So my Team in Training experience was so unbelievably, undeniably, uncontrollably amazing that I had to have more.....MUCH MORE! What I mean by that is.....I'm going to be a Team in Training Mentor!!! I am so uber excited I can't even describe my feelings. While my experience with my Mentor was pretty good, I know several others did NOT have a good mentor experience and as a result, may not do another Team in Training event. That to me is so sad. The definition of a mentor is: 1) a wise and trusted counselor or teacher; 2) an influential senior sponsor or supporter.
I can't wait to be there for my assigned group for anything and everything they need. I want to make this the best experience possible. I want them to feel the way about themselves the way I felt all last season. I want them to know that there is someone there they can go to with all their questions, concerns, worries, whatever it is they need.
I don't look at being a Mentor as a job....I look at it as an honor. It is the coolest thing to be able to guide and lead this group of people to do something they probably never thought they would do. I have so many ideas already on how to keep them motivated and excited.
The event I have chosen is the San Diego half marathon. I chose the half this time because it's a lot less pressure and I'm in it this time to have fun, fun, fun! I want to be able to focus on my group and I know if I started training for the marathon again it would take away my focus. Whoever gets me as their Mentor are seriously lucky! Although I will say my friend and teammate Debbie is also going to be a Mentor and I think she is crazy amazing too. Talk about an inspirational woman! Either way, this season is going to rock!!!
Wish me luck!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Nelda means champion or cloud...take your pick
The name Nelda means champion or cloud in Gaelic. These are very fitting descriptions for my grandma.
My grandma Nelda (always known as MIMI), passed away on August 23, 2010 at 1:34 a.m. I remember the exact time because I was standing there in the room when they called it. In my head, I screamed loudly, "No! No! She can't be gone! Bring her back right now!" But the outer surface was only crying softly. My mom, sitting there holding my grandma's hand, was grateful that her mother's suffering had ended....I was crying because mine and my mother's suffering had just begun.
You had to know us to understand the bond. My grandma, me and my mom were the Three Musketeers. We did millions of things together. I even remember my Mimi being there when I got my ears pierced at the Country Store when I was 5 years old. She held my hand when they did it and I remember her smile...that crooked goofy smile she had that always made me feel better. And her tinkling laugh...I miss that laugh. It sounded like bells...until she interrupted it with a big snort! =)
My grandma had no enemies and a million friends. She made friends everywhere she went. She was vivacious, funny, loving, kind, compassionate, bright, full of life, an animal lover, a family supporter, a cheerleader at all my athletic events, a great cook, a good listener, a good story teller, a phenomenal piano player with her very own style, and above all, she was perpetual love.
My favorite memory of her is her taking me to the park on Fall weekends, picking out beautiful colored leaves, then going back to her house and dipping them in parafin wax, and once they dried, making cool leaf baskets to set around the house. I loved those days. Just me and her, doing our grandma/granddaughter thing. I have so many more memories, which is how it should be.
One thing she used to do for me was every time I would go on a road trip anywhere, she had me stop by her apartment, or she would come over and she would hold one of my hands, put the other hand on my car, and pray for my safe trip. So, as I was sitting in the airplane at the Pasco airport getting ready to come back to Boise after her funeral, I was crying and I started remembering that memory. I imagined her holding my hand, putting one hand on the plane, and praying for my safe return home. This made me smile and cry at the same time.
I thank God that I had her in my life. I thank God that her and my mom had the psychic ability and that she saved my mom's life at one point. I thank God that I had 32 years with her. And most of all, I thank God for ending her suffering. As much as it hurts all of us to have her gone, we are trying to be grateful that God took her and she no longer is in pain.
My cousin Jay told my mom that a couple weeks after Mimi passed away, he woke up and Mimi was at the foot of his bed with her little smile she had. He asked her if she had seen Jesus and she said, "It's glorious," laughed, and was gone. Give you the chills right?
