Monday, March 12, 2012

Happy Birthday James!

Twenty three years ago I was in my ninth month past my expectant due date in March curiously awaiting the arrival of my first born. On March 9, 1989 I was working at a local newspaper selling ads when I felt my first contraction. I immediately called my doctor and then my oldest sister who synonymously told me to wait because there was a lot more fun to be had before I could meet one of God's greatest creations.

On the morning of March 10 I was admitted into the hospital only to find out that I still had quite a long wait which I took to mean an hour or two. While in and out of contractions my Mother came in for a visit to see how things where progressing. While she was there I experienced a doozy. She held my hand and encouraged me to breathe deep. When it was over, my Mother lovingly looked into my eyes, brushed back my hair and gave me words of wisdom that I will never forget. She said "Now you know why I have always demanded so much respect".

On March 11 at 1:11 A.M. I finally had the pleasure to meet my son James. As I held him in my arms I understood what it meant to fall in love with someone at first sight. He was beautiful. Since that time I have had the joy of witnessing life through his eyes and what a marvelous life it has been with him in it. He is still beautiful and very bright.
 
Thank you so much for being a part of our life. Happy Birthday my son.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Selling out for cake

Hi Aunt Lisa,

Brian: Remember when you bribed me with cake to provide quality information about the private fishing hole my Dad, Alexander, and I found during the fall last year and caught a bunch of fish ? 




Alexander: AND YOU DID!
Brain: Okay. But...
Alexander: No Brian! Remember how YOU sold out this family over a piece of chocolate cake while Dad was in Texas and the we where with Aunt Lisa, Nana and Mom at Aunt Karen's during Halloween?

Brian: Okay. Okay! Aunt Lisa, now my Dad is calling me a traitor! He said I was Benedict Arnold and then told me to look up who he was on the internet.

Alexander: Yep! He said YOU can Never go on another fishing trip with US again because YOU sold YOUR soul over a piece of cake!



Brian: I told him I was sorry!
Alexander: YOU told him it was CHOCOLATE!! Then you told him you were sorry!
Brian: I told him Aunt Lisa made it! What did expect me to do?
Alexander:  I didn't do it! I didn't eat it! Was it worth it?
Brian: I don't remember. I think it was really good. It was good. Aunt Lisa made it!
Alexander: Don't worry Brian. Dad will forgive you... some-day! 
Brian: Oh! Dear. Aunt Lisa. Here I am. This is not good. The fish will be biting soon, and I will be left behind with nothing to do. No fishing, no cake,  just me.

HEY! 
WAIT!!
I still have Nana!! 
AND THE Wii ... at her house!!!!!! 
And she knows how to make a cake! 
Right Nana?

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Goofy Helpers

 Forgive me if your reading this post
and it begins to sound like an acceptance speech for winning something big.
It is. 
And like most, It's a long one.

**************************************

I don't think anyone makes it through a milestone, whatever it may be, without a little Lot of help from
family and friends.
I am one of many who is  fortunate to have people in my life who encourages and support my success.
The latest being the 
(3 medals!
There where times I didn't think I was going to make it.
Especially with back to back runs. 

The first and even the last person that I am thankful to for getting me through training and funding my habit
is my husband.
His love, friendship and affection - no one could ever match or beat.
Doesn't he look great in this picture?
At those lonely times when I didn't have a running partner or just wanted to sleep in, he would wake me up, and tell me to get going.
Depending on the day,  he would start out the door with me. Only to return home after a 1/4 mile to get ready for work.
In fact, I am so proud of him.
Without doing much training, he ran the 1/2 marathon with me on Saturday..
To my amazement he ran 9 miles without stopping, walked a few and ran miles 12 through 13.1 for a medal.
Strength in Numbers. 

Next,  I would not have made it through my Sunday runs if it weren't for my sister, Lisa.



There where times when I had to run 12 miles after just finishing 20 the day before. She would often meet me with a smile, a few jokes, water, FOOD and perhaps even a bit of gossip. Often she would run the whole 12 with me.

Once or twice on those runs we headed downtown where our older sister Karen would ride her bike  as we ran around the city of Greenville.



I think we may have even stopped somewhere for a pastry. (shh)
It was a fun thing to do.

 My brothers George and Bill and my Aunt Mary Lou who are always ready for a good luck phone call and later an offer of congratulations. 

My son James who gives his "Marathon Mom" credit for starting his own program
(Marathon and Mom... Those words still catch me off guard)

Once James and a few of his friends met at the local gym to join me on the treadmill,
which I refer to it as the Dreadmill.
It helped a great deal.
Thanks Son.
You inspire me too. 

