Oh hooray, I posted another picture of me from Sunburst. Much thanks to Marty for sending these to me!

I'm hoping that this will get me motivated to train better for Chicago!

A couple of things:(ok...maybe a ton of things)

Running, not going that well. I've already missed a training day and it's just begun. Sigh. One would think with the children being gone that I would have a ton of time to do, whatever...not so. and don't think I waste my time on cooking or cleaning either. I have no idea where it all goes.

Job, I got an answer to the "when do I work" question that was driving me crazy. My schedule is what it has always been, which means about 6 weeks of shortened hours. That's good & the mood around here has moderated for the moment.

Husband, doing well...we are only driving each other the normal amount of insane lately. (subject to change I'm sure) That's good. I can't take much stress here & I can find no humor in it most of the time lately.

Scott & Sarah, working in the mountains at a christian/camp/mission until end of September. They are planning on moving, but so far haven't decided where. Tennessee is a possibility. At least that's closer. They are young and have a good deal of wanderlust.

Clarissa, a couple of interviews. No real job offers yet. She is also working with camp for the summer.

and the big news: I think I might be in love! Truly madly deeply. Cool, Gorgeous and as sexy as hell. One look was all it took. Damn...what am I going to do about this? I have no self control. Husband will certainly have a stroke if I follow through.....Oh, I am talking about the most beautiful dress in the world btw. It is so nice and soooooooo flattering & I could probably buy the Garmin I want plus a couple of pair of shoes for the same price. Sigh. Why do I always have to be sensible? Why why why? More later. I will let you know what I decide.

In the meantime, someone make me run!!

Today is Friday. I am kind of in limbo at work. I have no idea or guidance as to when my last regular day will be. I also have no idea when, how often or even if I will have a summer schedule. It is extremely depressing. Between that and some other things going on I have been in a bit of a funk. Yesterday I think I could have cried if someone looked at me sideways. I think I could find it fairly easy to get some summer work with a temp service, but one actually has to know their schedule to do that. In the meantime I will just wait.

Since Sunburst I have ran 3 times. The first two times were very slow and I was very tired. Yesterday I ran 4 miles. I had not ran in about 5 days & I decided I just needed to do it and get it over with now. Bottom line. 48 min and 48 sec. I felt good when I was finished, so that was good. I did see something strange out there though. I ran close to the house around the "medium" circle. When I was about 2 miles around I saw someone walking at a fairly good clip coming towards me. It was a woman that I know who is (or was, not sure) a neighbor of ours. They have kids the same age as ours. I thought they were divorced and that she had moved, I hadn't seen her in about 4 years. She was barefoot and carrying her flippies and a purse. She was not dressed for exercise & her face was red and blotchy. She said hello and I said hello...it was just strange. I wonder a little bit if I should have tried to find out if she was ok. I felt like it was none of my business & she surely did not encourage me to ask. I just feel a bit guilty.

Tonight I am going to try and run 4 or 5 miles. Tomorrow I think I am going to run 6 miles. I am also babysitting for Caelyn (my friends granddaughter) and may do something with my sisters. Sunday is my turn to cook at my parents. Ugh...since it is Father's Day alot more people than normal will be there. Probably 25 or so. I better start thinking of something!

That's all for now.

Sunburst ½ Marathon 2006-Part 2 Kathy

Clarissa and I continued together as we embarked on what we believed to be mile 3 and 4. Our pace felt about the same but we never saw any mile markers. I had left my map in the car, so it was no help.

About this time a lady in pink spandex Capri’s and a sun visor came out of the port a potty and said, “Hey…look at that guy over there. I think he’s peeing in the bushes.” So I just repeated what she said (hee hee) maybe quite a bit louder though. Oops…:P We ran with her for a bit & she was wearing a Garmin type thing & said it had recorded 5.1 miles. I looked at my watch, 62 minutes. Okay..not bad, but I am itching to speed up a bit. Now we see a sign up ahead. 5 miles. Hmmmmm…we’re a bit behind what we thought. Then I realize that we still have to run into a subdivision which is at least another mile until we get back to the sign. So we ask some volunteers and others around us. Everyone but Pink Spandex lady says the sign is for the ½ marathon. I don’t think so & Clarissa says, “If we have only gone 5 miles that is depressing” Pink lady says…my running computer says 6 ½ miles and it has never been wrong. We talk with her for awhile. She follows Jeff Galloway training. She ran Chicago…blah blah blah…

I see a little yellow sunburst on the ground & a red one as well. At that time it sort of clicks for me that our mileage marks are on the ground…not on the white signs. I am also trying to do the math..(If we only ran 5 miles so far and our first 2 miles were at 12:03 and 24:10…that means that 3, 4 and 5 were 17 min each???) I voice this out loud, but I also know that my math skills are probably a little shakey. I feel more confident, but there is still this niggling doubt. I put my watch away and quit looking at it anymore.

Clarissa is starting to lag a bit & I pull away from her gradually. We had discussed this ahead of time & I only looked back once and saw her wave. I waved back and continued on ahead.

Pink lady and I ran together…taking a few walking breaks (mostly at water stops). I saw some geese and was noticing what a beautiful day it was. Lots of sprinklers (I avoided them for the most part…I only jumped into one of them). Around mile 11 Pink lady’s dad jumped in with us to run her in. She said he was bringing us up to about a 9:40 pace. She was telling him it was too fast & I dropped back from them a few steps. I kept them in my sights until the very end, but I never caught them.

