It had to come eventually.

It's official. Fall is here.

Monday update: I ran this morning because I saw that rain was in the forecast. It was downright chilly... the clouds and wind added to the effect. There were a total of two cars at the city beach, and very few walkers on the pier. The crunchy fallen leaves are beginning to cover the sidewalk, and the squirrels are out in a frenzy.





It was, however, a good run. I'm still enjoying the taper... only 13 days until the Marathon.

I found a fun tidbit in the brochure that came with my confirmation for the race... family and friends can "track" my progress on Race Day. If you're interested, click HERE and follow the directions to Online Runner Tracking. You can enter my name and then either your e-mail address or mobile phone number to receive periodic updates as I pass certain checkpoints along the course (10K, half, 30K and finish). It'll be almost like you're right there, cheering me on!

My very own cheering section... I love it!

Thanks for your support and thoughts everyone. I'm feeling a little better today, wondering if it was mostly the fatigue and dehydration of working and racing this weekend. Otherwise, I'm just hoping to heal and be in tip top shape by October 12!

Until tomorrow...

Pass the Zinc.

I think I'm getting a cold. Does denial help? If so, then forget it. I'm fine.

Sunday update: Rest day today. Here are a few pictures from the Race yesterday.













































In other news, it is now officially TWO WEEKS UNTIL RACE DAY........... now there's some food for thought.

Race for the Cure 2008!

Saturday update: It was fantastic, heartwrenching, a little chilly, inspirational... it was AWESOME.




Thanks to everyone who joined and supported Team Special Delivery!

Pictures to come.

Time Flies.

Where did this week go?

Friday update: The days move too quickly... or my sense of time is skewed! Another week has passed me by, and it's back-to-work tonight. I'm glad to have been keeping these updates. I think it has helped me to prepare for the race and given each passing day more clarity than before. When the facts are laid out before me (whether or not anyone else has glimpsed these muddied reflections) , I can absorb the reality of the quickly approaching deadline. Soon the race will be days, not weeks, away.




I had a very nice run today. Promised myself to take it easy, considering that there will be no sleep, and virtually no rest between now and the Race for the Cure tomorrow morning. We have not quite met our team fundraising goal yet. If anyone would like to chip in, click on the link above. Your support is genuinely appreciated!

It is another gorgeous day. Hot. Lots of folks strolling the boardwalk. I saw my one-legged friend... he was at the end of the pier today. He said, "How are you today, sweetheart?" Awww... does he know what a sucker I am for terms of endearment? Thank you, God, for two strong legs, a beating heart, two good lungs, and the will to run...

Big Hopes.

Today was great!


Thursday update: I spent the morning with the three munchkins... lots of running and laughing, some very earnest toddler/preschool conversations, and one big poopy pants (sigh). I had the pleasure of dropping Cayden off to preschool; how much fun did we have with him riding in my car, enjoying the novelty of someone else's car, sitting in Micah's booster... I opened the sunroof and he was thrilled! What a refreshing perspective. I was energized and enthused for my long run when I got home (besides being motivated by the fact that I only had a few hours window in which to get it done).




It was GREAT! Perfect weather... a little cloudy on the outset, although the sun (and heat) were full on by the time I finished. I decided to see what kind of "race pace" I might be able to handle. I was able to keep it at about 8'15'-8'30" per mile for most of the way, and that was VERY encouraging. I'll have to keep in mind that the marathon is MUCH longer, but at least I know where I stand.

I saw my habitual friend, The Rollerblader, again. When I was babysitting, I had a chance to look at the Grand Haven Tribune from yesterday, and there was this article about him! Apparently his conspicuous presence is enjoyed not only to me... I was delighted to read about how he has developed the habit of coming here to roll down the boardwalk on an almost daily basis, and I learned that he drives all the way from Lowell to get here! As we crossed paths, I said, "I saw your article, you're a celebrity now!" Always friendly, he responded, "Yep, next I'm on to Hollywood!" I wonder if I look a little strange, running with a private grin on my face?

Today was also the first time that Paula Radcliffe spoke to me through my iPod at the end of my run... I don't know if I've mentioned it here before, although it would seem obvious from the various images and graphs that I have posted of my goals and runs, but I use the Nike+ sport kit to aid and supplement my runs. It keeps track of pace, mileage, and calories, etc. It allows me to use certain songs and combinations of songs for an extra boost of motivation when I'm dragging. It has been a fantastic tool (and toy?) to complement my running. I've received praise and encouragement from Joan Benoit Samuelson (1984 Olympic marathon gold medalist), Lance Armstrong, and even Tiger Woods. Anyway, it was a bit of a thrill to hear from Paula, the women's world-record holder in the marathon distance with a time of 2:15:25... by way of comparison, may I humbly point out that my official time for the River Bank Run in May was 2:15:32? I ran 15.5 miles... she ran 26.2. I'm just saying... wow.

