Plagiarism at its finest

Since I yet again down and out with illness ~ this time just a lousy head cold that makes my brain want to explode ~ and am not feeling particularly bloggy.....I'll simply pass along some plagiarized material.

THIS, friends.... is quite possibly the funniest blog post I have ever read. Seriously makes me want to go and run a marathon. Hope you laugh as much as I did!!!

0 for 2

Those are the current standings of Project:Morning Run at my house this week. Sadly, it just ain't happening.

I need to run in the mornings because I am just way too tired at night ~ yet the morning schedule at our house is just so hectic that I can't make it work. I am counting the days until summer vacation (for both hubby and kids) so that I can return to my beloved early morning runs. The only bad part is that by that time, it will be 90 degrees at 5am :X

So I am attempting plan B: Tae-Bo ~ an old, faithful workout companion of mine that I can do in the early morning hours ~ even if it's dark outside, or hubby is gone and the kidlets are sleeping. It's not exactly a run ~ but it's a workout, and that is what I need right now. One thing at a time.

On the weight loss front, all is still well. I gained back 2 of the pounds I lost while I was sick - which I totally expected. I had lost waaaay too much water weight for it to stay gone. No problemo.....I'm still down on the scale, which makes me happy. I'm eating right and feeling good....so I can't complain.

On another exciting front, I'm psyched to say that the American Odyssey Relay team that I posted about a while back has become a REALITY!!! There are 11 other lunatics that have agreed to run a relay of close to 200 miles, and when they aren't out pounding the pavement, they'll be hanging out in the close confines of a club van with stinky ol' me ;) Micheline and I are working on the pre-registration details for our team, and the plan is to be registered by the early registration deadline in July. I'll post more on this when I have time ~ including links to some of my fantastic fellow-blogger-team-members: Nat, Jeff, Katie, Rob, Susan, Micheline and Ken!!! One thing for sure ~ we are going to have a BLAST!

And lastly, a big shout out to Nancy once again for the fabulous virtual race last weekend!! It is highly unlikely that this woman knows exactly how much inspiration she provides for runners all over the place! ;) I would never have run 10K that day if it weren't for the support and inspiration from Nancy, and all the other Cave People out there!!! I'm proud to be a Club-Carrying member of this great association! Thanks again, Nanc......you ROCK!

Cavepeople 10K on the 10th: A Recovery WOGG

The Grand Race Plan: Eileen and I had a great 10K run planned at Toka Sticks Golf Course ~ a brand new venue for both of us. Even Pat ~ my long lost running buddy ~ was enticed and considered heading out the run with us. It was supposed to be the crack of dawn ~ a bright and early 6am run to beat the heat. Been on the books for over a couple weeks ~ it was gonna be SWEEEEEET.

But when life gets in the way, sometimes you just have to regroup. Eileen and I canceled the Toka Sticks run as a result of things beyond our control ~ specifically that my last 2 weeks consisted only of the following:

1. minor surgery

2. the stomach flu

3. absolutely no running whatsoever (unless I get credit for the 3.5678 miles that I ran back and forth to the bathroom during event noted in #2 above. Ewwww, I know.)

So we scrapped Toka Sticks for another day when we figured we could actually have a *fun* run out there, instead of a Pokey-Bodily-Torture-Run. My legs were still aching every time I climbed the stairs in my house, and my body just hasn't recovered yet. Friends don't let friends witness that kind of bodily abuse ;)

The Revised Plan: A few miles on my own on Saturday morning, just to make myself feel better mentally. No worries, I'd tell the trusty Cavepeople Race Director that I just wasn't able to participate. Afterall, can't worry about something that you can't control.....I'd just see what kind of mileage I was able to knock down without killing myself.

What Actually Happened:

• 5:00 am - Alarm Clock - Oh crap, I am supposed to run this morning. SNOOZE.


• 5:09 am - Okay Pokey, snooze time is over. Time to get the feet on the floor and out the door. But crap, I just don't feel like running. I'm tired, my right calf still aches...I can't possibly go out and run today. I'll get back at it next week. SNOOZE.


• 5:18 am - No REALLY......I need to run. Even if it's a mile or two. I NEED a run. Reached under the bed, pulled out the club, and beat away all the hesitation. Feet on the floor.


• 5:55 am - Out the door.

The plan was simple: run when I could, walk when I wanted ~ cover some distance without hurting myself. Easy as pie. Just enjoy being out and moving for the first time in 2 weeks. I headed for my typical 4.5 mile loop around my house.

Everything still worked, although not well. Legs were tired, breathing was labored, body was a bit out of control (arms flailing like a wounded woodland animal).....but I was moving. I walked a lot, no problem there.

2 miles in to my wogg (oooh, there's that word again!) I approached the turn for the loop back to my house. That's when I made the rash decision to keep going straight.....transforming my loop to 6.5 miles. I was going to do the 10K after all!

So I ran....and walked.....and ran.....and walked......all the while using my club to beat away the thoughts that nagged in my brain about having to turn in such a lousy time for this virtual race. I didn't matter. Mileage mattered ~ movement mattered ~ that was all.

