Bad Bad Mom

Pls let me preface this story with this... MM has always thought that play bitting is funny. Nothing sets her off like pretending you are going to bite her belly. That being said, I do not excuse my bad judgement.


Friday, Corey and I dropped the girls at  my mom's house so we couldhave a rare date night. As usuall, we were being silly in the truck. By the time we pulled into the drive way, I told Li (jokingly) to bite MM's foot. She did bite her hard. Really hard. Poor MM was so shocked it took her a second to cry. And Li was so shocked when we fussed at her. After all, I told her to bite her sister. Of course, I felt guilty. I still feel guiltly.


Oh well. No real damage done. But I learned a valuable lesson 

Happy Thanksgiving

This year I have much to be thankful for. 

I'm thankful for

• My sweet, strong willed girls who make me laugh and regularly play nice together
• My husband who puts up with my running obsession, makes my life easier, and is always in a good mood
• My job that give me the freedom to work 30hrs wk (not 40)
• My husband's job that he enjoys and is glad to have
• My family who feed us dinner, entertain us, support us and sooo much more
• My little sister who will listen to me blather on about running and the girls and whatever else is on my mind 
  
• 
  
• A reliable babysitter
• My in-laws who's calmness is always nice to be around
  
• Running... the strength, the peace, self-acceptance and lots more that it gives me
• Bloggy friends who share their thoughts and lives with us strangers on the web
  

 

If, like me, you have a lot to be thankful for, please take a minute ans support my effort to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  

Random Toughts About Running

I have two random thoughts about running that have been rolling around in my head:



1. I do not understand how people run outside where it's cold and rainy.  I ran 6 mi on the street on Sunday. It was drizzling and chilly. Decided to wear a long sleeve shirt for the first time this season. The whole run I couldn't decide if I was hot or cold.  But then I guess people can't understand how I run in 95deg weather.



2. I have come to the conclusion that running is like an evangelical religion. Those of us true believers are compelled to recruit others. We talk about the peace and joy it brings us.  On that note, I want to congratulate and encourage my friend, LB, who is trying to convince herself that she is a runner.

Yea! - Runnig Buddy

Usually, I run by myself. I like it that way. I get time to myself and to think my own thoughts. When you have small children, you don't get a lot of that.

But the last few months, I've had a hard time convincing myself to run all the miles required by my training. Long runs are never an issue. It's the weekday 3-4mile runs that kill me. That sounds so silly that it's easier for me to run 7, 8, 10miles than 3miles. But its true.

I have found the solution. A running buddy.  Yes I know, it's not a new concept.

It's not that I didn't want someone to run with, I just never had anyone. See, I'm slower than everyone else. WAY slower. It's a streatch to call what I do running. Also, I don't have a lot of  time to run. And I live in a small town outside of NOLA where I don't know a lot of people.


But thanks to Team In Training, I now have a buddy! There's a girl in my town who runs a similar speed. It's tough for her to make it to the group training too. It's like we were fated to run together.

Our first running date was Sunday morning. She met me at my house at 6:30AM and we were off for our run. We only needed to run 3 for our training but we ended up running 3.5mi. We talked a little at first. But mostly we just tried to find a comfortable pace and get comfortable with each other.

As far as first dates go, I think it went well. I thought about getting a picture with her for my blog but I didn't want to come on too strong. :)

Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge

Over the last few months, I've been working really hard to loose weight and train for my first half-marathon. The training has been so intense that I've been looking forward to running because I felt like it not because it's required. Of course guilt kinked in and I started to worry that if I slacked off, the holidays would undo all of my efforts. Then all of my cyber-stalking of other running obsessed girls paid off.

Amanda, who writes Run to the Finish, is starting her 2nd annual Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge. I love this idea. Hopefully, it will keep me focused on my goals. If you're interested if playing along too, I'm sure she'd love to have you join.

Race Report: Inaugural Jazz Half-Marathon New Orleans

On Halloween morning, I ran my first half-marathon. This was the inaugural Jazz half-marathon (13.1mi). My sister, Erin, convinced me to run this as my first half.  I'm glad she did. When I started training in April, I could barely run a 5k (3.1mi). 


I really enjoyed the training. The long runs give me time to myself every week to think. And I've been amazed at how far/long I can run if I push myself. There have been times when the training felt like a burden and I don't enjoy getting up at 3:45AM 2-3 times a week to run. But I'm happy with the results. 

The morning of the race started off cold and drizzly. I was worried because I trained in the hot muggy New Orleans summer weather. Cold muscles behave differently than warm ones. But once I started running, I was fine. I took my jacket off with in the first 20mins.

Luckily, I met up with my friend Scott right as the race started. I really wanted to get a pre-race picture of us. But I couldn't figure out where to stash it for the race. 

The race started in the Warehouse district, then down St. Charles to Audubon Park and back to the Casino.  

I had a good race. It was some of the best running I've ever done. I has hoping for to complete in 2hrs 45mins. I finished in 2:45:33.8. 

Corey, Mel and the girls were at the finish line waiting for me

For a minute there, I did feel like I might pass out

But I didn't and I've already signed up for the Mardi Gras half-marathon. But this time, I am doing it for a cause. Please help me raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Happy Halloween

We had a great Halloween. The weather was perfect and the girls had fun Trick or Treating. 


Cutie Girl Witches 

I couldn't convince MM to stand for  me to get a good picture. And I thought Lilly was stubborn. 

Their faces in this one cracks me up.