I'm not a virgin!!

So, last Sunday (5k day--University of Toledo's Pi Kappa Something-or-other's Run for the Kids to benefit Children's Miracle Network) started out interestingly enough. When my friend, Jen, and I arrived at the registration / starting area for the 5k, we found nothing more than 5 or 6 other runners. We looked around a bit, talked with some of the other runners and sat in a warm building for a while--it was quite chilly (about 40 degrees). And then, about 30 minutes late, the very official-looking (sarcasm) registration table was set up in the middle of the parking lot between 2 cars. Three or four possibly hungover college guys (clad in jeans, a sweatshirt and FLIP FLOPS, no less ... it was 40 freakin' degrees!!) clumsily scanned the registration papers, handed out t-shirts, signed up a few more people and co-ordinated the start of the race. We were told what the layout of the course would be, that it would be marked and people would be on course to stop traffic as needed ... we were told all this by one guy standing in front of about 75-100 runners talking loudly. Not highly effective. No biggie, we figured there would be plenty of other runners we could follow. We were cold and looking forward to the start ... which was surprisingly official--a starter's pistol.

Bang! We were off and running. Woohoo! My first 5k! I was feeling all fluttery and excited. We started in the back of the pack and passed a few people early as everyone sorted out their pace. At the one mile mark (an orange cone on the side of the course), Jen told me our time was 10:15. Seriously?? That's faster than I've ever run before! Woohoo! At mile 2 (another orange cone and a frat guy with cups of water and a stopwatch) our time was 20:30. Seriously?? I was actually keeping pace at my fastest time ever?? Woohoo! Oh yeah, I had to pee, too. Darn it. That always happens. Just keep running. Third mile, we decided that for the last half mile we'd pick up the pace a bit and then really run the last tenth. Good plan--although I did doubt how much gas I'd have in the tank for either of those said plans. So, 2.6 miles into the 5k, we ran a little faster ... not a lot, but a little faster. I was tired, breathing hard and tired (did I mention that already?), but Jen was awesome. She's a great pep-talker, ego booster and drill sergeant trainer (but the nice kind). She helped me stay focused and encouraged me all the way. When we hit the last tenth, I had a surprising burst of energy / ability to stretch it out and kick it in for the finish. I was the 50th person across the line (no actual line, just the frat guys handing out popsicle sticks with numbers as the official place marker for the time stamp, and a table on the side of the course at the ending point) and my time was 31:36. Woohoo! That's a 10:12 pace ... the fastest I'd ever run before was 10:23, and that was only for one mile. Woohoo!!


So, yippee!! I ran my first 5k, was able to run with one of my best friends, did well and accomplished my goal of finishing in under 33:00 ... and had an adventure of an experience with the uber-professional set up--not! :D It was really a great experience for my first time ... now I'm not a (running) virgin.

Run from the Kids

I am officially signed up to run my first 5k ... it's a Run for the Kids (proceeds go to help the Children's Miracle Network). The first time I saw the tag line, I thought it said Run from the Kids--which, let's admit, is more entertaining. It could be put on like a mini running of the bulls, having a pack of kids all released at one time to run chasing the adult participants. What fun! What excitement! (go ahead with your thought ... you won't hurt my feelings ... I am quite aware that I am one goofy girl!)

I'm really excited about this 5k because I get to run with one of my favorite people and best friends, Jen. We've known each other since I was 11 (right, Jen? or were you 11 and I was 10? ... regardless, about 25 years now). She is quite an accomplished athlete, having completed the Ironman Triathlon in Lake Placid this summer--among other events this year. For those who don't know, an Ironman is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run (that's a full marathon to end the event)--all in one day ... consecutively ... without stopping ... and it takes the entire day. Whew! I just got tired and winded thinking about it! :D I think she's amazing and I'm really looking forward to running with her, albeit at a much slower pace than she's used to!!

I'll be sure to post about it after the 5k, which is on the 28th.

5 stinking pounds!

Last week, Tim and I went to San Francisco. He had a business conference Tuesday evening and all day on Wednesday and Thursday. We made a week-long vacation out of it (thanks to my wonderful in-laws for spending the week here with the kiddos!! :D). We flew out to California the Saturday before and flew home the Saturday after his seminar. We did all kinds of things--saw the Golden Gate bridge (with NO fog, even!!), spent an afternoon in Sausalito, walked through Muir National Forest to see the redwoods (amazing!), drove to Monterrey and took the scenic 17-mile drive through Carmel, walked all over Fisherman's Wharf, rode a trolley car (so cool!), walked all through Chinatown, North Beach and Union Square, and went to wine country on two different days to check out a few wineries (four total). We walked and walked and walked--which was a good amount of exercise, especially when you consider all the hills of San Francisco. Oh--I haven't mentioned yet that we also went running four times ... a wonderful way to check out the city. So, what I'm wondering is how in the hell I managed to gain five (5!!!!) f*&$#ing pounds!! For a few of the days, we only ended up eating breakfast and a late lunch ... and on the days we did eat dinner, we split our lunch--you know, shared a sandwich and salad. We didn't really drink that much, either. I'm flabbergasted! I can only imagine how much I would have gained had I not run 4 times and walked like a mad woman! Interestingly enough, I don't exactly know where the 5 pounds landed, either ... my clothes all fit the same as they did before we left. I just don't get it. Sigh.

