26.2

Well I finished. It wasn't pretty but this peg leg made it over the finish line. It is hard to describe what the whole experience entailed that finally ended last weekend. I felt like I shed 20 lbs crossing that finish line, trust me I didn't as I immediately hobbled over to the coldstone tent 50 yards from the finish line, but just the immediate freedom I felt of accomplishing something that I spent SO much time training for and had such a rough last month with. The event was AWESOME, it was a small race compared to the "big city" adventures and honestly I welcomed it with open arms - there was no anxiety of crowds, getting to places on time, jocking for position, trying to find my pit crew, and truly being able to celebrate after without millions of people making it chaotic. So without all the bells and whistles it was a gorgeous flat course that ran along the bay.
So the race.....off we went embarking on a LONG journey when right around mile 6 my sweet left leg completely buckled on me - I just looked at my running partner and gave a look of desperation ...."are you kidding me" she tried to talk me through it and then seriously not 30 seconds later I look up and it was a sign, literally "A SIGN"...... it was an old man holding a poster board to encourage runners and it read:

"Pain is temporary.........Quitting is forever"

I think, son of a ..........how can I read that and not try? Honestly in hindsight, I could kiss that man, because I said that quote in my head for the next 20 miles and it had some effect, I am not going to lie. Even from the center of cynicism that I usually am - I believed it and him. I would have never forgave myself for not finishing. I had to remind myself that when it felt like a taser gun was being applied to my hip every time my left leg would make contact with the pavement that it was only temporary. I had no business running this race with the injury that I have, but how do you just turn away 5 months of time spent? Over 365 miles ran...... I couldn't. I truly believe running is the most humbling of sports.......My mind could have had the most competitive, cut throat thoughts running through it, but honestly it doesn't matter what your minds intentions are you only have your body telling you what it will and WILL NOT do.......and you have to accept that.....very humbling.

Here are a few pix of the event.....

This is sad since it was BEFORE the race .....not after.

I will be happy if I never lay my eyes on another Gu or Gatorade

Prior to the race, randomly feeling really calm about the whole thing.

Shedding some layers around mile 4.

Rob running and rallying Nikki in the final stretch and Nikki not caring one bit just rubbernecking trying to find the finish!
Sweet Jesus.
We did it.
Thank you Nikki, for "making" me do something you knew I wanted, but didn't want to commit to with all of life's other challenges that presented themselves around sign up time!Nothing says congrats like a bucket of frozen cream!
Our devoted pit crew......They were awesome, getting to be where they needed to be (even sprinting for two miles - yes we know ROB. to get us what we needed) My favorite wet washcloths!
With glory comes pain.....Nikki's of of many nasty blisters.....
I lost a toenail - I still haven't unwrapped it yet - completely freaks me out!
We immediately hopped into Lake Michigan's 30 degree water to numb the chicken bones!
I mean we had to replace the carbs somehow......
This is what we like to call Nikki "hittting the wall" luckily it didnt' happen around mile 18 when it is supposed to but more so at 10 pm.

So with a lot of help from our pit crew, who made every attempt to rub my leg and feed me Tylenol when asked I crossed that finished line and it was the best feeling I can imagine. Although I proclaimed LOUDLY and IMMEDIATELY upon the finish line that I am never running again, I am not going to lie four days I secretly ponder what my time "could have been" with a healthy leg...... dun dun dun.....

A Reminder.....

I am not a fan of the self promoting blog entry, in fact I loathe it. I try to keep it about the kids, but they are unfortunately not the first thing on my mind tonight for once~ I am about to run in a race this weekend that is the biggest thing I have attempted and I just want to write myself a reminder that it is the most unnatural thing that I am making my body do and for some slight chance I make it across that finish line and enjoy doing so, I want to be able to read this and remember why I should never attempt it again~

1. It has CONSUMED my life for the last five months.
2. It has allowed me to gain five lbs (don't ask me how that is possible - sure it's muscle - or perhaps the 8 meals a day I eat!)
3. I have been in physical therapy every day for the past two weeks, with the same man that gives me a paycheck giving me a deep leg tissue massage, just seems wrong and creepy.
4. I have experienced running through pain and it is seriously the worst possible situation you can think of.
5. I have spent the last 7 Saturdays running for more than 2-3 hours, mostly in not pleasant weather conditions.
6. I have had Ice and electronic stim on my IT band for the last 3 weeks.
7. I am straight up taking steroids to ease the inflammation.
8. I have actually hitchhiked the last 1/2 mile of my 20 mile training run, in a pick up truck with a man holding an exacto knife and could have cared less about the situation I just stepped into.
9. I have sat in freezing cold ice baths with Brady thinking it is a total party whipping ice cubes at me.
10. I have downed protein shakes while holding my nose (they are gross no matter which way you cut it) in order to stop shivering and shaking after a long run.
11. I have eaten more carbs than even this pasta lover can handle.
12. I have not been able to hold a conversation with my husband or stay awake past 9pm on any given Saturday.
13. I have experienced the damage running can do to your digestive system and spent many a moments running for the basin.....

So my dear old, abused body if you find it in your heart to allow me to cross that finish line without crippling myself I promise you I will hang up the shoes and shower you with yoga classes until I am gumby.

So as I read this you ask why? I am not sure..... I guess its for the sheer fact of setting a goal around something I never imagined I would be able to do.......I guess I am a gluten for punishment.......

Whole lotta Baseball going on......

