Taper time!

I am officially in the taper and madness has begun. I am in a bubble like John Travolta. If you sneeze don't be offended if I run in the other direction. I am officially neurotic. I walk on the roads and sidewalks with a shuffle to avoid rolling an ankle. It's crazy!

I finished my training off in PA and NY. Home of snow and hills. PA got 16 inches of snow and I ran through it. Try going up steep hills through a few inches of snow. Quite the workout when you are used to the flat land of Illinois. I was supposed to do 10 and 20 back to back, but the snow and hills caused me to do 7 and 15.25. I called it good because I was freaking exhausted. More tired than any other training run all year even the previous 10 and 20 I did a few weeks before. I feel ready for the Goofy and really can't wait to get there.

For now,

Adding to the Adventure Book!

9 more days until we leave for Disney and The Goofy Challenge!

Cold weather training stinks!

I made it through my first 10 mile and 20 mile back to back runs. I did the 10 mile outside and got frostbite. I was pretty miserable. The next day was supposed to be even colder so I decided to do it on the treadmill. 20 miles. Oh my. I was on the treadmill for 4 and a half hours! That is just not right! I actually felt fine physically. I could have gone longer. Mentally it was draining. The weather has been horrible. I haven't been outside since the 10 miler. All my training has been on the dreadmill.

Now we are leaving town again to head east to visit our families for Christmas. I have my last big back to back this weekend. Another 10 miler and 20 miler. It is much hillier in PA and NY so I'm a bit nervous. Also a big snowstorm is coming. I don't have a treadmill there so this could be interesting!

I can't believe it's only three weeks until the races. It is so close now. I can't wait.

For now,

Adding to the Adventure Book!

The final push!

We are back from vacation. We had a great time in Jamaica. The weather was perfect for once. We usually have nothing but clouds and rain, but had beautiful sunny days every day. I stuck with my running and I have to say I am quite proud of myself. I got up at 5:30 on five mornings! I ran two 10 milers and three 5 milers. It was so hard to get out of bed after being up too late the night before. But my plan worked. I got up and got it done and then had a great big breakfast guilt free and would nap on the beach. It can be done. Not my favorite thing but I did it!

Now it's time for the real mileage. This weekend I have my first of two 10-20 back to back runs. I'm pretty nervous. Due to vacation, even though I ran quite a bit I still feel like I lost some fitness. I'm sure it will be fine, but I'll be glad to get through this weekend. It is only going to be 20 degrees both mornings this weekend. So not looking forward to that.

I really can't wait to get to Disney and meet all of my Team All Ears teammates. My fundraising is going well. I have very generous friends and family and I am very thankful!!!

For now,

Adding to the Adventure Book!

Ready for a vacation

I can't believe we are at only 8 weeks to go! Time is really flying now. My legs are tired. I've been putting in some big miles and I'm still doing well. My pace is faster than when I trained for the other marathons so I'm hopeful that the races will go smoothly. We are heading to Jamaica on Saturday for a week and yes I am packing the running shoes. I have never run on vacation before so this is going to be tough. I built in two extra weeks into my training to compensate for this, but still plan a few 10 mile runs and some 5 mile mid week runs. I don't want to blow all of this training. I will get up early and then take a nap on the warm beach! When we get back it will almost be December. I really can't believe it!

For now,

Adding to the Adventure Book!

Training continues!

We are now just 9 weeks and a few days away. It is really going fast now. Training is really ramping up and I'm getting tired. I definitely need more sleep. I fell asleep last night at 8! I did an 8 mile on Saturday and 17 mile on Sunday. That was a big back to back to get me ready. It was a very chilly weekend and I was cold on the long one on Sunday. It's supposed to warm up this weekend and I'm looking forward to it. Maybe I can run in the shorts again?

For now,

Adding to the Adventure Book!!!

Race for the Taste Report

Hi all,

Success!

We are back from Disney once again and had a great time as usual. We spent Friday in the Magic Kingdom and then went to the Halloween party that night. A very long day. Here's a glimpse at what we did.

Saturday we hit the Studios in the morning and did all the big ones. Toy Story, Tower of Terror and Rock and Roller Coaster. We then went over to the Wide World of Sports Complex to pick up my race packet. Then it was off to the Food and Wine Festival for the rest of the day finishing up with Illuminations. Then back to the All Star for bed and what I called the "running of the children" . I tried to go to bed early but, the kids just kept running by the door, ugh!

Sunday morning came early-4:30 and we got ready to catch the bus to the start. I met Gordon from the Running to Disney podcast and it was great to meet him. I also met my fellow Team All Ears member Brad. Before we knew it, the start of the race was upon us.

