How sad. My last post was on Aug 7th and so much has happened since then - almost a lifetime of experiences.

I did finish my Half Marathon that I was thinking about doing on November 20, 2011 at Philadelphia. It was hard fought, but I managed to finish in 3:39:15. Definitely on my bucket list for next year so I can redeem myself. Race report to follow after I get over this stupid headache.

Decisions, decisions...

Started a new training program. In keeping my motivation up after the Gettysburg Triathlon was cancelled this year, I was looking for a suitable replacement. I think I may have finally found one but the thought of doing it makes me a little nauseous.

http://www.philadelphiamarathon.com/half-marathon

It sounds like it would be a lot of fun, but I haven't run that much since ROTC. I thought it would be a good goal to keep me moving.

Thesis chapters 1 though 3 keep to calling me. In keeping with my blog title I keep getting distracted from doing my school work.

Exercise or lit review - which one would you choose? :)

Distracted...: Hoo Ha Ride Glide Giveaway :)

Distracted...: Hoo Ha Ride Glide Giveaway :)

Hoo Ha Ride Glide Giveaway :)

I can't say enough about this product. (I have no financial gain through this, I just absolutely love this product.) It is for any kind of chafing not just bike riding. I've had an open area that 2 prescription and 3 OTC products failed to touch.

http://milesandmadness.blogspot.com/2011/07/hooha-ride-glide-giveaway.html

3 Things I Like About Me :)

OK, I am entering a contest for a beautiful necklace that says "Bee Enough" by Life Your Sole Jewelry that asks you to post 3 things I like about me. It is much easier to list 3 things I don't like or I need to improve since I am always my harshest critic. This might take a while to figure it out.

1. I like that I am doing what I was meant to do in being a nurse and a teacher of nurses. I don't always love my job, but it was what I was meant to do and I will have to say I am pretty good at it. :) I always feel a higher power guiding me in difficult situations to clear my mind to concentrate on what needs to be done.

2. I like my constant curiosity about life. I have never gotten to the point where I have said I have learned enough or that I "know-it-all". There is always something new to learn!

3. I like the fact that I never give up. I might procrastinate, feel insecure, and give it to a defeated attitude for a short while, but then I pick myself up and keep plugging until what I need to do is done. One of my favorite quotes is "Fall down 7 times, get up 8." ~Japanese proverb.

Rest Day...

Before when I sat around drinking coffee in the morning, I felt more sluggish and washed-out. Today Grandma has the boys so I decided to rest the old knees today. I am actually feeling more rested this morning than I have in a while, but I do miss my run.  Tomorrow will be a good one, I can feel it!

Trying out my phone for blogging...

Test

I have made a new quote...

The last of the racers have passed my road so life will return to its usual made pace.  I was out for a 5k run last Saturday and was feeling very tired the first 2 miles, but knew I needed to keep moving. I figure I am destined to become a distance runner because the first 2 miles are always the hardest, then I find a groove.


Anyway, this thought came to mind that I thought made a great quote:

"To me the difference between an athlete and an endurance athlete is not physical condition. It is when you are at the end of your energy and nothing left to give, you have the drive and the stubbornness to endure to the end." ~Me :)

Decisions to be made on how far I want to pursue my dreams...

The race to beat all races...

The Race Across America Marathon (RAAM) has recently come across my radar.  Biking for 3000 miles from Oceanside, CA to Annapolis, MD.  The mind astounds. I am training for the TriRock Gettysburg and 24 miles seemed so long until I heard about this.

The cool thing is that they are going past my street! It will be exciting to see the bikers riding through this weekend.  I am putting out a sign to encourage the last miles of their journey. Need to think of something catchy to write tomorrow.

www.raceacrossamerica.org - the official website of the race
www.teamred.org - this is the team I am following

My first post...

OK, I finally talked myself into starting a blog.  I might keep it up or I might not.

Not quite sure what the purpose of this will be other than my journey to fulfill my dreams. I am a wife, mother, nurse, teacher, student, and now a triathlete. I either am an insane multi-tasker or I like to keep my mind confused.

How did I become a triathlete you might ask?

Well, last April 2010, I had been suffering from kidney stones for several years, but it came to a breaking point when they finally found the huge stone forming in my L kidney. I had been pretty much couch bound unless I was working because I felt so awful. Two lithotripsies later and a huge quantity of pain meds (not by my doctor's standards, but definitely by mine), I was finally able to crawl out of that pit of pain and become somewhat human again.

In May of that year, my sister participated in the Iron Girl Triathlon in Las Vegas, NV with a group of lovely ladies from her area. They formed a group called the Average Tri Girls (www.averagetrigirls.com). That was the needed motivation for me to work on getting myself back in shape again. So here we are a year later. If anyone told SSG Johnson I run 4-5 miles a couple of times a week plus biking and swimming, he would probably have a heart attack if he was still alive. I HATED running back then, but now I find it to be a great stress reliever.

Maybe my next post will be about my first attempt at a triathlon. For now, it is time to get ready for bed.