So I just have to be grateful that she is up there, watching over me and all of us, with my grandpa, ALL of their many dogs, cats, and my Dahlia girl, and smiling down on us, waiting to be reunited. I just know that besides Dahlia, she will be the first one at the Pearly Gates waiting for me with her crooked smile and tinkling laugh. I miss you Mimi.
My grandma Nelda (always known as MIMI), passed away on August 23, 2010 at 1:34 a.m. I remember the exact time because I was standing there in the room when they called it. In my head, I screamed loudly, "No! No! She can't be gone! Bring her back right now!" But the outer surface was only crying softly. My mom, sitting there holding my grandma's hand, was grateful that her mother's suffering had ended....I was crying because mine and my mother's suffering had just begun.
You had to know us to understand the bond. My grandma, me and my mom were the Three Musketeers. We did millions of things together. I even remember my Mimi being there when I got my ears pierced at the Country Store when I was 5 years old. She held my hand when they did it and I remember her smile...that crooked goofy smile she had that always made me feel better. And her tinkling laugh...I miss that laugh. It sounded like bells...until she interrupted it with a big snort! =)
My grandma had no enemies and a million friends. She made friends everywhere she went. She was vivacious, funny, loving, kind, compassionate, bright, full of life, an animal lover, a family supporter, a cheerleader at all my athletic events, a great cook, a good listener, a good story teller, a phenomenal piano player with her very own style, and above all, she was perpetual love.
My favorite memory of her is her taking me to the park on Fall weekends, picking out beautiful colored leaves, then going back to her house and dipping them in parafin wax, and once they dried, making cool leaf baskets to set around the house. I loved those days. Just me and her, doing our grandma/granddaughter thing. I have so many more memories, which is how it should be.
One thing she used to do for me was every time I would go on a road trip anywhere, she had me stop by her apartment, or she would come over and she would hold one of my hands, put the other hand on my car, and pray for my safe trip. So, as I was sitting in the airplane at the Pasco airport getting ready to come back to Boise after her funeral, I was crying and I started remembering that memory. I imagined her holding my hand, putting one hand on the plane, and praying for my safe return home. This made me smile and cry at the same time.
I thank God that I had her in my life. I thank God that her and my mom had the psychic ability and that she saved my mom's life at one point. I thank God that I had 32 years with her. And most of all, I thank God for ending her suffering. As much as it hurts all of us to have her gone, we are trying to be grateful that God took her and she no longer is in pain.
My cousin Jay told my mom that a couple weeks after Mimi passed away, he woke up and Mimi was at the foot of his bed with her little smile she had. He asked her if she had seen Jesus and she said, "It's glorious," laughed, and was gone. Give you the chills right?
So I just have to be grateful that she is up there, watching over me and all of us, with my grandpa, ALL of their many dogs, cats, and my Dahlia girl, and smiling down on us, waiting to be reunited. I just know that besides Dahlia, she will be the first one at the Pearly Gates waiting for me with her crooked smile and tinkling laugh. I miss you Mimi.
 |
| Mimi and Dahlia Christmas 2007 |
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Am I doing this? Really?
Holy crap. My marathon is officially 5 weeks and 4 days away. I never, ever thought it would come. I have been training for so long and it's finally going to happen. I have to admit, I've been wavering between the full and half marathon for quite some time now. I'm literally on the fence about what to do. My training over the last month has not been that great because I had two out of three weeks off with literally no running (long story). Plus I really need new shoes but absolutely cannot afford them (stupid middle class living). =(
All that being said....I went into this to run a marathon and that is what I'm going to do. I may fail and I may not finish, but dammit I'm going to try. As my brother said, if I don't try now, especially knowing how hard this has all been, would I really do it again? Probably not. A half marathon? Sure. But a full??? Oy vey.
