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