Successful Procrastination

Well with my first year of grad school coming to an end pretty soon I've been pretty busy! David came to visit me and he joined me for a run! It was a great morning as we went 3 miles along the lake shore, a perfect distance to end up at 3rd Coast Cafe for breakfast! We both had a traditional Eggs Benedict, hash browns, a mimosa and shared a side of bacon :) perfect way to end a Saturday morning run! 

When we got home my Bunny Rock 5k medal was waiting in the mail for me, which was a nice surprise! We then spent most of our weekend together attempting to get some of my paper done. I wouldn't say I got a lot done, but we found some unique coffee shops!

I've been finding any thing and every thing to do to distract me from this paper! I have five days left until it's due- 26 pages!

While procrastinating I found this documentary trailer: Alex Vero-Documentary "Running to the Limits". It was filmed over three years in seven different countries, about three international marathon runners. Sounds like it could be pretty motivating! 

I also starting looking into running clubs or groups to help me train for the marathon and came across CARA (Chicago Ara Runners Association) and signed up for their marathon training! I'm very happy I joined their program! I will also get a free entry into the Newton Ready to Run 20 Miler in September to help prep for teh 26.2! They also have a Road Scholars program where you can help "at-risk" youth train for a half-marathon! I'll hopefully apply to be a group leader next year!

I have a goal of 8 miles tomorrow morning, looking forward to it! Oh, during my procrastination I have also created the best playlists for my early morning runs! Cannot wait for 5:15 am to roll around so I can get out there! It's what will keep me sane through these next 5 days!

Lastly, CONGRATULATIONS to those who ran in the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 16!!  Mr. Keith Wood (the oldest 2012 competitor), 83, finished with a time of 6:23:16 with high temperatures ranging in 80 degrees!

Happy Easter!

 

North at Montrose Harbor

This Easter weekend I ran my first 5k- The Bunny Rock 5k! It was at Montrose Harbor just a few miles north of where I live. I got there about an hour early! Plenty of time to sit around and enjoy the beauty of Lake Michigan!

I learned a few things from this race....it can be more fun when you actually have someone to run the race with you, or at least go with you, so when you're an hour early you're not just bumming around!

Also, when you're provided with this gear (bunny ears and sunglasses) who wouldn't want a friend around?

On a positive note, because I was by myself I took off right from the starting line, within the first mile I regretted it, knowing that's the number one mistake in a race! Since it was a 3 mile race I decided to push myself at that pace even if I did get tired, and I think I did pretty well!

Overall, I placed 117 with a time of 24 minutes and 16 seconds putting me in the top three for my age group!

Anthony and Mary Merlo

This run was also a part of the United Parkinson's Movement! My Grandpa, Anthony Merlo (January 1, 1919- April 16, 2010), lived with Parkinson's for 15 years. Running in this movement was pretty special. It was an international event to collectively run/walk enough miles from the Earth to the Moon. Love you Grandpa!! 

To wrap up my Easter weekend I had Easter brunch with some friends and a delicious steak dinner and some Master's (Congrats Bubba!)  with my brother Jeff :) It's so nice to still have some family around, especially for holidays, always miss our big family get togethers!

Next up-May 6th Cinco de Miler five mile race! Plenty of school, work, and training in between :)

Lucky Number 81?

At the age of 81 Keith Wood qualified for the Boston Marathon. He is now 83 and will be the oldest male competitor with a qualifying time of 4 hours and 29 minutes! He ran his first marathon at the age of 72, who ever said you're too old to run?! We are born to run and we should continue to do so :) Keith runs 12 hours per week and says, "I don't have any aches or pains, I have no joint problems, and I eat whatever I want. My father lived until 99, so I have good genes." (Runners World, May 2012)

The qualifying times for the Boston Marathon are below:

Depending on how well the Chicago Marathon goes for me in October, who knows maybe my next goal will be to qualify for Boston?! It looks like the older you get, the easier ;)

Another fun fact: In 2009 Albert Stricker at 86 years old ran a 10k (6.2 miles) in 58 minutes and then two days later ran a half-marathon (13.1 miles) in 2 hours and 17 minutes! He started running at 64 years old!! (Runners World, March 2012) Pretty impressive!