So, I've obviously continued running since I've been home. And, now I'm back to eating on Weight Watchers and drinking lots of water. That's all been going well and I've lost 3 of the 5 pounds I gained, but it doesn't change the fact that I'm annoyed with the fact that I gained 5 to begin with.

Oh yeah. One other thing. Tim lost a few pounds while we were gone. Nice. (There's a little insult for my injured, chubby pride!)

So, that's my little rant.

**A happy note: this past week, we all passed our belt promotion test in karate so we'll be graduating up to orange belts on Saturday. Tim and the kids will be there (and Austin's teacher is going to watch--she rocks!!!) but I'll be in North Carolina with Stef to celebrate my Dad's 60th birthday.

Austin's note

The other day, Austin was having a little pity party for himself--feeling frustrated about not getting his way about some things. So, he shared his thoughts with me by penning this note:

[*I'll be using Austin's exact spelling and punctuation]


things Jen has got to improove on

1. Not forcing me to go to school (when I have a maijor tummyache).
2. Not forcing me to go to karate (when I have a maijor tummyache).
3. Not forcing yourself to be mean (relly relly mean and rude).
4. Buy me hellys (NOW)! [*note from Jen: heelies are shoes with wheels in the heels]
5. Buy me more vide-o games (NOW)!
6. Buy me more junkfood (cheesecake).
7. Let me wach way more T.V.
8. Don't be mean (when I've had a hard day.
9. Help me feel better more oftan. (way more oftan).
10. Stop making me play outside when I don't want to.
11. Stop forcing me to do what I don't want to do (all the time).

well you have it stop misbehaving.
hopfully you will lisen.


*I'm glad that Austin wasn't with me when I read his note, because I laughed until I cried. His scolding tone just really struck me as funny. I plan on saving this note to share with him when he's grown ... so he can laugh like I did.

Now, if you don't mind, I think I'll go practice not forcing myself to be so mean and rude--really, really mean and rude. :D

What a slacker!

Wow! It's been a month since I've posted. And I've got so much to talk about! I'll give snippets today, and expound later.

1. Austin is doing VERY well on the medication. I feel like the little boy I knew was inside his non-focused, impulsive, emotional body is out for all the world to see and enjoy. Things are going incredibly well at school, at karate, at home. It is wonderful ... and very satisfying to feel that Tim and I made the right decision. No doubt about it!

2. Austin really likes school!! And his teacher really likes him ... she thinks he's a hoot. She's started writing down the funny things he says. An example: they're learning about the ear and hearing in science right now. Yesterday, Austin told Mrs. Johnson that his ear hurt. When she asked how long it had been hurting, he said "not long ... I just yawned and felt something pop inside ... I think it was my hammer." If you know your inner ear parts, you'll find this amusing. :)

3. Maya is swimming right along in school. I am still amazed at her phenomenal reading. She constantly has her nose in a book and reads with intonation and fluency that is absolutely unexpected at her age ... heck! It's unexpected at Austin's age to read like she does. She's doing very well.

4. Karate continues to be fun ... we're learning a lot. I am so impressed with how much the kids (especially Austin) retain from classes. I think I'm going to be a karate mama for Halloween. :)

5. Running is going really well. I have found that listening to classical music while I run is a good thing. I feel peaceful and enjoy the run more. (Thanks for the suggestion Tim ... I'm glad I finally decided to try it.) Yesterday I ran for 40 minutes. That's my longest ever!! I would guess that I ran 3.5 - 3.75 miles. And it felt really good!!

6. Last weekend we had a Schario girls' weekend here at the house. WOW! Did we ever have a fun time!! There was almost a constant buzz of laughter in the house ... often reaching a roar. It was absolutely wonderful to be able to catch up with my cousins, aunts, sisters, stepmom and mom. We sat around and talked a lot (Magi and stayed up until 3:30 am Friday night gabbing!!), played Scruples--which was really fun, ate lots of yummy food, went for a walk / jog Saturday morning, kind of watched a movie (Intolerable Cruelty) and some of the OSU game. But mostly, we just hung out. And it was absolutely fabulous!! I'm already looking forward to the next one!!

That seems like a good place to pause ... I've got to get to the mundane--laundry, dishes, mowing. Sigh.