Gear

My training gear arrived today!! When I opened my package and saw my shirt tears filled my eyes. Not for only what my shirt says "DetermiNation" but what this shirt now means. When I decided to run Chicago I was running because it was going to be a fun and exciting new experience in a town that I have never been to. Today it means fundraising and kicking cancer in the ass. My dad is determined and I am determined to. This is not going to be easy. He is going to have 7 weeks of treatment 5 days a week. He will wake up every morning and fight and most importantly he is going to live. He is going to live for his wife and kids and most of all his grand kids.
I am going to fight too. I am fighting so that one day we can live in this world with out this awful disease. I am fighting so that my dad can be cured. I love you Daddy xo

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=42914&pg=personal&px=28703292

Where to begin?

You know how when you wake up in in the morning and by the end of the day you want it to be over and then you realize no wait I want a do over. Well to day I want to hit rewind and ease the tape.  Today is the day that my Dad was diagnosed with stage 3 Lung cancer. From the moment I heard him say the words I immediately wanted to cry, but he said "don't get upset and freak out I'm going to be ok" I took some comfort in that. Then all of the sudden I had a flash of my 34 years. This man was my first love. He is the man that I measured and compared all boys to. This was the man that took me to nursery school, brushed my unruly curls, gave me boy advice, danced with me at my sweet sixteen, walked me down the isle on my wedding day and has been present with camera and huge smiles when my boys entered the world. OMG!! This is my Daddy. After a few breakdowns and a couple of freak outs I took comfort and refuge in my family. They truly are my everything.
So the plan is he still needs a few more test and then they will start a series of radiation and chemo. He is strong and loves his life so I know that he is going to survive this. I also know that God is protecting our family and whatever he has planned for us we will get through this together.
Now training for this marathon ha taken on new meaning. Not only am I running, but I am running for a cure. I will reach my goal and run this race for all that are surviving this disease. I HATE CANCER!! I WILL RUN FOR A CURE! Follow my journey to the finish.

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=42914&pg=personal&px=28703292

It Begins.....slowly

Today was the first official training day. I was scheduled to run 10 miles. There was a little plan, but not really. I was going to wake up and run. No alarm clock just get up and go. What actually happened was a little different. Last night I had a few too many glasses of cab and got to bed a little too late. It was around 2am when my Housewives of the OC marathon was over and then baby Russy woke up around 530. He had some milk and slept until about 8am. Riley and Joe slept in to and I was not about to go running at 530 in the am. I slithered back into the bed and slept with the rest of the house and when it was time to wake up I was not in that get up and go kind of mood. It was more dread. This is not a good start.
When Joe came in from walking the dogs he gave me the weather report.....HOT! Ugh!!! This is going to be great(sarcasm)! So I got the baby fed, got my self dressed and headed out the door. The weather was warm but for the first mile it was not so bad. Heading into mile 2 is when I really started to heat up and then realized running at 10 in the morning was prob not the best choice. So I quickly decided that I was not going to hit the 10 today and started going through my first failed training run. I know I have plenty of time to train and this was the first run, but I really want to have better times then my previous 2 marathons.  I finished 7 miles today. It was slow but I am on my way to Chicago.
After I finished my run I packed up the fam and we headed out to the pool. It was such a beautiful day to be outside. I was having a Starbucks craving so my fab husband made a SB run and brought me back a half caff. I have been off caffeine for over a year and a half. Well I decided it was a good idea at 5pm to start digging up my backyard to make a garden. I think it was my half caff that gave me a little buzz. Joe came outside and used the line that they ask the kids in school when they have questionable behavior. "is that a good choice to be starting this now" NO not really but at least I started a little square. What to plant first. Maybe some tomatoes. Now that the bit of caffeine wore off and Russy was not affected too badly he only cried for about 30 minutes before he fell to sleep I am now calm. Its so amazing how just a little bit can affect you.
Now tomorrow I have to figure out when to get my runs in and how. This is going to be an interesting. Stay tuned.....