Hey!!

I'm getting better at writing in my blog!!!

On Wednesday, I did run with Sherrie. We ran inside on the treadmill. But my cold was acting up. I only ran two miles using the hill category on level 1. Did you know that it gave me an incline of 1.5!!! And I did not realized that I was on the incline running at 5.1 mph!!! No wonder I was huffing and puffing at mile 2. But of course, I got the sinuses drip going and I was trying to run. What was I thinking......Ok I was not thinking, but I know that I have to run!!!


Today, (Saturday) I ran with Bridget, Sherrie, Sherry, Kris and Shannon at the Park. We did 4 miles. Shannon is a great pacer!!!! She was worried that she was slowing me down, but she helped me in so many ways. I was able to finish at least 4 miles. Everybody else ran an extra .25 miles across the bridge. At that time is was coughing up a lung. The whole time that I ran I did not cough. I did push myself the last .5 miles that could have done it, but I don't think so. I also forgot my mp3 player!!!! I realized that I did not have it until I was half way to the park (mile 10 of 20 in the car). So when things got tough, I started singing Polka's. Yes I said Polkas!!!! Growing up Polish, every kid had to learn the Polka and the 1-2-3, 1-2-3 to the beat of the song. So today, instead of going 1-2-3 to help me with the run - I started to sing Polkas. Bridget thinks that I'm weird, but it got me through 4 miles!!!

tomorrow Rob, Ron and my Dad put the treadmill in my computer room. That way we have music and we can watch DVD's while we are running!!! I'm thinking of getting a DVD that you can run to so you are thinking you are running in Hawaii. Ok that might be weird!!!

This weeks progress report

Well, we made it through another week......Including Christmas. I only did two workouts this week with all the festivities that were happening.

Monday - I ran with Trac, Sherrie, Bridget, Shannon and Kris. We did three hills again, but this time we did, what I'm now calling the "Devil" hill, two times in a row. Of course, that was my doing!!! Hey, if we are going to do Tip Hill, we might as well be prepared!! I can't remember the time that we did it in, I'm just trying to remember "HILLS ARE OUR FRIENDS". And I think I did a lot better this time, after reading the articles that Trac sent us, then I did the last time. Also Trac was there every step of the way, giving me encouragement!!!

Ok I was bad.....I skipped the whole rest of the week. Just trying to get ready for Christmas with two small kids is like running right? Trying to get things ready for this party......Trying to get things ready for that party. Just one merry-go-round after another!!!

Saturday - I did it!!! I ran 3.5 miles on the treadmill at the Y!!! I never thought that I would be able to do it by myself on a Saturday. I pushed my self, I think maybe a little to hard, but I did it.

After that I have not been able to run, even after We got the Treadmill for Christmas. Yes, my Mom bought a Treadmill for Andy and me!!!! Andy likes going on it at his Aunt Teresa's house so my Mom bought it. Then she says, "Oh by the way, you can use it to" Thanks mom, it is only in my house!!

I caught the dreaded cold again. But this time, we (Andy and I) are stopping it in its tracks. We are not going to let it get us down!!!

I'm hoping to to run tomorrow with Sherrie and hopefully Trac and the others!! Will write about the run after that!!!

This week......

Well this week has been a very strange week for me, so thank god for running.

On Monday, I ran 3 hills with Trac, Sherry, Sherry, Shannon, Kris and of course Cosmo!!! It was a good run....I would have been a lot better if I did not have my GD glasses on!!! If you read my last blog, you already know that I have something wrong with my cornea. I'm taking steroids for this (only drops for the eyes) and I can not put in my contacts. I hate wearing my glasses when I exercise......And I am blind as a bat if I don't have them. So most of the time I was running I was worried about my glasses. They would fog up.....So I would take them off and then listen to Sherrie's wind pants to make sure that I'm going in the right direction if Trac and Cos was not near me. Then when they were off, I would put them in my pocket. But then I would worry about losing or dropping my glasses. They are my only pair and if they were gone, some one would be driving me to the boonies that night. But Trac was right, Hills are our friends. The articles that were on her blog are totally correct. Tonight I'm going to read them again just to make sure that I'm understanding them right. But on Monday, the hills weren't so bad at all.

Tuesday - The day from H E Double Hockey Sticks!!!!! After the whole "stealing" thing from work, I received a new position of taking care of and "clearing" credit card deposits. What this means, we "clear" what the store says they took in for that day, saying to our Computer Accounting System that we have received the money from the credit card company and there are no discrepancies. I was supposed to take a 1/2 day from work. The kids had dentist appointments around 3:30pm and I thought that maybe I could get some shopping done before hand. NADA. What should have only taken 1/2 hour took almost 2 hours. I had a mistake when the computer transferred from one spread sheet to our computer system. I was still at work at 2:15pm. I still had to pick up Andy and Brian and get them to their dentist appointment for 3:30pm. (It is at least 1/2 Hour to get to the kids school from work). During this whole time, I was interrupted several times!!! They were asking me on things that could have waited until someone came back from lunch. But of course, everyone says "Oh Sue will help" and they know that I can't say NO. I could have found the mistake much sooner, but with the interruptions and then "Why are you still here?" 3,000 times, I lost my place. So after 1 1/2 hours of looking for the mistake, I had to lose everything!!!! Our computer system will not let you finish clearing if you do not balance. So at 2:30, bye bye 2 hours worth of work!!!! And out the door I ran.

Wednesday - Still fuming over Tuesday, I sent an e-mail to my co-workers. If they see me working on credit cards, please leave me alone. I need to make sure that everything is correct. If I make a mistake and say that the store has done something wrong, I have wasted the time of my boss, the time of the Regional Distribution Manager, the time of Regional Manager of Customer Service, the Manager of Customer Service at the store, and later my time with looking into their responses. So if I do everything right the first time, I don't waste other peoples and my time. I also asked, if they see me clearing, please leave me alone. This way I can concentrate and if I have any mistakes, I can find them in a timely fashion. I asked if they had any questions while I was working on credit cards, to ask my boss. If my boss said to ask me, I will answer them. But for right now, please leave me alone when I'm working on these projects. Well some people were taken back from it and though that I was mean. Mean! I tell you mean. Mean is being so inconsiderate knowing that I should not be at work, but then talking to me about how another employee bothers you. Mean is not looking at all the options first and just asking other people for help because it is easier. Mean is asking for help, having someone help you when the directions are in the manual that was given to you, then saying "well so and so said I did not have to do it that way". Well you know what, you should have waited until so and so came back from lunch. My last paycheck had 49.75 hours last week!!! Other than the other person working on cash, NO ONE can say that I'm not working hard and pulling my weight. And if I'm asking to be left alone for part of my job, please understand. Well, some people don't.

