Great Workout Week, 8 miles--almost, and a Colonoscopy

A big Thank You goes out to my family this week. They are so supportive of my need to get out and keep up with my training. My husband even deals with my attitude at 5 am when I know I have to get up and train, actually asked him to wake me up, and yet give him major harumphs when he tries to get my butt out of bed.

I have discovered one thing...there are a lot of people out running in Sussex at 5 in the morning! I think I "ran into" at least 6 people and half of them I knew. Just a few months ago I was dead to the world at this time, while others were out getting themselves in shape! And, now, I am one of those crazy people.

I got my bike out this week AND stuck with the jogging training schedule. Kind of feel rock starish. I was even told that I LOOKED LIKE A RUNNER this week. Seriously? I have never been given that kind of compliment. In fact, my husband is getting incredibly frustrated with my need to "keep a little energy--just in case" mentality with every sport I do. When I finish anything, including the 8 mile jog, I am never totally exhausted. Paul can't stand that I don't have a competitive edge in my attitude. Why don't I? I'm okay...just finishing. So, for Paul, I promise to try and use all my stored energy in my runs. I promise to come home from the short runs exhausted...

On Saturday, I ran 7.92 miles. When I drive the route, it's 8 miles...so let's count it as 8...okay? The run went really well. There were so many people beeping, giving shout-outs, and "purposely-almost hitting me" that I seriously lost count. How great is that! Thanks to every person who yelled "Sankey" or "Keep Going!" Everything motivates me to keep it up. I had to stop at mile 2.3 for a potty break at McDonald's It was my only potty break! Yeah. Saw my friend Monica and her son there. Monica had a boxing glove key chain that represents the saying "FIGHT LIKE A GIRL." That's all I thought about for another few miles--how strong she is in her fight against cancer! And, how lucky I am to have her as a friend. She also offered me her brother's toilet in case I had to go to the bathroom again. Only good friends offer their brother's restrooms.

Had to stop for water at mile 5...okay, I didn't have to stop. But, I really wanted just a slurp of something wet and cold. So, I stopped at Cousin's. Such a great girl who gave me the water cup. I only had a 5K to go from Cousin's to my home! During the last three miles, I had to get my mind on something else. I was sick of the songs on Sarah's ipod and really needed a way to pass my time...

I thought about the top 5 reasons I love to jog:
1. I love to get lost in my thoughts
2. I like the change in the shape of my legs
3. There is a high that comes from a good jog and support from friends
4. I have met a lot of dogs--big and small
5. I get to hang out with Team Challenge

I also thought about the top 5 things that annoy me when I jog:
1. People who smoke cigarettes--nothing like jogging by a car who's owner smoke.
2. Unleashed dogs--they love to run after objects (me) running! especially little yippy ones
3. Constantly feeling like I have to go to the bathroom
4. Sweating...I just don't like it.
5. Gnats

Silpada Party Update:
The party went really well. I am seriously blessed with friends who love jewelry. I am right there with ya! Julie Cimpl gave me a percentage of each sale. I don't know the total yet, but I am once again thankful for everyone's generosity!


Just finished the last of the "prep" for my colonoscopy in 2 short hours. I am fearful...don't know why...please, oh please, colon...look healthy.

Hope everyone has a great week! Only 13 more days with the kiddos before I get to be home wiht my kiddo for the summer!!!!

Who I ran for this week, a need for hugs, and Silpada Jewelry party!

Wow! There are so many people affected by Crohn's and/or Colitis. It is truly amazing how many people I have had the opportunity to meet through my participation in Team Challenge.

I met the parents of Aaron. His dad is the brother of my good friend. Aaron found out he had Crohn's when he was 11 years old. He is 19 years old now. He is living with the disease and on medication. I was overwhelmed by his story and his resilience. It must be so difficult for the parents of kids suffering with IBD disease. I am running for Aaron this week. It's because of him that I was able to run 6 miles yesterday...lost in thought.

Got a phone call from a friend, Patty Pauer. She has to switch medications. She has Crohn's. She's scared of all the new side effects. Just another thing that people suffering with this disease have to deal with...the side effects. So lucky that I could find such kind team members (Greg and Nancy Toler) who were willing to talk with her about her new medication. I ran for Patty on Saturday...3.1 miles (or according to Sandy Ehlert's chip 3.34 miles).