One last special happening for today: my sweet friend and training buddy, Kim, is pregnant with her sixth child. She has 5 little boys at home and is a wonderful, energetic and creative mom. Today, as I ran, I prayed for her... she was at her routine mid-pregnancy ultrasound and planning to find out the gender of this much-anticipated babe. I think this picture says it all... Congratulations, Kim and Dave!

Nope.

Wednesday update: No run today. That's it.

Another day. Another run.

Tuesday update: Battling a little fatigue the last couple of days. Usually I'm able to readjust to my weekday schedule by today, but this week I'm still struggling. I was able to enjoy a late breakfast with my parents and my Uncle Kees and Aunt Pam, who are visiting from Toronto. They walked with me to the running store, and the owner enthusiastically fitted me with the latest model of my favorite shoe, the Mizuno Wave Elixir. (He's right... it IS lighter!) I sat down at the computer to edit a few more pictures when I got back home and could barely keep my eyes open! I made the decision to skip my run today, felt okay about it... and then I got the bug. It's difficult to explain, this feeling. But I'm glad that I can still find fulfillment in the running, despite the hard times. Glad there is still enjoyment in it.




I made it a short run, 5 miles, and tried to push my speed. I ran hard through the first 5K, and made it in about 23 minutes, despite the hills. I'm looking forward to the Race for the Cure 5K this Saturday, and it looks like the weather is going to be great!

So, I'm glad I stuck it out... it's always better that way.

Thanks for sticking it out with me.

Tired. Again.

And not much to say.

Monday update: I didn't have to work last night, but didn't get much sleep. It was nice to have some time to get things done today, but I'm exhausted.





I need to get myself to the running store and get some new shoes tomorrow. I've been putting it off for a week, but I need to give myself time enough to break them in. Tomorrow it is.

First Day of Fall.

And it feels like the middle of summer!

Sunday update: I didn't get a run in on Saturday, so I was compelled to get out there today. And it was HOT! And very still. The Lake was almost glassy. There was a light east wind, but the air wasn't moving much. Humbly, I'll admit that in weather and humidity like this, I sweat buckets! I'm very hopeful that Race Day will prove to be a bit cooler than it was last year, when they had record temperatures up to 90 degrees and had to cut the race short. I can handle the heat, but it definitely slows you down... makes your legs heavy and your lungs less cooperative.



3 weeks until Race Day. Soon, I'll be counting down the days instead of weeks... unbelievable. This week the taper begins. No complaints here!

Not much else to report on training. As always, I'm thankful for a good run, glad to be feeling strong. We have a busy week ahead, so I'm hoping I can fit some running into our hectic family schedule.

No run on Saturday this weekend. Instead, I was here:
































This is the first year that Jacob's team plays on the "big" field, and can only have 7 (or is it8?) players on the field at a time. They run, and run, and RUN! He and his team did a great job. I made it from work to the last 10 minutes or so of his game. They won, and can be seen celebrating as they line up to thank the other team. It's intriguing to watch the comraderie and interaction between these 10 and 11 year old boys. What a great sport for improving physical fitness, teamwork and coordination! I'm so thankful that we have a great soccer club so close to home.









I stayed up and made it through Micah's pictures and about half of his game:












































This is Micah's first year playing soccer at all, and he is less experienced than most of the boys on his team. But he runs his heart out! His strategy seems to be to run as near to the ball as possible, without actually having to make contact with it. Who can blame him? He took a ball in the stomach in the middle of the first quarter of his game... Coach Eric did his best to comfort, but he needed a few minutes in Mom's lap before he was back in the action. Too cute. I have to admit, I'm guilty of a little frustration over his mistakes during the game. Isn't that terrible? Michael is quick to remind me that Jacob was no more adept when he began 5 years ago. Patience, must work on it.


And so... sometimes parenthood interferes with the running. Thank goodness for that.

Until tomorrow.

Observations.

Oh, thank God for a really good run today!

Friday update: I let the run come to me today. Basked in the sun, took in everything around me. What is it that makes one run so different from another?



There was so much to observe, and the distractions always help. It was also uplifting to feel GOOD while I ran. My breathing was easy, my stride fell into place. A few times I was surprised to find my pace increasing without consciously trying to speed up.