There are so many great benefits to running-if you're a runner you already know this....but if you don't run yet, get out there( .... mother, father, David!! yes, I'm calling you out) When you first begin don't worry about how fast or how long you run, every day add another 30 seconds or a minute and soon you'll be out there running with the best of them :)

In the past I would only run if it was to chase a soccer ball around a field...but now I'm in love :)

April: National Child Abuse Prevention Month!

A LETTER FROM BONNIE FINNEY TO ALL BLUE RIBBON HEROES

	NO! It isn't true. It simply cannot be true. They are telling me that my grandson is dead, but there must be some mistake. But deep in my heart, I knew it was true for I have not seen him in weeks. It's been so long since I sat by his side in the hospital. Of course I knew something was wrong as I sat there. I saw the fear on his face, the bruises on his body, and the healing cigarette burns on his hands. His doctor did not believe my daughter's story "he fell in slippery water in the bathtub." I felt sick…I didn't understand. Are my granddaughters all right? I only had one child. She was a beautiful little girl - the light of our eyes. We knew she had entered into a stormy marriage, for we brought her home several times in the 5 years it lasted. We suspected heavy use of drugs BUT in those five years, 3 beautiful healthy children had been born. I loved them dearly and they loved me. The children were 16 months, 3 years and 4 years.
	After the ordeal at the hospital, my grandson was placed in foster care for 3 weeks. He cried when they came to return him to his mother. He told his foster mother, "My mamma don't love me" and begged to stay. I ached for his dilemma, but I wasn't physically able to care for him. The courts believed that home was the best place for him, but I knew better and I told, no I begged them, not to return him to his mother. But I was overruled - my grandmother's instinct didn't count. I never saw Bubba again. My 16 month old granddaughter was hospitalized after being beaten severely her leg broken in four places, and her hand burned from the tips of her fingers to her wrist. It was only then that the "search was on" for Bubba. We learned he had been killed, wrapped in a sheet, stuffed into a toolbox, and dumped into the Dismal Swamp 3 months earlier. My grandchildren had suffered and battled so much throughout their young lives that it sickened me. My life was turned into physical and mental chaos.
	My efforts to understand became a plea to stop abusing children. I tied a blue ribbon on my van antenna to make people wonder. It caught on locally with restaurants, businesses, police and TV and radio stations supporting me in my efforts to make it a real awareness campaign. Why blue? I intend never to forget the battered, bruised bodies of my grandchildren. Blue serves as a constant reminder to me to fight for our children. Please wear a blue ribbon…put one on your car…give one to your friends…tell them what it means. You may save a child's life! If you suspect ANYTHING is happening to your children…your grandchildren…the child next door…PLEASE ACT! If you get no response, try again! You may not hear their screams…you may not see their bruises…so check for the pain and the screams in their eyes. Watch for the screams in their eyes.

http://www.yesican.org/bluerib.html

I have a passion for working with children and making an impact in their lives. When deciding which cause to run for my first thought was Pediatric Cancer--Run with Team BEAR (bonus because my brother Jeff is on the auxiliary board for Bear Necessities!!! I'd be supporting kids and my brother!) 

Pediatric Cancer is a horrible, horrible disease that no child deserves- but then I remembered the girl I attended to in the hospital who was severely abused and I started thinking-how many other kids does this happen to and no one ever hears about!

Researching information about child abuse, neglect and how prevalent it is I found Bonnie Finney's story and I decided I wanted to support a charity trying to prevent child abuse. 1983 April was declared the first National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Bonnie began the Blue Ribbon Campaign to Prevent Child Abuse in 1989!