The race was fun. It was very hot and humid though. Also very crowded in spots so I had to slow down my pace. It was good practice for Goofy because the end of the marathon and the half marathon follow this same course. It was fun to run around an empty World Showcase.

After the finish I met up with fellow Team All Ears member Tracy and Brad again. It was great to meet everyone. We got our free samples and then headed out to get some much needed showers.

The afternoon was spent in Epcot for more Food and Wine. The winner for us was the Tenderloin from South Africa. Yummy! I also loved the Frozen Mojito. We then headed over the Magic Kingdom to catch Wishes and then back to the resort so we could get to bed early for our early flight home.

It was a great trip and I can't wait to go back in January. My training is going really well. Knock on wood!!! I did a 15 miler on Sunday after a 7 miler on Saturday and my pace was really good. I felt great.

That's all for now.

Adding to the Adventure Book!!!

Training going well.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks in the Aulen household. Dave and I did the Fox Lake 5k on Saturday 9/12. Dave did great and finished under his required pace for the Disney 5k. He is doing great in the training and I am very proud of him! I finished in a good time as well and felt pretty good. Once again I started out way too fast. 5k's are just not my race I think. Everyone starts out sprinting and I get caught up in that.

This weekend I did a 6 mile run on Saturday and then an 11 mile run on Sunday. I felt great for both. I hope the training continues like this, but I know it won't be so smooth all the time.

We are getting ready for Disney in just 2 weeks and 2 days! I think we will be utterly spent by the end of the three days. We are planning on spending the entire day at the Magic Kingdom on Friday including the Not So Scary Party. Saturday going to the Studios, pick up my race packet and head over to Epcot to sample all of the yummy food and wine! Sunday up very early for the race and then back to Epcot for more food and wine. I am tired just thinking about it!

That's all for now,

Adding to the Adventure Book!!!

Race for the Taste Here I Come!

I'm in week 3 of Goofy training and things are going well. I'm feeling good so far, but there is a long way to go. We had an exciting week last week as we decided to book a last minute trip to Disney World so I can run the last Race for the Taste 10k. I haven't done it before and heck I want that cool medal. Not to mention that we can now go to the Food and Wine festival. Dave is very happy about that! We may go to the Not so Scary Halloween Party as well. It is going to be a very short trip. 3 days in the parks. Pure exhaustion I'm sure!!!

Dave made an awesome music video of the highlights of our May trip. Take a look:

Pretty Cool, huh?

For now,

Adding to the Adventure Book!

Let the training begin!

Week 1 of Goofy training has begun! This is the first week of the training and I feel more prepared for a training cycle than I ever have before. I put in a lot of miles since May and the strength training I have been doing since December is definitely helping. I also have been working my core. My friend Liz is a personal trainer and she has been kicking my butt (core). I had a great 10 mile run on Sunday, one of those nice and easy runs. It felt great. I did a 5k on the 9th and did it in 34:59. It was very hot and humid that day so I'm happy with that time. I hope the next 20 weeks of training fly by, but I know I'll have plenty of rough patches. Let's hope they are few and far between!

For now,

Adding to the Adventure Book!

Some more Videos and Photos from the RNR Half

Here are some more videos from the Half.

The start:

Video Between Miles 4 and 5:

Dave's review of the PF Changs VIP Area:

That's it for now. Thanks to Dave for taking some great pictures and video. I appreciate you following me around the city, even if you did stop for Starbucks and almost missed me. Love you!

Adding to the Adventure Book!

Rock and Roll Chicago Half Marathon Race Report

I survived the Rock and Roll Chicago Half Marathon on August 2nd and I'll leave it until the end to let you know if I PR'd or not. We got down to Chicago Saturday morning and headed right to the Expo. Just as we got there they were announcing that Ryan Hall would be speaking in 5 minutes. I said to Dave, "Ryan Hall, way cool, we have to go" Dave said "Who is Ryan Hall?" We hightailed it over there and grabbed a seat. John "The Penguin" Bingham was there introducing him. Celebrity sightings everywhere! Ryan gave a great 30 minute talk about preparing for the race, pre race jitters, going out too fast, nutrition, etc. It's funny he was talking about 4:28 miles!! I can only imagine. After that we did a bit of shopping and then headed to the hotel to check in. Had an early dinner of my traditional spaghetti and meatballs and then off to bed early.

