I wish I had proof!

This weekend was supposed to be another 16 mile run. I was thrilled to do this again, and this time was going to go with a running club. They told me at the running store that someone would do 16 miles....well, they didn't want to and some of them didn't have the time. We ran on two different trails, and one was on a couple of mountain sides, I would have normally hiked these mountains and looked at the beautiful views and would have been satisfied, but no, we ran and ran, through switchbacks, big vertical trails, and I ran, sometimes feeling no movement, but I was running. I have never done trails before, and they are nothing to take too lightly. I never would have done this on my own, I was so proud of myself.
We did nine miles in the mountains, and a new running friend and I did 4 more on the river trail. My goodness, the views of this run were AMAZING!!! I am trying to tell myself, the 13 miles, including HILLS that I would have not got in on my 16 mile run, compensated the run I was going to do. But, you know me, I added 3 miles to my various runs this week. Instead of two today, I ran three.
My new friend Malana called me a hard core runner....I don't call myself that nor do I think I am. I just enjoy doing something I never thought I would do, or be part of. This is great, I love running, and the self motivation you develop from it. This is the hardest thing I have ever done, but I am doing it.
I also was looking at my schedule and April 20, Ryker is getting his tonsils out, ya, April 24, my longest run EVER, so far, 20 miles.
What have I done to myself?
Thanks to my family for getting better, and being a big support to me. I know that you are all behind me. Also, thanks to my friends who support me as well, I hope you feel my support in your lives as well.

Sick, moody, and just plain nasty!

This is what we have been busy with, hence, no blog time....
Mike had not been feeling the best for a long time, and we were exposed to Strep Throat the week before.
Hailey came down with pink eye on Tuesday the 16, and her and Mike were seen by the doctor. Hailey got some drops, while Mike got an antibiotic called in, just in case it got worse. Haileys' eyes were nasty and closing more and more each second, it seemed like that anyway.
Ryker started coughing the next night, and all of you know by now, that when Ryker gets sick, he's bad. He also got pink eye in one of his eyes, not too bad though, we caught it.
Mike went and filled his amoxicillion and he was not happy it was that, he needs the big augmentan to get feeling better.
So, on Monday, no relief from Ryker, actually he was getting worse, I took him in to the doctor, and he had Bronchitis, and I had the doctor give me his opinion about the whole tonsil issue. We are getting them out, April 20, 2010.
They both got pink eye, or at least a little bit of it, so we did drops again, the doctor gave us ten refills.
I also had the doctor call in a new prescription for Mike, this time augmentan.
All this time I have been doing laundry, laundry, cleaning, cooking every meal, doing the dishes, disinfecting, and washing everything, lysoling everything, and more laundry.
I cannot tell you how many loads of sheets I have done.
Hailey is doing better, actually a lot better, coughs at night a little, but all in all she is great. No goopy eyes.
Ryker is doing much better, last day of azithrimycin today. No more goopy eyes, but still coughs every now and then.
Mike, after staying home two days, he went back to work on Thursday, and is there again today. Mike has thought that he ended up with the flu, he had bad body aches, was so moody, fever, sore throat, and chills. He is still on the beloved augmentan.
I have had a sore throat since Sunday, but that is my only thing, I am doing good.
If a mom gets sick who takes care of her?

15 miles....check!

So today, I was feeling a lot of nervousness for tomorrow and the long run....I seriously was so frustrated last week that I kept questioning my training. Do I really have it in me? Do I have the right training program? Did I pick something too hard to face? Am I strong enough, mentally and physically? Seriously, all day....what a motivation, huh?
So we went through Friday like non other..."cleaning Friday" is now what Hailey calls it, and that is just what it is. I normally take a running break today, and just clean, cook, and get ready for the weekend.
Well, we took naps today, everyday this week, HOORAY for naps. I have always loved my sleep. Anyway, we all woke up, made dinner, and ate Manicotti, I needed to carb load for tomorrows run, right?
I asked Mike when it would work out to run this weekend, we checked the weather, tomorrow 50% chance rain, or snow, and tonights' weather was perfect...so we decided to do the run tonight. I got all ready, kissed everyone goodbye, and left at 6:10.
I was making every light.
I kept my pace up.
I made it to places in record time.
I was running with my shadow...have you ever noticed where your shadow is and what it is doing. Well, sometimes it was to the side of me like my friend, sometimes in front of me like a bad friend, and sometimes there were two in back of me, pushing me along.
I really felt my Grandpa Pete tonight on the run, maybe, just maybe he was one of those shadows...it felt like it.
I also felt Mikes' brother Jason, and his Grandma Palmer. I was running pass the cemetery where they are both buried, and I was overwhelmed with thoughts of them.
This was the best run!
I was not afraid for my life, I never wanted to stop, I didn't hurt, and I didn't once think, "I can't finish!"
I finished and in great time. I returned home at 8: 44, stretched, and was talking to Mike, and we thought it was a little short of 15 miles, so I got back out there and ran around my neighborhood, which is exactly a mile.
I returned home at 9:00.
I was, well am, full of energy, and confidence, this run is so what I needed.
Thank you for all of your love, support, and nice words, even if you don't like running.
Tonight I did something I have NEVER done, and I NEVER thought I would do. I hope I don't get prideful, everyone knows what comes next. I have already been down, I just want to enjoy it for a little while. (Almost 2 months to be exact!)
What's in your future? Tell me.