My dear Mother who has traveled the farthest and was most patient to watch me cross the finish line of the "first crazy marathon idea" (Thanks Jen) and my Father whose voice I often hear.
"Don't give me your excuses. No matter what, Don't. Quit.." 


 My younger boys Brian and Alexander who have had to wait at the finish line each time I enter an event and for this race wrote out signs telling me to

"Hurry and Finish Mom!"
"We are getting bored!."
"Please, Get Here!"
"You won't get to eat Dinner!"
"We are still waiting, Mom!"


Those guys are such comedians.

 My friends Becky and Kristin whom my sister, Lisa  and I have known for over 10 years.
Although they refuse to sign up for any races longer than a 5k,
without fail, every weekend they would call and ask.
 "Are you running Saturday?"
"Tell us where you'll be and we'll run with you."



They have shown up at local 1/2 marathons for reinforcement and even supported my extended family.
Like they did in this picture when we all ran for the fight against Lung Cancer
They are a lot of fun. Thanks to Kristin, the blond one,
at times can get down right dirty,

 
 nevertheless, I am so grateful for each of them and humbled to call them friends.

There where times when my friend Terry an experienced runner who probably weighs lighter than a feather and is about 5' 11" tall and runs a 6 minute pace would call out of the blue. 
"Hey Girl. How's it going? Want to meet for a run?"
I would reply: "Terry, there is no way I can keep up with you!" 
"Oh no worries", she'd say, "I'll walk and run a bit when needed." 
She did.
For the record she had to walk at a really fast pace!

My new friend Sonya is amazing.
She quit smoking after about 15 years. Lost weight and started an exercise program one that has led her to complete several 5k's, 1/2 marathon and Olympic triathlons
She's been through some an incredible challenges the most recent is the loss of her daughter in law who suffered from ovarian cancer.Now she's not continue her program but trying to find a way to fund a cure.
She's like an energizer bunny

and states that when one gets "her" age one tends to win a few races in their age group
but I'm not sure I believe it.
Although in this picture she won second place
Lucky for me she was training for her first marathon which she completed in December.
We have plans to run our next marathon together, the Marine Corps Marathon in DC.

Chelsey who wrote out a plan of action for me and offered daily words of encouragement and wisdom.
The people at my husbands workplace who sent well wishes and even told others of the finish. When we got back someone met me at church to tell me they heard all about the race from Tyler and Becky, my husband coworkers.
There were care packages filled with band-aids, kool-aid and cards for race day.

And least but not last so to speak, are those who never ran with me nor have I even met from the Daily Mile, a facebook type forum for runners, walkers, cyclist, etc.

While in Disney a DailyMile marathoner Larry from New Hampshire joined us for a celebration.
If you decide to join. Friend me.
I'm listed as Maggie H. 

To all of you and even those whom I didn't mention.
I really appreciate all the help I received throughout this training period
and
from those of the past.

I am sure you have grown tired and weary of seeing me wear my medals
I never could of gotten through it with out your help.
With love and gratitude,
Thank you!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

GOOFY FEVER :)

 Wa-LA!! It's done. Although I can't believe we did it. 

Here are our official times. Pictures from the big event to follow soon.

OFFICIAL HALF MARATHON RESULTS

REINER  #43903

Gender: M

2:50:35
DistanceHALF MAR
Clock Time3:23:15
Chip Time2:50:35
Overall Place14757 / 22435
Gender Place7657 / 10104
Division Place453 / 657
Age Grade42.5%
5K Split0:38:21
10K Split1:25:07
15K Split2:03:32

 OFFICIAL GOOFY MARATHON RESULTS

MARGARET  #25777

Gender: F
2:50:36
DistanceHALF MAR
Clock Time3:23:15
Chip Time2:50:36
Overall Place14761 / 22435
Gender Place7104 / 12331
Division Place721 / 1310
Age Grade43.3%
5K Split0:38:21
10K Split1:25:07
15K Split2:03:33

 

MARGARET  #25777

Gender: F

5:00:33
DistanceMAR
Clock Time5:20:43
Chip Time5:00:33
Overall Place6572 / 13504
Gender Place2398 / 6328
Division Place233 / 702
Age Grade51.2%
5 Mile Split0:59:45
10 Mile Split1:57:07
Half Split2:31:33
20 Mile Split3:48:52



Still pinching myself! Maybe it's from all those medals I am still wearing around my neck! :)

































































































Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Goofy for Goofy Marathon 2012

In 1 day, 15 hours, 24 minutes and 28 seconds my husband and I will hopefully have completed running the
39.3 miles of the Goofy Marathon
 
After looking over a slew of different training programs and talking to many real runners I finally found a running coach to help me and settled on a 16 week program with two long runs on Saturday and Sunday and a half marathon around week 11 to be used as a training run. Also Chelsey, the runner, added a weight routine on easier days for two days out of the week.