A few thoughts:

The waves again pounding up onto the pier... I wonder if the people standing on the end, gazing out at the Big Lake feel as exhilerated as I do when I round the corner? The same guy attempting to surf on the choppy rollers today... does he recognize me when I wave? The one-legged man spoke to me today! I think he said, "How are you today?" but my music drowned him out and I briefly regretted this. The Coast Guard boat heading out onto the Lake on my way out, and escorting a freighter loaded with sand or gravel on my return trip. The man standing on the bow of the freighter returned my wave. What a life that must be. Brown and crispy leaves skittering across the road like small animals. The sun settled resolutely in it's southern winter place in the sky... the shadows have shifted.

It was so GOOD to have a good run. Can you tell?

If I took anything away from all the rhetoric at work yesterday, it was the idea that we each place our "thumbprint" on each other from the moment we meet in passing... today, my smile and greeting were returned more often than not. Some days it's difficult to find eye contact from anyone else along the way. Today I gave and found positivity to my fellow boardwalkers, runners, bikers and boaters. It's a sunny day, in more ways than one!

One more week until the Race for the Cure 5K... this will by my sixth year in a row, competing in the 5K race after working all night. It's an incredible race, and a cause for which I am also passionate! You can visit my Race Center HERE. Thanks for your support, everyone!

Rest Day.

Thursday update: No run today. I was itching to get out there, especially as it was another warm, sunny day, but duty calls. I was off at the crack of dawn and spent 8 hours sitting in a classroom, learning about Relationship-Based Care.

Home in time to have dinner and some time with the boys, do the bedtime ritual and unwind.

Back out there tomorrow!

And Downs.

Well, they can't all be good ones.

Wednesday update: And sometimes I wonder if all those people who think I'm crazy for doing a marathon are right. This Sunday will mark 3 weeks until Race Day, and the beginning of my taper down, running fewer miles each week until the big day. Today, I was shooting for one last good long run of about 20 miles.




My body said 17.

As I headed for home, I was beating myself up, but I struggled to move past the disappointment and negativity (and the fear of what this means for the race distance)... and by the time I rounded the corner for home, I was almost considering pushing through the last few miles, thinking, "I feel like I CAN do it!" But I ended the run at 17 miles anyway, and made the decision to be satisfied with it.

So much of this distance running is mental. Because the long runs take a LONG time, I spend a lot of time thinking, planning, wondering, strategizing... my mental approach makes a big difference in how the run feels and how I'm able to execute it. I'm convinced that I DO have the mental strength to tough out those last few agonizing miles on Race Day, no matter how my body decides to behave on that particular morning. I'm hoping that conditions will be ideal, and I'll be feeling healthy and strong. Either way, I'll make it happen.

It was another gorgeous day on the boardwalk. Lots of sights to keep me from getting too wrapped up in my thoughts: two guys surfing off the south pier who probably thought I was crazy by the fourth or fifth time I ran past them, the gentleman with one prosthetic leg and his blind dog with whom I always try to share a wave and a smile, a few dogged fishermen braving the swells and splashes, lots of walkers, a few runners, several amateur photographers, and the elderly couples who walk hand-in-hand and make me nostalgic for an age I have not nearly reached. I am reminded how fortunate I am to live here... I love it.

I did manage to get a few pictures last night before Jacob's soccer practice, but I didn't realize how many I had taken since school started... there were almost 300 to go through! I've finally finished editing them. Here are a few that represent some of my favorite sights while running.

Beautiful Day.

If a bit chilly.

Tuesday update: This is the perfect day, and so welcome after the wetness and gloom of the weekend. It was a little chilly, in the low 40's, this morning, but it was creeping up into the 50's as I left the house for a run. And the sun is out! That makes everything seem better. I hope to make it back to the boardwalk this afternoon and snap a few pictures of the sights and scenes I pass every day on my run.



Overall, it felt good. 9 miles. I tried to push my pace a bit on miles 3,5 and 7. It felt good, but I am reminded that I probably won't be able to keep up that kind of speed for 26 miles. I don't want to go out too fast for the race, but I don't want to underestimate my potential either. Hopefully I'll be able to settle into a comfortable race pace once I get going on Race Day. So much to think about...

Until later!

Drying Out.

Finally, a run!

Monday update: I worked at Holland last night and was able to get a good day's sleep with the boys away at school and Michael off to run all of his errands. And tonight, when the boys headed to story time at the library with Grandma, I (finally) made it out for a run!



It was a cool 61 degrees and a bit breezy. The sidewalks were dry, no rain in the clouds today. The beach was nearly empty, save for one brave soul armed with a wetsuit and surfboard, attempting to catch the few small breakers on the Lake today. I ran into an old friend on the boardwalk. Lots of faithful fishermen on the pier. I had a few cramps and kinks to work out, but overall it felt really good to get out there again.

And tomorrow is another day!

