Three Weeks to NAPA!

So excited for the Half Marathon! I can't believe that I feel confident enough to run this whole half marathon. I know that I can do it now. It's because of Team Challenge that I have this confidence. It starts with the commitment to the race, goes to Trainer Tim for his schedule and smile and good advice, and gets reinforced by my teammates every Sunday at the Lakefront.



Also, my confidence comes from the support system that put me in the 100 club. I received over 100 donations. That means that my "team" is well over 100 people if you add in all the families who made one donation for their whole family. This is the part that completely overwhelms me. Thanks for being my mental and spiritual support when I wasn't motivated to run. I keep training because I know that you guys all thought months ago that I would be able to do this...and now I can.


This last week was a rough one. Here's the update:

• Chafing update: Last week I ran in the cute skort you see above. It was the worst decision ever! I have a few remnants of that experience left in my inner thighs. I wore my old, cheap Adidas shorts this week and no chafing! Nike sucks!
• New blood blister under the toe next to my big toe. Must of worn bad socks??? It doesn't hurt, but it's ugly, so I am now wearing brown sparkly nail polish. That was Sarah's suggestion.
• Sarah was at camp and in the play Annie, Jr. She was a usherette and servant (she's the one in the green checkered apron). She also made a short appearance as a cold passerby in New York. She loved this experience. I think the acting bug has gotten hold of her!
• However, while at camp, she acquired a rash that has turned into blisters and involved 2 visits to urgent care, a call to a nurse, and a call to Dr. Mark. Wondering what the rash is? No one knows. I can't tell anymore if it's going away. Her feet are so blistered that she struggles putting shoes on.
• I love running in 50-60 degree weather. I didn't know that until I ran in 80 degree weather. It was hot this week. Many of you know that I smile my way through every run. (I don't know why I smile all the time...I just do). Well, this week nary a smile came across my face. It was just plain frickin' hot and frickin' humid. California won't be like this, right????
• Sarah ate a piece of taffy for breakfast...good mother alert, sorry. Wasn't watching. She cracked her "funky tooth". Had to take her to the dentist for a quick 15 minute fix. An hour later, we left the dentist. Are you following Sarah's crappy week? It's a good thing she has a positive attitude!
• Went for a 6 mile run on the bugline. I know that the bugline is buggy, but I really hate just HOW buggy it is. Nature update: saw a doe and fawn (again), over 10 chipmunks, a dead frog, and a woodchuck. A horsefly kept buzzing me...hate that! My face started itching. I ran with some makeup on. Must be allergic the new makeup. Guess I decided to join my baby girl in her rash experience. Still itchy and irritated...but not blistery.

• Paul rode his bicycle to work on Friday. It sounded like an incredible adventure! I love that he is joining the Go Green effort that Sarah keeps lecturing him about. If he doesn't watch it, he might become a democrat! Naw...hell would have to freeze over, first.
• Sarah won 3rd place for a picture she drew in a Humane Society art competition. If you visit HAWS in Waukesha, look for her picture!

So, as I close the blog for this week, I will again thank all of you for your support of what I am no longer believing is such a crazy idea. I love training for Napa! I have met so many incredible people--half of whom got caught in the downpour yesterday at training and still powered on...--and really gotten my body in shape and had the opportunity to see my husband truly proud of me. Thanks for asking how training is going and for supporting me when I get lazy. Keeping my face toward the SUNSHINE!

Napa or Bust!

Week 13--What a Week!

At Week 13's practice, this is what the runners saw when they got to the finish line. My daughter came with me. She made signs and brought clappers to make noise as the runners came in from 10-11 mile runs! I know they all enjoyed her energy. I couldn't wait to get to the end to see her!

I ran 10 miles today...it wasn't easy for some reason. I was hot. I had really bad hair...what's with that?! Maybe the humidity got to me. Here's a "too much information" caution. Ready for it--okay, so I will NEVER wear the cute gray skort again! I bought it because it looked cute, had shorts that seemed long enough, and was made by Nike. I always think exercise/sport type companies know something I don't. Anyway, the CHAFING was incredibly awful. At mile 5, the inside of my thighs started to feel uncomfortable. Miles 6 and 7, and my thighs were on fire. I thankfully ran into Jenny and Howie at mile 8 to take my mind off of the burning underneath the skirt! I ran like I just got off a horse for the last 2 miles. I'm actually surprised that my hips don't hurt from the unique strides I was taking.

Have to add some bragging to my blog this week. Look at that kick, would ya? Sarah graduated to her brown stripe belt. The next time she will graduate on a stage and receive her BLACK BELT! She is one tough cookie. She chose my father, her Papa, to present her with her new belt. My dad is an incredible man. During the school year, he took her to Karate every Wednesday. She looked forward to seeing him every week; they have a special relationship. Lucky girl! He wasn't the only one there, though. She had my mom there, her Nana--who made time in a very busy day to make it. I'll have to blog about their special bond on another day. Suffice to say...two peas in a pod! My sister and her husband came--What a nice surprise! And, her special crazy friend, Julie the Coolie, also came to share her special day.