Thursday - Still getting the cold shoulder from at least one of my other co-workers. (I'm giving them attitude. Sorry did you work an extra 4 hours this week so far? I don't think so) I went to the Eye Doctor. We my eye is not getting any better. Even though I think I'm seeing a little better in my left eye, according to the Dr, I should have had full sight in that eye with the steroids that he gave me. And I had more holes in my eye and I could lose my sight. How could that be possible? I was on medicine!!! So on that note, the Eye doctor called in a specialist and they got me in at 12:15 the next day. Ok, now I'm scared!! Thank God I was meeting Melissa at the Y to run. We saw Trac first to see if she could run, but she was subbing for Bob's cycle class and some people showed up. So it was just Melissa and I. It was a great run!!! We ran 4 miles in about 52 minutes, with at least 2 hills. Melissa was great!! She had everything planed out in the development and she kept me motivative. Also my glasses never fogged up because it was almost 60 degrees that day.....I could see...I could see with the one good eye. It did get out a lot of my stress.

Friday - I had a "normal" doctor's visit with my regular doctor. He is so proud of me running. In the last year I have lost about 55 pounds. And he says I have a better attitude about my health too. Good thing he does not know about my other attitudes!! So I get to work, and finish what need to be done before Noon for the field and banking purposes. I go to the "Special" Eye Doctor. My regular doctor, who I trust very much, said that he is a very good doctor. The "Special" Dr. does not know what had happen to my eye, but he did find an eye lash that was spinning around in the socket and that could be it. An Eye Lash, you got to be kidding!!! He then said, ok it might not be it, but take this medicine and I will see you in four week, unless your eye sight gets worst. He did said, if the eye lash was the what started it and it kept on doing it I could have gone blind. Oh that makes me a whole lot better. NOT!! He also said that my contact are what probably what saved my eye if that is the cause, because the contacts stopped whatever what making the holes. But, I can't wear my contacts until I see him again. What if it is not the eyelash? I guess I will see him sooner that 4 weeks.

Saturday - I go to the Y like normal, take Andy to swimming and Brian to Prime Time. After swimming, is Mommy Time. I go and run. I wish I could run at the park like everybody else, but Andy loves swimming and right now it is the only thing that he wants to do that is good for him. So I do it!! Running was HE double hockey sticks!!! I only got 2 miles in. It was suppose to be my long slow run!!!! I even ran at 4.9 miles per hour!!! And still only did 2 miles!!! But in defense, I did run 4 miles on Thursday!!!! I know that I can not run the long distances on the treadmill. I need someone I know next to me or to talk to me on the treadmill while I'm running. I might have to do a new strategy on this running. I'm planning on running tomorrow after church. That will be my fourth day. I need to talk to Trac and Melissa about maybe making my long run on Thursday with Melissa and do Hills on Monday with the rest of the group. Then figure out what to do the other days. I want to conquer Tip Hill!!!

I also might have someone else start joining us!!! I saw Kim at the Y on Saturday, after the run of course. She had to take sure time off for health reasons, but she wants to start running with us again. I told her the days that we all run and that I would include her in the e-mails that I send everyone about running. She says she is ready for a new challenge and might do Tip Hill with us. I'm going to send her the map that Trac has so she can see what is going on.

Good thing that I have running.....After this week, I would have to been put in the mental ward!!

One Month.......

That is all that it took to be able to write again. But that does not mean that I have not been training.......A little.

The Jingle Bell Run was great.......Tina called in sick. She is a lost cause, I tried to get her motivated, but she always had things that prevented her to run. I would change my schedule, which is very hard to do with the kids, and then she would cancel......I gave up. If she really wants to run, she will get ahold of me.

I went to the Jingle Bell with the attention, just finish. I set my personal best at 32:20 (I think). Grandma you must have been with me!!! Then things started to get out of control when it came to running.

I was able to run the next day doing the Lights on the Lake with Sherrie, Shannon, and Trac. We did a good job and it was great. After that I went swimming like I always do and that is when things started to go wrong. I lost my contact in my goggles and instead of going into the dressing room to wash it and put it back in......I put it back in. The next day my Left eye hurt....That is the one with the contact in it, but it was nothing to worry about.

Then Brian got sick.....He missed two days of school. Then it was Thanksgiving.......There was no running then until Saturday. I did ok......I ran on the treadmill at the Y because Andy has swimming lessons. (It is the only "sport" that Andy likes and with us living in the "Boonies", Saturday is the only day that I can take him) I ran 3.1 miles with my new shoes. There were no problems. No shin splints. No calves hurting. Now I know that it is the shoes that were giving me the pains. But then that was the last time I was able to run for about 1 week and a half.

I got Brian's cold......It just weared me down. On top of that, we had one of our store robbed that set off a massive clean up on how we run a part of my department....That we found that one of the store's managers were not making the deposits. It was nobody's fault that we did not catch it sooner. Our company has just gotten so big, that the "higher up" did not think that maybe we should change some things around when it comes to some of the jobs. So for a whole week, I would go into work and "work my butt off" then go home and crash, because I really should not have been at work. Even once I was better, I worked all day Saturday, just to make sure that things are up to par and try our new program to make sure that they worked.

I was finally able to run again on December 4th.......I missed running with my friends. It is like a drug now. If I don't run.......I get crabby (that is according to my co-worker). I don't know if it is the running or being with my running friends. I ran with Sherrie, after it snowed in the complex across the street from the Y. We did the outer circle twice.....Once one way, turned around and ran back the other way. The second hill was just awful......It is a long steep, but gradual hill that really start back on the street that we ran on when I took the YRun class. Thank god I did not have to do it again. But because of Andy's Birthday, I was not able to run again until Saturday. During this whole time I have not biked or swimmed.