We are running 18 miles this weekend....yep, that's right...18 miles. I am scared out of my mind. But I'm just going to put on my iPod, do what I do and see what happens. My running partner and I have an agreement that if one of us needs to go ahead or fall behind, we're just going to run our own individual race, no matter what. Unless of course we're having a seizure or major medical emergency...which could happen! =)
Anyway, please, please, please pray that I find the will and physical ability to do this. I want to finish so badly and I've been working so dang hard, but you just never know what's going to happen. I'm going to give it my all and that's the best I can do, right? I have done P90X Plyometrics without stopping, so I should be able to do this!
All that being said....I went into this to run a marathon and that is what I'm going to do. I may fail and I may not finish, but dammit I'm going to try. As my brother said, if I don't try now, especially knowing how hard this has all been, would I really do it again? Probably not. A half marathon? Sure. But a full??? Oy vey.
We are running 18 miles this weekend....yep, that's right...18 miles. I am scared out of my mind. But I'm just going to put on my iPod, do what I do and see what happens. My running partner and I have an agreement that if one of us needs to go ahead or fall behind, we're just going to run our own individual race, no matter what. Unless of course we're having a seizure or major medical emergency...which could happen! =)
Anyway, please, please, please pray that I find the will and physical ability to do this. I want to finish so badly and I've been working so dang hard, but you just never know what's going to happen. I'm going to give it my all and that's the best I can do, right? I have done P90X Plyometrics without stopping, so I should be able to do this!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The Good 'Ol Days
Ever heard of Lyme Disease? He has it. With just the single bite of a stupid f'ing tick, our lives were turned upside down. It's hard to explain unless you know someone who has it, but it literally sucks the life out of you. Last summer, on the day we were signing papers on the house we bought, on what should have been an extremely exciting day, my husband got a migraine right before we walked in there. I chalked it up to nerves on signing our life away on this house. Well, it got worse, he physically couldn't get up sometimes, his joints started cracking and popping every time he would move, and no one could tell us what was wrong. It's absolutely heartbreaking watching the person you love and are getting ready to spend your life with, go downhill like that and not know why. The first time we took him to the emergency room, the G.D. doctor told him he was just tired and stressed out and should carry protein bars around with him for extra energy. REALLY???? $1,000 for your expert opinion on protein bars????? The second emergency visit, we were told he was getting migraines, and they shoved prescription pills at him. We went to several other doctors who started testing him for everything including West Nile, HIV, Swine Flu, etc. etc. In the meantime, we were doing our own research at home...WebMD became our best friend. Nothing was coming up though except Chronic Fatigue. Well, unfortunately there is no test for that, so the doctor said, "yeah that's probably what you have. It will go away eventually." Gee thanks.
Well, after doing some MORE research (mind you, this was 4 months after all this started), we went to his doctor and told him to test Robert for Lyme Disease. "Lyme Disease? That doesn't really exist here in the Pacific Northwest." Well, that's great that you think so, BUT F'ING DO IT ANYWAY YOU JACKASS!!! Low and behold, 2 days later, we had our answer. Now the question was, what to do about it? The doctor put him on antibiotics and told him he should be okay within a couple months. Robert started feeling a little better with relapses here and there, but things were starting to look up.
Here's a little known fact. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) controls how doctors can treat stuff. Doctors have to basically adhere to these rules or else they line themselves up for a lawsuit. Per the CDC, 2 months of antibiotics for Lyme Disease should do the trick. Guess what? It doesn't. My poor husband has had to research by himself how to treat this. He takes 10-12 pills (supplements like Cats Claw, Teasel), 2-3 times a day, gets his antibiotics off of E-Bay out of the country, works out as much as he can because that's supposed to help keep his body strong, he's in the process of buying a Rife Machine (google it), I mean it goes on and on. And just when we think it's getting better, it gets worse.