We spent the majority of the weekend out on the ol' diamond. We were finally able to get to K-zoo to watch Western's last home game - The kids love going to the games and spending the day outside, the are great for the most part because they know they have an "in" after the game. Chris' ol' roommate is now one of the coaches and allows access to running bases and playing on the football fields etc....... Brady after almost every inning "me go out on field yet?" Something about being where the big dawgs just were is something special. We also went out to see the minor league team here in town with Brooke's elementary class. They earned tickets by reading so many minutes so that was fun too - I am not sure Brooke saw one pitch of the game when she caught wind that all her classmates were there too but so be it I actually SAT and watched 9 innings of a game, Chris was running the food circuit so he probably saw 5 haha. Here are some photos of the turkey balls.....

Brooke serving up the "fake" pitch....

Brady making the "fake" swing...

Mom and Brooke at the 50 yard line - ummmm yeah I tried to sprint the 50 yards with her and almost died!

Dad and daughter catching some rays in the end zone.I'm not sure if Brady is rounding third faster than Brooke or is she is pushing Brady forward to avoid the mascot waiting at home plate......still cracks me up how much she still dislikes them!oh but it wasn't all baseball.......we had to immediately FLAIL home to catch the Wings/Hawks game - I will tell you I am torn on this one......and you should be too Chelios!!

Silver Bullet......

Brooke has become a member of the silver bullets....her first soccer team. She really seems to enjoy it and is all smiles out there. It's fun to spend the spring nights out there cheering for these little tikes who run around in a swarmed pod from area to area. I can envision many a nights/weekends in the camp chairs watching future sporting events. It's funny she scored the other night and I was cheering for her (probably inappropriately loud) and a friend and I were joking thinking ......Are we going to be those obnoxious parents......you know the ones.....we have all heard them and been appalled by them, but secretly it's hard to hold back.... and then a five year old put me in check as she runs over in total excitement and I say Brooke you scored that is awesome......"yeah great mom.....when do we get the snacks and where is my water" All in due time right........Now only if we can get some sort of sponsorship from the Silver bullet company itself, a Coors Light and a camp chair.....now that is something worth cheering about!
Here are some photos of the little bullet.

Of course a pink ball.......I am sure David Beckham had one too!

Sparing with a teammate and classmate (nice to have a familiar face on the team!)

Run Brookie Run........
Somehow the ball is in the upper left corner, but Paris Hilton decided to give us a quick photo opt.

A Quarter.....

The kids and I were at garage sales (love that they love to go to them!) and there from a far he spotted it ........One lonely Buzz Light year figurine. He immediately rushed over to it and started talking to him as if he found his long lost friend. Luckily he was only a quarter, because both of them know they are not to ask for something at every single place we go and he hadn't at the previous 10 sales, but this time there was no holding back "Mommie me take Buzz home!" Well it has been the best twenty five cents I have spent. From 10:30 on Saturday morning until now Buzz has not seen daylight he has been wrapped inside Brady's palm for the last four days and has done everything with him (so does mom) Brady let's change your diaper......OK mom change Buzz too.....Brady let's go eat......OK Buzz eat too........Brady let's go to bed......OK Buzz sleep with me.....you get the drift. Chris actually went into Brady's room late one night on the usual check house before bed routine he does every night and when he went into his room and Brady just moaned "Buzz" and then fell back to sleep............So he and Buzz quickly became BFF's but it was something more...... Brady isn't the most social of kids, but seriously ALL weekend as long as Buzz was in hand he was a total chatterbox, initiating games, giving random hugs to adults he doesn't know at a BBQ on Saturday - sort of out of his element - but I think he found some sort of comfort with good ol' Buzz. I would find him talking to him explaining how the day was going to go and we were going to go to a party where we didn't know most of the kids etc....... So be it if this is what this kid needs to break out of his little shell than I am on my way out to buy a lanyard so he can wear buzz around his neck at all moments sort of like Bobby Brady did with his tikki warrior necklace in Hawaii.........So some kids have imaginary friends Brady has BUZZ! Bless his shy little heart!

Dead Celebrity Party!

Last week we had our "annual theme party" and this year's theme, albeit a bit morbid, was to come dressed up as a dead celebrity. People really went all out as usual and it was great to see some creative minds working. We had a few repeats, but with different takes on those celebrities it still makes it interesting. One of the repeats was a random John Holmes (3 people mind you selected this one!) So for the sake of my children who look at this all the time I will not be able to share - I am sure your mind can envision ridiculousness.......So here are some of the celebrities that rose from grave to join us last weekend.....

Lucille Ball (AKA me....)

Anna Nicole Smith and her billionaire hubbie J. Howard (AKA The Wades)
James Dean (AKA Darrell)
Bob Marley & Janis Joplin (AKA The Damuths)
Chris Farley as motivational speaker "Matt Foley" and Gilda Radner (AKA The Cavanaughs)One said John Holmes & Princess Di (AKA The Kerrs)
Marilyn Monroe & Audrey Hepburn (AKA Ashley & Kirsten)
John and Jackie - Hampton style (aka The Calcateras)Left Eye from TLC (aka Nicole)
Another version of Bob Marley & Janis Joplin (aka The Pulleys)
In excellent "poor taste" Jon Benet Ramsey (AKA Kelly)

It appears that we missed a few people here and there but I think that is a fair representation - Thanks for all of your participation - I know it can get stressful pulling everything together, but it's just so much fun, we can't not keep doing it! I love that everyone had suggestions for next year's theme already - there is some stiff competition! Until next year!