Merry Christmas!!!

I hope that all is well with you and your families!!!

We stayed home and the in-laws came. We had a very good time!!! The boys were grateful for everything that they got and it was just a lovely day.

Attached are some photo's from today with our new camera:

Brian excited about Christmas even after opening up the presents. As you can tell we are still working on our Living Room. This week new lamps!!!! Yes, that is me in the back in all my morning beauty.

My new slippers from the boys and yes I did ask for them.

Andy getting ready to open up presents from the Grandparents!!

We bought the camera with the change we had around the house. The kids and I went to the coin machines that are in the supermarkets. If you pick the option for a gift card, they count the money for free. So this gets rid of all the extra change in the house, I don't have to count it, and we got a new camera from Amazon.com!!!

By the way we had enough change to buy new luggage for our Trip in January!!

So things are going to be hectic until then. We have Brian's Birthday party, I have month and year end for work. I have to get everything ready for me to be gone a week. And I have less than a month to do it!!!

The boys are looking forward to going to Disney!!! I'm looking forward to seeing them happy!!

I did run 3.1 miles tonight, to get rid the pie that I ate today! Tomorrow is weigh in at one of the other WW meetings. We just have to see how it goes!!!

If I don't write again until the new year, HAVE A GREAT ONE!!! AND LET HOPE FOR AN AWESOME 2008!!!!

It's time!!!

To start thinking about what races I want to do next year.

I have cleaned out my race schedule, except for the last two races and will add in the one's that I want to do.

I want to master the Tipp Hill Race!!! I want to be able to beat my time this year. Hopefully with some of the weight gone and more practice I will be able to run it in a better time and not stop at the top of the big hill!!!

Yes I'm alive

And Dad is doing Great!! Thanks for all the support and kind words.

Dad's Cancer is treatable. He has to decide on surgery or radiation as a treatment. But the cancer is not as bad as was first assumed. So that is load off my back.

Brian is going to be the death of me!!! Andy had a Holiday Concert tonight and Brian acted like a real brat. Yelled and screamed that he did not want to be at school. As soon as he got home, Ron punished him to his room to clean and stay in for the rest of the night. Also,no TV for a week. That is a death sentence at our home for the kids.

Then we looked in his backpack. We got a note from the teacher that he disrupted the class today and she would like us to call her. I gave that job to Ron. I just can't take it anymore. I think he is acting this way because he does have everything. He is so smart!!! But if he kepts on acting up, he won't get far is life. Now I know why he did not want to be at school tonight.

In WW, I have lost 12lbs as of 12/3!!! Just 10 lbs and I will make my 10% weight loss goal.

Trac has put in a challenge to see how many Exercising points that we can get. We are doing good on the food points, we just have to tweak the other now.

Oh Trac, I now remember why I won't be at the Y on Thursday. I'm moving furniture back into the Living Room we just remodeled. Does that count as exercise?

Bad News

I know that I have been quiet.....Thing have been very hectic. Work is a bear!!!! The kids are in so much now. It is "Walk around the woods and pretend to be deer hunting" season. So, Ron is not around much. Now this!

Last week my Dad went to have prostrate surgery. He was having "troubles" and things seemed to be blocked. So off he goes to have the surgery.

The test came back....my Dad has Cancer!!! The Dr. "thinks" it was caught early enough, but he had the tumor sent down to John Hopkins in Baltimore to see what stage it is in. We sort of thought that this might happen because my Grandfather had prostrate cancer, then it just spread every where. But all of us were hoping that his prostate was just blocked with something else and that is why he had to "Go" all the time.

No matter what, my Dad is having his prostrate removed. But depending on what stage it is in we don't know if he has to have chemo/radiation/ or what else. They can't even remove the prostrate until he has healed from the surgery he just had. My dad feels fine. He would not have known he was sick unless he had the surgery.

I have not told the kids yet. I just don't know what to say. I don't know what to think!! So, how in the world do I tell my kids!!

My Dad will not know anything until 11/28, unless the Doctor call him. We are going to Schenectady for Thanksgiving this year. All I can think of is how is he going through this. And the same for Ma and T? Then I think about my Kids. I just don't know what to think. I just don't know what to do. I just have to go through it one day at a time. But right now it is so, so hard!!

Tomorrow is the Jingle Bell Run 5K. Both Boys are doing the Candy Cane run and are looking forward. Of course, Ma and Dad can't be there so I'm going to take alot of pictures for them. I will try to post some if I can.

The Core with WW

This might kill me!!

Ok not really kill me but it is alot harder that I thought it was going to be. I though it was going to be easy. I'm having a time trying not to eat the same things. It has been hard because I really did not food shop for things that I should have had in the house. It feels like I have been eating the same things over and over again. Sugar Free Jello has become my friend!!!

Also I have not been running this week. I walked a bit on Monday, but that is all. Tuesday after WW was just a little to late to run. On Wednesday and Thursday, I was hacking up a lung that there was no way I could do any exercise. I was supposed to take cycle class with S, K, and Trac. But right after work (no I did not stay late), I went home and got into my PJ's and read stories to the kids!!!

I finally feel better today. When the Kids are at swimming, I will run at the Y!! I promise. Then the Kids and I will walk the Candy Cane run (approx 1 mile) so they can get a feel of the run.

Then I promise them they could go out to lunch. I just have to have the will power. I just have to tell myself....Sue, it will be easier to run if you don't have the weight!!! My new mantra.

But will all the new veggies, I have been tooting alot more. Thank god, I don't do it at work. I think that I'm going to get some BEANO, just in case!!!

Remember Everyone, the Jingle Bell Race is Next Week!!!! I hope to see everyone there.....Trac & Bridget!!!

Looking at my Running Life

And how I am not giving it the proper attention that it needs.

I have sort of taking a break from exercise, not most of it on purpose. Ever since the Apple Run I did not feel right, just a little achy. Then on Thursday it hit me like a ton of bricks. Every joint in my body hurt!! It hurt to get out of bed. It hurt to be in bed. It hurt driving a car. It hurt to have my less than 12 lb. cat sit on my lap. I was out of work for two days. Usually, I would not let a thing like this bother me. This I could not ignore.

Then on Sunday when I though I felt better, I got a cough that is still lingering. This of course did not stop me from going to work. It really does not hurt, like above, but when it is going to stop.

So since the Apple run I have exercise only twice. On Saturday, I walked on my treadmill for 1/2 hour at a pace of 3.5 mph. Then on Sunday, I did a walking program on my treadmill and got up to a speed of 4.0 mph. Ok that is a start.

When I was out of work for the two days, I had come up with something. I am not exercising or running like I should. Last year at the Apple Run I had my PR of 33:33. Of course, I was running with the group, taking Trac cycle class, doing everything that I needed to keep active.

Now look at me. I'm lucking to run with the group. I have not cycled with Trac since last Jan? I have not even taken a swimming class or any other class. I'm trying to run 3 days a week, there are weeks that I'm lucking to get in one. No wonder I did not get a good time at the Apple Run.

This is my fault. Yes, Ron and the boys put time constraints on me sometimes. But yesterday I could of gotten off my butt when I got home and run/walked on my treadmill. The same thing could of happened on Monday. But I didn't. I'm the one that is not making the extra effort. What happened to the drive that I had? Did I loose it?

No, I did not lose it. I just have missed directed it. I can still do most of the things that Ron and the boys asked me. I just have to remember that I have to stick with what I want. And I want to be active and healthy I have to start planning my running life around everything like I did before!!!

Here is to the new me!!! And a good run at the Jingle Bell Run!!!!

I know

That I e-mailed everyone and said that I would have the race report around Noon. But we went to the pumpkin farm right after we ate lunch and I was just able to get to write.

SORRY!!!!!

BH-BL APPLE RUN

Well I did it....I finished the Apple Run again this year. I did not achieve my main goal which was to finish with a better time than I did last year. But I did do better than 3 of the 4 5K's that I have done this year.