Last summer, in August, we went to the Oregon Coast for our week long vacation. About two days into it, about 4:00 in the morning, I woke up because Robert was tossing and turning. I asked him if he was okay and he said "No, I need to go home." So, 9:00 the next morning, we packed up and went home on day 3 of our 7 day vacation. Later, in September, we were getting married (September 5 to be exact). He stayed in bed that day until 2:00 (wedding was at 4:00) because he just couldn't physically get out of bed. At our reception I danced with him once because not only was it super hot ( and again, the heat brings out the Lyme in full force), but he just felt like shit and couldn't do it.
The absolute worst part of this? I have lost my best friend in the process. He is no longer the man I met 5 years ago and fell in love with. Don't get me wrong...I still love him, he is my husband now, and I am standing by him, but at the same time, he's totally different. He can't be spontaneous anymore because he never knows when he'll have an "episode", we can't really go to the lake because the heat brings out the Lyme really bad, we can't really go on bike rides too much because of the heat, and he usually just doesn't feel like it, I mean life as we knew it has basically ended. We still have our lives, thank God, but it's just so much different.
I know he tries so so hard for my sake and Riley's sake (his son), but at the same time, it just all sucks so much because there is no end in sight. Some people who get Lyme Disease have it their whole lives. I cry sometimes at night when I go to bed (by myself while he does more research) because I just want my happy, spontaneous, carefree, beautiful husband back. The one who felt good and wanted to crawl in bed and cuddle with me, the one who was full of life and wanted to go and see and do things. All I have to say is F**K YOU LYME DISEASE!!!!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Team Jacob vs Team Edward
In what crazy universe did I become a teeny-bopper-crazy-head-over-heels-in-love-with-Twilight-Twihard? Some girls at work kept trying to get me to read the books, but I resisted, refusing to give in to the madness. I saw the movie Twilight and New Moon, but it wasn't until I saw Eclipse that I decided I just couldn't get enough of this whole story and Edward and Jacob. Bella can jump off a cliff (OH WAIT, SHE ALREADY DID THAT-STUPID JACOB SAVING HER) but anyway....
After watching Eclipse I decided to "read" (audio books rock by the way) the Twilight saga. Man does it explain a whole lot that the movies don't! In the movie, I thought it was so weird how Bella and Edward basically hated eachother for quite some time, then all of a sudden she is his life and they can't live without eachother. Huh? However, after listening to the first book, it goes into way more detail about the way that all came about and makes me more in love with this whole saga.
Who doesn't remember their first love and feeling like they wanted to die if they couldn't be with them? The butterflies in your stomach, the depression when you don't get to see them every day, the feeling like it will last forever, like this is the only person you ever want to be with. In Bella's case though, she can't just fall for a normal guy. Her choices are Vampire or Wolf. Hmmm....
So it comes down to Team Edward or Team Jacob? Let's analyze this. Edward.....dark, brooding, blood sucking, mood swinging, needy, overprotective, hot, tough, immortal, forever 17. Jacob....dark, beautiful, wolf, loving, understanding, compassionate, somewhat needy, not immortal, will grow into a man. Hmmm....would I want a guy who would be forever 17? No thanks! So for me it's Team Jacob all the way.
I gotta say though, both men are gorgeous and I absolutely cannot wait until the next two movies come out!!!
After watching Eclipse I decided to "read" (audio books rock by the way) the Twilight saga. Man does it explain a whole lot that the movies don't! In the movie, I thought it was so weird how Bella and Edward basically hated eachother for quite some time, then all of a sudden she is his life and they can't live without eachother. Huh? However, after listening to the first book, it goes into way more detail about the way that all came about and makes me more in love with this whole saga.
Who doesn't remember their first love and feeling like they wanted to die if they couldn't be with them? The butterflies in your stomach, the depression when you don't get to see them every day, the feeling like it will last forever, like this is the only person you ever want to be with. In Bella's case though, she can't just fall for a normal guy. Her choices are Vampire or Wolf. Hmmm....
So it comes down to Team Edward or Team Jacob? Let's analyze this. Edward.....dark, brooding, blood sucking, mood swinging, needy, overprotective, hot, tough, immortal, forever 17. Jacob....dark, beautiful, wolf, loving, understanding, compassionate, somewhat needy, not immortal, will grow into a man. Hmmm....would I want a guy who would be forever 17? No thanks! So for me it's Team Jacob all the way.