This World Vision video was included in an e-mail newsletter I received today. I think it was made for me, mostly regarding my week last week!



Until tomorrow...

Wow!

You are amazing! Just two days after my e-mail reminder, you have brought the total donation up to $990!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I hope this momentum can continue, and in that spirit, I've raised my goal a bit:




I KNOW we can do it!


Sunday update: One word. IKE.



The rain continues, and I was unable to drag myself out of bed in time to make it to the gym this afternoon. I am disappointed, but I'm looking at this as a good chance to really rest my bones and muscles... to allow some much-needed sleep and healing. It's the first time in more than 10 weeks that I've gone for more than two days in a row without running. I'm itching to get out there, but I'm not ready to run soaking wet and running on the treadmill is something of a last resort.

So, it's back to work tonight, and tomorrow, I'll be out there, rain or shine!

You can check out my past runs on the Slowgeek website by clicking HERE. I use the Nike+ technology to keep track of my runs and distance (as seen in the widgets along the righthand side of the screen), and the Slowgeek site keeps track of this info as well. Very low mileage this week, but tomorrow is a new day!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Saturday update: it's STILL raining. The rain thwarted my tentative plans for a run yesterday. No biggie. But two days in a row? That's not the plan!

I just got home from work, and I'm off for a few zzz's. Jacob toughed it out at his soccer game in the downpour. Micah's game is in a few hours...

Here's hoping for some dry skies later so I can get a bit of a run in before work.

God bless the folks in Texas who are enduring a storm the likes of which is difficult to fathom.

One Month and Counting.

Today marks another milestone: ONE MONTH until RACE DAY!!!

It has been an amazing journey, and now we're in the home stretch. There have been so many ups and downs... it is remarkable to look back on the last year and all that has changed and evolved in my life and particularly my running.

A sweet friend shared some words of encouragement the other night, and the phrase that struck me was this: "Last year this time, you couldn't have fathomed running the distances you're running now." How true! Last year this time, 5 or 6 miles was difficult. Now, I consider those an "easy" workout, a rest. I've tried to reassure myself with these thoughts when I start to panic, wondering how the race will go, realizing just how far those 26.2 miles really are. But in reality, the hardest work is done. I've loosely followed a training program, progressively building my mileage to the point where I'm capable of running more than 20 miles during my "long" run each week. The training and physical conditioning are there... now I just need to perfect the mental toughness necessary for carrying out the task. I completed a 24 mile run last week, my longest run before the marathon:




What a feeling of accomplishment! Don't get me wrong: it was slow, it was hard and I was hurting afterward... BUT I did it!

I can DO this.

As my training continues, so, too, does my fundraising effort for Team World Vision. The World Vision spirit and attitude have encouraged me tremendously over the past months. The idea that I'm doing this, not just for myself, but for a larger, more important cause, has helped me to overcome the daily hurdles involved with such intensive training... when I'm feeling down or unmotivated, I try to think about the people I'm doing this for. I think about those of you who have so generously donated to the cause in my name. What a burden. But what a privelege!



There is one month left for me to finish my training, strong and healthy. One month left for me to raise the remaining few dollars toward my goal for Team World Vision. My plan right now is to attempt to provide daily training logs and insights... I don't know if any of you are interested, but I'll post them here.

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged, cajoled and chided me in my training... while almost every step I've taken, every mile I've covered, has been on my own, I don't feel ALONE. I take all of you with me, and I thank you for that.

God bless.

Please see below for more of the fun activities that have taken me away from blogging over the past month or two.

Progress.

Where does the time go? So much for following my training progress on the blog! My apologies to anyone who has been checking back on a regular basis.

I've neglected the updates... in favor of running!

For those of you who are not as interested in the trials and tribulations of my marathon effort, here are a few highlights from the P family summer fun:

Jacob enjoying the "refreshing" pool at Grandma's... always insists, "It's NOT cold!"

Micah on the beach, fourth of July.

GOLF CAMP!
Jacob is getting better each year... this year, he grew into a new set of clubs. It helped that he managed to whack off one of the heads of his drivers on the old set. Ha ha!

POOL DAY WITH FRIENDS

Beach, Beach, and more Beach...

The Twins' Baptism
I have a goddaughter now... sweet Taylor! The baptism was beautiful, and this sweet family is a precious part of my life.













More to come... there was more to this summer than I could have imagined.

Summer Continues.

So little time, so many activities! It becomes apparent when you try to condense it all here...


Our annual visit to Michigan's Adventure:



































Coast Guard Festival, 2008:

At the carnival, Micah lost his first tooth!

Emily and Jeff's Wedding:













































































A trip to visit Krista and Ryan:
























































































Backyard BBQ and Baby Charlie Bash!