It was a warm morning here in Burnt Hills for October. The weather was around 60 Degrees. I came last night to Burnt Hills and slept over at my parents house. I did get a good sleep, but Andy woke up at 5:30 am!!! So I just rested until 7:00 when I had to get ready.

Around 8:15, Brian, Dad and I headed over to the Middle School to sign in. Brian was running the fun run and had to get his number. Brian and I get our numbers/goody bags and I send him and Dad back to watch the beginning of the race at the house. I wait for Teresa and Rob to show up at the middle school. I see a bunch of people that I grew up with and we all talk a bit, just to catch up from not seeing each other over the years. Teresa and Rob show up and the race is about to begin.

Promptly at 9am the race starts. I'm towards the back, because I know that I'm going to be running alone. Teresa and Rob were near the front. They stop the traffic on the road the runners get ready and the horn goes off.

In the race info, it said no head/ear phones. I feel like the only one that does not have them on. So to keep a pace, I start counting. I get to around .25 miles and see Ma, Dad, Andy and Brian sitting at the end of the driveway (in lawn chairs) and taking pictures of me. At least I look good at this point.

I head to mile 1, which is near where we take a new road. The time keeper yells 10:22. Ok this is faster than I really wanted to go. I wanted to take the first mile easier and get faster with each other mile. Oh well.

I start talking to myself, telling me that I can do it. I get to the water stop and take a drink, I slow down my pace, but I don't walk or stop. Then my history from Middle School comes up behind me. He says that I am helping his pace. I'm thinking Oh Great. He is speed walking, and I am helping him with his pace. He then gets a little bit faster after staying with me for about .25 miles. I get to mile 2 and the time keeper yells out 22:21. Ok, I know that I slowed down my pace . That time can't be right. I can't be going at that good of a pace.

Then two women come up behind me. They were great. One was a trainer and the other was a first time runner. They talked to me an help me keep a good pace. It was like have Trac, Bridget or Teresa with me. I made a pack with Teresa this year that she had to run the race at her speed or at least Rob's. This lady kept me and the other women going. She helped me until the very end. The other women's child was running the race. This girl was fast. She had to be around 7 or 8 years old. She did walk at times, and like a good girl she ran in with her mother and they finished at the same time.

At this time we are near the finish, Teresa and Rob are waiting near the finish line cheering me on. I start to run faster, trying to give it all that I got. I finish around 34:04. I'm pleased. I did not stop, I kept a good pace at the end. I know that I slowed down a lot between 2.5 and 3 miles. So I'm pleased. Again I get at the end, someone asked me if I'm ok, do I need oxygen. I just wished I did not look like I'm going to die right there right after a race. Of course, at the end there was Brian, Andy, Ma and Dad holding up signs and taking pictures of me crossing.

I do have to brag about Teresa though. With a very bad head cold, she finished at 29:20 something (that is how she told me) and Rob finished around the same time.

I also know the person who won 2nd in the male 30 - 39 age group. I met him in the bar at DIRT Week (the Superbowl of our car racing endevores) and told him about the race.

Brian did awesome during the Fun Run. He was so excited that he got a number and a goody bag. He was so excited about doing the race that he made is own sign. It said

BRIAN
440
THORP

440 was his race number. He wanted us to hold this sign while he was running. He was also running with the hat that he got in his goody bag. I will post it as soon as I get home.

He did so good but the 1 mile was just too much for him. But for the first .25 miles he kept up with the big kids. Around the 4th corner, it looked like he was done for. I told him to sprint then he could end the race. He sprinted like his life depended on it. He got so excited he got a ribbon.

So I have to wait until next year to conquer the Apple Run. I know that I can beat my time. Today just was not my day.

10Kan 5K and Children's run

Well here it goes..... This was the First Novellis 10Kan Race. It featured a 10K, 5K and children races.

On Friday, the boys and their friend Larry, got to run in the children races. Why they had it on a separate day, I don't know. But I took 1/2 a day from work, picked up the boys from Elisabeth's as soon as they got off the bus, and headed to Oswego so they could run. It was an enjoyable time. They had air hops for the kids, face painting, a skateboard demo, and other things to keep them going. This was sponsored by the Oswego YMCA also. We meet Andy's friend Larry and his parents Kevin and Kathy Hatter. They are the one's how told us about the race.

How they had the races set up was very different. There was a 5 Year Old and Under race, a 6-7 Year Old race, a 8-9 Year old race, and 10-11 Year old race. Brian was in the 5 and Under race. They only had to go 70 yards. Brian can do alot more than that, but he was up for the challenge. They had the run in the baseball field. Brian asked me to wait for him at the finish line. "I'm OK by myself" were the words out of his mouth. So I go to the opposite side of the field to wait for him. The official says go......about 30 little kids take off. It was so funny to see. Here is my son, it looks like he is running for his life. Damn......I left the camera in the car. Three girls then pass him. He starts to build up a little more speed, but just can't do it. He finished in 4Th place...the first boy. He was so proud when they gave him the brand new soda can top with a lanyard around it and a sticker that said 10Kan run. It was his first racing medal. Then he realized that everyone was getting one. But that is OK....."I was the first boy" he says to me. He's got the bug.

They then had the 6-7 Year old race on the road. They only had to go 1/4 of a mile. I did not know anybody in that race. So I really was not paying attention.

Next is Andy's and Larry's race. the 8-9 Year Old. They get to the start line. Larry is up in front. Andy positions himself in the back, like he knows what is going to happen. They say go and all the kids take off. Andy is pacing himself towards the back. They make the kids go up a hill and I see Andy start to walk. I tell Brian, "Come On we have to cheer Andy on!!" Our friend Kevin (Larry's Dad) starts running with Andy and keeps him going. Brian and I get there and try to cheer him on. Larry now goes pass Brian and I. Kevin looks at me. I say go with Larry I'll stay with Andy. Kevin goes with Larry and I have Brian run with them. I know that Brian runs with Andy, that will bring him down. At the turn around they give the kids a drink of water. Andy gets one and starts to walk, I get him motivated to start running again. We get a slow pace going, but it really does not stop. I now understand how Teresa felt last week. We get to the last turn and Andy tell me to go away.....He is the last person to run in and he does not want his mother with him. So I run in the grass to the finish line. Here he comes and everybody is cheering him on!! He starts to run faster.....at least he learned something from his mom!! He gets the same medal as Brian.....but he is a little down from finishing last.

Saturday morning is my race. After what had happened at the Bud Run, I can only go up from there. I'm getting an OK feeling. I left the boys at home with Ron. Ron was so sick!! He got the sinus and cold that Trac and Wendy had. He was up all night and I knew that it was not a good thing to have him there. At home would be alot better. I meet up with Kathy Hatter, and her running friends. You got to understand, all of these people ran the Rochester Marathon last weekend....a 10K is nothing to them.

So I start to get a little down, then I start to think. Nobody know me here I'm going to treat it like a normal run. I make my goals not to walk and to run up Washington Street Hill and the hill at SUNY Oswego. I think that is reasonable goals.

The race starts at 10am. I start to realized that most of the course is uphill. But that is ok. It is just a normal Saturday Run. Something about this race, there was volunteers all throughout the course. They all gave encouragement throughout the race. It reminded me of the Harborfest race. I don't remember not seeing a yellow volunteer shirt at least every .1 miles, sometime even less.

I get to Washington Street Hill, mile one is in the middle of that hill. It is a very moderate incline. I get into a grove and I start to see people walking on the hill. I just keep saying to myself you can do it....just keep your feet moving to the beat. And that is what I do...I get to the one mile mark and the first water stop. I take a drink but don't slow down. I don't want to lose the grove that I have. We are now on the Campus of SUNY Oswego and we turn into the east side of campus. I made it. I made it up the hill and did not stop. One of three goals down. We are now going down a incline over to the President's house. This is the lowest spot on campus near the lake. I think this is the only flat stop.