I gotta say though, both men are gorgeous and I absolutely cannot wait until the next two movies come out!!!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Jayme and Julia
I really wish I could cook. I'm sitting here watching the movie "Julie and Julia" and I'm just amazed. I can't even cook chicken or rice without screwing up. Honestly, growing up, my mom didn't do much cooking (she says it was because we were all so picky, I say it's because cooking sucks). It's actually not the cooking I so much mind as the cleaning up. Well, that's not entirely true either. When I cook, I feel completely incompetent. I feel out of control. I don't know what ingredients go with what or what I should put on the meat. Whenever I cook, my husband asks, "Not to make you mad, but what exactly did you put on this?" My feelings are never hurt because I just know cooking is not my strong suit.
HOWEVER...I have a whole lot of other great traits that everyone should stop and appreciate. I have an insane amount of compassion for the underdog. I have a great complexion (thanks mom and dad for the good genes). I am ambitious (I mean, really, it's going to take me 16+ years to get my college degree!). I am stubborn (this can either work in your favor or against you....depends on what side of the coin you are on). When I set my mind to something, I go until it's accomplished (marathon...need I say more?). I am very loyal. I am totally organized....at work. I'm pretty cute, just ask my husband. Speaking of him, I did a pretty good job picking a hot hubby (just look at him people!). I'm a great step-mom (ask Riley, he'll tell ya). I'm a thrift shopper extraordinaire (thanks Mom and Vicki!).
I could go on and on about my outstanding attributes, but here's a blank ____________________, insert your own about me =)
HOWEVER...I have a whole lot of other great traits that everyone should stop and appreciate. I have an insane amount of compassion for the underdog. I have a great complexion (thanks mom and dad for the good genes). I am ambitious (I mean, really, it's going to take me 16+ years to get my college degree!). I am stubborn (this can either work in your favor or against you....depends on what side of the coin you are on). When I set my mind to something, I go until it's accomplished (marathon...need I say more?). I am very loyal. I am totally organized....at work. I'm pretty cute, just ask my husband. Speaking of him, I did a pretty good job picking a hot hubby (just look at him people!). I'm a great step-mom (ask Riley, he'll tell ya). I'm a thrift shopper extraordinaire (thanks Mom and Vicki!).
I could go on and on about my outstanding attributes, but here's a blank ____________________, insert your own about me =)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
I Feel Good, NaNaNaNaNaNaNa....
So, to motivate myself, I put together some GREAT quotes about life and running. I just know I'm going to need to look back at these over the next 3 months of training! Feel free to contribute your own!
“You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back.”
“Success isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started.”
"A race is a work of art that people can look at and be affected in as many ways they’re capable of understanding." (this one brought tears to my eyes...not sure why)
"Human beings are made up of flesh and blood, and a miracle fiber called courage" -George Patton
Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character. - T. Alan Armstrong
The greatest pleasure in life, is doing the things people say we cannot do.
-- Walter Bagehot
Run like hell and get the agony over with.
--Clarence DeMar
You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face. - Gatorade
Stadiums are for spectators. We runners have nature and that is much better.
--Juha Vaatainen
Running is real and relatively simple…but it ain't easy. (SOOOOOOO TRUE!)
--Mark Will-Weber
"Running is a mental sport...and we're all insane!"
"No one ever drowned in sweat."
"Some people don't have the guts for distance racing. The polite term for them is sprinters."
"We can't all be heroes because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by." - Will Rogers
"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."
And I will end on that note =0
“You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back.”
“Success isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started.”
"A race is a work of art that people can look at and be affected in as many ways they’re capable of understanding." (this one brought tears to my eyes...not sure why)
"Human beings are made up of flesh and blood, and a miracle fiber called courage" -George Patton
Every morning in Africa , a gazelle wakes up.