A girl at the next water stop told me I only had about another mile to go. There was a time clock there that said 2:35:00. I thought…that’s not too bad, I can still beat 2:45 if I try hard enough (I was delirious).. Up ahead I see a few people I might be able to catch. One of them is wearing shorts that I think say South Bend Police Dept. on the back. When I catch up, they actually say United States Air Force (Delirious and blind). I pass her, she passes me…we both pass another lady and two men…then another man. This is good. She stays ahead of me and starts to really kick it in. I have no kick. Just keep going.

It still didn’t occur to me that there were MARATHONERS out here running too…until they started whizzing by…3, 4, 5 of them. They re going FAST. I think they started at 6:15. A lady behind me (almost since the beginning…I clearly remember her being there the last 8 miles) spoke up and said, “Honey, if you slow down I’m going to pass you.” I laughed and said, “If you pass me, that would be great!” She looked to me to be in her late 60’s or early 70’s. She said, “Great for me, but not for you!” I just laughed. I did pick up the pace a bit & the next thing I knew we were running through the tunnel and “Welcome to Notre Dame” She did pass me & I saw the ½ marathon clock& I stood still for a millisecond & it said 2:33 something & I realized that was my time. I jumped on the chip mat, pulled out my watch and stopped it (2:33:40 was what it said)

Cheri met me and hugged me & I had enough energy to jump one more time. (The medical guy asked me if I was ok & I just nodded)

My chip time was 2:33:10

Sunburst ½ Marathon 2006>> I really didn't know what to expect from this race. I can't say that> I was exactly nervous about it, but I was a bit on edge. Since I> really don't have that much racing behind me my first goal was to> have fun. My second goal was to beat my ½ time from the Chicago> Marathon, which was 2:45 and something.>> Friday, my knee was driving me crazy & I spent the day RICE-ing it.> I have never had any knee ailments that I can recall & it was> extremely annoying and disconcerting. I waited around after work for> my friend Cheri & we drove over to pick up our packets. We also ate> the spaghetti dinner at the College Football Hall of Fame. We walked> around a little & also struck up a conversation with a man who was> running his first race. He was talking about how addictive it was,> etc.. and his wife was standing there rolling her eyes. You could> tell that she was tolerating it because he was so excited about it.> We left rather excited. On my way home one of my sisters called my> cell phone & said our mom wasn't doing well. My mom had a stress> test & was home, so my sister and I made plans to meet over there> after I got back into town. Long story short, I didn't leave my> parents house until about 11 p.m. She seemed a lot better & we were> satisfied that dad could handle her. I did sleep with both the home> phone and my cell on my nightstand just in case. My parents only> live about 3 miles from me, so I could have gotten there quickly if I> had to do so.>> Unfortunately, I never made it home between work and bedtime…so I> still had to get ready for the race. By the time I got into bed it> was well after midnight. I set an alarm as an afterthought. I> always wake up by 5 o'clock..so I set the alarm for 5:10 & a back up> alarm for 5:20. I actually slept until 5:10. I was surprised.>> I got up. My knee seemed fine, like nothing was ever the matter with> it. I ate ½ of a banana…barely & tried to drink a cup of coffee.> This did not look promising. My stomach was very queasy I grabbed a> water and hit the door. I picked up Cheri & we headed to South> Bend. My daughter, Clarissa was meeting us there as she had already> started a job out of town for the summer. I might add that she was> not extremely happy when she found out the race time was changed to> 6:45 & she had about an hour and ten minute drive to get there.>> Just after we parked we decided maybe to try to use the porta-> potties. As soon as we got near them I lost any urge I had to go to> the bathroom.>> When we arrived at the starting point we saw someone we knew from> town & they told us all the races had been delayed by 15 minutes, but> they didn't know why. Then I saw the Marky and Kathy. (Mrs. Mikel> is an extremely pretty and nice woman. Marky is very lucky.) Note> to Ricky: No butt squeeze. I am scared of Marky you know. :P>> Cheri walked with Clarissa and I over to the starting line. We> screamed a couple of dozen more times while Clarissa rolled her eyes.> Then Cheri left (she was running the 10k).>> You couldn't ask for a more perfect day. It was cool and breezy to> start with & most of our race was in the shade.>> We lined up near the back of the pack & started out very slow. We> let EVERYONE who would pass us. I think there were about 15 people> behind us. I told Clarissa that after the first 2 miles we should> kick it up a bit. She replied, "I am not kicking anything anywhere> mom. This is my pace." Okey dokey. We talked about stuff that had> happened to her since she left home on Thursday morning. She already> had a couple of entertaining camp stories (she's working at Girl> Scout Camp

I will finish this tomorrow!!

Ok...another quick post here. I know I promised a better update, but no time right now. My half is tomorrow. eeeeek!!! Someone pick me off the ceiling. Please!!!!!!! Cheri and I are going to the expo this afternoon as soon as we get off work & then we are going to go somewhere to eat. We may go to the "Pasta Feed" not sure yet. She has not even registered for the race...sigh...I will be picking up packets for Clarissa an I. I just can't wait!

I swear I will write up a report and post it here and elsewhere as soon as I can.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEk! (I'm excited) I just can't hide it!