Whether or not this program actually works is yet to be seen since I haven't finished or started the race yet. Hopefully I will come back with a great race report and the all time female winner!
(Note to self, remove race bib before taking bus to the finish line
 Since most likely my husband, who will join me for the 1/2 marathon, will take it easy on Saturday with some running and some walking, and hopefully I will be running the full on Sunday by myself. I felt the need to focus on the marathon portion of the race. 
Plus, with time constraints and family conflicts proved that Sunday was not workable to be away for several hours. Therefore, I switched things around a bit - making my longer run on Saturday.
    
Week 16    
M - XT 60 Minutes
T -  4 miles easy + 2 - 4 hill strides
W- 7 miles progressive run
T - 4 miles easy + 2 - 4 strides
F - XT 
S - 9 miles easy
S - 6 miler

Week 15
M - XT or off
T - 5 mile recovery + 2 - 4 hill strides
W - 7 miles
T - 5 mile easy + 2 - 4 strides
F - XT
S- 11 miles
S - 7 miler

Week 14
M - XT or off
T - 3 mile recovery + 2 - 4 hill strides
W - 7 miles
T - 4 + 2 - 4  strides
F - XT
S - 13 miles
S - 8 miles

Week 13
M - XT or off
T - 4 mile recovery + hill strides
W - 8 miles
T - 5 miles easy + strides
F - XT
S - 15 miles
S - 8 miles

Week 12 
M - XT or off
T - 4 mile recovery + hill strides
W - 7 miles
T - 3 miles + strides
F - XT 
S - 12 miler
S - 7 miler

Week 11
M - XT or off
T - 6 mile recovery run + hill strides
W - 8 miles
Th - 4 miles + strides
F - XT 
S - Spinx 1/2 Marathon (Great race and had a personal record)
S - 7 miles

Week 10
M - XT or off
T - 6 miles recovery + hill strides
W - 8 miles
T - 5 miles
F - XT
S - 16 miles
S - 8 miles

Week 9
M - XT or off 
T - 5 miles recovery + hill strides
W - 7 miles
Th - 3 miles + strides
F - XT
S - 18 miles
S - 9 miles

Week 8
M - XT or off 
T -  8 miles recovery
W - 4 miles + hill strides
T - 7 miler
F - XT
S - 16 miler
S - 8 miler

Week 7
M - XT or off
T - 8 miler recovery
W - 4 miler + strides
T - 6 miler
F - XT
S - 20 - 21 miler
S - 10 miler

Week 6 
M - XT or off
T - 3 miler recovery + hill strides
W - 7 miler
T - 5 miles + strides
F - XT
S - 15 miler
S - 7 miler

Week 5
M - XT or off
T - 4 miler recovery + hill strides
W - 8 miler
T - 5 miles + strides
F - XT
S - 17 miles
S - 12 miles

Week 4 
M - XT or off
T - 5 miles recovery + hill strides
W - 8 miler
T - 3 Miles + strides 
F - XT
S - 19 miler
S - 12 miler

Ah! Taper time. :) With more time constraints during the holidays (Christmas and New Years) which happened to land on Saturday and Sunday of 2011 I switched my routine a bit.

Week 3
M - XT or off
T - 7 miles recovery
W - 4 miles
T - XT
F - 10 miler
S - !4 miler (Christmas Eve) 
S - Christmas Day (Off)

Week 2
M - 3 miles recovery + hill strides
T - 7 miles
W - 3 miles + strides
T - off or XT
F - 6 miles
S - 11 miles
S - New Years Day (Off)

Week 1 - TAPER WEEK
M - 3 miles
T - 4 miles
W- - 2 miles
T -  Travel day (Off) 
F - 2 miles or off
S - HALF MARATHON
S - MARATHON

As I'm typing this information, I feel my stomach turning. Now I'm in a total panic mode and hoping and praying that this plan works but thought I would post it in the event someone, like me is struggling with a program to follow. Let's cross our fingers and toes that it's a successful one.
 YIKES!

.Well. I guess if - when I finish, I will be back reporting what happened. If I don't I will wallow in my tears and start swimming.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!

A few resolutions to start off 2012! 

1.) Get up and go for a New Year run

Reality Check: 
Slept till 9 am,
Now its 12:30 pm, 
and
I'm still in pajamas.

2.) Start off the New year by eating healthy ~
Fresh strawberries and pineapple with orange juice. YUM.

Reality Check: 
Ate a donut or 3!  and a diet coke


For the record: 
The chocolate ones are betther. 

Perhaps I should start over... 

Maybe tomorrow.
Happy New Year! :)

May you have better luck with your resolutions...