When I was 12, I thought I wanted to learn how to water ski. I got scared, and told my dad, "I can't do this." He told me that as long as I believed I couldn't do something, I wouldn't. My attitude changed, I learned to water ski, and now I’ve always got a new project going (sometimes more than one simultaneously). Here's my story about my latest projects and all the things I go, see, and do. Hopefully, it'll inspire you to erase the word "can't" from your vocabulary, too.
Sorry again for being a delinquent blogger. I've been a little busy.
First, I'm engaged! It's true. It's perfectly wonderful in the "Oh my goodness I'm getting married!" kind of way. We're getting married next July, and I couldn't be happier. I'm also going to be the Matron of Honor for both my sister and my cousin. Yes, that's right. Three cousins are getting married within five months of each other! Don't worry; this won't turn into a wedding blog, but it might highlight some crafts involved in the wedding.
Second, I've finished the Fox Cities half marathon! You know, that race I told you about back in July? Yeah... Sorry about those missing training posts. The best thing I could have asked for while training is all the support from Steve, my family and friends and my running buddies. Kristi, Amy and I all beat our goal times. I came in at 2:27:19. WHOO HOO! However, since I've got a wedding coming up now, I can keep reaping in all the endorphin-y goodness by continuing to work out. Add in some arm work and core work and I'm going to be the fittest bride (almost) ever!
Third, life happens all the time. Between races, grandparents, friends, new projects, volunteering, work, and whatnot, life gets a little busy. I promise to blog more often.
Ha! You say. I've heard that one before! You say. Well, you're right. I've been a slacker. I repent and will go forth and change.
I'll just add it to my to-do list - the one under all the Post-It notes...
Screw that. I’m not some weenie Danish prince who had some mega family issues. The answer is always “Be”. Duh.
To marathon or not to marathon?
Now there’s a question for which I do not have an answer. Is it physically possible? Yes. The people on “The Biggest Loser” can do it. They went from being close to death to running one in under 5 hours! Then again, they had Bob and Jillian and a host of doctors…
Remember last year when I started this blog before I kind of fell off the face of blog-dom and abandoned you all? I had a friend, Julie, who ran a half marathon and then a full marathon within two days. Granted, that’s kind of crazy, but that’s why we love Julie! This had inspired a group of us to train for a marathon in January of 2012 – the Disney Marathon. If we do this, the marathon will land exactly on my 28th birthday. That’s in 322 days.
Pros:
1. Coolest Birthday Goal EVER!
2. The marathon runs through all the Disney parks and you get a medal in the shape of Mickey Mouse.
3. I’d be running it with friends.
4. Nice to meet you, I’m Jen. I ran a marathon.
5. I get to buy more shoes.
6. Side benefit of weight loss – I hope.
7. This is an attainable goal in a year. I’m not trying to do this in 3 months or less or anything.
8. I bet I’ll need some cute shorts to go with those new shoes…
Cons:
1. That’s a long-freakin’-race!
2. Do I really want to spend my birthday running?
3. Questioning myself – Do I have the motivation and discipline?
4. My feet are going to hurt.
5. That’s a long-freakin’-race!
6. The Y puts a 30 minute limit on the treadmills. I don’t think it’s humanly possible to run 26 miles in a half hour. That’s even speeding in a car on HWY 794!
7. I didn’t finish this year’s goal (missed by 2 races). What makes me think I can do this?
So at the moment, the Pros outweigh the Cons, but not by much.