I get to the turnaround spot for the 5K and the 10K people keep on going. I make the turn around and see the very steep hill on the campus. This is the steepest hill that they have. I remind myself of my goal. Now everybody is walking up this hill. The girls that passed me are even walking. I'm not. I keep on going and I make it up the hill. I did not stop!! Yeah to myself, I made it up.

Now we have to head back down Washington Street out of the campus and back to Briebeck Park. I head towards the steam station the same way that we came out to campus and the fastest 10K runner sprints by me. DAMN. He is fast. Just keep your pace Sue, I tell myself. I think that was some of my problem is that the 5K runners were passing me on the Bud Run. I knew that they would be done even before I got to Mile 2. Mind Games I like to play.

After I settled down, I got into the groove and went up the last incline. I was more speedwalking then running up that incline. But I did not really lose my speed, just the pounding of my feet. I get to the last turn and I start to run instead of a speedwalk. I'm almost done. I see the park and know that the finish line is near.

I get into the park and now speed up. It really was not that fast because at the same time I was doing that the first 10K female blows right by me. I don't let that get me down. I cross the finish line. I finish at 36:52.75. This makes a 11:53 m/m. I feel great about this...after the Bud Run I really did not run during the week. I just did not have any oomph because of how I finished. I did 2 1/2 of my goals. I can't count me not stopping as a whole goal because I did speedwalk up the last incline near the steam station. I am very happy with me time.

After I finished the Race, one of the EMT's from Novellis came up to me, handed me a bottle of water and looked right in my eyes and asked me if I'm OK. I told me yes and he said "Are you sure?" I must look like I'm ready to die when I finish every race.

I waited at the finish line for Kathy to finish the 10K. She does the race in about 50 minutes. Great after doing a Marathon a week before!!

They had great goody bags that I was able to pickup on Friday night. The kids got good goody bags too. Much better than some of the races that I have done. They had a Wellness Tent after the race that had wonderful booths. I got my bone density tested and got more goodies to take home. They had beer, but where they had the beer set up was out in the open. Right in the sun. So I did not partake in that.

After the wellness tent, I tell Kathy and Kevin (who showed up later with Larry) that I have to go. I still have grocery shopping to do before I go home. Kathy says that if I win a prize that she will get it for me. I laugh and say I won't get a prize.

When I get home from shopping, Andy says that someone just called and left a message on the machine for you. It was Kathy. I place in my age group and she will give me the medal on Sunday when the kids were in religion. I see her today and I won 1st place in the women's 35 -39 age bracket. All I could do was laugh. I get on the timing company's web site to check out the ages of everybody who ran/walked. Yes, I was the first in that age group. There is nobody before me and only one walker after me. But as Andy says, "Mom be proud. It is your first medal?" Thank God for the young.

The next race is in my Hometown of Burnt Hills, NY. This is were I got my PR for a 5K of 33:33. I want to do better. Now I got an incentive to run. This course is alot flatter compared to the last one that I ran, so I can only go up from here!! Brian is going to do the fun run. I think that I got the boy hooked. Andy on the other hand is still a little down, but I think once he sees his brother race and he is not doing it? One can only hope so.

Apple Run here comes the Thorp's!!!

I just wanted to thank....

Everybody who helped me through my long silence. I was having a really hard time with life, but like always, running, friends and Teresa helped me through it!!

Now I have a new problem. BRIAN. Brian is my younger child who likes getting his own way. He has mastered the art of getting his own way. We he has learned quickly that he can't always get his way.

On Friday afternoon, I got a call from Brian's teacher. Now remember, he is in Kindergarten. He cut something wrong and started to make a fuss to the teacher that he wanted a new piece of paper. Unfortunately, the teacher did not have another piece of paper so he could cut again. She was giving him suggestions on how they could fix the other one.

Brian would not listen. He blew his top and got very mad and upset. The teacher had a hard time trying to control him. Then he KICKED her. Yes, you read right, KICKED her. I am so embarrassed. How could one of my children kick anyone unless it is on a soccer field!!! I told her that I am soooo sorry and that we would try to take care of it. Other than going to the race, Brian spent much of his time this weekend in his room, without TV, and picking up old toys to get rid of. I hope that it is out of his system. Otherwise, it is a week in his room when we are home.

Last at the Bud Run....

Well here it goes this is what I wrote in my running journal:

Bud Run for Charity 10K
September 15, 2007
9:15am
Rain/Sunny/Cold

Last night I had a relaxing pasta dinner at Tracy's with Bridget, Bill, Wendy, Mitch, Shannon, Kris, and Tracy's husband Andrew. This was to prepare for my first 10K. This really helped because I did not think about the stress of the race. I did not wake up during the night thinking about the race....this is the first time.

Today, I woke up around 6:30am and started getting dressed and ready for the race. I had to pickup Teresa at 8:00am. It was raining and it did not look like it was going to let up. Ron and the Kids came with me and we left our house around 7:45 to pickup Teresa and head to the race.

We got to the brewery. I went to pickup my race packet and Teresa went to sign up. It is still raining. I'm hoping that it will stop. We see Shannon, Kris, Bridget, and Bill. We are waiting around in the tent for a while, we then see Bridget's friend Karen, and Wendy. We all start getting ready for the race. I tell everybody that I want to finish in 1 hour 30 minutes. I'm thinking that it is a joke.

Around 9:10 we head to the start line. Ron and the Kids head down with us to see the start of the race.. We walk to the starting line in front of the brewery. The cannon at the start line goes off and we take off. We start off slow because I want to make sure that I finish the race. Teresa is letting me set the pace. We are not getting passed by the 10K runners, but we are not passing anybody else either.

We are doing what I think is fine. Teresa tells me that we are doing a 11 minute mile. We get to the 5K turn and keep on going on the 10K route. Teresa want me to keep hydrated and makes me take a drink at the water stop. We head up the route.

The fast runners are now make there way down the up and down of the 10k. They have done about 3.5 miles, I have done only about 1.5 miles. OH Well. We see Bill, Karen, Bridget and Wendy pass us. We give everybody encouragement. We try to keep the pace that we were before, but we are heading up hills. I really wasn't expecting any hills.

We get up the first hill and we can see the turnaround. We just ran up the hill, down the hill, make the turnaround, running up the hill to mile 3. This almost wiped me out. Teresa had to talk me up the hill.

We are now heading back to the 5K route. Three gentlemen pas us. They are keeping a great pace. For some reason the State Trooper on the bike keeps near Teresa and I. I half joke that he thinks that I'm going to keel over. Now I can't keep any kind of pace since the hill and the wind that is blowing hard is killing me. We get to the last water stop, I take a drink and this just blows my mind. I want to stop. I'm almost crying. Teresa is yelling to me to keep going. "Just keep your feet moving. You want to say that you finished the race and did not stop." At this point, there is only one other person that is behind us. Teresa keeps on tell me that look we are almost there - I keep on telling her no that is McLane Northeast Not the brewery!!

We get around mile 5 and the person who was last passes me. OK, now I really want to stop, but I don't. Teresa is still yelling/cheering me on. It seems like everything is uphill into the plant. I just want to stop, but Teresa keeps me going. I don't know how she keeps me going, but I do.

We get to straight away right before the last turn and there is Jen waiting for us. She starts running with us and keeps me motivated. She and Teresa joke about singing Bobby Vinton to me. Now the State Trooper on the bike is talking to us. All I want to do is finish.

We make the last turn and I here everybody cheering me on. There is Trac, Kris, Shannon, Bridge and Wendy. They were all there to see me finish. There is also Ron, Andy, and Brian cheering me on.