That was not bad......But I really do like to run outside a lot better. I ran for about 35 minutes on random (level 1). So there were some "hills" and I got up to a speed of 5.6 mph. I know that I could have ran more if I just did not run at such a high mph for me. I then biked for 15 minutes in the fitness room on level 10.

But what is killing me on this is I have to run with my glasses. I can't see without contacts or my glasses. I started to get a dull pain in my left eye on Monday and each day it would just get a little bit worse. My vision was getting a little bit blurry at this time. I was able to see my eye Dr on Friday and I have a lot of little chunks taken out of my cornea. They have put me on a steroid (eye drops) for a week and then they will look at it. So I can't go swimming again on Monday. They think that it might be the chlorine, but with everything else that has been going on ( and the little sleep that I have gotten) I could have put something else in my eye. It seems to be getting better, but my left eye hurts if I try to do to much with it. I'm hoping that it is the medicine working.

But I plan on running on Monday, not swimming. But I will go and see Kate and tell her what is going on and let her know that after this is taken care of I am going to sign up for her class again.

Will try to write again soon!!!!

What a difference!!!

Thank god for Trac, Sherrie and Sherry!!! Thursday's run went a lot better than all the other runs last week.

First thing I did on Thursday was to show up late for Trac's cycle class. Ok that was not better, but at least I showed up!!! My cycle shoes did not twist on me!! They clicked right on the pedals - that was a first. Of course I wanted to take it easy, but Trac kept me motivated to finish the class and work at a regular pace. All except for the Hovers - boy do I hate the hovers!! My legs could not take anymore Hovers!!! Trac always says that the Hovers are good for shaping our buttocks. At that point I did not care what my butt looked like!!!

Then I met Sherrie and Sherry for our run. Usually they run on Wednesday, but this week they ran on Thursday.....That really helped me. I knew that I was not alone on the treadmill - the dreaded treadmill!!!! So they ran 2.5 miles....I ran 2.0 miles. Trac told me too!!!! She is right I should not do too much at one time.

But because Trac and Sherry was talking to me.....I was not looking at the clock, concentrating on my clomping feet, checking on other things that I should not be checking on.....I was able to run with "hardly" no problems!!!! I'm Polish.....I have to complain about something!!! But I felt so good about that run!!!! That made me feel a whole lot better about running the Jingle Bell Run tomorrow.

The weather looks cold for the Jingle Bell, but I am ready. I was able to talk to Melissa and Sherrie about where we are suppose to meet. And I left a message for Tina. I'm going to stand in front of the registration tent and I will try to make myself stand out. HA HA!!!

While talking to Sherrie, we said we are going to take it just like any other Saturday Run that we do. I'm really not that nervous, at least right now. Of course, my Mom and Dad are going to show up and see me race.....They have not missed one yet!!! Teresa is thinking about coming, but she has to work tonight and that would be too hard....But if she comes I would not mind at all. Ron and the Kids are going to be there also. The whole family again, but this time it's for Millie!!!

I wish Melissa, Shannon, Kris and Tina the best.....Enjoy this first run. You will always remember it!!! Remember it's not the time.....That will come. (I have prove that to myself in the Apple Run) But the sheer joy of knowing I FINISHED, I CAN DO IT!!! will help you any task that you set in front of you a little bit easier!!! Right Trac!!!

What is going on this week.

Well, it has been a tough week. I tried to run on Saturday, but I could only do about 1.75 miles. It was a tough 1.75 miles on the treadmill. I know that it is mostly mental, but it seems so damn hard to run on the machine. My shins and legs scream everytime I'm on the treadmill. No matter how high I have my MP3 player on, I can hear my feet go "clomp, clomp, clomp". I feel like one of my grandfather's old horses, but clutzy. I know that I ran the day before and it was 3.1 miles, but I ran it slow that I should not have had such trouble. I was so discourage that I did not go to open cycle. I just wanted to get out of the Y with the boys and finish my grocery shopping. Also it had been a tough 3 days any way and I did not want to push/hurt myself before the Jingle Bell Run.

On Monday, I met with Tina and we ran inside again. I felt like the big old horse again. I ran about 1.75 miles at 5.1 mph on random. I felt like an old women getting off the machine, I was so stiff. Tina did not do much better. But she is so determined to start and finish this race, that I want to back her up. I'm just worried that she is going to get so discourage that her "time" is not good that she will not run again. I think that she would do great if she keeps on going and does not stop running during the winter.

I saw in some magazine that some marathoners are doing running so many minutes/walking so many minutes during a race. I think that if I do this with Tina ( run like 12 minutes, brisk walk for 1 minute) she will not get discourage and would want to finish the race on a strong note!!! I have already proved to myself that I can do it. She needsd to know that she can do it too. Would that be considered cheating, if it keeps somebody running during the winter and running a race in the spring?

I do have some good news about swimming. Kate looked at my "techique" for my front crawl and she said that it looked great. Now I just have be able to swim more that two lengths of the pool before I stop because I'm tired. I also want to practice some other strokes, just in case I need them in the tri.

I run again on Thurday with Sherrie and Sherry. I hope to be out of my slump, I just hope that the reason that I'm having trouble is the treadmill. If it is, what am I going to do come winter? Time will let us know.

What I did this week.

Ok......Just a quick run down of what I did this week.

Saturday I ran 30 Minutes with Trac's class. I ran with Melissa most of the time and we did great. It really did not feel like I ran that long.

On Monday, I ran 2 miles with Bridget and Brandy, while Trac ran 30 minutes with Shannon and her friend (sorry but I think her name is Chris). I don't know what our time was because it was soooo dark and I forgot to start my watch when Tracy said "Go". It was ok.......I don't know why it felt hard and my shins and calfs hurt.......I think it was my mind playing tricks because I could not see because it was so dark. I guess that it is the treadmill for me during the week since I can't run before 5pm. Yuck!!!! The treadmill!!!


I started swimming lessons on Monday!!!! I think that I'm going to like them. Kate is great and it helps that Melissa is in the class and wants to get her strokes ready for a tri!!!! That way I have someone to practice with me.


