...running a long long ways...

Today in Eugene its the Women's Half Marathon.

A very fun race, that has a huge turn out.
(Some men run it too, no discrimination in Eugene!)

I ran it 2 years ago.
Was my first long race after my baby marathon (3 boys in 4 years.)
And it was good to have a goal,
complete something that big,
have the motivation to get that many miles in.

But this morning...

I am just glad I'm not running it!!

Maybe someday I'll do a half marathon again.
I've done 2.
(I used to say I wanted to do at least one whole marathon, but I don't feel that way anymore!)

Its good to have a goal.
Something to work towards.
Something to accomplish.

But the hours you have to put in,
the not running because you want to but because you HAVE to,
the potential for injury,
the pressure of the training schedule...
Its just not for me, right now.

Again, its probably about seasons.
Running is my time, time alone, therapy, relaxing, de-stressing, decompressing, and its NEEDED.
But running that many hours a week is not an option.
Its too much right now.

So it feels good to acknowledge that.

And to be able to wake up,
be happy for my friends who are right now probably nearing the 2 hour mark of their run,
and to know that someday that may be me,
but its not today,
and that's ok!!

Happy Running!!

...HIGH FIVE FOR FRIDAY...

.F.R.I.D.A.Y.

High Five!

1.  Ok, this is blatant reverse psychology!!  Can I say I am thankful for laundry, and then I will be????

Well, its worth a try!!

2.  I truly am thankful for this DVD.  My boys love it.  Good stuff!  Go Hillsong!!

3.  I am thankful in advance for this... well, this is just a pic I got on internet.  But I am thankful that I AM GOING TO create a path in our backyard in the next week or so.  Probably won't look like this, but it will be made of rocks.  And again, experimenting here.  If I'm thankful in advance, will it happen???!!!

 4.  I am TRULY and REALLY thankful for going into the summer injury free!!!!! Ready to Run in the Sun!!
Now I just need to find a race or relay to sign up for.  I do better with a goal...

5.  I am thankful for these...  Flatout Foldits.  They are pretty processed, so for clean eating they probably don't count.  But I love them - for sammies or paninis or whatever - and they are just 90 calories each!  And they meet the need when I am NEEDING carbs!! 

Lastly, I am thankful for From My Grey Desk, and her awesome High Five for Fridays idea!!  Thx Lauren!

(Click here to see over 100 other High Fives from people everywhere!)

...I *heart* Running...



at the starting line - the summit of Mt Hood


Running.  Even a bad run is a good run.  If you run, you know what I mean.  If you don't, you think I'm crazy!! 

Above is a pic from last August.  We had a team for the Hood to Coast, which is a famous relay race here in Oregon.  Its a 12 person, 195 mile relay from the top of Mt Hood to the beach at Seaside, Oregon.  I have actually ran it 7 - 10 times (have lost track!) and I love it... 

Its one of those things you do that has low and high points!! 

At 3am, when you're sweaty and hurting and have one more leg to do and you haven't slept and the porta potties are getting way gross  - you think:   "WHY???????????" 

But then, at the end, when you run into Seaside and there's 1000s of people on the beach and your done and your feeling all lovey with your van team...  someone invariably goes:  "Lets do this again next year!!"  And everyone agrees!!

at the end of the race, 195 miles later.... an awesome party on the beach

(In case that's right up your alley,  you can see more here!)

Anyways, all that to say - I was thinking about this race as I ran a measly 4 miles today that nearly killed me!!  You know, those SLOW ones where nothing feels right and you just need motivation to get through?  Ya, that was today. 

But regardless of the time, or the length, or how I feel, or if its the best or the worst run....  its still exercise,  I still get outside, its still therapy, its still alone time, time with God, time to myself...  If its the best or the worst...  I still love it.  Every time. 

(And btw - so does my family - ask my husband... whenever I am getting moody and bossy, he sweetly says:  Hon, maybe you should head out on a run!!  Love him!!)

Yay for running....  I *heart* You!

...Friday High 5...

I love to find blogs I love to read.  People whom I feel like we'd be friends if we ever met (kinda feel like we are anyway!) 

I feel that way about Lauren, and her blog From My Grey Desk.  She is fun!  And one fun thing she does is a Friday High 5 - five things from the week that she's thankful for or were fun or whatever. 

Fun idea, yes??!!  And good way to keep my heart thankful. 

So with no further adu (how do you spell adu?) here are my High 5s from this week......

1.  My husband.  I am just thankful for him.  He really is my best friend. He is silly.  He works hard.  And my favorite thing is seeing the guy wrestling my 3 sons when he gets home.  Boy do they get wild!!

This is my handsome hubby, right after he won the Sumo Wrestling competition at his work!  Ha!

2.  Cadbury eggs.  I'm thankful I had willpower to stop eating them for a couple days, and I am thankful my hubby surprised me with another bag of them!!  Even though that means I am eating way too many of them again!!!

These are heaven!

3.  Dinners!  I am not a cook.  And I was pretty anti-cooking most of my life.  But with my 3 little guys I have decided to try to cook.  Healthy, organic, and low-carb when possible!  And this week I made something every night.  Yay!



Quick and easy combined with healthy!  That's my goal for dinners!



4.  RUNNING!  I love to run.  And running keeps me sain.  For real.  When I am tense and grumpy my husband will say....  ummm, should you go for a run, honey?  Ha!  He knows me!  Due to the boys, a friend of mine and I usually run EARLY (way too early) in the mornings so I can get home before my husband has to go to work.  She's been injured so I have only been able to run weekends lately...  but I am thankful for the weekend runs!!!!!!

I love to run!!

5.  I am thankful for this blog!  And for trying something new, have a creative outlet, and seeing whats this like!  (And thankful for Lauren and this idea for High 5s.  I like it!!!!)

All right - have a super weekend all!!!!!!