We finish 1:16:21. Scored 167 of 168. They scored Teresa last. Everybody comes to see us. I'm done, just spent. We head up to the beer tent. I'm not doing so well, trying to take in any kind of beverage that I can. In the tent, it was just getting to loud, Teresa has to get home to Troy to go to work, and Ron wants to leave. So, after my 5th freeze pop, one frozen drink, and 2 waters, we left. I just slink right into the car.

This was the hardest race that I have ever done. Mentally, I was not ready for the extra miles and the hills. I'm rethinking my goals. I'm going to do 5ks and 4 mile races for another year, while training for another 10K. I will try the Bud Run 10 next again next year, but will not try another 10K until then.

So that is that. I finished Dead Last. You know how there is a pace car that is in front and in the back of every race. Well at this race, I had a police escort. Brian that I did something wrong during the race and was in trouble because the police was behind me. Spoken like a future delinquent. Next week 10Kan 5K race.

Revaluating my life.....

Since the last race post....many things have happened/happening in my life. I have turned 38 and life seems to be upside down.

I have only ran twice since the race...2 miles on the Thursday after the race and I did 4 miles last Monday. I have tried to make time to run, but everything seems to have gotten in the way.

On my birthday, I took 1/2 day off from work to be with my family. I had lunch with my sister, she went to work. Then we sat in the camp and I listened to my mother on how bad Brian was the week that she had them. I cancelled Andy's Doctor's appointment to sit in my mother's camp. I asked if anyone wanted to go swimming and nobody did. Happy "F"ing Birthday.

All I seem to do is fight with Ron about the kids...the last time was me and my parents taking the kids to the Fair last Sunday. He did not want me to go....and we said some very choice words to each other. Good thing that the Kids were outside for that.

Then while at the Fair, my parents, the kids and I were going to a Nick (kids TV cable network) show that Andy wanted to see. My mother had the nerve to tell me I was stupid and I did not know were I was going. I told/yelled to her to leave me alone. I then tried to proceed to show her where I was going and she YELLED, so that everybody was looking at us, at me telling me to get away from her and not to treat her that way. I was just so mad. I took the kids to the show and I have not talked to/seen her since.

Teresa had to work the Fair for her Job so she help me, but at one point, the Kids and I did the Fair alone when she had to go to work. I spent all of my birthday money and the money I had for the week on them. Then, Ron had the nerve to get mad at me on Thursday when I did not have any money left to get the boy hair cuts and he had to give me $20.00.

To top it all off work sucks. I know that I don't want to be there anymore. But I also can just up and quit my job because I pay the mortgage, the health insurance, and the babysitter. Speaking of the babysitter, who I do care about, I still had to pay even though my kids were not there because my mom just had to take them to her house. Then when I call to see how the boys are, I get a report on how "bad" Brian is and an hour long distertation on how to correct it.

I just can't take it anymore. I have been running around trying to please everyone and all I do is get yelled at. Everybody knows that all I do is try to please everybody, but when I try I get "spit" in the face!! I can't take it anymore!!!

I know I just need to sort out my life....I just need to run more often. Find some "me" time...but that is getting just to hard!!!

Even this weekend, I'm trying to save "face" with Ron. We are going "camping" with the race team. Ron knows that I don't want to go, but I am. Ron only wants to go so "hang" out with everybody with the car and just drink till they pass out. Just what I want my Boys to see. They have an outhouse (fun, fun), and no running water. Even before that I have to take the boys to the races...Brian is already protesting this. Ron gets to work on the race car, while I sit in the stands with the Boys. So, I get to referee the boys while they fidget and pester each other......Just fun for me.

When is someone going to do something for me!!!

WILLOWBAY 5K Race Report

This is what I wrote in my Running Journal, while I was RICEing......

Willowbay 5K for Women

Date: August 18, 2007
Time 9:00am Sunny/Cool
My time: 33:43 Finished 170
Teresa's time: 28:16 Finished 106

With a pulled muscle on Monday my goal was to finished the race, but what I got was more.

I went to the race by myself because Ron again decided that if the kids went to the race, Andy would not make it to the birthday party he was invited to...So after he said that I left.

I went to Longbranch Park were the race was being held to meet everybody. I get there and see Teresa, Rob, Mom and Dad.....the came to cheer us on!! Teresa and I start stretching. There is a big crowd this year. Teresa wanted to try to win the Sister/Sister category. Last year we came so close to winning that if she ran by herself and I just did what I did, we would have won. This year, I don't know?

We see Trac, Bridget, Bridget's friend Karen and we start to get ready for the race. We also see our friend Brandy, who ran with us last year. She came to cheer on her friends from this year's running class and to see who from last year was there. It was so good to see her. Jen came and brought Clifford and Lucy to the race to cheer us on. It was a great surprise to have Jen and the Greyhounds there.

We line up for the race and Trac asked me what my goal was. I said, "Keep up with you". After last week, my big goal was just to beat my time from last year.

At 9am the gun goes off. Teresa goes off with Karen, since Karen is a long distance runner and has more speed than I do. I stay with Bridget and Trace. Trac's goal was to run a 10:30 mile (I think). We are trying to keep a good pace and I believe that we are. We get to the first mile marker and the time keeper calls out "9:55". I'm feeling good. I'm thinking that Trac and Bridget feel the same.

Right before the turnaround, the muscle that I pulled on Monday is giving me mild twitches. We get to the turnaround and we are at a good time. I can't remember what he called out, but I remember feeling happy about it.

All of a sudden, I have shooting paid in the back of my thigh (the muscle that I pulled). I scream out (I think). I know that I can not keep up the pace that I was doing. But I know that I don't want to stop, but I don't want to be in so much pain. I back off my pace quite a bit. I know that Trace and Bridget are worrying about me, (Bridget keeps on looking back....I think she is talking to me, but I don't remember) but they have to run their race.

I just keep on thinking that I don't want to disappoint Teresa. She has done so much for me, when it comes to my running. I have to finish the race. Right now, I remember things, but I don't think there are in the right order, except towards the end. These are some of the things that I remember.

One point between the 1/2 way mark and the 3 mile mark, I have to walk. The pain got so bad, I try to speed walk. This way I am able to get rid of some of the shooting pain. Once some of the pain subsides, I start running again at a slow pace. I am now willing myself from one telephone pole to another.

I remember a older lady coming up next to me saying that I have a good pace and she has been following me....I tell her thank you, but I don't know how much longer I can do it. This must happens before I start to speed walk. At the water stop on the way back, I know that I don't stop, I take a sip of water and throw the rest on my head. Why I do this, I really not that hot, so I don't know.

So I am still willing myself from one telephone pole to another. I do this until I see Jen and the dogs. Jen is giving me encouragement.....I just know that I can finish the race.

Then I see Teresa!!! She has comeback to run me in. She is talking me in the whole way. Telling me that I am going to finish and that I have to just keep running so that I will beat last year's time. Then I see Shannon and Kris. I hear them cheering me on. Along with My mom, saying that I can do it!!! I am now trying to sprint to the finish line. I have this thing mantra, "If the end is near, SPRINT. It will get over quicker" So this is what I am trying to do. I now have the shooting pain back again, but I just want to finish!!!

I cross the finish line at 33:43!!! I still don't believe it because I walked and slowed my pace down after the pain. I start to cry because I was happy to finish, I got my PR for this race, and I was in so much pain as I sprinted. Mickey, the race coordinator was there and she gives me a hug. I don't remember what I told her, but I was glad that I finished.

Then everybody comes up to me. I still don't believe my time. But at this point, I just wanted to walk off the pain.

I love Teresa, my Parents, and my friends. For giving me the encouragement, training and support I needed for this race. I can't thank them enough!!!

Ron does feel sorry that He was not there. I pulled into the driveway right when there were leaving to go to the birthday party. We he saw me limping out of the van, he had a very concerned look on his face. He even asked me if I was OK (which sometime he ever does). As I am writing this....He is taking care of the kids and letting me rest and ice my leg. OK he does care!!

