Chicago weekend

All I can say is WOW - what a weekend that was! We had such a fun time getting away and being around our great friends! We were very lucky to have the best hosts in the world - Jim and Andy! They were so kind to us and made us feel right at home in their house! I especially enjoyed their new addition - Buster! I really loved Chicago - it sure is a beautiful city with so much to see and do! We started off our trip with a Cubs vs. Giants game. We splurged and got some really great seats! The Cubs are Sarah and Jason's favorite team with the Giants beings Sam's. The Giants got beat but that was okay because Sarah got to listen to the song the Cubs play after they win a game. She was so excited!!

After the game we went out to a nice dinner with our hosts and had a great time! Then on Saturday we set out early for some sightseeing. The weather was not cooperating at all for us so we were unable to go to the top of the Sears Tower - who wants to pay $17 to see clouds?? We all were a bit bummed about that but we treaked on to see the Millennium Park and the Bean! Then we did some shopping on Michigan Ave and ended with a fantastic lunch at Geradinos's with a great big deep dish pizza!!! Yumm is all I say for that! I tried not to eat a whole bunch knowing I would be running the next day, but I could not help it and ate 2 1/2 pieces!!! We also braved the long line to get into the Shedd Aquarium - which ended up being an hour wait in the horrific wind and rain. Then on Sunday we woke up early for the run to the same nasty weather. Since we flew all the way there and prepared many weeks for this run - we ran in it anyways. I would have to say we all were totally crazy! At times I was running sideways or would feel myself being moved by the wind - I even lost my hat 2 times to the wind. All I can say is that I am glad I finished and 4 minutes faster than my last half - so hopefully with good weather on my next one I will be able to accomplish my goal of finishing in 2:10. I am so glad we were able to go on this trip and run in the race. I had such a fun time with some great memories I will never forget! We all can’t wait to go back next year!

Fun weekend ahead

So tomorrow Sam and I get to leave town for a few days!! I am so excited, yet nervous as well! We are heading to Chicago and I have yet to get packed! I am dragging my feet - not sure why?? But tomorrow we have great seats for a Cubs vs. Giants game!!! I am most excited about that! Then Saturday we get to do lots of sight seeing and Sunday will be the day I have been preparing for for the last 2 months!! My friend Sarah and I are running in a half marathon. See last year this was her first half and I told her I will run with you next year. Well she held me to it and here it is a year later and we are going!!! I am so nervous and really want to do well. I always seem to talk my self out of feeling prepared before a race, but I know deep down that I have really trained good and will do great! All I ask for is to cross the finish line and beat my time from the last one! So off to packing and cleaning the house! I will post lots of pictures Monday - hopefully I will be smiling and happy with the results!!!

Bunny Run

Saturday my friend Sarah and I pulled off a run in our town. We are in a group called New Horizons, which is a group of women who do different things to better the community. Well Sarah and I thought putting on a run in Rock Port would be a great fundraiser. There has never been one in our town, so we were not sure how it would turn out. I knew a few ladies who started training and getting excited for it, but had no idea we would have so many people sign up!  Much to our surprise, it did even better than expected! We put alot of work into getting it all together and yesterday was our day! It started out early with all the setting up and ended about 11 when we took it all down! We had over 100 people sign up. There was a 5k, 10k and a 1 mile children's run and the Easter Bunny even participated! Ethan and Hannah did the 5k (3.1 miles) and Sam ran the 10k (6.2 miles). Ethan ran it in 28:03 - faster than I can and Hannah completed it in 35:21 - I am so proud of them and can not believe their drive to take on so much and do well at it! Ethan than went on to run the children's 1 mile run and placed 3rd!

It was so amazing to see so many people out there enjoying themselves. The best part was the people who were so excited they had completed it and want to do more races! I can still remeber the same feeling when I came across my first finish line. This year on July 4th I will cross the same finish line that started it all for me and hopefully beat my time last year, by a lot!! In the end we raised alot of funds for our scholarship program! Mission accomplished!!

Ethan's first

Last weekend was the opening for youth turkey hungting. Ethan was very lucky to have won a guided hunt from a local guy here in town. Sam tagged along with Ethan to hopefully see how it is done so he can take Ethan out when the season opens for everyone. We got Ethan his first shotgun a couple months ago and he was able to use it for the first time. Sam said they both had a good time and I guess I did too with having to cook the bird :)  - I am not one for cooking things that do not come from the store - but I managed and it was very tasty!! The boys are already planning a trip out as soon as they can!

I did it!

