I can't believe it I did it~

This morning at 4:45 am when my alarm went off, I thought no way am I going. I have been sick all weekend and I have a great excuse. Then I thought about writing just hours before about wanting to be at the Gym at 5:00 and much better I would feel if I had actually said I did it. So I jumped out of bed, got on my clothes and was there as they opened.
A great hour and half work followed while I watched bits of Mama Mia, my Baltimore Marathon movie that I made and listened to the 2008 Olympic soundtrack (sad news about Michael Phelps, poor guy).
wow. I can't believe I did it. These late mornings for Jeff will hopefully be early mornings for me.

I was here!!

Last Saturday I completed my second Marathon in exactly 12 months. I had never run before a year and a half ago. Running has been a wonderful blessing for me, even though I am the slowest runner I have ever met. (seriously I have never met anyone who runs slower than me)

Before I write a little bit about my wonderful day, here is a little video montage of one of the best days of my life.

enjoy! I hope it motivates anyone thinking that they can't do a marathon - that you can do it!

Baltimore Under Armor Marathon,
Baltimore Maryland 2008

Sometimes it pays to manic!

it is 2:00 pm and I have...

• got up at 5:30 am and didn't even try to go back to sleep
• ran - (ha!) completed 17 miles on foot today
• listened to the entire book of the Alchemist while running (see it pays to be slow) AMAZING BOOK!
  
• Grilled lunch on the "Barbie"
• made an Apple pie for Jeff (huge sacrifice because I don't like apple pie)

Now I hope to finish the laundry all over my bed so that I can find a place to take a nap.

this can only mean one thing...

A trip to Fleet Feet to stock up on gu...

and making the best carbo filled baked ziti ever...

National Marathon Baked Ziti

16 oz. ziti pasta

1lb 10 oz. bottle spaghetti sauce (trader joe's has a great one)

6 oz. sliced provolone (or enough to cover 9x13)

6 oz. mozzarella cheese

1 ½ -2 cups sour cream

1 pd. Ground beef

1 onion, chopped

Grated parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. Brown ground beef and onion. Add spaghetti sauce. Layer as follows in a greased 9x13 pan. Half of the ziti, provolone cheese, sour cream, half of the sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese, and remaining sauce mixture. Top with parmesan cheese and bake at 350 for 30 min. or until cheese is melted.

and a sign like this can only mean one thing, someone in our family ran a marathon this weekend and I wish it would have been me..... but it was Jeff!

love this photo taken by Anne with the blurry American Flag

I think I am now convinced that I am married to Superman!

great photo taken by Jeff's mom as he is getting ready to cross the finish line

Anyone who trains for a marathon in the freezing winter of the East should get an extra t-shirt! I was so proud of Jeff for finishing the race but also knocking minutes off his time from the other one he ran just 5 months ago! ( i would love to have run by my 6 hour marathon finish doesn't qualify me to run anything more than the path in my neighborhood)

Jeff's parents came across the country to see him finish.

I of course cried! And the two little girls said as they went to bed, "my daddy is fast!"

The mayor of D.C. also ran and finished just after Jeff. He is responsible for starting this new marathon just 5 years ago.
But the true hero of the day was Anne! A blogging friend and also a marathon runner who came to cheer Jeff on.
we didn't make it to mile 16 where we had planned to meet him but Anne did. She snapped this photo and gave him the boost he said he so desperately needed!
Backcountry.com gets honorable mention for their merino wool zip shirt - Jeff says it was a life saver! note the goat!

it was great having him run it just to get this leg collapsing hug after he finished.

Way to go Superman!

Way to Be!

I took on the challenge of dedicating my run today to the life of President Hinckley. Thanks to Marathon Mommy who invited anyone to do so. I can guarantee I would never have gone running today without a purpose to go. I have definitely been feeling the effects this week of how my body handles cold weather - which is not great. My fibromyagia seems to rage through my body during the winter months and this week must have been it's Mardi Gras.