Today, I'm a little sore and still have trouble going up and down the stairs. But I'm going to take it easy again today. I'm taking the kids to camp and putting a lawn chair into the lake and just sit there. I will tie a long piece of rope onto the boat that the kids play in and then tie it to the chair that way the kids will be near me and I don't have to walk around on the rocks!

I still wonder what time I would have gotten if I did not hurt myself......we just have to wait until next year. Now it is the Bud Run 10K next.....BRING IT ON!!!!


P.S. - We finished 15th in the Sister/Sister out of 30 entries......alot more than last year Oh well. We tried Teresa, we tried!!!

Pulled Muscle

Yes, 5 days before my 1 year anniversary of running 5K's and I pull a muscle!!! So who is the first person that I get ahold of to help me? TRAC!! My Savior!!! I remember that I needed to do RICE. But I could not remember what RICE meant.

So, I e-mailed Trac on Tuesday and asked her what to do if I pulled a muscle. Right away she e-mails me the answer along with websites to help me. What a friend!!!!

Even after I said that I would not do stupid stuff (Like not try to run long distances after I have not run in days), I decided to see how fast I could do a 5K on my road at home. Then I would run the rest of the 4.75 miles that I needed to do to keep up with my mileage. I did pretty good time on the first 1.5 miles. I was keeping a good time, but all the hills are down except two on the first 1/2. I know that I pulled the muscle going up the two big hills on the way back. I was really trying to push myself. My time was 37:47....That was worse that my Harborfest Time!!! But of course, I ran around 7pm. It was hotter that were the Devil Lives (Brian is in the room and he is learning to read so Now I have to be careful what I type). I did not even finish running the rest of the miles that I had to do because I just did not have enough oomph in me.

It has been 2 days that I have been doing RICE. I even wore my compression pants, that I wear in the winter time, to work today underneath my dress pants. Good thing I was not hot today and the pants were long enough that nobody knew I had them on.

So I am only going to run about 2 miles tomorrow to make sure that I am going to be ok of the race. I went to pick up the race packets for Teresa and I at Fleet Feet tonight and the race coordinator said that there are going to be alot of teams this year. So T, you better run you heart out. You know that your sister (Me) is going to do her best, but she is no speed demon!!!

Ok I'm paying for it now!!!!

The last week I was on vacation with the family. Nothing really fancy or fun. Just went camping with Ron and the boys in Wolcott, NY and did somethings in Rochester.

So that means that I really did not run at all last week. We did a lot of walking, but no Running since the campground was so small and the only halfway decent road to run on is a major trucking route. I did not run. But I also have a major sunburn across my chest and on the top of my "babies". I not thinking it is a good idea to run while my "babies" are trying to recover.

I call up Trac on Friday to see if we were running on Saturday, she said yes. I'm now looking forward to running.

I don't know if because I did not work for a whole week, there was no stress or it was the new sneakers that I got last week (I will put in what I wrote on vacation about my sneakers after this), but Sue was in the GROOVE. I have not been that in the zone since one of the last days of the YRun class I took with Trac and we were doing something like 11/1 or 15/1. I just set the pace and just ran with it. Today's run, I can remember every step and enjoy running it. I remember every song that was playing on my MP3 player. I can go into work on Monday and say "Yeah I did six miles on Saturday."

I know that I pissed off Trac. She has been working so hard and deserves easy days. And it did not help that I did not run at all last week. But I really needed a day like to day to prove to myself that I can do it and maybe I am putting just a little to much into my Job and not enough into me and my family!!

Trac, here is your payback. I just got up from a nap with Brian to come down and see if he had turn off the computer (of course he did not). It took every effort that I had to walk down the basement stairs!!! My knees, they don't hurt, they just don't move!!! I'm getting electric "shocks", no real pain in the tendons that are attached to my heels. For the second time, I have learned my lesson, Do Not Over Do It If You Don't Run During The Week!!!

Next week the Willowbay 5K for Women. Trac, Bridget (I think), Teresa, and myself will be running it. I can actually say that I am looking forward to running it. Teresa wants to win the Sister/Sister category and will be running at her speed (good thing that I love her or I would hate her for her time) Race report to follow on Saturday.

This is what I wrote when I was on vacation regarding my new sneakers:

NEW SNEAKERS - 8/6

Well, I finally got them.......new sneakers. After trying to run on Saturday and only getting in 4 miles in because of two (count them 1! 2!) blisters on my feet! I could not go the other 1.75 miles that I was supposed to do. OK, I have now had it. Is it my sneakers? Is it my socks? It is because of the new mileage? Well now, I am going to find out.

So, I head over to Fleet Feet just as they open. I talk to the sales person and I show him everything and tell him what I am training for. After a long discussion and running on the treadmill, he comes to the conclusion that It is my sneakers. They have an arch that did not go with my feet. Also the sneaker that I was wearing was to narrow on my foot. My purchase is a new pair of New Balance 767's!! I can't wait until I can try them since I'm on vacation now.

The salesman also recommended some new socks to see if that will cut down on the friction. He said that the socks that I was wearing were OK since they were not cotton. But these socks have a double layer and that should cut down on the friction. Now I'm ready to run without my feet hurting!!!

***I can truly say that after today that my feet don't hurt......just the rest of my legs!!!

Tag I'm it?

Bridget tagged me yesterday so I will fulfill my duty and answer the questions.

But first I wanted to say that I ran my 5.5 miles today/last night at a time of 63:33. I first have to say that I started at 3:45am and finished around 5am after I walked .25 miles at a really slow pace. OK I know what you are going to say "What in the HeXX were you up at 3:30 am. I have no clue. The Kids are with Ron's Parents in Canada and I just could not sleep. I knew that I had to run today, so why put it off. Hey, I was able to sleep for about 45 minutes after the run and I had finished sweating by then so I could take a shower and go to work. OK call me crazy, but you already knew that!!!

Here are the questions and info from Bridget's Tag:

WHAT WERE YOU DOING 10 YEARS AGO?

I was working as an accounting assistant ( or as Ron called it an ACC ASS), trying to become pregnant (yes, we tried for over 2 years to have Andy, but Brian was a pleasant OOPS) and I was working on a DIRT Big Block Modified Race Car (you did not know that I could change a tire and bang out sheet metal during a pit stop!!!)

5 SNACKS THAT YOU ENJOY

1. String Cheese
2. Ice Cream
3. Apples and Carmel
4. McD's Double Cheeseburger w/no pickle - OK that is not a snack, but I LOVE them!!!
5. Peas - I love to eat them raw!!

5 SONGS THAT YOU KNOW THE LYRICS

1. Melody of Love by Bobby Vinton - The Polish Prince - Any child that has Polish in them knows most Bobby Vinton songs or Polkas!!

2. She Blinded Me with Science by Thomas Dolby - Don't ask right now, maybe if you get me drunk I will tell you!!!

3. I Can't Drive 55 by Sammy Hagar!!! I just love that tune. I love it even before Ron got me into racing.

4. Don't Cha by the Pussy Cat Dolls - OK that is the Inner Bad Girl in me.

5. Keeper of the Stars by Tracy Byrd - This is the first song that Ron and I danced to as Husband and Wife (Sorry Trac!!)

This was a hard question for me - I am a type that loves music and knows the lyrics to most songs!!! I use to use the beat of some songs to remember items for tests. If I could remember the melody during the test, I would get the answer right - Now you know that I am strange!!!

5 THINGS YOU WOULD DO IF I WAS A MILLIONAIRE

1. Quit my job and be with my children. Just to be able to be home when they get home from school would probably help my kids alot. Then we would not have to rush around to get to place like swimming lessons and soccer practice.

2. Give money to the two causes that mean the most to me. The Diabetes Association and the Arthritis Association.

3. Give a donation to the Mexico School District. It is a very big district, with a very small tax basis. Most of the children in this district as almost at poverty level and this will help with every body's education.