So please wear blue, wear a ribbon, smile and say hi to a child while in the grocery store. Be a support system to families who are having a difficult time raising their children and being a family. 

Dream Big

While running today a few thoughts ran through my mind:

1. I love Chicago! (This one is a very frequent thought:)

There are too many reasons why this city is amazing, but to name one...While out on my run today I decided to make my four miler into five miles so to add some distance I decided to take my run through the Lincoln Park Zoo! I haven't been to many city zoo's but I know every one that I've been to it's been pretty pricey! Granted, there weren't a ton of animals out but I did see the seals eat! I don't know too many zoo's that are free of charge, 365 days a year! I see many more runs through the zoo this spring/summer!

2. Should I have really signed up to run a marathon?!

For those of you who know me well, I frequently get these "great ideas". I started to wonder if running a marathon was just another one of those "ideas" that in a few months I'll be kicking myself for signing up for such a task. But then I decided, I like my sometimes crazy ideas and some of them you just have to commit to in the moment and say "yes, this will happen" and go do it.

I did put SOME thought into whether or not running this marathon would be do-able. I do have a bit on my plate right now with school, homework, work, and (soon to be) volunteering, but so what. I believe that if you want something bad enough to "Just Do It" - Nike has the right slogan :) . The idea that maybe after school would be a better time...but who knows what my life will bring 2 years from now. I'm pretty young, healthy, and able, I'm (so far) very glad I've committed myself to this!

Now, even though I am running on my own, it's the thought of who I am running for and the friends and family who are supporting me. When signing up to run for The Walter and Connie Payton Foundation I committed to much more then just running 26.2 miles. The Foundation and the support from every one is what is keeping me focused and up running to see the sunrise over the Lakeshore :) (it's not a horrible sight to wake up to either!)

So thank you to everyone who has supported me through the foundation and in life in general. I know I would not be in this great city doing what I'm doing without you!!

It's good to have big ideas/dreams and just go with them, share them with others because once you start talking about it things start happening!

What will be your "great idea" today?!

Chicago's Lakeshore

My first day back on Chicago's Lakeshore Trail -March 18th, 2012! 

There are usually many more people at 8am, but it was the day after St. Paddy's :)

Running here is my favorite place to run in the city! 

I've stayed away during the winter (wind factor) but I'm back! The farthest I've run on this trail is down to Navy Pier and back when I was training for the half back in August-it is so beautiful! You're also surrounded by other runners and bikers which helps keep you going! This trail is a place to really get lost in your thoughts, the beauty, or just let everything go and run! 

Never Die Easy

Before I signed up to run for the Connie and Walter Payton Foundation I never heard about Walter Payton....So I did a little research to figure out who these two Payton's were! I then realized why I had no idea who he was, being a Detroit Lions fan- I grew up with Barry Sanders :)

Walter Payton sounded like a stand-up guy and his family has been carrying on the Payton name through the amazing foundation!

I ended up ordering Never Die Easy: The Autobiography of Walter Payton and just started reading it today! Just getting into the first chapters, I see this book being a great motivator to work hard and "never die easy".

The book came at a great time, since the past two weeks I've been pretty lazy and on a mini vacation :/ And I am starting to see a few possible challenges of running and training for the 26.2 miles --time commitment. I love waking up early to go running, when the city is just waking up and you can see the sun rise over Lake Michigan! I always feel better after a run, which makes for a great start to my day! Then there is the school work, just starting to get heavy! This keeps me up when the city is starting to go to bed and the sun has been long gone!! If only there were more hours in the day and a super food that tricked your body into thinking you just got 8 hours of sleep this training would be simple! :) With the ever changing work load of class, I hope I can keep a consistent schedule without skipping runs or sleep! 

After this weekend, I will have put a little dent in my homework and my vacation is over :(  Hopefully, from here on out, I can stay on track with my training and with a little help from Never Die Easy, I can find some more motivation to keep me going when other things in life get in the way!!