My hill hero this week is Trainer Tim! Thanks for talking me up those hills. I didn't stop to walk on Sunday...I kept running (against the wind, no less), even if it looked like I wasn't moving.

I am starting to freak out a bit. Monday, May 24th, I have a colonoscopy scheduled. Give me a hug when you see me this week because I get weepy even thinking about what happened just one year ago--the whole removing my colon, cancer, illeostomy bag, blah, blah. I NEED the biopsies to show that my disease is under control. I am feeling healthy, but sometimes I worry that my smile can't hide what might be happening inside my colon. I get caught up in the childish belief that if I wish hard enough, bad stuff won't happen.

I plan on going to practice on Sunday...don't know if I can run or not if I am fasting--Trainer Tim, a little help on that call? I do plan on running 8 miles on Saturday (instead of Sunday), though, as I think I won't be able to fast and run my longest on the day before a colonoscopy. My mom's house is about 8 miles from mine. A run from Sussex to the Falls via the Bugline. Anyone want to join me?

Thanks so much for reading my blog. Hope to see you at my party or running to the Falls on Saturday!

SILPADA JEWELRY party this THURSDAY from 4:30-7:00

It's an open house format, so please come and enjoy appetizers, beverages (my famous peach punch will be served), and jewelry.

Training Success Story!

Feeling SO good about "Me" today that I just had to update my blog! Remember how I sucked up the Lakefront last week Sunday? Well, I decided to kick it in the rear this week.





Despite have a sinus "something", I kept to my training schedule. Let me update:


Monday: eliptical for 30 minutes while watching DVR'd Biggest Loser (Talk about motivation!)


Tuesday: shuffled, ahem...I mean jogged 45 minutes IN THE HEAT! Thought my head was going to burst. Ran a stupid route though...


Wednesday: 30 minute easy jog


Thursday: AFTER CONFERENCES, shuffled 48 minutes all over the town of Sussex. Should have shuffled my way to Su Casa...apparently missed a good time--bummed.


Friday: Bowled a 157! Whoot Whoot! (second game was a 103 but no need to talk about that one :) Who's the Ridgeview Bowling League's Champions???? 2 years in a row, no less!


Saturday: Jogged an easy 30 minutes against the wind--BOTH WAYS! Huh? How is that possible?


Sunday "Mother's Day": Breakfast in bed with my family, trip to Brennan's for sweet and juicy fruit, lunch at Mancino's, trip to Cabelas--Sarah got a gun, and back home. Ran 60 minutes on the Bugline to Lisbon Park. Loved every moment of my mother's day. Only problem? I now know why Mancino's sandwiches are called "GRINDERS." Ugh!








HERE'S MY CHALLENGE to all those following my blog this week. See if you can follow my training schedule? It might be tough because I saw rain in the forecast through Thursday...erg!


Monday: 16 mile bike ride

Tuesday: 45 minute easy shuffle--thinking of running Maple to Main to 164 to Good Hope to Maple (I call this my Starbuck Square-kinda catchy ain't it?).

Wednesday: 30 minute not so easy jog. I will admit that I don't know what "not so easy" means. I feel like I am stuck in one gear, but I will give it a shot. Dinner with Mom at Cafe Vinno--yum!

Thursday: 45 minute jog/shuffle/run--maybe a combination.

Friday: BREATHE..........ahhhhhhhhhh.....

Saturday: 5K for Ric Ballin at Lisbon Park. So proud to be a Hamilton School District educator who can support such a great teacher!

Sunday: Team Challenge at 9:00 am.

Rummage Sale Canceled

My life is spinning out of control....and....just can't handle trying to get the rummage together. We decided to postpone until June.

However, plan on May 20th at my abode from 4:30-7:00 (wine and beer and snacks will be served) for a Silpada party. A percentage of the purchase will be donated to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation!

I have to run 45 minutes after conferences tonight...my throat hurts....wahhhhh! I'll do it though. Thinking that my family better follow me in the truck again. It's so inspirational when they hang out the windows and yell for me to keep going. Have I said how much I love my husband and daughter? So thankful for my friends who keep inspiring me with their stories. I am truly surrounded by love.

