“We can’t all be heroes because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as we go by.”  

My boys and my best friends kiddos are always there to cheer us on!

“This moment, right here, this is what you fight for… it’s magic and it’s worth it.” - Jillian Michaels  

This quote hit home last night as I’ve said I want to run a sub 4:30 marathon, but I have to be honest in that I’ve never really trained, so this is my year! I’ve been spending many days during my lunch/plan time on this treadmill. Today’s workout was a recovering run of 4 miles at a 6.5 pace.  A year ago this would have been a hard run!

I have been loving the my treadmill runs this winter and having been running hard for me.  Today I ran 5 miles in 43:20.  My question to you “Do you really need to increase the incline on the treadmill when working on speed?  A running friend (Mike) swears I’m not getting a good run in if I don’t put the treadmill on a little incline.

Happy birthday Courtney! (above left) Glad you aren’t in my age group  anymore Miss Speedy!

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” This year I will run a sub 4:30 marathon-no excuses. Last year, I ran 2 fall marathons (4:49 and 4:47). The twins were only 13 and 14 months old at the time, so getting back to running long was hard, but now it’s time to chase my goals!

It’s all about the stickers!  Decisions…Decisions…

Do I do marathon 8, 9, and 10 this year? (Peoria, Fox Valley, Chicago or Milwaukee) or attempt to “tri” a half-ironman?

What to do?

2013’s List 

1. Make a t-shirt quilt (I’ve been wanting one for years)

2. Take a picture of the scale weighing 135 (This will be tough, but I can do it)

3. Run a sub 25 minute 5K (25:46 was my best in 2012)

4. Go back to Western Illinois (I haven’t been there in almost 10 years now)

5. Watch 5 of the AFI’s Top 50 movies of all times (Time to watch better movies)

6. Take a cake decorating class (I’d like to make our kids cakes)

7. Go to a Chicago Museum I’ve never been too (I loved the Art Museum)

8. Go to church once a month (This will be tough with 3 little boys)

9. Help someone in need without them knowing it (It always feels good to give back)

10. Read a biography about someone I’ve never heard of (Suggestions welcomed!)

I did a list last year and really enjoyed completed it.  Here’s to a wonderful New Year!

After having kind of a blah day, I went to my weekly team combat class.  Exercising always makes me feel better and losing SEVEN, yes SEVEN pounds in one week made me feel a whole lot better.  I have switched up my exercising routine this week-running on a treadmill for speed and doing a couple of morning workouts as well.  I guess the boring treadmill is paying off!

I’m a little sad that my “babies” will be 15 months this weekend, but weighing 10 pounds less than I did when I got pregnant with them is definitely helping!

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”  

I truly believe this.  I was motivated to start running b/c I didn’t know what to do when I was graduating college.  Running seemed like something to keep me in shape and I ran a lot playing soccer, so I figured why not.  Now it’s 10 years later, I have 7 marathons under my belt and more half marathons and 5’ks than I can count.  Yes, there are days where I say I am done running marathons, but in my heart I know I am no where close and it all goes back to this quote.

Old school running picture (summer 2005)-one of my first races in the big city of Chicago.

Today, I ran just to run outside and get a sweat in.  I can’t find my Garmin, but know my 3 mile out and back route at work by heart.  I ran a solid 10 minute pace on my way out and then ran the second half back 2 minutes faster.  It wasn’t the speed work I wanted to do today, but I just couldn’t jump on a treadmill.  

I already plan to meet my best friend at the gym tomorrow and know she’ll make me run sprints.  She loves the treadmill and I still despise it. (Maybe it’s b/c I trained for my first marathon on it and vowed to never run on one again)

So thanks in advance Meagan for making me run fast and hard.  You know I will be complaining through them (but what are best friends for :) and then happy afterwards.

“Nothing taste as good as skinny feels.”  I LOVE this saying and these are the words I am trying to live by with HAlloween approaching and then the holidays.  So right now I want a handful of candy corn but at the same time know I don’t need it and don’t want to run an extra mile just to eat a few pieces of candy.