It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed.
Every morning inAfrica , a lion wakes up.
It knows that it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve.
It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle
when the sun comes up you'd better be running.
(But, unless you're a runner, you won't understand.) - AnonIt knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed.
Every morning in
It knows that it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve.
It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle
when the sun comes up you'd better be running.
Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character. - T. Alan Armstrong
The greatest pleasure in life, is doing the things people say we cannot do.
-- Walter Bagehot
Run like hell and get the agony over with.
--Clarence DeMar
You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face. - Gatorade
Stadiums are for spectators. We runners have nature and that is much better.
--Juha Vaatainen
Running is real and relatively simple…but it ain't easy. (SOOOOOOO TRUE!)
--Mark Will-Weber
"Running is a mental sport...and we're all insane!"
"No one ever drowned in sweat."
"Some people don't have the guts for distance racing. The polite term for them is sprinters."
"We can't all be heroes because someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by." - Will Rogers
"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."
And I will end on that note =0
Thursday, July 1, 2010
You will discover that you have two hands. One is for helping yourself and the other is for helping others.
I am overwhelmed. In fact, if I stop and think about all the generosity of people over the last month and a half, I will break down and cry. People have come out of the woodworks to help me reach my fundraising goal and I'm talking people I haven't talked to in YEARS. I sent out over a hundred letters to family, friends, old high school buddies, on and on, thinking, "I'll be lucky if I see $50 out of all these letters, but ya never know." It's true. You just never know who is going to step up and say, "I want to help."
A high school friend of mine, Brook Brewer Sloan, e-mailed me and said she thought it was great what I was doing and she really wanted to help. She makes beautiful crocheted hats and she offered to make one for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, donating $10 from each hat to me, while selling the hats for only $15! Also, my wedding photographer, Joncee May McFarland, donated two photo sessions worth a total of $400! ALSO, my hairdresser (who actually got me into this whole thing) donated a cut/color. My mom's neighbor, whom I'd never met until last weekend, gave me $120. My dad's friend, Mike Runnion, who again I've never met, donated $20 plus a bunch of items for my yard sale. My friend, Jill Heinz Fitzer donated a HUGE box of gorgeous baby clothes that I sold at my yard sale for a TON of money. My mom's co-workers have donated money, my co-workers have donated money. My family and friends have all donated money. The list goes on and on.
It just makes me want to do Team in Training forever, so I can continue to see this wonderful, amazing side of people that I don't normally get to see. Normally, I get people giving me the finger as they're cutting me off in a hurry to get to work. Or the dirty looks when they think I've cut in front of them at the grocery line. Or I get to hear how bad everyone's life is and how much everything sucks. You know what? You're right. Some things do suck. BUT...have you ever had cancer? It sucks a lot worse than getting cut off in traffic or having a bad hair day. At least you have hair to complain about. I have an idea for you...the next time you're having a bad hair day, CUT IT OFF AND DONATE IT TO CANCER PATIENTS. JUST A THOUGHT.
I'm getting off track here. This blog is about people's generosity and how grateful I am to be able to see people in this light, even if only for awhile. I'll end with this thought.....
-Etienne de Grellet
A high school friend of mine, Brook Brewer Sloan, e-mailed me and said she thought it was great what I was doing and she really wanted to help. She makes beautiful crocheted hats and she offered to make one for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, donating $10 from each hat to me, while selling the hats for only $15! Also, my wedding photographer, Joncee May McFarland, donated two photo sessions worth a total of $400! ALSO, my hairdresser (who actually got me into this whole thing) donated a cut/color. My mom's neighbor, whom I'd never met until last weekend, gave me $120. My dad's friend, Mike Runnion, who again I've never met, donated $20 plus a bunch of items for my yard sale. My friend, Jill Heinz Fitzer donated a HUGE box of gorgeous baby clothes that I sold at my yard sale for a TON of money. My mom's co-workers have donated money, my co-workers have donated money. My family and friends have all donated money. The list goes on and on.