Heavy feet, Excuses and OMG!

Yesterday I had the absolute honor to work with my friend Monica and our two daughters at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. We worked so hard that we couldn't do the 3 mile walk...so we acted like cheerleaders! It was so much fun to give woot-woots to all the walkers. Hope the people in Napa can do the same for me :)

Okay...I didn't train like I was supposed to this week. I did Crazy Legs and then went to Chicago for 3 days. I tried the treadmill, but I didn't go as long as I was supposed to. I was dog tired! Came home and rode my bike 3 miles to work and ran 2 miles on Friday morning. I ran 2 miles on Saturday, but it was a S-L-O-W run because I did it with Sarah. She was tuckered.

Therefore...today's 5 mile run felt like I was starting training over! OMG did I stink up the Lakefront. I am so angry with myself for being a big LAZY butt this week. My feet felt like cement blocks and my side hurt...So, I decided I needed to get organized. I wrote down what I need to do this month daily for training. This way, my family and friends can really ride me when I am acting tired or lethargic.

If anyone wants to follow my training this week, I need to:

1. Cross train on Monday. I will be biking to school.

2. Run an easy 45 minutes on Tuesday--Thinking of taking the Bugline to Lannon

3. Run an easy 30 minutes on Wednesday

4. Run an easy 45 minutes on Thursday

5. Bowl on Friday--hoping all the training will up my average?

6. Run an easy 30 minutes on Saturday...and have a Rummage Sale

7. Run 5 miles "not so easy" on MOTHER's DAY! Really? Not so easy on a day I am supposed to be sitting around eating Bon Bons? Ugh! Last day of the Rummage.

Just noticed that on May 23rd, I am supposed to run 8 miles! HOLY MOLY from 5 miles to 8 miles in a split second! I know I can do it and I am motivated more now than I ever have been. I need my body to start feeling the same...Come on body--ignore your age--ignore any negative thoughts--think light! Think free! Think of exactly how long a Half Marathon is and get cracking!

Five Miles, the VP, and a Huge Shout-OUT!

Crazy Legs was SO fun! Okay, the night before I didn't think it was going to be all that fun. All I could hear was rain bouncing heavily off of our roof. The dawn broke and just a little mist emerged...Yeah! Got to Madison with time enough to pee for the zillionth time! Why is it that when I even have the idea I plan on running, I have to go to the bathroom? I will admit that I was nervous. The longest I had ever run before this race was 4 miles and I was running with Kimberli LongLegs (see below, but you can't see her legs. Trust me, they are long). The pavement was wet, but the football players were young and hot--great idea to have the athletes high-fiving. This was perfect incentive!!!! And, I was "off". I'll admit it, I couldn't keep up with the long-legged lady and the hill-of-death kicked my butt. But, after the burning sensation in my thighs wore off, I was able to keep a good pace; I mean shuffle. I did pass a man that looked to be 100 years old. Almost felt guilty. At mile 4, they played the Rocky theme--Trainer Tim is now my God...this theme made me laugh and know that I was going to make it to the end! Who doesn't run a little faster when you hear "Gonna Fly now......Flying high now..... Gonna Flyyyyyyyyy----yyyyyyyyyy!" Running into the stadium and knowing that I did it in less than an hour with friends waiting was absolutely invigorating. Look at all these phenomenal women. The margarita senoritas are IN THE HOUSE! Now for the Team Challenge section: I wore my shirt. I am proud as punch to wear my Team Challenge shirt because I know that running in spirit with me were all my teammates. And, for whomever shouted, "Go Team Challenge" at mile 3...you rock! I even heard my name yelled. I don't know if the name shout-out was for me because if I try to look at people when I run or walk, I tend to trip or run into things. Seriously, almost ran into the speed limit sign on Maple Avenue. However, it doesn't matter because I was running and I was doing it...yes! Team Challenge is that angel's whisper pushing me to keep going. I am so thankful for the TEAM. Go Team Challenge; Go Team Wisconsin!