OK, so I recently wrote about taking time and not getting sick. Whoops! The day after I wrote that, I got strep throat! Facepalm. Fortunately, at least it's a real infection where they can give you penicillin, and then you get better quickly unlike a virus where all they can tell you is "good luck". Fortunately, it has been over 48 hours, and now I am no longer contagious nor do I sound like Darth Vader! Whoo hoo! Sadly, I am still a bit congested. This means that I had to miss the race this morning, but thanks to my friend Kristi (*waves) I'll still get my race packet [free t-shirt]. Next year! I'll run it next year! So, thanks to everyone who gave me home remedies, advice, and general well-wishes. I appreciate you all! Love, Jen
Hi All! Here is a reminder that the Run/Walk to Milwaukee Irish Fest is coming up and Team Cruise Elroy still needs some more team members! I got approval from the bosses that I get to actually run the race this year instead of just working the event (that's right, I work for the Arthritis Foundation)! I'm stoked :D
All you need to do is follow these easy instructions to sign up online at http://runwalktoirishfest.kintera.org. 1. Click on the "Register Today" button on the left side of the page. 2. Click on the "Register Here" green button in the middle of the page. 3. Select "Join a Team" 4. Select "Cruise Elroy" from the drop down menu. 5. Fill in all the needed information. When you get to "Fees" section, you can either pick the $20 fun run/walk option or if you want to be officially timed, then you select the $25 chip timing option. 6. Set up your fundraising page. 7. YOU"RE DONE! There will be a t-shirt pick up day ahead of time, or you can contact me and I'll get your shirt to you!
If you're getting this e-mail and you've already signed up, THANK YOU! Please feel free to pass this along to other people who want to join our team!
THANKS, Jen and 1.1 million men, women and children in Wisconsin who are affected by arthritis (and the other 45 million people across the US who have it too)
P.S. I'll be writing about other fabulous philanthropic options that you can sign up for including the Blazer Run in September and the WLC Golf Outing at the end of August at the Broadlands.
Hi all!
I'm back from vacationing at our family's cottage where I spent as much time as possible outdoors fishing, swimming, reading, shopping, walking and all manner of things with the fam. I also learned to play Bunco (watch out for mom and Grandma!) and Euchre (for the 5th time - thank you Melissa for being SO patient!). I was going to be a good little runner and writer while Up North, but the fish were calling my name. See?
So I was a little lax on the running and the writing... I ran a few times with my brother and sister-in-law's dog, but that was more like being dragged by a small steam engine or stopping abruptly when something extra interesting-smelling just happened to halt that bundle of energy. I'm sure we were quite the sight! As for writing, I took a rainy afternoon and wrote letters to a bunch of my out-of-state friends and in-state friends that I knew needed some fun mail. Who doesn't love getting mail that isn't a bill? NO ONE.
Anyway, one night while I was helping Dad pick up the last of the fishing stuff to take back up to the cabin, I turned around and saw one of our neighbors sitting on the dock. Mrs. and Mr. L-, an elderly couple, were holding hands and sitting on a bench at the end of the dock while they watched the sunset over the pine trees that line the west shore of the lake. That made me think of how my grandparents ALWAYS hold hands when they sit near each other. Then I thought about how Mom and Dad often hold hands at church or in the car. You see people in all stages of relationships, whether it's parent-child, friends or couples, holding hands. That's what inspired writing assignment #3. It's a bit choppy for a poem, but rhyming can be difficult. It's not all hat-cat-bat, you know...
Hands
When asked what is the most attractive thing about a man,
I always answer “a man’s best feature is his hands.”
Why is that they want to know?
“Because they hardly change as you grow.”
Sure they may get rough or later a bit frail,
But the touch, and the purpose never will fail.
Simply holding hands is what they do best;
Transferring feelings and meaning without stop or rest.
At first, reaching out is tentative and shy
To boldly take her hand or wait and let lie?
“Thank goodness for horrible scary movies!
She grasped my hand when the film gave her creepies.”
A while later her father walked her down the aisle,
He gave her hand a pat-pat and he smiled.
He passed his daughter’s hand to the groom
Where love with honor and faith then bloom.
A quick squeeze of the hand and a wink sends an offer
Of activities more passionate and much, much hotter.
This leads to holding hands with tired awe and respect
As they lovingly count ten tiny fingers so small and perfect.
Through the years they offer support, comfort and care
Through triumphs and deaths they applaud and they bear.
No matter what happens his hands never change,
Never falter, always there, his hands stay the same.
Someday, but not yet I’ll sit on the end of a dock
Holding his hand as the waves gently rock.
We’ll hold each other sure as the sun slowly sets
And know that this moment is the best that it gets.
Hello all! I was reminded today at my Alumni Committee Meeting that Gary's Gallop Run/Walk is coming up in April. I love this race because a) it's for my alma mater Wisconsin Lutheran College, b) I think the race director does an awesome job, c) I get another WLC t-shirt, and d) the last 100 yards are a dash across the football field at the Krauss-Miller-Lutz Outdoor Athletic Complex!