Up early and walked over to the starting area. Here is what I was thinking at this point:

Then Dave left me and went to start getting in position to get some pictures. I went and found my corral and began the long wait. It was a wave start so I had a 30 minute wait until it was my time to go. We were off and I of course start off too fast. My Garmin was messed up from the buildings so I couldn't tell what my pace was. I hit the first mile at about 11:00. Then the second one about 12:00, a bit better. Dave saw me here, but almost missed me. Here is the funniest portion of the race, caught on tape:

I felt good through out the whole race. It was crowded once we left downtown and hit the lakefront trails. I was concentrating on keeping track of my mile splits in my head. I was trying to keep under 12:30 miles. So what was Dave doing while I was running. Well we know he hit up a Starbucks, but what else:

Right about mile 12 was when I started to feel it. I dug in and kept pushing and before I knew it I was at the finish line. I crossed the line at 2:42:57. A 4 minute PR! Woo Hoo! I was tired and hot, but was immediately handed an ice cold wet towel. Best thing ever. I got my cool medal. Some water and a popsicle-what a great idea. I found Dave and he taped this. I was still winded:

It was a great race. I'll post some more videos and pictures in the next post.

So for now,

Adding to the Adventure Book

Ryan Hall

Speaking at Chicago RnR Half Marathon expo

Rock and Roll Half here I come!

It's been awhile.  I've been battling a sinus/ear infection and am finally starting to feel better.  Just in the nick of time too.    The Chicago Rock and Roll half is this Sunday.   We are heading down to Chicago tomorrow and so far the weather looks perfect for the race.   I'm hoping for a PR.  My previous best is 2:46:59.   Not sure if that will happen or not.   I did a 12 miler on Sunday and it was tough.   I'm going to go out and have fun and see what happens.   Check back here for next week for some pictures and video from the event.    

For now,

Adding to the Adventure Book!

My Signoff

Well folks we have a winner for my signoff.  Remember when I was looking for an idea to end all of my blog entries.   Dave came up with a great one.   It is inspired by the movie "Up".  For those that have seen the movie you will understand it immediately.   For those that haven't, let me fill you in.   Spoilers Ahead!!!!

Dave and I saw Up when it first came out.  The movie had a big effect on both of us.    We both were crying throughout the movie and still get misty eyed thinking about it even a month afterwards.  The movie is about a couple, Carl and Ellie.  Within the first 10 minutes we see how Carl and Ellie meet as young children, fall in love, get married and then ultimately Ellie passes away.  What got to Dave and I was that Carl and Ellie reminded us of our own relationship.   They had a jar that they put their spare change in to save for a big trip.   Dave and I have a large Campbells Soup tin that we throw our change in to buy something "fun".   It's just Carl and Ellie in the movie, no kids.  Same for us.  The big thing is that Carl and Ellie never got to take the dream trip that they always looked forward to.   Dave and I are lucky and we have already taken many dream trips.   The point of the movie is that you don't have to take a dream trip that life is a big adventure by itself.    Ellie created an "Adventure Book" that she put in everything they did and everything they wanted to do in the future.    I like to think that Dave and I have been creating our "Adventure Book"  and we are constantly adding to our own book.  So I will have my sign off be:   Adding to the Adventure Book!   I hope you all will continue to follow along.

So for now,

Adding to the Adventure Book!

A 5k on the 4th

Had  a busy 4th of July weekend.    Spent Friday boating and having fun at Blarney Island.  Then up early on the 4th for the Run for Freedom in Antioch.   I talked some friends into coming with and Dave even walked it!  Way to go everyone.  I was pleased with  my time: 34:34.   Much faster than last years 38:00.  I'm glad to know that I am getting fitter.   Sunday was a 10 mile run on very dead legs.   I muddled through it.   I bonked toward the end,  totally empty.  Needed another gel or something on the run.

Speaking of gels I've been very pleased with the Hammer Gels I ordered.   I heard about them during an interview with the owner of Hammer on the Run to Disney Podcast.    The guy had some great things to say and they made sense.  These are the first gels I have been able to stomach and they work great.   I had one about 10 minutes before my 5k and I'm sure that helped me improve my time.  

Spent the rest of the day yesterday just lounging around outside.   A nice relaxing afternoon and evening.  Dave made awesome ribs for dinner, his best yet!   

Less than 4 weeks until the Half! 

Summer is Here!

Summer has finally arrived in Chicago and it is kicking my butt.   90s and high humidity.   I'm not used to this.    But I have been out there and getting my runs in.   I'm feeling pretty good,  my legs are a bit tired but I am really getting up in the mileage for me.    This week I have a 9 miler on Sunday.   It's supposed to be a bit cooler so that will help.   Only 5 more weeks and 2 days until the Rock and Roll Half.   I can't wait!    I need a sign off tagline.   Any ideas???

Outside, Yeah!