I did not run again until Friday.......With trying to get ready to go to Schenectady, the wake and the funeral.....I just did not have time to go until then. I ran the same route that I ran the Burnt Hills Apple Run (5K), but I did it in 38.06 minutes. Of course, I was alone and did not have anyone to pace me......And I forgot my MP3 player, so I had nothing but my thought and me trying to sing the songs that I usually run to. Oh joy, oh joy......That was hard to try to keep some kind of normal pace. But of course, my mind was on other thing and I did not stop....So I'll call it an ok run.

Andy has swimming tomorrow, so I will run on the treadmill (Yuck) and then do open cycle class. I really have to change the songs on my MP3 player. They are the same songs I had on there when I was training for Willow Bay 5k.

I will give you my new list once I have them program in. I think I'm going to add more weird 80 tunes and some more Alternative/Heavy Metal. I know that I have enough county and hip hop on there now. I just have to find a good mix to keep me going.

In Memory of Millie

I'm sorry that this has become when ever I can write......But everybody knows that I have been training. As Trac says, things get in the way.

This time it was my Grandma Millie. She passed away on Sunday, Nov 5th. Of course, Teresa was the one that called me and told me. As the good sister that she is, she wanted to make sure that I knew right away and called me from the hospital. Millie (that is what all the grandchildren would refer to her when we would talk about her, but to her we would ALWAYS call her Grandma when talking to her) was a main staple in my life. When my Ma started working again, we would go to Grandma and Grandpa's house to be watched until my mother got done with work.

We learned so many things with Millie. We knew that Bo really loved Hope while watching Another World EVERY DAY. We knew that 19 was under the I in Bingo. She would always take us to Bingo if we stayed overnight at her house. For the longest time, my brother thought that letters had to go in front of the number when counting!!!!

We all learned how to play cards and be the perfect host while having at Stanley Cleaning Product Party. I guess they never had Pamper Chef or Party Lite Candle parties back then, but at least 3 times a year Millie had to have a Stanley Party and the "Older" Grandkids (Michelle and I) would have to serve snacks and get drinks. All during the party my mother would be shaking her head and then comment to my Grandmother at the end of the party that we were not her "slaves". Millie would then tell her that she was preparing us for our husbands. So What happened to me then? But of course, I now know how to make an awesome Wine Cooler because of the party (I tell you later)

Millie had Arthritis so bad that she had plastic hips at the age of 55!!! That was back in the 70's. I think I was around 5 years old when she got them. (I'm now 37) Thinking back, I don't ever remember a time when I did not see Millie shuffle her feet, walking slow, or not being in some kind of pain.

I remember the time when she broke both of her wrist, because she tripped on the side walk because she could only pick her feet up just so high. I must have been around 10 years old, that would make Teresa 7 years old. She left my 8 year old brother Mike at her house (you could do that back then) because Ma or Grandpa would be home soon. She then told us to get in the car. Me in the back seat and Teresa in the front seat. She got in the drivers seat and told Teresa to start the car. We just looked at her. I wanted to call the ambulance, she told me NO we were going to drive to the emergency room. So off we went. We did what she told us to do, she was the adult!!! Millie did the gas and the brake. Teresa took the right side of the wheel. I had the left side of the wheel reaching over Millie driving her to the Hospital!!!! Boy did I want a cop car to stop us. But we made it with out hitting anything!!!! I think she got more than a few word from Ma about that.

The last few years have been heck for her, my Ma and Teresa (My uncles would come over to see her and take her places, but for the most part Ma did most of the work and Teresa would help her when she could because Teresa's schedule would allow it). The last few months have been Hell!! She kept on falling down because of all the other problems that she had, but because of her arthritis it would take her twice as long to get back to walking again. It got so bad that she broke her foot, and after that she was not able to really walk again. She had to go into a Nursing Home and was trying to get rehab, but it was just not working. Towards the end, she was not getting enough oxygen to run her body and having mini strokes and heart attacks all the time.

We all knew that it was coming soon and it was only a matter of time. Well the time was Sunday and she went peacefully, just the way we all wished for since she had been in pain for most of her life.

I remember a time when I went to the Dr's and I told him that I was training for a 5K. I really though he was going to tell me no, that I was too fat and I would hurt myself. He was all for me running. He told me that the exercise would probaly slow down the arthritis that I have or going to have. I think that made me want to do it even more. In the back of my head, I knew that I did not want to be in pain like Millie. I wanted to be able to run around with my grandchildren, something I don't remember Millie ever doing with us. But mainly I wanted to be able to walk up until the day that I died.

So even though I was going to run in the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis trying to cheer on Tina like T did with me, now I am running in memory of Mildred Helstowski, my Grandmother. She might have not always done the right things, but she was there for us and loved us!!

I will miss you Grandma, but you will always be in my heart!!!

The reason I started my training now.

I knew that something would get in the way of my training.

Lets take the hardships of this week. I have been running and biking this week. I ran on Monday for two mile on the treadmill with Sherrie and Sherry. It felt ok. I still can't get over not going anywhere. Sherrie and Sherry were going to run a race on Sunday....The weather was not to be good, so I was thinking about them.

Thursday, I took Trac's beginning cycle class (I should not have stopped cycle class when I was running, because boy does my butt hurt!!!!!) It was a great class, but then I decided that I was going to run on the treadmill. I ran about 1.75 miles and I knew that I had to stop. As soon as I pushed the cool down button, Randy one of the trainers (I learned his name from Trac afterwards) came over and steps on the treadmill next to me. He looks me right in the face and says "Can you talk to me?" I did not want to laugh in his face, because he was only doing his job. I smiled at him and told him that I was ok, I realized that I did too much and I just hit the cool down button. I told him thank you for checking on me. He told me that my face was all red and he just want to make sure that I was ok. I was afraid to tell him that me face is usually red, but I told him thank you again and that I was ok. After when I was on the bike for a cool down and waiting to say goodbye to Trac. Randy came over to talk to me. See, you do meet good people when exercising. He knew some of the same car racing people that I knew and we talked about Dirt Week. All the trainers at the Y are friendly and really do care about you.

