Today's the day! Wish me luck!
Updated: It was awesome!! I ran 2:26:11. We ran through Churchill Downs and I took some cool pictures.
funny shirts and signs:
~I thought they said "rum"
~I don't sweat, I sparkle.
There were others but my brain is fried right now.
I will try to post more pics later. Right now I need to return to icing my legs ;0)
(these pictures are totally unrelated to the below post. I just couldn't resist)
running::
I joined a running club. We get together and run on Saturday mornings. We are following a training schedule. What are we training for? A half marathon. I have been trying to run a half for a couple of years now. I am praying this is my year. So, back to the running club; we increase our mileage each week and help keep each other accountable. This accountability is so key.
The first long run I participated in was a rainy Saturday morning in the low 40's. There is no way I would have gotten my self out of bed on that rainy, dark, cold morning without that club. We ran 5 miles. I was in the middle of the pack. There were quite a few ladies in front of me and a couple of ladies behind me. I ran solo. It was quite interesting.
We ran through a beautiful, hilly, horse community. The homes were incredible. They were situated on 30 acre plots with black rail fencing surrounding their properties. Every time I passed a herd of horses they would look up from their hay bail and look at me like I was a loon for being out in the cold rainy weather. I yelled to those horses "What are you looking at?", I was by myself so nobody else thought I was crazy. Just the horses.
Around mile 2 I had a skunk cross my path. I came to a dead stop praying the whole time that he wouldn't spray me. My whole body wanted to jump up and down and yell "skunk!" to warn the other runners. Even though there were no other runners around me. I decided against that and stayed perfectly still. He scampered off into the woods. I then picked up my pace real quick in case he changed his mind and decided to make himself known.
Around mile 3 I coughed and my 40 something bladder, that has had eight babies sit on top of it, let me know that I am no longer in control. And then every time I coughed or cleared my throat it reminded me of that fact for the rest of the run. TMI? I'm sorry, just my reality. It was bound to happen sooner or later. It did cause me to chuckle. It is good to laugh at yourself. Right?
Around mile 4 when my clothes were soaked through to my skin, the rain dripping off of my hat, I breathed in deep. I smiled and thanked God for the quiet of the morning. I thanked God for my legs that can move and my lungs that can breath, for my heart that beats. I thanked God that I can run.
I am a runner.
Last Saturday we participated in the First Annual Nun Run as shadow runners, here in Florida. This was a small run of about 30 runners. It was the total opposite of a Disney 5k. I told my children if you enjoy this 5k, then you enjoy running. There were no characters and music and photographers( except for Sussette, who took awesome pictures by the way) nothing to keep your mind off of how tired your legs feel. Julia said she is just going to run Disney 5k's from now on. It was just you and the pavement and the quiet. I loved it. It was just what I needed. I always feel soooo much better after I run....peaceful, yet energized.
Joseph came in fourth place over all. (go Joe!!) I finished 2nd in the 15 and over category (go me!!) Julia finished third in the 15 and under (go Julia!!) and Aubrey finished 1st in the 15 and under (go Aubrey!!)
I have a load of pictures. Sussette took a bunch photos. I promise I won't post all of them.
Joseph coming into the finish line.
Aubrey coming into the finish line.
Julia and I coming into the finish line
after the run..
The older children ran their first 5k today. Joseph, Julia, Mary Jane, their best buddy Aubrey, and myself ran the Disney Family 5k. What a fun, fun race. This race starts outside on Epcot. You run the first mile outside of the park and enter Epcot in Mexico. You run through the World Showcase and then towards the entrance of the park, around to the finish line. They had the characters all throughout the course, photographers to take your picture, music, volunteers cheering you on...it was awesome. You were so distracted with all of the stuff going on around you, you forgot you were running. Out of all the races I have done this was one of the best ones. I am so glad this was their first race, they had a blast.
John Paul sitting and wondering why he was woken up at 4:30 and patiently waiting at the finish line. He looks real excited doesn't he?
Julia and Aubrey at the finish line. Go girls!!
Julia and Aubrey came in first in our group, Joe was a minute behind them, and Mary Jane and I came in two minutes behind Joe.
Oh, I have to tell you about some of the t-shirts I saw in the race
On the back of someone's t-shirt
"Race Official Do Not Pass"
another one:
"Dear God, Please let there be
someone behind me to read this."
and this one I loved:
"I am only doing this so that I can blog about it."
Ha Ha!
Julia said "I wish I could do this every weekend." Our next race is the Nun Run. One Hundred percent of the proceeds are going to the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration in Arizona. They are without a monastery and chapel. Runners all over the country are teaming up for this great cause. We are shadow runners here in Orlando, and so looking forward to it.