Jeff and Annie Kate had her basketball game to go to, so I knew if it was going to happen today I would have to be taking the kids for my 6 mile goal. Getting them dressed and in the stroller seemed to be more exhausting than normal and at least 5 times I tried to talk myself out of going. Exercise seems to be the one thing that helps me feel better but is is a catch 22 because it is the last thing i want to do when I feel bad.

the weather was actually amazing - in a weird East Coast February day. It was still freezing for me, but there was no ice falling from the sky like the day before so I was thrilled.

I downloaded the book "Way to Be!" 9 ways to be happy and make something of your life written by Gordon B. Hinckley.
summary of the book, not written by me -
"his inspiring, upbeat, life-affirming book shows teenagers and their families how to navigate through the moral minefields of contemporary life and how to truly enjoy the opportunities and blessings that the modern world has to offer."

This was amazing! I am going to have to listen to more books while running. I was a little worried I would not have the desire to run without my Radio Disney music blaring in my ears - but this was an amazing experience. It also helped me having all the 9B's written down and slipped under my rain guard on the stroller. I really thought about each one.

My stroller made it through many parts of the neighborhood

I slowed down for the school zone - hee hee.

While I don't usually go on the sidewalks with my sleigh I always love walking on this curve with the brick path.
this is my half way point by the river and where i always practice my "crossing the finish line" pose - yet I didn't do it today, i was way to into the book.
The part of the book "Be True" was on while I was walking down this part of the street. I loved his comment although I don't remember exactly how he said it but that we have to believe that "what we do today will affect our tomorrow." I realized how much I learned this during training for the marathon - me taking the time to rest helped me better to run, me choosing to run made me stronger for the race, what I put in my body for 6 months helped me on the day of. I seem to barely be learning this point of investing in myself today for tomorrow.
The end of my run I was able to end going past our church building. I am truly grateful to be a member of my church and to have a prophet to guide it. I am grateful for his wise wisdom in encouraging me to be:

Grateful, Smart, Clean, True,
Humble, Involved, Positive, Still and Prayerful

I would highly reccomend this book for any age at any stage of life and any religion and would be happy to send a copy of the book if this is your first time hearing about it.

5.5 for Ryan Shay

This morning I took the challenge to run 5.5 miles for Ryan Shay, who died on November 3 at mile 5.5 at the Olympic trials.
We are leaving early this morning for our Thanksgiving vacation and so for me to do this i knew I would have to be up by 5:45 am to get it in. I actually woke up before my alarm because I was excited to do it.
It was cold, cold, cold! But with the help of 3 layers, 2 unmatching gloves and my green coat it was just fine. Before I left I ran downstairs and grabbed a scrap of fabric and wrote "Running for Ryan 5.5" and pinned it on the back.
the challenge was to dedicate your run and think of his family but also your own family during your run. I thought most of the time of how grateful I am for experience of going to church downtown this year and what a blessing it has been for our family.
I listened to all of my slow songs on my idod and had a really awesome emotional run. Carrie Underwood's "I'll stand by you" got listened to more than once. I even high fived a cute grandpa out running.
The streets were more empty than they have been this summer and I enjoyed only seeing my feet on the street.

Super Feet

I went into Fleet Feet the other day to get a pair of Super Feet. The salesman did a great job of convincing me to try on some different shoes. I have been wearing Brooks for a few years and she had me try on some New Balance shoes. Oh my what a difference. They were awesome shoes and of course the most expensive in the store. I have been trying to really teach myself how to run lately and am feeling the pain. I did 7.2 miles on Monday... wow! It is exciting to even type that number.
So they didn't have my "11.5" size, which is the yardage I give away for any ribbon winnings. One of my feet measure 9 1/2 so wearing that big of shoe is still kind of weird for me. So I had them special ordered.
The store owner called me today to say they don't make the shoe in a 11.5 but they make it in a 12! What a 12!! I am totally over the fact what a running shoe's size is or color and just want comfort but I don't know if I can wear a 12 - I think it is going to be too sloshy in the heel, but he says to give it a try.
So, the ribbon winnings may be going up half a yard.

*** and my blog header disappeared so i am in attempts to make a new one. the one right now is driving me crazy - but will have to do until I have more time to work on it. Anyone have any great ideas of what I could use as "Everything Pink" banner?