This blog is kind of late in the making because I was in Chicago rubbing elbows with authors who are seriously like ROCK STARS in my mind. And, you will see in the picture below that I got to meet former vice-president Al Gore. His message was about Going Green--you gotta know that. He was talking to the choir there...who's a total foodie? Anyway, another great message was one of needing women to lead, to teach, to educate. Here's a man who truly gets it. Without women, there are no solutions to global problems. I cannot understand any nation where a woman runs the risk of imprisonment for being able to read. I need our kids to get it! To think that my students are surrounded by mountains of books they choose not to read, when women in other countries long to be able to read them...frightening.
Finally, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, we made our goal this week! While I will continue fundraising, I don't have to freak out that I haven't made my minimum. I will be forever in awe, for the rest of my life, of all of the people who donated money to this cause. The economic times are scary, but this disease is too. Thank you for every penny that you donated. I am confident that the money will be used well! I am living proof that new medicine and a controlled diet can help some of us who are suffering.

Next week I will be making an appointment for another colonoscopy. I am nervous, but so hopeful as well. I have felt healthy for several months and I am confident the procedure will show that my body is responding favorably to the treatment. If not, the circle of friends around me has certainly shown me that I won't ever be alone. I really need Dr. Khanna to help me with the anxiety of having to clean my colon out...I think a nice dose of valium is definitely in order--not that I recommend random drug taking, it just makes the whole process seem, oh....less harsh. Happy Thought, Happy Thoughts!

Going to be waking up early to run tomorrow morning...if you are traveling through Sussex at 5:00 am, give me a honk or two :) Saturday, please take time to join one of the walks to fight breast cancer. If you will be at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at Discovery World, stop by the Children's Tent. We will be face painting and making ribbons!

See the Team on Sunday at Lake Park--looking forward to a great run!

Inspiration and Attitude--This is a Sugary Sweet One!

Who am I running for? Wow! Now that is a loaded question. I started this Half Marathon with my own condition in mind. I am realizing that this condition is so much greater than my stinkin' colon. I am also running for my friend, Jean who has Crohn's disease. She had to have surgery to remove part of her colon. She's got the same doctor as me...I think you guys realize that I love this guy! Whooooo Hooooo Dr. Khanna! As I went around Templeton Middle School to collect money for CCF, I heard so many stories! Wow! Moms and fathers, brothers and sisters, daughters and sons. I am running for the families of everyone who shared your story with me. I am overwhelmed to know that so many suffer in silence. I am overwhelmed to know that so many people were willing to share their stories. Please know that each story has a special place in my heart--it's this place that helped me run this week.

Yup...I was Rocky this week. I made it past the albatross of 3 miles! I ran 4 miles on Thursday and felt great. I loved the honking horns and high fives from each passersby. Every high five gave me the energy to keep going. When I was feeling done, the song "It's a Beautiful Day" came on my ipod! I started to sing outloud and throw my hands in the air. Yup! It was a beautiful day...and now today I exceeded my goals again.

Trainer Tim seriously has a smile that lights up even the brightest morning. My goal was 4 laps and 4 times up the stairs today. That's 4 miles with Lake Bistro stairs. His smile and the lovely conversation from Mary really was motivating. Found a dog person who likes to talk--gotta love it! Mary's son is suffering from Crohn's disease. He is so young and has so much life ahead of him. Really feeling blessed to help him find a cure. Mary's mother also suffers from Crohn's. Mary's motivation motivates me.! Couldn't even feel that it was only 43 degrees being surrounded by such a great team--Go Team Challenge!

Now to the really sappy part...I am crying just trying to type this up. Thank you to everyone for contributing what you have from the 13 cents in your desk to the $250 donation. I appreciate EVERY penny more than any one of you will ever know. I also enjoyed watching my colleagues delve through their desks for change. I collected over $300 in change. Some of it was sticky and I had some lint and old rubber bands to pick through, but seriously, can you believe we have that many pennies, nickels and dimes sitting in our desks? The family support feels fabulous! I have said this before, but my family really ROCKS! Thank you for not just the donations, but also the wonderful inspirational notes.

Next Saturday I will be running with a group of phenomenal women in Madison for Crazy Legs. Get to check off another goal--5 miles! Pray for a beautiful Spring day.

If you are following my blog and want to make a donation, please go to: http://active.com/donate/napa10wisconsin/napa10PSankey