Right after she sweat her butt off at karate, we drove to Sarah's Stride to benefit the Ronald McDonald house. The run was a 5K. It was 81 degrees and sunny. Sarah was totally pooped at mile 2. She, in fact, didn't know how she would make it back to Hart Park. That's when inspiration showed up. Inspiration came in the form of a dad. His name is Daryl. We met him at mile 2, and he shared the story of his son, Walker, with my daughter. You see, Walker is at Children's Hospital. He is very sick and cannot walk, much less run. Sarah promised Daryl that she would use the legs she had to push it to the end.

Angels come in all shapes and sizes. I don't know exactly who was the angel on Saturday during that walk--was it Daryl? or was it Sarah? I guess it doesn't matter. They were there for each other on Saturday and I had the absolute privilege to be a witness.

We finished the race. My baby girl and I.

This week was filled with wonder and friendships. From getting a few more donations to walking with a great friend during Relay for Life to meeting that angel in H(e)art Park to running with my TC friends at the lakefront. I know this is getting so sicky sweet, but how can I not take time out to say thank you!

p.s. thighs still sore today. Got red, puffy dots lining my inner thighs. Glad it's cool, so I can wear longer pants. Oy!

The 12 Weeks of Training...

Okay, so it's been 12 weeks. I am completely amazed at how far we have all come. I thought I was going to need a breathing machine after our first run in the Pettit. Now, I can jog 10 miles and still go about my day!

So, in honor of the last 12 weeks, here is "The 12 Weeks of Training" sung to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas. (Be forgiving on the syllabication)

On the first week of training, Becky Burris gave to me...a Team Challenge T-shirt (actually two of them!)

On the second week of training, Team Challenge gave to me a VERY pretty cork necklace (spirit award--whoooooo hooooo! I got spirit, yes I do; I got spirit, how 'bout you?)

On the third week of training, Team Challenge gave to me a bunch of fundraising tips (good stuff, guys!)

On the fourth week of training, Team Challenge gave to me a Colorado Running Team hat. (I don't even live in Colorado, but I am now an official member of their team because that's what my hat says...what, what?!)

On the fifth week of training, Team Challenge gave to me a trainer who promised me I would not die. (or at least not because of running...I mean some day I wll die, but rest assured not on Tim's watch :)

On the sixth week of training, my school family gave to me over $500 in donations. (I seriously work with the greatest staff on earth!)

On the seventh week of training, Team Challenge gave to me the need to see a chiropractor.

On the eighth week of training, Team Challenge gave to me support before my colonoscopy. (I love how this one sounds...colon looks beauteous and biopsies are negative)

On the ninth week of training, I pushed it way too hard. Ended up puking on someone's front yard. ('nuf said)

On the tenth week of training, Pilate Patty gave to me, one fantastic styrofoam roller. (See last blog about my almost sensual feelings about this exercise tool)

On the eleventh week of training, Mary gave to me the blessing of delightful conversations. (new hill hero!)

During the twelfth week of training, Team Challenge gave to me a new friendship family. (I am so thankful for all of the inspiration and motivation...oh yeah!--thanks Daily milers!)

It's a Team Effort

I love Team Challenge!

If it weren't for my team, I would have NEVER jogged 10 miles on Sunday morning. Every part of me wanted to NOT show up last Sunday. I wanted to sleep, but Paul insisted I get up and get ready. I couldn't find my Team Challenge shirt, then Sarah found it. I tried to drive to the Lakefront and got stopped by the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts. Sat for 20 minutes waiting for thousands of bikes to go by. Just when I believed I would turn around and go back home, a police officer waved my car through the intersection. I made it to training only 10 minutes late. The team even waited for me to go to the bathroom! I was meant to make it to training. And, quite thankful that my teammates believed we would all run 10 miles without any problems.

This experience is teaching me SO much about what it means to be part of a team. Mary and I talked our way through the run. Now, next week we will have Stephanie join our fold. Can't wait to hear her stories!

The downside of running this much so early in the morning...I got crabby. I will probably have to make some more apologies to my husband's family. I had my brow furrowed and brought only one bag of chips to feed like 15 people. Wasn't thinkin'...then I made it everyone else's fault. My attitude sucked, and I should have walked home or just drank more beer. I promise to be a better person after training this Sunday. No more attitude problems for this lady--if so, just smack me!

My doctor has not donated to my cause yet. I am kind of disappointed. He also hasn't called about my biopsies. I think this may be part of my attitude problem, as well. I still like him, just was hoping for some support (can you see my lower lip out?).

Lastly, if you do not have a styrofoam roller to use after exercising, you are missing out on a truly wonderful piece of equipment. I roll almost every part of my body daily! Lovin' the roller almost as much as I adore dark chocolate and Shiraz wine! Hmmmm...maybe I will try a combination of the roller, wine, and fine chocolate...ecstacy!

Here's to next week's training! Wine glasses up! Go Team Challenge--Go Team Wisconsin--Napa or Bust!