Show of Hands

Don't Get Me Sick!

Two common themes in the blogosphere:

1) Chicagoans sick of the weather (don't even get me started on the expected 8 inches this week or I may cry)

2) Everyone is sick! Marathonrunning was sick . . .Girl in Motion was sick . . .See E run. Run, E, run! is sick. Can you catch germs via the Internet? :)

Seriously, my sister-in-law is deathly ill (please Lori, go to the doctor) . . .the kids are starting to sneeze and I've been fighting something off and on for a while. Right now (knocking on laptop keys) I feel good. I'm getting nervous that now that I'm planning on a consistent week of running (I've been sporadic at best) that something sinister will take over my immune system and keep me out of my running shoes.

Crossing my fingers that I stay healthy; need to get serious about the Shamrock Shuffle.

No snow for the Shamrock please, weather gods.

On a separate topic . . . future runner comes home March 21. Names debate still open, so if anyone has any ideas, comment away!

Thank Yous, Hoffman Half and My Ass

Well, I did run but my ass is still very much here (much more to it than I would prefer) so I don't know that I ran my ass off. But at least I ran, right? Starting out slow so not to injure myself like last year, only ran 2 miles on Saturday and Monday. Biggest obstacle for me right now is the mind-numbingness of the treadmill, so the fact that I got on the stupid thing is a victory.

I signed up for the Children's Advocacy Center Half Marathon, which takes place in June. Ideal location for me as it's only 13 minutes from our house, so I can save on hotel costs. I know some people (read: my sister) think I'm crazy for registering for these races so early, but it's motivation for me if I know they're on my calendar. Trying to convince Lisa and/or Don C. to do it. Guys? C'mon, if you can do a triathalon or dualathon or quadrathalon you can do the half.

Thank you to Laura M. and Renee H. for your support of my American Cancer Society run! Not only does it benefit ACS, but it helps my motivation a lot. When the couch and TV were calling I reminded myself of the donations so I made myself put my running shoes on.

Family and friends, please keep the donations coming! I know the Marathon is several months away yet, but your support is very motivating!

Running My Ass Off

I'm going to run my ass off this weekend. Enough foolin' around, I have to get my head in the game.

Oh crap, now I have the High School Musical song in my head. Those of you with kids preschool age and older will know what I mean. I bet you have the song in your head now too. You're welcome.

I also added another race to my calendar, the DeKalb Corn Fest 10k. Mike and I had been talking about it doing it this year but the tragedy at NIU got me thinking about it again. NIU is our alma mater, it's the place where we met so although it might seem odd, I just feel like we have to visit DeKalb sometime soon.

Ok, gotta go sign up for the Soldier Field 10 Mile.

Where are my marathon partners? Jeanine, Kim, Lauren, Keith, Jon H.? Sign up soon if you haven't already! Registration tally is climbing.

First Donation

Thank you to Kevin, Cheryl, Daniel & Noelle for their donation to the American Cancer Society - my first donation! Kevin, Cheryl and the kids are also my Mile 24 sponsors.

I've Hit Rock Bottom

Well, relatively speaking anyway. I'm not in the Britney category.

After sending emails to family and friends requesting their support for my American Cancer Society charity run, I proceeded to plop down in front of the TV, watch The Biggest Loser and eat Betty Crocker chocolate frosting out of the can.

For dinner.

Mike started to question it but after 19 years together, he has seen this before.

Work stress/why can't we get this house organized stress/oh dear mother of God I still haven't sent Aunt Mary Lou her Christmas gift stress -- all of it led me to the tub o' frosting.

But if this is rock bottom, I can only go up. So family, friends, please send some dollars to the American Cancer Society and motivate me off the couch and on to the treadmill.

I have a Marathon to run in 240 days.

Love This!

Fellow running blogger Girl In Motion is infatuated with the Amphipod Hydraform as much as I am. My sister (and fellow Chicago Marathon '08 runner) Jeanine clued me into it and like Girl In Motion, Iloveitloveitloveit.

Now if only this Chicago winter would end . . .Average Marathon Gal appropriately refers to our fair city as the Arctic Circle . . .I could use it again outside.