Just a few things

Last night Ryker slept with shoes on....he won't take them off....at least they were boy shoes, not sparkly or tap, he is soooo cute. He took a nap with them on, without pants on, and "underwears" on over his diaper. I should have seen this shoe thing coming, every night after bath time, he puts his shoes on without his socks, makes me cringe, stinky feet waiting to happen.
Also, last night, Hailey decided she wanted to switch Ryker blankets. She took Rykers "lacey", when he was born, a blue blanket that my aunt made for him, she was nice enough to give Ryker her white TWO year old one, for a NEW blue one. Blue is her favorite color so we thought Ryker is so young and won't even know that the blue one was really his. Well, last night she decided she wants the white one back, and Ryker is pretty attached to the white one now...we made the switch, we will see how long Ryker goes with it.
I bet you are wondering about the whole nap thing, I made them take naps yesterday, I was so tired and so was Mike, and we ALL enjoyed a long nap....maybe we can fix this whole lack of nap thing...maybe.
I was still freaking out inside wondering if I was really registered for the ogden marathon...well I might have been not the only one, I was on the website today getting really excited, and I see a link VERIFY REGISTRATION, and thought wow, okay, so I did, and Hailey and myself are both registered...I was hoping because it was a lot of money, and I really was hoping I was training for something.

Something new for all.....

Yesterday was the longest run that I have EVER done, I ran 14 miles, it was so hard for me.
I find it so hard to keep motivated to keeping pace, and to not think of pain, when I am outside....when I am on my treadmill, I just do it. I actually go faster because I want get done, and I want to relieve Mike from babysitting the kids. I also find it hard to stop at every light, I must have timed it horrible this run, just in time to stop at every stinkin' light. Yesterday was hard. I left at 8:05 and returned at 11:15, that sucks, if you think oh my, three hours and that is all she ran....I do too....BUT, I try to tell myself that stopping at lights, stopping to walk to relieve some pain, stopping in the middle to stretch, eat gummy gels, and to drink water, all played a part, but still, that time is rough.
I hope that when I run the marathon that I will keep my eye on someone, and try to keep up with them. I need to do better though....I need to do more tempo runs, eat better, and try to keep my pace up.
I was so glad to come home, and say to myself, today you did something you have never done, and you did it alone, with a lot of prayers, and you did it with some pain, but you did it. I prayed so hard to keep my spirits up, don't get me wrong, I absolutely love running, but if you know me, I never stop running to walk, and today I did, I never hurt, and today I did, I never think of going home, or calling Mike to come and get me, and today I thought about it. This is THE hardest thing that I have ever done mentally, physically, and spiritually, but yet I love it, and want to achieve my goal...as weird as that sounds. I would say that it is as hard as giving birth, but you get pain relievers for that, and they give you more if you ask, and if you are crying, but with this, if you are crying at mile 1, you still have 25.2 miles to go, no medication this time....but a lot of gratitude, and tears.
I guess this is a lot like life, keeping our focus on our Heavenly Father, and not letting anything get in the way....keeping our eyes on Him will help us in all that we do.
I know that I can do hard things, and I will finish my marathon, maybe not in pace time, but I will finish, have that satisfaction knowing that I just did the hardest thing that I chose to do, so I can do the hard things I don't choose.
Life is busy, but good. The kids are hilarious, and very active. They don't take naps anymore, SAD day...what do you do all day with your kids...I needed the nap hours to think of more to do.
Mike is working hard, and looking forward to riding the motorcycle.
I started a quilt with my mother in law, and this is a new thing for me, so, very challenging. The goal is to make a twin comforter for Hailey and Ryker, for Christmas, hopefully this next Christmas....keeping fingers crossed. My mother in law is very patient with me and she is a great quilter, I am lucky to have her help me, thank you Nancy, the kids will be so grateful.
So why did I label this blog the way I did?
New for mike: babysitting kids all day on saturday, he went to bed at 8:30, hmmmmm, maybe he knows why I am so tired....we'll see.
kiddos: having only mike on saturday....I felt so bad.
Me: guilt....of not being there for my kids on saturday, always have guilt....any moms' out there have that...you need a break but then feel terrible for taking one? This feeling is not new, but I have never talked about this before, and today I felt bad.
14 miles!!!!
sewing a quilt
Sorry this was soooo long...next post....not about running....not keeping any promises though! That is my life right now, and I happy to be in it.