I finally got outside to run on Sunday.   6 miles.  It felt great.  Allergies are still rough, but much better.  Hopefully another week or two and they will be history!   I am currently doing Hal Higdons Intermediate Program for a Half Marathon.  I'm signed up for the Rock and Roll Chicago Half Marathon on August 2nd.   I can't wait for it.  Should be a fun one with all of the bands.   The intermediate is getting me ready for the intermediate marathon training program I'm going to use for Goofy.   I'm not used to running 5 days a week and this is tough.   Running on both days of the weekend is difficult.   I have to behave on Friday and Saturday nights now.  Bummer!!!  And no sleeping in at all on the weekend.  Major bummer!!!!!   But it will be worth it to get those three medals come January.   

Awol

Sorry I've been AWOL!   The Disney vacation was great.    We did a lot but still managed to relax-yes at Disney we relaxed.    We loved the Beach Club.  It was great to walk right out of the International Gateway and be in your room in 5 minutes!!   Definitely want to go back there.   

So I've been back in the thick of training.   I signed up for the inaugural Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Chicago on August 2nd.   Can't wait, should be pretty fun with all of the bands.  Allergies still suck!   Hope to get outside this weekend for a run.  I'm so sick of the treadmill.   Strength Training is going well too.    

I can't believe it's only 32 weeks until the Goofy Weekend!!!

Almost time for Disney!!

Yes,  it is almost time for Disney!   Not the Goofy Disney.  Just a regular old vacation.  We leave Thursday night and we'll be there through the 17th!   Can't wait.   I'll try and do some blog posts while there and keep you updated.

I've had some good runs lately.  All inside due to allergies.  I had a nice 7 mile run on Saturday.    I joined Team Allears for the Goofy Challenge.   Allears.net is a great resource for Disney if you are not familiar with the site you should definitely check it out.   The founder, Deb Wills is a breast cancer survivor.   Team Allears was formed to help everyone stay motivated with the training and also to raise money for breast cancer research.    This should be a great motivator to help me get my runs in.   I have a good idea to raise money and I'll post it after I get back from vacation.  That's when the real training starts!!!

Allergies, Sigh.

I had a nice week of training last week.  I was trying to decide if I would do the 10k on Sunday.  The weather looked even worse than last week.  Thunderstorms.   Holly does not do Thunderstorms.  I am terrified, like abnormally so.   I actually do a crouch walk to the car if I get stuck out in one so I'll be lower to the ground.  Ok you can stop laughing now.   So I decided not to pre-register.

I'm glad I didn't.  Friday we had our first 80 degree day in 6 months!   This was great but caused every single tree to start blooming.   I have terrible spring allergies.  Mainly eyes issues.   We went out for dinner with friends Friday night and everyone wanted to eat outside.  I knew that would be an issue but I went with it.  By the end of dinner my eyes were a mess.   I woke up on Sunday and they were swollen and glued shut.  Yuck.  I stayed in the house all weekend and am recovered for now.  I didn't do a long run all weekend.  Very bad!   I'm afraid to step outside it's either going to be the trees or the lightning!   Or both, what if  lightning hit a tree?  Crap.

My First 10k

I did it.  I completed my first 10k!  First a video preview of how I was feeling before the race:

My fears were well founded.  I didn't finish last but I did finish next to last.  No worries from me though.  I'm very happy with my time.  1:14:01.   11:56 pace.   Speedy for me!   It was a miserable day with rain and wind coming right off of the lake.  My legs were cold the whole race.  There was one downside, one of the volunteers at the water station.   The course was a two loop course so I got to pass by twice.   He started off the second time by saying  "Didn't I see you four times already?"  then the best one " Can I call you a cab?"   Dude!!!!   At least I am out here running.  I just laughed at him.   I mean he is standing in the rain, but that was pretty uncalled for.   I wasn't that far back from the end of the pack.    

The plus side of a small race that you finish at the end of?   It's easy to spot your husband at the finish.  He was the only one!    Thanks for waiting in the cold Dave!  Love you!

I am sore today.  The course was rolling and I think I beat my quads up on the down hill.  I still forced myself to do a 3 mile run today to help loosen things up.

So there is another one next Sunday.  I may give it another try.  Hopefully this will have more than 55 runners in it and I'll do better than next to last.   

Stay tuned!!

Where's the sun?

I'm really getting sick of this weather.  I am still pulling out the winter coat!   Enough!!!  Had a couple of nice runs so far this week.  Skipped the strength training yesterday as I must have slept funny or something.  I woke up with a stabbing pain by my shoulder.   Thankfully that is gone today.  I'll be back at it tomorrow with a run and strength training routine.  