It was truly, without a doubt, the slooooooooowest run EVER! I think somewhere between mile 3 and 4, I got passed by these guys, who were more than cordial.

Then I met this new running friend around mile 5 when my body was really starting to yell at me. He gave me a little pep talk, a high five, and went on his way. I wonder if he had a virtual race today too???

About half a mile later, my legs were aching.....I could start to feel the beginnings of some cramps coming on. This is where brains had to prevail over determination. I turned off Garmie at 5.5 miles, smiled at my accomplishment ~ and walked the mile home with the other new friends I met out on the pavement today.


Total mileage was 6.5 miles.

Is it weird that I finished this race feeling the better about myself than I ever have? Is it weird that my time is so beyond horrible, that I won't even post it? Is it weird that movement just for the sake of movement ~ out in great weather on a beautiful morning ~ is more important than race pace or finish time?

TOTALLY.

But I never claimed to be normal :P

So it is with great honor that I have completed the Cavepeople 10K on the 10th of May, and award myself with the most prestigious award that the running community can bestow:

DEAD ASS LAST

I had an acceptance speech all prepared, but I think you get my point. For those expecting a race time out of me, you'll have to remain disappointed (although as a teaser I'll just say that my best single mile pace was 13:20....and that was for Mile 1!!!! tee hee....)

Aside from my fancy dancy award, the next most fulfilling thing about this race: completing something that I really - by all intents and purposes - shouldn't have been able to do today. COMPLETION. It's what drives me. Finishing last isn't the downer I had always assumed it would be. So Mrs. Race Director - put me down as Dead Ass Last - with a big smile :)

But you want to know the real added bonus from today?? I absolutely positive that I finished LIFETIMES ahead of all those couch potatoes who didn't even start :)

Hope you ALL had just a just as wonderful 10K today!!!!

The Heart Keeper

Eleven years ago today my heart left my body for the first time, and took root in an 8 pound bundle of joy. After I got over the initial feeling of being scared to death at this new little phenomenon in front of me, over the years I watched my heart run about in its new location – taking first steps, speaking first words, getting on the school bus for the first time, riding a bike, playing football.

It’s an amazing feeling that only a parent can understand when you truly watch your heart – your whole being, every ounce of yourself – walking around in a being separate from your own.

You can’t protect your heart yourself, as it is totally under the control of its Keeper. Over time, it will be elated, broken, stepped upon, proud, disappointed ~ sometimes all at the same time. It all depends on the Keeper.

Today is a special day for one of my Keepers – and he makes me so proud to be a mom.


Happy Birthday my big man……your mom loves you so very much!

New Weight Loss Formula

I have to confess that I have cheated already on my 10 pound weight loss goal ~ and lost 5 pounds already in the past 5 days.

Wanna know my secret? Do ya…..huh? huh?

Well, here’s the secret formula:

Surgery + Stomach Flu = Less Pounds for Pokey

Sadly enough, I don’t really recommend my new secret. It has kicked my tail for the past 4 days!!! Not the surgery part – that was easy ~ it’s the stomach flu that has me beat.

Hubby and I both had the bug the entire weekend ~ and had to farm our kids out to grandparents to keep them from going stir crazy and/or being infected after being locked up with sick parents for so long. It was insane.

So I’m behind in blogging and reading, behind at work, behind in running, and behind at life in general….it appears the only thing I’m ahead in is in weight loss ;)

Okay, so I’ll take it. I’ve learned not to be choosey when it comes to weight loss. It’s the first time my scale has seen the 150’s in over 2 years. I expect to gain a bit back as my body recovers, but it sure is nice to be sustantially in a different range on the scale. I’m only 7.5 pounds away from my personal weight goal; 12.5 pounds away from what the oh-so-lovely-weight-charts tell me that I *should* weigh for my height. I plan on being there before my next big race ;)

Sorry to dangle the 10 pound challenge in front of everyone and then drop off the planet….life just happens like that sometimes I guess. I’m still holding out hope that I’ll be able to run the 10K on the 10th this weekend….but we’ll have to see how the ol’ body holds up this week.

Hope you are all running well ~ I snuck a few quick blog peeks this morning and have to say congrats to Lisa for a great Splash & Dash ~ and to Laura for totally kicking the tail out of that half marathon ~ and last….but especially not least – to Jeff for completing his very first FULL MARATHON!!! For those who don’t know him well, this man has been an amazing source of inspiration for me! You da man Jeff!

And to my favorite partner in crime, the woman who has not donned running shoes since late January but can still complete a half marathon in about the time it takes me WITH training (can you say beaaaaatch!!!!)….congrats to Micheline on a great half marathon up in Reno this past Sunday as well. I would love to see what she could accomplish if she actually tried! :P

Happy Running this week!

Thought for the day

Just Plain Busy

WOW! I had no idea that when I threw out the idea of a *10 Pound Challenge* that I would have so many takers!!!! If I had, I obviously would have thought through my idea a bit better before opening my mouth ;)

I’m thinking on it….but I am just swamped with not much time to blog.

My girlie procedure went WONDERFULLY and I am feeling fantastic! Thanks for all the well wishes!!

Once I unbury myself from all the work I have fallen behind on lately, I’ll be back (in my best Terminator voice!) :P