On Saturday, in the rain, with Trac's class, I ran about 30 minutes. That was fine with me because I was going to take Open cycle after that. It was a really good run and Trac kept the gals and me motivated!!! After that I changed into some dry clothes and rode with Mike for about 45 minutes. I only did two hills. Like I said before it was only my third time on the bike since I "graduated" from Trac's class last spring, so again, my butt was sore.

Then on Sunday, Sherrie and Sherry ran in the Halloween Race. It was soooooo cold and soooo windy. But they had great times for the conditions, with TWO big hills!!!! I was so proud of them for even doing the race in that weather and they should be proud too!!!!!

While they were racing, my mini-van was over heating. I might have ruin the engine because I was afraid to stop on the busy road that I was on. I had Andy in the car and I did not want the car to get hit with him in there. Ron said that he would have done the same thing if the kids were in the car. The car was towed today and we just have to wait to see what they tell us is wrong.

So because of my car, I was not able to run tonight. Tomorrow is Halloween and we have to go Trick or Treating!!! Wednesday night is Parent/Teacher Meeting. Maybe I will be able to run on Thursday.....If not, then I'll just have to wait until Saturday. It is not like I haven't done that before.

I have entered in the Jingle Bell Run on Nov. 19th. Sherrie said that we should start a team where they pool all the money. She came up with the name "The Other Greyhounds". I loved it. We know that we can't replace Trac's and Bridget Greyhounds, but boy we do like to run like them with the help of Trac and Bridget. So If anyone would like to donate or be on "The Other greyhound" Team, just go to http://jinglebellrunsyracuse2006.kintera.org to sign up

I DID IT!!!!

Saturday was great!!!!! I took Trac's advice and did my race....Did not worry about anything!!! It started on Friday night. Me and the kids drove to my mother's house in Burnt Hills...Where the race was going to be. Teresa was already there and said she had a present for me. It was my bike for the Tri!!!! It is a 18 speed alum bike. It is much better than the bike that I already have....It is really not a real tour bike but she is thinking about me and knows that the bike that I had would not do!!!

My mom got us spaghetti dinners at a local restraunt that we always went to when we were kids. Then we did 80's Music Trivia that I got at work from one of the guys at work. We had such a great time with that we just laughed and laughed. After that we tried to get to sleep....For me it was nerves...For Te, it was the kids. She is not use to the talking, coughing, and movement that my kids do. They are sleeping when they do this, but for somebody who is not use to it....It can be hard.

Saturday morn, I treated it just like a normal Saturday run, except I was with Teresa not Sherrie. We got to the Middle School were the race was being held and registered. We got there about 45 minutes before the race....So we stretched and walked around the Middle school waiting for the race to start. It was so weird being in the school, it seemed a lot bigger when I went there. We then talked to the history teacher that we had when we went there. He actually remembered us!!! I think that got rid of a lot of the nerves that I had.

At 9am the Race started.....The shut down the 2nd busiest road in Burnt Hills, shot off the gun and off we went. We started off at a good speed towards the back of the pack....I was there to finish...Like Trac said "This is my race". About .25 miles, My kids and My parents were sitting in the driveway with cameras and signs cheering us on!!!! What a way to start a race!!!

We got to the first mile marker and the person yells out the time of 10:35!!! I was surprised!! But this time it did not bother me like in the first race....We met up with someone who was running alone and started talking when we could. That really killed some time, actually one whole mile!!!

They did not call out any times at mile 2, but that is ok!!! I looked at my watch and we were still going at a good speed at point, 22:30. The lady that was with us started running faster and the father daughter team that was just behind us the whole time, passed us. That was ok with me and Te. But I made her promise that she would run faster and get a good time this time...This was her race also and she did not have to be with me when I crossed the finish. If she could run faster, she was to. I promised her that I would not stop running and that I would finish the race.

We got to the hill that we though would be so tough......Just like before things look a lot bigger when you are little!!! We got up that "hill" and was heading for the last turn!!! After telling Te one more time that I would not stop running (Why would I!!! I ran that far!!) She took off. She runs so effortlessly but did what she had to do. I could see her the whole time and she looked great!!! And I kept on running, not fast but never stopped!!! There was one lady that passed me at mile 3 and said to me "don't stop now you been ahead of me for 30 minutes you can do it" That and thinking of Te already there gave me that little extra push.

I got to the finish line and they yelled out my time....All I heard was 33 minutes....I did not get the rest because I was so surprised with 33....I had my PR!!!! I won't know what it is until they post it on BH-BL Rotary web site next week. A middle school kid put a sticker with my time on my bib where they rip it off and all I saw was 33...Still missed the seconds. Then I saw my kids, my parents and Te yelling at me and telling me how well I did. Andy and Brian gave me a big hug once I got out of the "gate". Andy told me how proud he was of me. Te came over and we hugged. The first lady, the father/daughter team, and the second lady all came over to me and we gave each other high fives. We did it.....I did it.

We did have some "funny" moments at this race. Burnt Hills is a small suburb and they only have one ambulance. During the race it had to go out on a call. Te crossed the finished line and was in the gate and my mom was in a panic...She started yelling at Te "Where's Sue? What happened?" No "good job". No "good going". My mother thought that the Ambulance was for me. Te then went to her "Do you think that I would finish the race if Sue was hurt?" "She is coming" I came about a minute later, but I was there. That tells you how clumsy I was when I was a child that my mother would think that the ambulance would be for me!!!

Then when I finished the race, my mother told me how good that I looked. "Not like the first race Susan. You did look like you were dyeing this time." My mom knows how to give the complements!!!!

This race gives me motivation to run more!!!! I can do it!! Sometimes it might be hard. Sometimes it might be easy. No matter what, I CAN DO IT!!!

Friends!!!!

I ran on Monday with Trac and Melissa who is in the 8 week class of the Yrun. First I ran the outer of the inner loop by myself. I waited for Sherrie and she did not show up....Something felt strange, but Brian was sick and I left work early so I pushed the strange though away thinking that Sherrie had to do something with the girls and I would e-mail her tomorrow.

It was a good run....I ran for a total of 24 minutes which is a little more that what we do for two miles....I was looking for time not distance because of the race this weekend. So I ran the outer loop and the loop that the Yrun normally does twice. I felt great!!!