4. Open a cross stitch shop. I love to cross stitch, crochet, and sew. There are not alot of places to hang out and do that stuff. Also there are not alot of places to get specialty thread, material and advance cross stitch supplies. This would be a place for stitchers/quilters/people who sew and knit/crochet to hang out.

5. Pay off the mortgages of my family (Mom and Dad, Ron's Mom and Dad, Teresa and Ron's sister Jill) and for my friends and the people who I care about (that is you guys) I would throw a Month long party at my new cabin near Saranac Lake!!! (remember I quit my job!!!)

I have a 5A. Buy new running sneakers!!! I have only said that I need to do this and I have not have the time to do it. I got another blister on my Left foot this time and I'm starting to get sick of them!!!

5 BAD HABITS

1. Hate house cleaning.

2. Thinking people at work have the same work ethic that I do. Then get mad when they don't.

3. Yelling at the kids when they have pushed me over the limit.

4. Only running 3 days a week.

5. Eating fast food!!!

5 THINGS YOU LIKE TO DO

1. Watching/Listening to a NASCAR race - This is the redneck in me.

2. Running

3. Cross Stitch

4. Reading

5. Eating Fast Food - OK I like to do one of my Bad habits

5 THINGS THAT YOU WOULD NEVER WEAR AGAIN

1. Bell Bottoms - I know that they are back in style, but I just can't do them!!!

2. A big shirt with a belt and legging - Big people like me should never wear things like that, but I did.

3. Old style Nikes

4. My shirt with the collar up. I better not be dressed correctly if that is happening

5. Acid wash jeans with holes in them - I though I was the BOMB - NOT!!!

5 FAVORITE TOYS

1. Atari - the first home computer game. Give me Pong any day!!!

2. Monopoly - Us kids would play this game for days with our neighbors. It was the never ending game and if we had to go home we would just leave it in the attic to start where we were the next day.

3. Connect Four - Brian loves this game too.

4. My bike - Teresa, Mike (my brother), our neighbors and I would ride our bikes every where. Down hills, do jumps made out of dirt, etc. We were the first X Games.

5. A soccer ball - we were the soccer family. Dad and our neighbor Mr Dailey made a regulation soccer goal in our yard so both families could play a game anytime we wanted to!!!

Since I have nobody else to tag that we blog....I going to e-mail, Teresa, Sherrie, Sherry, Kris and Shannon. I will have them read my blog and they will have to e-mail me their answers. I'll let you know if there are any good ones!!!

The Stoney's Harborfest 5K

OK sorry it took so long to do. I was waiting for the actual time and I just finished watching Celeb Jeopardy. This is what I wrote in my Running Journal:

Harborfest 5K
8:30am 7/28/07 Overcast Muggy!!!

This was my first race that I would be doing along. Like I said before. No Teresa! No Trac! No Bridget, Kris, Shannon, Sherry or Sherrie! My Parents did not come to cheer me on. Ron did not bring the Kids because he thought that it would make a long day for them since we usually watch the fireworks at Harborfest every year, which happens to be the same day. Ron did not think that was a good idea, so no Kids!

So I get up in the morning before the alarm goes off and I start to get ready. The Kids are up and they wish me luck. Brian says as I'm leaving, "You and Aunt Teresa will do good running." I did not correct him.

So I leave the house 1/2 hour before I am suppose to. I don't know why, so I drive to Oswego and go shopping at Wal-Mart. I got a new shirt to wear for the race. (Typical Me)

After the shopping spree, I head over to the Oswego YMCA Armory to sign in. Singing in was fast and I receive my number #94. That is the year that I graduated SUNY Oswego, I just pray that it is good luck.

Around 8am the kids run starts and I see the Hatter's. Kevin (the dad) and Larry (Andy's friend) are running the 1 mile run. Now I'm wishing Andy was here to run with me. Larry and Kevin do a great job and finish the race!!!

Now it is time for the 5K/10K to start. Kathy Hatter was getting ready for the 10K (she does marathons) and I'm getting nervous. The 10K runners were on the left side of the road and the 5K runners are on the right side of the road do to the course that each of them runs.

After the National Anthem was sung, the signal goes off (or at least it seem like there was no time in between). I can hear my MP3 player in my ears, but I don't hear any music - maybe I hear it, but during the whole race I can't tell you the names of the songs that were playing.

I go down the road and cross over Route 104. I feel OK. I know that I'm going a little faster than I want to, but I'm not going to fret.

The 10K's now turn to the left while the 5K's head straight to get to Briebeck Park. I turn to corner at the end of the street and see the hill that goes up to Briebeck Park. For as many times that I have been to Oswego how can I forget there is a hill going up to Briebeck Park!!! This hill reminds me of the middle hill of the Tipp Hill run, but just a little bit bigger. We get to this hill before the 1 mile marker.

I will myself up the hill and do not stop. I'm proud of myself!!! We run to Briebeck Park and we go around the cone. The race then heads back to the hill we just ran up.

The people of Oswego are cheering us on. Just before the going down the hill, a family put a sprinkler near the road and set it so that the spray could go on the runners if they wanted to (and I did). Plus the town peoples were stand outside of their houses cheering on the runners!! It kind of reminded me of the race that I ran in my hometown last year. So as I head down the hill I check out the runners that I think that I will be spending the rest of the race with.

I get to the first water stop. I have learned from the Swamp Rat Race - I took the water and only took one sip and dumped the rest on my head!!

I am heading towards Route 104 again and I'm thinking that we are 1/2 over, but I do not increase my speed like I wanted to. I just want to finish the race still running (I'm think at this time) I turn the corner onto Route 104 and go over the bridge that crosses the Oswego River. They have us running on the sidewalk so they can keep 104 open. This is fine with me.

So I cross over the bridge and head towards the hotels that are next to the river. Now my legs are getting twinges and my breath is quick because of the mugginess of the air. I run between the Hotels and run along the river. I'm trying to count 1-2-3-4 to keep my rhythm, but it was not working. Then I see the 2nd hill!!! I turn the corner and see the steepness of the hill. I just knew that I could not do it by myself. So I walk up the hill and turn the corner. I walk for about 20 yards after the hill then start running again. I know that it is almost over and I was in the home stretch.

Now the speed walkers are catching up to me. So I'm trying to go faster than I'm suppose to!! I don't want to spend this much energy so far way from the finish line. I cross over the river one more time and start heading towards the Y. Just one more corner to go around and I can "sprint" to the finish line. After I turn the corner, for some reason that has willed me, I look to the right of me and see one of the speed walkers running with me, trying to beat me. Why would she want to do that. She is in a different division than me and the rules state that walker can not run or they will be disqualified. Now she is messing with my pace. So I look over to her and say that she needs to stop running or she will be disqualified. Then she could not place in the top 5 of the Walkers!!! Boy did she stop running real quick.

At the same time, some of the 10K runners are coming in with me. But I don't let that bother me, I'm trying to sprint now. I keep to the right side like the race volunteers tell me to do and I run to the finish line.

I get to the finish and I get a time of 35:25. I'm thinking that is great since I did not go over the course before I ran it and it did have two hills that I was not counting on. Oh yeah, I walked too.

Even thought the runners were not as friendly as the ones at Tipp Hill or the Swamp Rat race, the Volunteers and the people of Oswego were!!! They were there to cheer someone else on, but they were also cheering the other runners on, giving them encouragement!! That almost made me feel better that I did not have someone there.

Kathy finished the 10K about 8 minutes after I did, so I was able to cheer her on as she finished.

I did not do my personal best, but this was a 5K that was harder than any other 5K that I have done!! I am proud of what my time was.

On the shirts that we received it says "THE MIRACLE ISN'T THAT I FINISHED.....THE MIRACLE IS I HAD THE COURAGE TO START." How true, how true!!! The next race will be my one year anniversary of my first race. The Willow Bay 5K for Women......HERE I COME!!!

