3 Days Left...

Only 3 days left until the race!   Aghhhhhhhhh!   :)

And guess what I have!?  Sciatica!  Yippee!  (Sarcasm)

For those who are not aware of Sciatic pain... you're lucky!

I have struggled with it off and on ever since my 1st pregnancy.  It hurts!
It's a nerve near the top of your buttock that sends shooting pains all the way down your leg and even into your foot!

I have been icing, using the tennis ball, stretching... all to temporarily feel better but it always comes back!  Some days I am so stiff, I can barely move!  I really need to get in to the chiropractor, not sure how I'll do that now with my husband in Texas.

But the race is in 3 days and I'm nervously going into it with low expectations.

Really, my only expectation at this point is to finish the race.
I don't care if I need to stop and walk, or crawl.  I don't care if the only people still standing there at the end are my family members... I just want to cross the finish line.

Recently, we took the kids out to Veteran Acres, where I've been training... we hiked about 2 miles with them and took them to the park and splash pad for a picnic.  They did great, all except my 2 year old who needed a lift on the hills.  My husband was carrying the backpack, so I got to carry little sis.

Here is what I realized from this experience:

She weighs just over 20 pounds.
Since I started this journey, I have lost... just over 20 pounds.

Carrying her on my back while I walked up the hills I felt every joint in my body, most particularly my knees screaming at me!  I have no idea how I was able to run with all the extra weight 20+ pounds ago.
Then I started thinking, I  STILL have 20 to 30 more pounds to lose!!

Should I even be running with this much extra weight?
No wonder I am in so much pain!

So I cringe to say it because I love to run.... but I think once the race is over, if I'm still able to walk, I'm going to cut back on running for a while, give my joints a rest while I power walk like the old lady that I've become and shed some more weight!

Metatarsalitis, pain in both knees and shins, sprained ankle and now Sciatica... are convincing me that I need to take it back a notch and as much as I hate to do it, I need to walk.  :(

Walking when you're a runner feels a lot like being grounded when you're a teenager.  Not fun.

But I'm hoping that one day I can run, once again!

I need to step the juicing up a notch too and I just got two new books that I think will help me do that!
One has a ton of great recipes while the other one has holistic healing type recipes!  Both are awesome!

Happy Trails

So I have been trying to get out there at least once a day since it's crunch time now and I honestly don't feel ready for this race.  Like, at all.

I even tossed around the idea of blowing it off.  Not because I don't want to do it... but because the hubs will have a 3 day weekend between the two jobs and we haven't yet taken our annual trip to Michigan to visit my family up there (and the beautiful beaches, of course)... I'm thinking that might be our last chance and maybe our last visit... as a family!  Man, that makes me sad!! :(
And I'm scared because I lost so much of my training with the sprained ankle and pregnancy/miscarriage... I really don't feel ready for this race at all.

So I decided to put it to a family vote!  (The beauty of a Party of 5 is that there is always a majority rule!)

AJ, do you want to go to Michigan or watch Mom run her race?   Answer: "MICHIGAN!"

JB, same question.... Answer:  "I've been to Michigan, but I've never seen Mom run a race... so I say, watch Mom run.  Can we go to Michigan after you run Mom?"   (Not a bad idea, but it's 10 hours driving rountrip for 1 night... followed by an 18 hour drive to TX.?  hmmmm)

Sissy, Michigan or Mommy Run?  Answer:  "Mommy Run!"

So if we're just going off the kids votes (as the Brave Husband, was not brave enough to weigh in) ;)  It looks like I'm running the race.  Or walking.  Or crawling.  Whatever my tired old body allows me to do.

I went back out to Veteran Acres yesterday, I really am going to miss it there when we move!
It is such a mix of prairie, woods and wetlands!  Gorgeous, seriously!
And it's possible to run a completely different run each time you go, there's so many different trails!

This time I took a camera/phone to capture a little bit of what I'm describing here.
Not my own of course, cause I can't seem to keep my phone charged to save my life!
But the Brave Husband was brave enough to loan me his right arm... I mean his phone. :)
Thanks honey.

For your viewing pleasure:

Amen! ;)

Tree roots for a staircase, anyone?

THIS is the downhill turn that took me down!  My dang ankle, STILL hurts! :/

The Mighty Pines

A Fork in the Road!  

The view from the top...^

Where it connects to the GIT (Grand Illinois Trail)... ^

The sound of the leaves blowing... sounds just like running water... so relaxing!

Pictures really don't do it justice!  This has easily become my favorite place to run!

In other news:

I would like to have a moment of silence for my I Pod.  :(  

It died.  

I had to run with out it, and let me tell you... music makes a difference!  

I'm really tired of the whole downloading, purchasing, syncing stuff...  told the hubs, I really want an old school walkman!  Remember?!  

How totally rad would that be?!  I could just listen to the radio... for FREE!  So much easier... as long as I could shrink it to ipod size so I don't have to sport the fanny pack with it!  THAT is where I draw the line!

OH, what's that you say?  They make it?  STOP IT!

No!  They do!  LOOK what I found!

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SRF59SILVER-Walkman-Stereo-Radio/dp/B00006JQ06/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_1

YUP!  :)

And since Amazon takes Discover rewards, I was able to redeem mine and get this already affordable little puppy for nothing!  YAY!  See that, already on my way to 15K... on the trails and in the bank, baby!  ;)

When One Door Closes, Another One Opens...

The race is in 16 days!  Eeek!

I was further along in my training 2 months ago than I am in this present moment.
Vacation and mostly the surprise pregnancy and miscarriage really set me back!
Se la vie... that's life right?!  You win some, you lose some!
I can't do anything about it now other than my best to get it done!

The day before yesterday I was up before the sun... trying to beat the crazy, humid heat!
I headed back out to Veteran Acres (where I sprained my ankle last time).

It has been my first time back since the injury... and my first time running on unpaved path since the injury.
Needless to say I was much slower and a lot more cautious this time around!
I only put in 5 miles this time and it was tough!  A far cry from the 8+ I put in nearly effortlessly on my last visit.  So it was a good assessment of where I'm at and how much I've lost in training.

While it's very frustrating, I'm hopeful that I can get it back quicker this time around since it hasn't been that long since I've had it.

In other news... my husband got the position he was applying for, in Dallas Texas!
He is quitting his current company after 9 long (and frustrating) years... and happily starting up his new position the 23rd of this month!
He will literally be watching me run my race and then driving down to Texas to begin his new journey.  The kids and I will hang back to get the house rented out or sold... whichever comes first.
Then I'll be making the move down south as well!

A very full plate these days!  Bitter sweet this move.  We will miss our friends!  We will miss the home we brought two babies home from the hospital to.  We will miss our annual trips to Michigan and my family up there.  We will miss Chicago... and it's energy.

BUT, we are very excited and hopeful for the future.  I feel, it is time... to move on!
I pray it all goes smoothly and that our expectations for a better way of life are realized.

I'm considering keeping this blog going... once I've reached my goal of running 15k.
I will continue to eat right and exercise... and hopefully lose more weight... but I'm also thinking of ways I can earn and save 15K.

On my way to 15k will transform into a new venture that will be all about cutting costs, budgeting, couponing, selling, saving, and all other creative ways of resourcefulness!
I am interested, like most people in America... in getting out of debt and living a simpler, happier and more secure future!

Same title,... new journey!  I hope you'll come along!

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!