There is a 5K run (first mile is down hill!), a 2-mile walk, and a kids' dash after the 5K. They are so cute! You can check out photos of last year's race here. The race attracts about 300 runners and walkers, families, Warriors (that's us WLC folk) and friends! All proceeds go toward WLC's athletic booster organization, the Warrior Club. So far, GG is the only race that I have planned that I've done before. Hopefully, this won't make me to sure of myself and that I can keep a good pace.
I knew I wanted to do Gary's Gallop, but I honestly couldn't remember whether it was in April or March, but now that I know, I was stumped about which race to run in March. Thanks to this handy-dandy site called Running in the USA, I found The Blarney Run.
The Blarney Run is held every spring in Wauwatosa on the weekend nearest to St. Patrick's Day. This 5K has a course for runners and a shorter course for those who want to walk. Like Gary's Gallop and the Steve Cullen Healthy Heart Club Run, parts of this race will be run on the Wil-O-Way Underwood Parkway. I think my favorite part of this race is that the kids' race is called the Twinkle Trot! All proceeds from this race go to helping the Wauwatosa Historical Society.
Anyone want to join me for the races? The more the merrier!
I'm 26 (and 3 days) old now and loving it so far! Because my friends are awesome (those that went along and those that stayed), we spent this past weekend celebrating in Disney World!
Out of the 9 people that went, 3 of us had the same birthday, one was the next day and one is in a week. Another friend, who did not travel with us, came to Disney to run the 1/2 and the full marathon (not on the same day. Overall, we had a lot to celebrate!
First, we celebrated the fact that we all made it there on the same day. We had lots of weather issues this weekend starting with our flight! We ended up making a lovely side trip to Pittsburg! It was fun though because our group is full of easy-going people. We event got some of the people on our plane to participate in "The Wave". Awesome!
Disney World was filled with princesses, fun rides and more importantly princes - ha ha! No, seriously, Prince Charming = hot! But I digress... After braving a day of cold and rain and one more ride on Space Mountain, we headed to Hemmingway's for our surprise birthday dinner. I'm pretty sure that was one of the tastiest meals of my life! I'm tempted to try and recreate the crab cakes that I ate.
Epcot followed and friend Julie ran the 1/2 marathon with a good time despite the rain and freezing temperatures. I thought it was really funny when one of the "cast members" (all people who work for Disney are considered Cast Members) said, "I bet you're from up north, aren't you?" "How could you tell?" I asked. "You're all dressed appropriately for the weather!" So true... We hit all the rides and went to every country. Holly and I took a picture in front of all the signs. Holly had never been there before and was probably the most excited of everyone! Besides getting our photos taken with signs we also got EVERY classic Disney character. I promise the photos are a hoot (I also promise that I found my camera cord despite the lack of photos).
The next day we slept in and relaxed while Julie ran the full marathon. Yup, she ran both. When you do that, it's called the "Goofy Challenge". Aptly named, huh? Anywho, Julie did awesome and Holly, Annie and I were so inspired, we decided that we're going to run the Marathon in 2012. This way, I can run my 5ks and we'll have LOTS of time to train. Just watching the people run both days was so inspiring. I think it's awesome when people just reach for their dreams and get them! If anyone wants to join us, we'd love to have you!
As we were waiting in a LONG, LONG line to get through security, I noticed how many people were still wearing their finisher medals and marathon shirts. If I finished, I would TOTALLY wear the shirt for a week, and the medal for a month. They were all talking about how much fun they had and how they were so glad to have done it. I'm so there people!
Pictures and fun anecdotes later - this traveling birthday girl needs to hit the hay!
I don’t know when your weekend starts, but I consider the beginning of my weekend the second I get into my car after work on Friday, turn the key and the “Friday Anthem” starts playing on WKLH.
Friday was filled with seeing a movie with some friends and going out with Mom and Lisa and her friend Anne and her mom. Dad is away hunting, so it’s a Girl’s Weekend! After dinner, the five of us ladies played some nickel slots since we missed the start time for Bingo. Later, after most us either broke even or lost $5 (we’re only high rollers in our imaginations), we consoled ourselves with ice cream, and were glad we got to spend time doing something fun and silly with really great friends.