When we finished, I saw Rich (Sherrie's Husband). He told me that on Saturday that when he got home the ambulance was at the house. Sherrie had chest pains!!!! My heart sunk right then and there!!!! She is a great friend and has done a lot for me!!!! He said that they think it might be gastric or part of the valve problem that she knows about. That they put her on rest....I'm going to call her once I finish this. Rich though that maybe she would be at work today....But of course I was not at work.....Brian was still sick and I stayed home with him. I could not send him to school with the cough...Even though he would not spread any germs.

Friends are special!!! They help me get through this and I want to be there for them!!!!

I KNOW.....I KNOW

I know that I have not written.....But I have been running. On Saturday the 7th, I think, Sherrie and I ran 3.4 Miles in 39 minutes!!!! I have broken the 40 minute mark, but don't get too excited.

On Monday the 9th, Sherrie and I ran again.....But it was really, really dark....So we ran the inner outer loop (like that description) which is .9 mile in the development across the street from the "Y"....We ran that twice. That means we ran up the "hill" twice....The second time it hurt but we kept at it and we finished. I don't remember the time because I forgot to really stop my watch and I did not turn on the light!!!


Thursday I ran 2.5 miles after the rain storm......It was cold and windy. I did it at my house....So that means going up one hill on the way out and going up two hills on the way back. I did do a negative split 17:03 for the first 1.25 and 16:33 on the way back. That is with the two hills. Ron was teasing me and said the wind was so strong that it pushed me. I think it was cold and the wind was nasty that I just wanted to get home.

Saturday was a different story all together!!!! It was COLD and the wind was blowing hard....At least it was not raining!!!! Sherrie was there with me and we started the run in good fashion. We did the smaller loop in a good time...Around 11 minutes. Then there was the hill. I don't know what happened....Was it the wind....Was it that it was cold....For me the hill was AWFUL!!! I just put my head down and took small steps...Saying out loud "just keep going". I sounded like "Dory" the fish from "Finding Nemo".....Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming....But that what help me...Along with having Sherrie right there for me!!!! From in front of the Y to the top of the hill took us 10 minutes......It was the hardest 10 minutes of my running career.....Ok maybe mile 2.5 of my first race when I told Teresa that I was going the puke and she told me "NO....You are going to keep running because nobody wants to see you puke" was the hardest of my career but this is almost there.

But like the troopers that we are....Ok for me, what I want to be.....We kept on going. We ran down Buckley towards Wetzel Road. I just kept on saying what I felt and Sherrie would say I was thinking that too!!! I truly believe that it helps me to have someone there for me!!!! But on this day, my feet felt like lead and I was just prodding along and for some reason the shock from my feet was going right up to my butt, to make that hurt. I finally went to Sherrie....Can we stop at the Clay Town Park Sign and she said Yes!!! So we stopped there. We ran about 35 minutes.....That is ok, at that time I was ready to stop.

But then I went to see Trac and show her my new cycling shoes that I got from e-bay. Trac said that they were in good shape, but I would need new clips....Hey that is great news!!!! I did not know what I had, so spending about $5 - $10 is ok for me. On Tuesday on the way home...I'll stop at the Bikery if they are open...I tried to go to the Bike Loft on Saturday, but I must have just missed them.

So then I run with Trac's class and did good. Nothing really hurt afterwards, but I felt really good on the inside. I ran with my friend Tina....She thinks that she is having an awful time, but she is doing great!!!! She has accomplished a lot more in a shorter time.....I don't think that I could have taken the 8 week class... Thank God for the 12 week class. But she needed someone there with her....Just like Trac was there for me telling me stories when I was in the back of the pack for most of the classes. Just like Sherrie is for every run that we do...Taking swimming and maybe cycling class with me helping me train for the Tri. Just like Teresa, running with me side by side for my first race, calling me every weekend to see what I did that Saturday morning and buying/giving me a road bike for my first Tri.

They are there for me, and there is no way that I could ever repay them.....So I'm going to spread some of that to Tina!!! I will be there for her first race and I will run next to her....It is not about my time...It is about finishing the race and being a friend, isn't it?

Ok shoot me!!!

Ok.....I have gone on and on about my running and how I want to work out. Well, I only worked out Monday 10/2. And it was sort of my doing. I ran with Bridget, Sherrie, Toni and her friend (I think her name is Sue also). It was a great run!!! Bridget is great to run with....She keeps you motivated. I ran without my mp3 player and I think I did very well!!!! We did two miles in 22.21.20 - (yes I still have the information on my watch) and the last mile we did in 11.07.13. I kind of petered out at the end. I still have to work on saving more for the end. I know that it will come to me, I just have to wait.

Now the bad part. I have not worked out since and I seem to be ok with it. I will be running on Saturday. Ron is going to drop me off (we are still meeting at the Y right?) and taking the kids to his parents house for the weekend. But listed to this......He offered to drop me off!!!! We are getting some where with him!!! But he also has me working on the Race car this weekend if we make the show today....6 of one 1/2 dozen of another. Thanks to Sherrie, she will be dropping me off at the fairgrounds so Ron does not have to go out of his way to pick me up (that's the least that I can do, right?)

But I also have some other bad news... I can't do the Bruegger's Run!!! Since I'm doing the BH-BL Apple Run the week before, Andy will miss religion class. The Bruegger's run is on Sunday, I thought it was on Saturday....I can't have Andy miss another class because of my running. He is going to make his first communion...He needs to be there for the classes. If you think I have a hard time with Ron about running, you should see us about him going to church. Actually I know how he feels and I just don't even go there...He knows that the kids need something and lets me take them, but I only ask him to go to church if there is a wedding, a death, or something going on with his own kids. Other than that, I just let him do what he wants on Sunday mornings.

I got to go. I have to take Brian on a Field trip with his pre-k to the apple orchard. Every five minutes he asks me if it is time to go, now it is almost time. Will see everybody tomorrow!!!

A NEW DAY!!!!

I think I did very well on Saturday. I would like to think that I'm building up my endurance. I want to prove to myself that I can do two/three things right after another. Isn't that what a tri is?