It just makes me want to do Team in Training forever, so I can continue to see this wonderful, amazing side of people that I don't normally get to see. Normally, I get people giving me the finger as they're cutting me off in a hurry to get to work. Or the dirty looks when they think I've cut in front of them at the grocery line. Or I get to hear how bad everyone's life is and how much everything sucks. You know what? You're right. Some things do suck. BUT...have you ever had cancer? It sucks a lot worse than getting cut off in traffic or having a bad hair day. At least you have hair to complain about. I have an idea for you...the next time you're having a bad hair day, CUT IT OFF AND DONATE IT TO CANCER PATIENTS. JUST A THOUGHT.
I'm getting off track here. This blog is about people's generosity and how grateful I am to be able to see people in this light, even if only for awhile. I'll end with this thought.....
"I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."
Thursday, June 24, 2010
So there was this girl who told me about this thing...
I have joined a group called the Team in Training. I am training for a marathon. Me. I've never run a day in my life except in P.E. when it was required and even then I barely ran...actually I walked when the teacher wasn't looking. I wasn't lazy, I just hated to run and I got pissed every time the mile came around in gym class. However, I have found that running can actually take you out of your mind for awhile, let you explore things you might not otherwise think about, take you away from the stresses of your day to day life, and just (despite the labored breathing and beat up body) let you relax.
Let's Tarantino this a bit. Back up a little over a year. Lexi, my hairdresser tells me, "So, I'm training for this marathon." My reaction? "She's f'ing crazy. Why the F would anyone want to run that far? That's just stupid." By this point in my life, I was really lazy so anyone running more than from the grocery store to their car when it was raining outside was insane to me.
Moving forward...I had enough of being lazy and decided it was time to lose weight and get fit. I started P90X in January and finished in May. I lost about 11 pounds, 15 inches overall, and was feeling good and looking good. I had abs again, muscle tone, it's great. Anyway, I get this e-mail at the beginning of May asking me to come to a TNT meeting to find out about the marathon training. I thought, "Oh, I'll just go and see what it's about. I probably won't even do it." But after sitting through the meeting and hearing people tell their amazing stories of how TNT and the LLS (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) helped them survive their ordeals, I just knew I was going to do it.
So, here I am, a little over a month after that meeting, I've ran countless miles and now have a patellafemoral syndrome injury (my kneecap is rubbing wrong), and I couldn't be happier with my life. I am doing something good, I am meeting amazing people, doing amazing things I never thought I could do, and I feel like my life is worth something again. Thank you TNT and LLS for getting me up and running, literally. I couldn't have done it without you.
Let's Tarantino this a bit. Back up a little over a year. Lexi, my hairdresser tells me, "So, I'm training for this marathon." My reaction? "She's f'ing crazy. Why the F would anyone want to run that far? That's just stupid." By this point in my life, I was really lazy so anyone running more than from the grocery store to their car when it was raining outside was insane to me.
Moving forward...I had enough of being lazy and decided it was time to lose weight and get fit. I started P90X in January and finished in May. I lost about 11 pounds, 15 inches overall, and was feeling good and looking good. I had abs again, muscle tone, it's great. Anyway, I get this e-mail at the beginning of May asking me to come to a TNT meeting to find out about the marathon training. I thought, "Oh, I'll just go and see what it's about. I probably won't even do it." But after sitting through the meeting and hearing people tell their amazing stories of how TNT and the LLS (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) helped them survive their ordeals, I just knew I was going to do it.
So, here I am, a little over a month after that meeting, I've ran countless miles and now have a patellafemoral syndrome injury (my kneecap is rubbing wrong), and I couldn't be happier with my life. I am doing something good, I am meeting amazing people, doing amazing things I never thought I could do, and I feel like my life is worth something again. Thank you TNT and LLS for getting me up and running, literally. I couldn't have done it without you.
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