Stoney's Harborfest 5K.....

A good report to follow. Finished at 35:08 (I think) with two hills that I was not counting on. Only time I walked was up the 2ND hill. This race is on my list next year!!! More to follow!!!

Am I ready for this race?

Hell NO!!!! I am not looking forward to the Stoney's Harborfest 5K run. I am going this race alone. No Teresa! No Trac! No Bridget, Kris, Shannon, Sherry or Sherrie! No Parents to cheer me on. No Kids or Husband to cheer me on. Just me, myself and my MP3 player.

My friend Kathy Hatter (her son Larry is friends with Andy) will be running the 10K race, but I will be doing the 5K alone. And we know how well I pace by myself!! Well at least there will not be anyone there to see how bad I do this time!!! I have been trying for the last 1/2 hour to pull the race course up and I can't, so I don't even have a map to see what I am up against. So we will see what will happen.

On a better note, this morning (at 5am again) I ran 4 miles. I did it in 44:10 minutes!!!! I really don't believe that I did it. I think doing it on the treadmill is helping my speed. But in the back of my mind it think "Will I be able to do that speed outside?" But of course, it is just too dark at 5am to be running in the "Boonies" and I have to get my running in somehow!!!

Will update you on Sunday about what happens in the race. Trac, Bridget, and Jen have a great time this weekend at the Greyhound/Wine tour!! Jen, you will do great!!!

This morning....

I made up for not running the full 5.25 miles that we were supposed to run on Saturday. So at 5am (yes Bridget, 5am), I ran the 5.25 miles in 59:48 minutes. I though that was really good until I read Bridget's blog and they ran 5.5 miles in 1 hour!!! I really have to practice now to keep up with them!!!!

Still Running with Blisters

I have been running this week, just not the miles that I want to . On Thursday I ran on the treadmill again at home. I did 4 boring miles on it. I hate just looking at the walls. But I did it in 46:16. That is a 11:54 mile? Ok, I'm still bad, but at least I can do it.

Since Bridget and Trac were in Lake Placid "Feeding the Bears" and Shannon was on vacation with her family, only Kris and I ran on Saturday. I felt good. I put my MP3 player on bass so I could only hear the "THUMP, THUMP, THUMP" and that seemed to work for me. Kris is only up to 4 miles and I think that I finally got over the 3 miles wall without wanting to kill myself. But I could only do 4 miles because I still have the blisters on my feet. And of course I did not put a bandage on it before I run so at mile 3.5 my foot was is pain. I finally popped the first blister, but now I have a blister under that piece of skin. I have to go to the drug store to find something to put on it!!! I also have to buy new sneakers!!! I really think they are the reason that I am having troubles. This is my first pair of Asics. I think I really need to go back to New Balance, I don't remember ever having this much trouble with my feet when I wore them.

I am going to try to do 5.25 miles tomorrow or Wednesday, but it all depends on work (of course). I have the Harborfest race on Saturday Morning so I will only be doing 3.1 miles on Saturday. I still want to be able to keep up with Trac and Bridget when I meet again with them!!! That is if the Boogie Man or Gentle Ben does not get them!!!

Could It Be Tuesday?

I just read Bridget's blog and her run was just like mine. Except I did it on the Treadmill at the Y in between Andy's swimming lessons and Brian's Soccer Practice. I did 3.75 miles in 47 minutes (I forgot to write the seconds down because I was trying to see some of Brian's Practice before it ended). It just felt like I could not run. I was just going in slow motion. I physically had to force myself to breath and count 1-2-3-4. The last .5 miles I had people look at me because I must have been talking to myself.

This proves my point that I need someone with me to help me pace, except my mp3 player was not working and I was on one of the treadmills that only had cable TV on it. But I really don't think that music would have helped that much. But I know that I can not watch TV while I'm running. I don't get my "running" rhythm when I do that!!

I got to start thinking of things that will help me be more determined. When I read about Karen Smyers who is doing the Iron man (she is a mother who has recovered from Thyroid Cancer and had been hit by a 18 wheeler on her bike) and Amy Palmiero-Winters (a single mother and leg amputee from a motorcycle accident) finishing a marathon in record time, I just got to get in my mind "Suck it up Sue and get determined. There are people out there who can do it, you can too!!"

So I am on Trac's running schedule but with one of the running sessions out if I can't do it. So I'm going to try to do 4 miles again sometime this week, but I am bound and determined to do it outside!! Upward and Onward to 6.2!!! Saturday 5.25!!!

Why?

Why did I do so much better on Saturday's "Slow Run" than I did on Thursday's 4 miles? It is called, I need someone to pace me. I really do need someone to run with to get me going.

Trac and Bridget did awesome on Saturday's run. I don't know how Bridget did it knowing that she had to be at the Church at 11:00 of the renewal of Bill and Her wedding vows!! Trac ran without any music. Then there was Sue, bring up the rear. I had nothing to worry about and I had music in my ears the whole time. I complained that my shins hurt, my feet hurt, that every thing hurt. But Trac and Bridget just did their magic and kept me going!!!

Trac just wrote to me that we did a 11:25 m/m? Where in the world did that come from? I did not know that I had it in me? Now I am scared to run Harbor fest!!!! I will be running it alone. My friend Kathy Hatter is running the 10K and I will be running the 5K. We know what happened when I ran a race alone. Can we say SWAMP RAT!!! That will always be my demon child. Shoot, the first race that I ever ran was not as bad as the Swamp Rat!!!

This just proves to me that I need to run with somebody, that music does not even help. I just have to brain wash myself to think that I am running with somebody. I only have until 7/28 to train my brain to think that!!!

I also have not run since Saturday since I have a blister the sized of Mount Everest on the bottom of my right foot. I covers all of my arch on that foot! I don't know if it was from my shoes (because I don't think it was my socks since I had on my PowerSoxs) or my body was not use to the mileage. I does not help that I walked for an hour at the Farmer's Market to get $40.00 worth of veggies and fruits. Ok, I did buy some local wine and soap. But they were on shopping list, ok the wine was not on there!!!

So after this I am going onto my favorite running website and see if I can get any info. I don't think in the year that I have been running that I have had a blister that big!!! Hey, I could always tell Ron that it was the shoes and I can get a new pair!!!

Today's run

Well, I took Trac's and Bridget's advice and I did run twice this week.

The first time was on Tuesday morning around 5:30am. I only had 1/2 an hour so I ran on the treadmill while the kids were sleeping upstairs (Ron had already left for work and I did not want to leave the house with the kids still sleeping). In the 1/2 an hour, I got in 2.75 miles. At the time, that was a good distance. Even though it was early in the morning, it was still hotter than a devil. I had sweat pouring off every inch of my body. A shower did not help after that, I felt hot all day. Good thing I did not stink!!!

Today, I ran at Onondaga Lake Park after work. I really need to run with somebody because I did 4 miles in 48:42!!! I did better at the Tipp Hill race with the devil hill. This run had no hills!! What is happening to me. I think that makes it a 12:10 m/m. I did better at the Swamp Rat Race, I think, and I did not stop this time!!! I did make mile two at 23:42, that sort of makes me feel better, but not alot!!!

So Saturday is coming and our long run is going to be 5 miles. I don't think Trac needs to put a stop watch on me!!! I think that when I do the 10k in September, they will be taking down the stuff when I cross the finish line. I'll be saying on Saturday "Go ahead Trac, I promise I won't stop"!!!

I know that I have been a bad girl about writing in the blog, but I have been at camp most of the time and Ma only has a cell phone and regular television (Yes, my kids still go there even though she does not have cable). She does have a PlayStation that they can use!!

Andy did great at the 4Th of July Race. It was only 1 mile and he did stop twice, but there were short stops (about 20 seconds) that he picked out and they were short for his standards. It really helped that his friend Larry and his Dad, Kevin, were running the race. He had been practicing at Ma's camp and that really helped him!! So now he wants to run the Harborfest 1 mile race for kids.