Well, Sherrie and I ran 3.4 miles in 41:42 minutes. We took it nice and slow. I wanted to make sure that I could run the whole time. Especially after I did not run on Wednesday or Thursday, I need to prove to myself that I could. Sherrie and I chatted the whole time talking about our boys and then we were done. It really did not feel like we ran that long!!!! After we were done, and said that we will meet on Monday (I promise I will show up. I have to the boys have swimming) I went in the Y and then asked Tracy if I could run with her class.

I really had a good time in Trac's class. The group is great!!! She does have some strong runners!!! And they were asking me questions about running and the class!! Of course I told them my experiences and I did not sugar coat them, but I guess I was a little set back that people were asking "me" questions. I'm the back of the pack kind of person and don't look like a typical runner. Yah I can run six minutes straight, but when I did it for the first time.....It was hard!!! But I told them....If they keep up with the training and listen to Tracy's knowledge and wisdom, they will accomplish what they set out to do, run the 3.1 miles. But they are a active group and they will do great in their first race!!!

Speaking of Trac....Thanks for your advice. I have talked to Ron and of course, I will not be able to go on Wednesdays.......But Thursdays work just as well, until I can get the Kids into a Saturday swimming class. Then on Mondays, I will be able to take the adult swimming class - if they let me in or do the Master's Swim - if they let me in (I don't know the requirements of Master's Swim, but you know that I will find out). Then it will be Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, still giving me some rest time inbetween.

This will also give some one on one time for Ron and Andy, and some one on one time for Brian and I. It seems like we either have no boys or both boys. This way we can give each child the attention that they deserve. And maybe understand that Ron and I love them no matter what they do or we do!!!! Now, if I could just get Andy to run with me. Brian wants to run, but his legs are just to short.........But he will get there some day!!!!

Men are Jerks!!!

As you can tell....I'm upset. Why do men think that they can do what ever they want to do!!!! Car Racing, Car Racing, Car Racing, Boy Scouts.....That is all that man ever thinks of!!!!! Ron just signed Andy up for Boy Scouts, of course they are on Wednesday Nights and he just told me that I have to come home after work to stay with Brian. This is because the man can not handle both boys with other people for One HOUR!!!!

Now didn't we just spent a weekend doing racing stuff. That I was not able to run on Saturday because I spent 11 hours in the car!!!!! He's got a whole week of racing planed starting on Saturday 30th. Yes, I can go the the Y with the kids, but that is not the point. On Saturday he will be gone from 8am to Midnight. On Sunday he will be so tired and have to do things because he was not around on Saturday to do them, he won't be able to do anything with the kids. I "can" go running on Monday, but on Wednesday he has boy scouts. There goes swimming lessons. Then he will be racing Wednesday during the day, all day and half the night on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If I bring the kids to the Y on Thursday, I have to go all the way home, pick them up, then go all the way back to the Y. Then he will complain about the money that I'm spending on gas.....And I really don't want to go there!!!

I can spend days with the kids taken them here, there, and everywhere, but he can't take both of the boys to the boy scout meeting for One Hour!!!! I know that car racing is important to him, but he does not understand how important it is to me to be able to train.....For gods sake I have two races coming up. Now I'm going to only half practice for them!!!!

I have to go cool down......Maybe I'll take a bath, just to "pi**" him off. You know how he hates when I "waste" water!!!

Running after a long ride

Today I did my two miles with the "Y" Gals. We did the first mile in 11:53 and the second at 11:24. I am very proud of myself.....This after sitting in the car for a total of 11 hours and watching a 2 hour NASCAR race on Saturday. Then watching a NASCAR races for 5 hours (I did not even get out of my seat) and driving for another 3 hours on Sunday. Then on Monday riding in the car on the way home another 8 hours. That is a lot of hours to ride in the "Mid-life Crisis car!!!! This is my husband two door Orange Chevy Calvier!! Why he ever bought it I don't know. But he did and we went to Delaware with it.

I am so glad that I ran today, I though that I would never be able to move after sitting that long. But I'm showing Ron that maybe exercise is working!! We had to go up about 11 flights of stairs to get to our seats (ok it was the nose bleed section, but we got to see everything) and I had no problem going up the stairs.....Everybody else was huffing and puffing, but not me!!! I was so proud of myself!!

I seem to use the word proud a lot......But I am. I just look at a picture that was taken at the race and I have notice that I am thinner. Everybody has been telling me that I am thinner. I am even buying smaller clothes, but to see that I'm looking thinner and I can go up 11 flights of stairs with no trouble....I guess I have a right to be proud!!!

Running in the Boonies

I ran on Thursday approx 2.5 miles in 34 minutes......That is ok because I ran up one hill on the way out and ran up two hills on the way back. I'm proud of myself!!! So I am keeping to running three times a week. Running outside is sooooo much better that running on the treadmill. I just have this mental block of not going anywhere. I'm moving but I'm staying in one place......My mind can't get over that. But you know that I will force myself to do it if the need arises (especially in the winter, in snowbelt country). I have gotten this far.....I'm not going to stop.

So I ran on the roads of Palermo, NY today....I said I ran approx 2.5 miles, because I had to guess where the 1.25 mile mark was. I have tried everything to try get an accurate .25 reading, when running on the roads near my house, but I can't seem to get one. My car only gives me tenths readings on the Trip meter and because there are no streets off of my street, I can't use mapquest to get a reading.......So I guess I'm stuck to guessing. At least it is 1.55 miles to the end of my street so I can get an accurate 3.1 run when I need to.

I was getting articles to read for my "drive" down to Dover this weekend and I found something interesting. If you log into the internet under Enduranceradio.com, they have download interviews from athletes and regular joes just like us. There was one on Beginner Triathlon from Susan Serra. She started with a 5K race 4 years ago, went to running marathons , and is now doing Tri's. It is great to listen to her, because she is just like all of us. Started on the couch and now she is doing things that she never thought she would do. Trac and Bridget, I know that you tell us all the time that we can do it, but now I can listen to it at 3 a.m. in the morning....When I'm up for no apparent reason. This is when my mind starts to think...."What am I doing? Do you really think you can do it?" So now I have a Trac and Bridget anytime I need a boost. Ok, it is not like having the real Trac and Bridget, but I can't have you guys all the time.