Saturday morning was when Isaiah first stepped into my weekend. I mentioned in my last (OK first – yeah, yeah) blog entry that I planned to run 12 5K events in 2010. Since I haven’t run one in a while, I thought I could squeeze one in, and to find out my target pace for my first race of 2010. I didn’t tell a whole lot of people in case my time stunk, but fortunately, I have a new personal best of about 32:20. I didn’t have a watch on so this is my closest estimate from the mile timers.
I went to Wirth Park for the Brookfield East Booster Club’s Turkey Trot, got my race packet/goodie bag, and warmed up. Whenever I do one of these races by myself, I try and look for someone who might be my same speed. After the announcements, I headed over to the start line and started sizing people up as I listened some music to get me pumped up (“Come on Eileen” – in case you were wondering). I nixed the guys right away, thought “nuh, uh” to all the people who had cross country shirts on, and did a big mental no way to the iron woman who looked like she could break me in half.
Then I heard a girl about my age and size ask the girl next to her, “Do I get disqualified if I have to take a walking break because I signed up to be a runner?” I had found my pace buddy! I good-naturedly assured her that it would be OK and offered to start at the same pace. She and the other girl both thought this would be a great idea so at the sound of the gun, we stayed together.
Unfortunately, I either underestimated myself or guessed poorly that we would match strides. After some initial chit chat, I wished them luck and moved on to find my own pace. I hit a nice groove and by the first mile mark, I remembered the passage Isaiah 40:31 that reads:
“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
I didn’t exactly feel like an eagle, but at least I didn’t feel like a turkey! (insert your groans and eye rolls here). Thank you God for legs that run! I ended up running along side this very nice late 30’s-early 40’s woman and a young girl who will someday rule the long distance world. To my pace buddies out there, thanks for keeping me company, and thank you to all the volunteers who reminded us that the finish line was in sight!
As soon as the race was over, I got in my car and made a quick turnaround to pick up Marie and Jess for the 5th Annual Girls’ Weekend. In senior year of college, the women that I made friends with the very first weekend of college (1st and 3rd Floor East!) started going to the Wisconsin Dells over Deer Hunting Weekend. Since 2005, we have matured from screaming on water rides, eating pizza and drinking too much Smirnoff and Mike’s products to making a nice balanced meal, chatting around a spa/hot tub and drinking a few glasses of very tasty wine.
It is SO nice to get to catch up on each other’s lives, talk about future plans, and simply enjoy being in the company of other Christian women. Being one of the two single gals left, it’s also fun to hear about the girls’ relationships with their husbands and parenthood tales now that two of the women are mommies! I can add “my friends have found wonderful husbands” to my list of blessings. Now, if only the guys had attractive, single brothers or clones…
Never slowing down, I went right from the Dells on Sunday to my church’s Advent by Candlelight program. This program is designed for the women of our congregation and our friends or relatives to take an afternoon to just think about the REAL meaning of Christmas. We’re supposed to set aside our schedules and lists for a few hours for fellowship. As a member of the hand bell choir (unusual instrument I play #1), we played this lovely piece called “Night of the Father’s Love” that combines “Silent Night” and “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”. If you watch “Glee”, you’d call that a church mash-up.
The theme of this year’s program had to do with wonder and how the prophecy in Isaiah 9 came true and now we celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas. One of the lines the speakers said tonight was especially nice, “This is the reason we’re here together: to remember that God loved us so much that he sent his son to be our Savior. We are here because he loves us and can have peace in that.” This especially made me smile because her son was in my 4-K Sunday School class last year, and he explained to another student that “Jesus saves us because he’s our Savior. It’s what he does.” I wish everything could be explained as simply as that.
Hope everyone has a great start to their week! It’s a short work week with Thanksgiving in just a few days. At the moment, I’m especially thankful for Girls’ nights/weekends and Isaiah. What will you be thankful for?
I'm a married lady, new mommy, arts and crafty, goody-2-shoes blended with sporty science geeky cheesehead with a serious love of food, kitchen gadgets, cooking, running, being outdoors, Jesus and the Green Bay Packers. You can follow me on Twitter @JenMcT8 too!