I got to plan out a mile run here for him. Also, the Syracuse Chargers have a mile run every Thursday. That way maybe every other Thursday we can see how he improves on his time.

My running has almost been non existent!! Trac has the perfect description of what happened to me on Saturday. She was right. After mile 3, I hit a brick wall. The only time that I did any real running was on Tuesday and that was only 2 miles. I have been a bad, bad, girl!!

The one thing that Trac did not say was she knew that I was done after mile 4.25 because I sprinted to that marker!!!! She knew that I was not going to run after that. I gave every effort to get there fast to have it be over.

So Trac, yes I learned my lesson! I am getting with Hubby right now to see what days will be good for me to run. I do not want to stop and I want to have a great run on Saturday!!!

Harborfest here we come!!!

The Party's Over

We had a thunderstorm here in CNY and guess what.....Brian is back home and not at Grandma's camp!!!

He made such a fuss that I had to go and get him!!! He just has such a fear of thunder and of fire that it is scary!!! He walks by a fire exinquisher and he freaks out thinking there is going to be a fire. He did that on Tuesday while in Wal-Mart with my parents. This is after crying for 3 hours at the water park because the last time he went there it thunder/lighting and rained. I really don't think this is normal to think that everything is going to burn down and that you are always going to be hit by lighting at the age of 5!!!

Ron and I are at our wits end!! Do you think he might need a kiddy shrink?

Well at least Andy is still there having fun with his Grandparents and his Aunt!!!

Because the Kids are not here....

I have been able to do things that I would not been able to do like:

1. Clean under the couch without going......"Get back over here before I drop the couch on you!!!"

2. Read a book for more that 3 minutes at time before 9PM.

3. Able to run without yelling...."Hey I'm listening to that on the computer and no you can't play on it" or "I'm running would you PLEASE leave your brother alone!!!"

4. Get up in the morning and actually have time to get dressed in peace!!!

On that note, I have no kids this week and I got up at 5:30am this morning....why I don't know why....I don't have to be into work until 8, technically 8:30 but I like to get there early.

So I ran my 3 miles. Trac and I said to be able to train for the 10K I would run 3 miles twice this week. It is soooo hot today so I decided to run this morning downstairs in the cellar on the treadmill. I did the 3 miles in 34.14 minutes....an 11.38 mile? Almost keeping with the times that Trac and I had for the 4 miles.

I'm impressed! I do alot better when I have someone with me and music in my ears. Today I only had music and the treadmill to pace me!!!

Hopefully tomorrow will not be as hot and Bridget, Shannon, Kris and I will be able to run!!

Trac said it all

Trac's blog about Saturday's run was perfect! She got out everything that I wanted to say about the run. The only thing was the last 1/2 mile was the toughest for me.

This run makes me feel good....it shows that I can do it after the bad race I had last Saturday. Trac says that I'm a good pacer....the only thing that really helps me is having my MP3 player and just listening to the tempo. I pick out songs with a strong beat. Just a Girl by No Doubt, Holiday by Green day, Walkaway by Kelly Clarkson, If your going through Hell by Rodney Atkins, I Can't Drive 55 by the wonderful Sammy Hagar, and Walking on the Sun by Smash Mouth just to name a few. I just make sure that I have my feet going with the beat. I think that comes from all the dance lessons I took when I was a kid. As you notice....I listen to everything. If it is strong musically, I like it.

Having someone to run with also helps me a great deal....It is just a feeling of knowing that some is there next to me helps a great bit.

I also really needed Saturday's run.....The last few month's of work have been Hell and it just escalated with a big bang on Friday. I had so much pent up energy and frustration that I had to run!!! I am so glad that Trac got me into running!!! I have met such wonderful friends and I have given myself an outlet to let it all go....to know that there is no right or wrong in something that I'm doing. I can run slow, I can run fast, I can even run like a dork if I want to. I can be me and there is nothing wrong with that.

Swamp Rat Race - 6/16/2007

This is what I wrote in my Running Journal on that day:

Swamp Rat Race - Time 38:08

This was a hard race for me today. I did not feel good the day before. My stomach was off. The thought of putting food in my mouth just made my stomach flip-flop. I was able to put 1/2 a hamburger that Ron made down, but the thought of anything else just would not cut it.

Then the night was so long. I just kept on waking up. I could not sleep if my life depended on it. Other than taking a sleeping pill (which I did not) my body was not going to sleep.

Up came the sun and I started getting ready for the race. Brian was coming with me because Andy has his last swimming lesson for this session and he does not want to be any where near this event in case I make him do the fun run. Ron took Andy to swimming.

So around 7:15, Brian and I leave for the park where the race is being held. We meet Teresa and Rob, who are running in the race with me, along with my Ma and Dad, who are always there for their daughters' moral support.

We pick up our race packets and start stretching. We have some time, so we fool around with Brian. I start looking around and I see Shannon!!! It is great to see one of the girls from our "pack". She has her greyhound with he also. She was there to support her boys, but she was there for me too.

The Girls and Boys 1 mile fun run went off without a hitch. These races were huge!!! In some ways I was glad that Andy did not enter this race. He would have been lost and get upset during the race. The fastest boy's time was 5:50 and the fastest girl's time was 6:28. I could not do that time for one mile in my dreams!!!

Now it is time for the 5K. Teresa, Rob and I line up. I just did not feel right. I felt OK, not sick or anything, but I knew that this was going to be hard.

The gun goes off and off we go. The way we lined up, it looked like a mass of people running to a little space. At this time, I'm thinking "Oh My God!!! I'm in trouble". Teresa and I had a pack that she was going to run her race. So she ran with Rob and they took off. So I ended up running by myself. Everybody around me had their MP3's or Ipods. I didn't even think to bring mine. So now I don't have a partner or music to pace me.

I get thought the first mile at 10:37, I think I'm doing great. By the time I get to the turn around, I don't have a steady pace, my mouth is so dray and I can't steady my breath. I get a drink of water at the water station, swish the water in my mouth and spit it out. Well that was the kiss of death. My strength was seeping out of me. Two men came up behind me and started talking to me. It got me to get a steady pace but it was too late.

One of the gentleman, and I mean it in every sense of the word, sped up and the other gentleman stay with me. We talked and tried to just get thought the race. Paco was great he tried everything to keep me going, but at one point my body was giving up because of not having any food in my system. I had to stop and walk or I knew that I was going to faint. So i told Paco to go ahead and I walked. But I knew the outcome would not have been good if I kept on going and did not steady my breath....All I could think of is being so dehydrated and just stumbling around like a friend did in a race when we where in High School.

So I walked for around 2 minutes (I think) and got to the last corner. I started running again. Not at a fast pace, people were passing me. I did not care, I just wanted to finish. We get to the last turn and there was the finish line. I try to go faster but it was stone, not pavement. I don't want to fall down, so I decide to just go a little be faster than what I was doing. Right before the finish line, I see T, Rob Dad (of course taking my picture) Ma, and Brian. I'm almost done. I cross the finish line. I 'm done, gasping, looking for water and thanking God that it was over!!!

My time was so bad that Shannon thought she missed me when the time went past 36 minutes...But does that matter to Shannon, NO, She was just please that I finished and I was OK.

OK, I realized that my time was bad, but this is only gives me some incentive to strive, work harder. I have sent in my registration for the Caz 1 Mile Fun Run with Andy for the 4Th of July. I already filled out my registration for the Willow Bay 5k (Teresa wants to win the sister-sister category) and I gave it to T to mail in with hers. I have my registration for Harborfest, Bud Run 10K and the 10K run in Oswego.

This is not going to bring me down. This is only going to make sure that there will me more mile on the goal sheet on the fridge. As All My Tomorrows said "6.2 or Bust"!!!