The BH-BL Rotary 5K or Teresa's Race

Teresa called me up today all excited that she signed us up for the Burnt Hills -Ballston Lake Rotary Club 5k. Today was the first day the applications came out and she has already signed us up and mailed it in. I have talked to her twice today....I think she is upset that Mike (my brother) will not do it. I say that it is his loss. He loves to run - before I even started running, I had to listen to him talk about the races that he was in. I understand now what he was talking about and how he feels about it......So why does he not want to run with his sisters and have us all share the same experience? I don't know......It is just making the bond between me and Teresa stronger!!!!

I did the Monday Two Miles with Sherrie and Brandy today......I hope they understand how much they help me. I know that they are doing this for themselves, but they just inspire me to do what I have to do.....With out the "Y Runners" I really don't think I would be where I am today. It is great to run alone when I'm mad or have something to think out. But it is also great to run in a group, they could be ahead of me, but as long as I can see them I'm ok - I can do it and finish it.

I think that we did a good negative split......11:38 for the first mile and 11:08 for the second. We got the negative split two weeks in a row!!! Yah!! That makes the time for the two miles 22:46, I'll take that any day!!!!

Sherrie and I signed up for swimming lessons today.....Of course I have to miss the first one. Andy has a open house and would be very upset if I missed it. I think I would be upset too, He is so proud of everything that he does....And I want to show him as long as he tries, Ron and I will be there for him!!! So next week will be the test to see what I can do in the water.

I just in case I don't write after I run on Thursday......I wish Sherrie "Good Luck" on the Bud Run!!!!! I know that you will do great!!!!!! I will be thinking about you at 9:20am on Saturday....Remember I will be wearing the headphones in the car and have an extra batteries!!! Thanks to Trac for getting me started on this blog...You're right it does help!!!

Trac came up with something that I guess I did not think about. If all I talk about is how running make me free, why is my name AndyandBriansMom!!!! These are my boys. They are fun loving and free. Yes they do tie me down so I can't run as often as I like, but they are a part of me. They were at my first race, holding up signs like "Sue is her name and Running is her game" and "Run Mommie Run like the wind" The are with me all the way no matter what I do.....I will be Mom!

tomorrow I'm signing up for swimming lessons. I have not taken swimming lessons since I was in 9th grade. And I'm kind of scared. I know how to swim.....I even taught swimming lessons when I was in High School. But it has been a long time since I concentrated on my technique. What if I'm doing it wrong.....Then I can't say to the kids when we are at the lake....."Listen to Mom. I use to teach swimming lesson!" What if I am just BAD!!! I will just have to live through it. Also that is why I'm taking a whole year to train.....So that I can have some "oops".

Saturday's run with the Gals was great.....I was in top form. This is the first time in a long time. Why couldn't I run that go during the race? Trac tells me to stop beating myself up. That I will have good days and bad days......Ok Trac, I have had years of beating myself up...But you are right. I just do my best at the Burnt Hills race!!!!! I have to start the count down on that...Just like the Willow Bay Race.

Training for a Sprint Tri

Well - I have thought about and after talking to Trac, I'm going to start training for a Sprint Tri. That is swimming for 1/2 a mile, biking for 12 miles and running a 5k. I have taken cycling classes, when I was younger a use to teach swimming, and I have finished my first 5K. Now I just have to put them all together!!!!!

I don't think that my family is to thrilled about this. Ron thinks that I'm just going to hurt myself. My Mom did not sound to pleased. But Teresa was my only savior again!!!! She said that I can do it and good for me. She will be there to help me. She did one a long time ago and has said once was enough, but she will be there to help me any way that she can.

Speaking of Teresa, I have gotten her on the 5K bug. She is going to sign us up for the Burnt Hills Rotary 5K, in beautiful Burnt Hills, NY. I think that she picked this one because we believe that the route goes right in front of the house that we grew up in. This will be a harder one (it has hills, the last one was straight) but I am up for the challenge.

I also think that the Y Runners are great. Sherrie helped me in my training last night. I rode the bike for 30 minute (That ended up to be around 7 miles) then I ran 2.5 miles. Sherrie did her run before I finished my biking, but stayed with me while I was doing my running. She kept my mind off the clock. They are all true friends.

My mind is thinking about Bridget. She went to the Dr's today to have picture done on her lungs. The found some spots and they wanted to check them. That girl is always upbeat and she is a true person. We only want the best for her. Bridget we are thinking about you, because you were there for us!!!!

Why am I doing this!!!

I am new to blogging, but thought it would be fun!!!! I have read some blogs from people that I have met at the YMCA and they have given me the guts to start my own. These are the same people that have helped me run my first 5K and have given me hope to try new stuff.

But now I am stuck. I need a new goal, something to strive for!!!!! I have two beautiful children, that I know that I will vent about at some time and a Husband that is a typical Redneck. But when I run, I'm a person. I'm not Andy's Mom ( That is my oldest son), Brian's Mom (That is my wild youngest son) or Ron's Wife ( You know who that is). I'm not the General Ledger Accountant at work. I'm me, just running my little heart out ( which is not very fast).

My first race was the Willow Bay 5K for women in Liverpool, NY that was held on August 19, 2006. I ran with a group of people who took a YRun class with me at the North Area YMCA. We had a great teacher and motivator named Tracy, I can not thank her enough for showing me that I can do it no matter what some people say. There is also Bridget.....our other motivator and Tracy's friend. She would sub for Tracy or just run with us when she had the time. Both of them kept me going no matter how I wanted to quit.

My other inspration is my Sister Teresa!!!!! She was with me every step of the way. She kept me going by making little presents for me and my kids regarding the race. She would call me weekly to see what I did in class. She even came in from the Capital District to run the race with me. I could not ask for a better sister.

Well my time was not that great but great for me because I have not been able to do it again. I ran the race in 35 minutes flat. Teresa ran it in 35.01 minutes ( I know that she can run faster than that, but I thank her for being there at the end for me).

Now that I have accomplished this wonderful task, what do I do now? I'm still running 3 times a week with my running friends (I can't foget to metion Sherie, Sherie, Kim, Brandy, Carol, and Toni), but I need a goal something to strive for. Something to prove to myself that I am somebody