I have been feeling pretty poopy lately in the running deparment. I am training for a half that is coming up in May, but not feeling real confident about it. I have had to do a lot of my long runs on the treadmill - it is much harder for me mentally to be outside then on the treadmill where the ground moves beneath me :) - That being said - I needed to run a good race yesterday - to remind me that I CAN do this!! I have had a goal of completing a 10k in under an hour. Last year my first race ever was 1:09 - then the 3 more to follow were 1:06 and 2 at 1:04 - This run was the first of the year and I wanted to see what I could do. Well it was a great run for me as I can in at 59:45 - the last mile I ran as hard as I could and it paid off! My friend Sarah finished in 51:03 and that was her personal best as well! Another friend of mine, Jamie came too and wanted to finish under an hour as well - She did in 58:33 and this was Jodee's first race! She was ready to go and wanted to come in under an hour as well! To her shock at her abilities she finished in 56:16!!! She blew us all away!!! I think she is hooked now and has a race scheduled for us next week!! It was a great weekend that went well for all of us! I can not wait to see what else I can accomplish in the next few months!!

Its starting again!

This Saturday is the start to a new season! Friends of ours and Sam and I are headed down to K City bright and early to run in a 10k! I am excited and nervous to see how we all do! This is just the start to a new running season. I just wish the weather would cooperate enough that I could get outside to run more, but for now the treadmill has been my friend. I am training for another half that is coming up May 15th.

We are headed to Chicago for this one with Sam and our good friends Sarah and Jason. While we are there for a quick weekend we get to watch a Cubs v. Giants game!! I think Sam is more excited about that then the run! I am looking forward to a weekend getaway and a chance to do better than the last half I ran!

Half Marathon

Alot has happened in the last few months! So I have alot to catch up on! The first main event was I completed my first half marathon!! I was not sure I could do this and had little faith when I first got the hair brained idea! I knew the weather would be turing for cold shortly and if I was going to do it I needed to make the commitment and go for it! That is what I did! I had run in 5 10ks during the summer and needed another challenge - so the logical next step was a half. I had 6 weeks to prepare for an upcoming one. My good friend Sarah said she would do as well - so now I had to follow through!! So on Novemeber 13th, Sarah, I and our husbands made a weekend out of it! We stayed the night in Kansas City and ran the race the following morning. It was a whopping 27 degrees with 18mph winds. So needless to say the weather was awful! But even with the weather and the course being rather hilly - I completed it!! I ran the whole way - did slow down a lot towards the end, but I wanted to finish before 2:30 and I did!! I came in at 2:26! I was happy to just get my feet across that finish line. Now I am taking it easy and will prepare for another half in Chicago in this coming May! Who knows maybe a full marathon will happend at some time!

Apple Jack Run

Yes, we did another run this weekend! This one was in Nebraska City and was 5 miles. It was a rather hilly course but not nearly as bad as the one a few weeks ago. I am so glad I did the one in Essex because now every one from now on will seem easy! After Sam and I did our run the kids participated in a 1 mile run. Ethan and Hannah took off and I hung back and ran with Reed. He would get distracted and pick up sticks and veer off course, but we did come across the finish line! It was a great day and a fun way to spend with the family!

Essex and the three day weekend

The family and I had a great 3 day weekend. Saturday was spent catching up on homework and having some fun with the kids! We took them to the Fun Plex where we rode go carts, played in the jungle gym thing and ate ice cream! The best part was the go carts! Reed rode with Sam and I - after riding with me he tells Sam "mom is the worst driver ever!" - well gee thanks Reed! On Monday Sam and I ran in another race. I guess it must be the time of year because there seems to be alot around here lately. This one was in Essex Iowa and was a spur of the moment type thing. Sam and I checked out the route on Saturday - much to my dismay it was full of hills! This is not something I have worked on yet - but since I was already signed up and my good friend from town was doing it as well - there was no backing out! Sam is still nursing his ankle so he did the 2 mile along with my good friend Jodee (this was her first race). Sarah and I did the 10k. Once we started the race I was about 1 mile into it and wanted to give up so badly. It was so windy and I knew the large hills were coming up. Mile 2 came and I was REALLY wanting to give up but by now the hills were right there and there was no turning back. I went for it and made it through all 8 hills, never walked them one and let the wind carry me up the hills! All in all it worked out - I got my personal best time of 1:04 and finished - that was all that mattered! My friend Sarah finished in 52:33 (she's so fast and is my inspiration in all this!) - Sam did 2 miles in 18:35 and took first in his age group - Jodee (first race) took 2nd in her age group with a time of 18:19 - (she beat Sam). I am so proud of her - I hope she comes again with us! - After the race we all came home and crashed for the rest of the day! It was a great weekend!

Falls City Run

On Saturday Sam and I and some great friends from town ran in a race in Falls City, NE. My sister was going to come down and run the 10k with me but due to my great uncle not feeling well she stayed home to care for him. I was bummed to not have a buddy so I opted to do the 5k with Sam instead. Sam has been nursing a hurt ankle so he did not want to do the 10k either :( Long story short I debated all night and even the morning of if I should just do the 10k - I needed to get a long run in anyways so why not - when the race started I decided to do the 5k and just give it my all. I ended up running the fastest I ever had (29:22) and to top it all off I came in 3rd in my age group! I was shocked when they called my name for a medal! So I am glad that I did the 5k and had the opportunity to push myself! My friend Sarah did the 10k and came in second overall! She is amazing and has been my inspiration all along! It was a great way to start my weekend!