO EVAN!!!

Here's a video of his performance so far:

http://www.nbc.com/american-ninja-warrior/video/evan-dollard/1402809

Baby Steps...

Today is the last day of school for my kids! 

I'm feeling lots better.  My ankle is still stiff but not too bad... and my bleeding is very light... so I'm happy about that.  The hormones are almost out of my system and I'm feeling a lot better!

Time to get back out there and hit the trails. 

So I decided to take baby steps to ease back into it.

Crawl before I walk.... or walk before I run... again.

So the kids and I walked to school today!

It's a little under 3 miles round trip!  The kids were troopers!

It was downright hot, but gorgeous out with a nice breeze.

We came home and made snow cones... they were nummy and hit the spot!

Run With Your Heart!

I saw this on (where else)... Pinterest!  It really resonated with me!

I know it means that when you get tired, physically (while running) to push through and run with your heart!  Which is great all on it's own!

But the way it resonates with me in this moment, is even though I can't physically run in this moment... I can still run with my heart!  And I do!  That's just it!

I dream, literally... I dream about running!

There's no doubt in my mind, if I should be so lucky to make it to an old woman status, like real old woman... not just the old that I feel now :)  I will no doubt dream of running!

Last night I dreamed about running the race.
And not only did I finish the race, I didn't even come in last!
My exact time when I crossed the finish line was 100 minutes and 59 seconds.

I laughed in my dream and said to them, 'Wow, why not make it an even 1 minute... 101'

I was happy with that!  It would equate to just a little over 10 minutes per mile.

Now the course, in my dream... was not at all the course in real life.
It was a mix of trails I've run around here and even some from High School.
There were High School friends there too in my dream... and at one point in the course I had to climb a tree... I highly doubt that will take place in real life.

But I'm curious to see if my time is correct... guess we'll see!

I just love that even when we can't do what we love, in the physical world... we can do what we love in the dream/spiritual world!

I know, kind of deep.  HA!  Sorry.  Just humor me here...
Because this dream couldn't have come at a better time as I really was feeling down yesterday about everything else.

It was almost as if God was whispering in my ear... "don't forget your dream!"

Dreams are what remind us we are alive, when we feel like we are not living.

So I'm not sure how, or if I'll even still be living here at the time of the race.
But for once in my life, I will finish something I start.
Even if it means flying in for it!
If I break a leg, dammit I will finish the race in my wheel chair!
I am just, so over letting stuff get in my way!

What I'm learning is that life is full of roadblocks.
Full of people telling you, you can't do things!
There are setbacks and often times, things will look impossible!
But no matter friggin what, if you REALLY, really want something... you will find a way to make it happen!

This Too Shall Pass...

This is my 6 week old Blighted Ovum (empty sack with egg yolk).   

I passed it last night.

A blessing in disguise really since I had no idea how I would manage with 4 children 6 years old and under!  Proof Positive, for me at least... that God really doesn't give us anything we can't handle!

The good Lord must have known that I can not handle it.  Not now at least, maybe not ever.

So this was the 'medical situation' that I mentioned earlier.  For those that are curious.  

I figured, I may as well write about it!?  

Why not... I mean it's just one more hurdle I'm jumping over, on my way to 15k!

I had no idea when I started this short journey how action packed it would be, did you!?  

Sheesh...

I can't wait to stop bleeding, heal up and hit the trails again!

It's a little sad.  I'm not completely heartless.  But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't more relieved than sad.

What I do take from it though, is how grateful I am for the 3 healthy children I DO have!

I'm starting to really comprehend what a true miracle that is in itself!

Perfect Conditions Don't Exist

So the past week or so was rough.  There are many uncertainties in my life right now and more on my plate than I could ever process... but, that's life right!? 

There isn't really a whole lot I can do about any of it right now, since it's all a wait and see game at the moment, but what I can do... (now that I've had time to wrap my head around it all)  is to not let it keep me down!

If you wait for Perfect Conditions... you'll never get anything done!

So while I have no idea if I'll even be in town for my race in July or if I'll medically be able to continue with it... I do know that I can keep eating the right things and making an effort to keep healthy that way.  I do know that I can always walk, even if I can't run!  I don't have to give it ALL up just because of setbacks beyond my control.  And when my life settles back down,which it will have to do eventually right?!

Then it will be that much easier to progress and continue on.

Because afterall, this isn't a goal as much as a lifestyle change... so why should my lifestyle change with lifes changes?!

It shouldn't.

Another good find I found on Pinterest (about food) is which foods should be refrigerated and which should not.... interesting!

Enjoy the weekend and Big Ol' Happy Mother's Day to all you Mother's out there!