Getting excited for my 10K on Sunday.   I can't believe I haven't run a 10k ever!?   Marathon-check, Half Marathon-check, 13k-check, 8k-check, 5k-check.   10k not so much!   I'm planning another one next weekend as well.  I'm a bit worried about finishing last as I'm afraid there won't be very many slower runners.  But I love this saying:  Dead last finish is better than did not finish which is better than did not start.   Here's hoping for at least the dead last finish- HA!!!!

I must update more often.

Ok,  let's see if I can get in a better blogging groove.    The weather here is still not great.  Cold, rainy, typical Chicago in spring time weather.  I'm dying to get outside.   Hopefully Sunday will be good because I have a 10K race to do.  

I had a good week of training.  I did 6 miles for my long run on Saturday.  It feels good to get up in the mileage again.   I was tired though.   My legs were tired from climbing stairs.   Stairs?  Yep, stairs at an indoor waterpark.   Dave and I went to Key Lime Cove in Gurnee, IL on Thursday night.   We had a blast.    The slides were pretty cool.  We went up and down several times.  My legs were screaming!   It's tough on my feet to walk barefoot on concrete especially climbing stairs!   The park was fun and we had a nice getaway.   

Another race?

I was back on the treadmill again this week.  3 miles on Monday, Wednesday and today.  Strength training on Tuesday and Today.   I'm hoping for a six mile run on Saturday.    I signed up for a 10K on April 19th.   I've never done a 10K.  Should be fun!  Hopefully no snow this time around.  

Major Bummer!!!

I've been having some really great runs lately.   I've been feeling great.  The strength training at Snap Fitness has been going well.    I was really excited for the Shamrock Shuffle 8K today.   Unfortunately mother nature had other plans.  We got dumped on with about 6 inches of snow overnight and the major snow was just hitting Chicago right when we needed to drive the 50 miles to the race.   I of course said we could make it.  We got in the car and made it about 5 miles before I realized that this was really stupid.   The roads were not plowed.  Cars were spinning out. I gave it up and we came home.    I'm ticked.   Oh well.   There will be other races.    Next up is a 10K on April 19th and another 10K on the 27th.    Hopefully the snow will be gone by then!!!   Chicago sucks!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

I survived the Boil Order!   I had my first great run in awhile on Saturday.  5 miles and felt really great.   I definitely need to work on my nutrition and what to eat before and after runs to help me run strong and recover quickly.

Back to why I'm running Goofy.  If you remember I said the last marathon I would run is Chicago.   That lasted about a year until I got the itch.  Marathoners know that itch.   It gets in your blood you have to do it again.   I decided to enter the lottery for the New York Marathon in 2007.  I figured no way would I get in so I better sign up for Chicago to have a back up.    As luck would have it I got into NYC on my first try.   Now what do I do.  I'm registered for both, Chicago and NYC,  4 weeks apart.  I figured why not do both.  Hal Higdon has a plan for running a marathon 4 weeks after one so I figured it can't be too bad of an idea.  Ha Ha!!

Chicago 2007,  you remember right.  90 degrees, 100% humidity or something like that.   I'll post a link to my full race report later.   It was a nightmare.  I got shutdown around mile 16 and it ended up being 18 miles after I had to walk back to the start.   Good thing I had NYC to look forward to in just 4 weeks.

NYC 2007,  wow,  a great time.   This is a fun one.   I totally hit the wall at mile 19 and struggled until about 22 when the banana kicked in.    Finished in 6:22:59.   I swore that was it.  Made my husband  promise to remind me what I felt like at Mile 19.  

I got the itch again.   A year later,  I'm noticing a pattern here.  What to do?    I love Disney and would love to do a Marathon there.   It's in January which means training in the cold and over Thanksgiving and Christmas which are big vacation times for us.   I'm only going to do this once ( yeah right)   so I may as well do Goofy!!!   I need all 3 of those medals baby!   I signed up on the first day available and am now scared to death!   13.1 miles and then 26.2,  I must be nuts!!!!!

Enjoy St. Patrick's Day.  I'm off to find some Green Beer!

Boil Order!!

We had fun in Fox Lake the last two days.    Woke up to no water yesterday.  Apparently someone ran into a fire hydrant and it emptied all of the water in town.  How does that happen??  Only in Fox Lake!   So we were called and told that we were under a boil order.  What the heck is a boil order???!!   I googled it of course.    It is quite complicated actually.   We ended up going out for dinner last night so we didn't have to deal with boiling water to make dinner.   Then today they said it was all clear and we were free to use the water normally.  My friend Liz and I were wondering now what,  do we need to empty our hot water heater?   Ice maker and water lines in the fridge?   Very confusing.   I of course google it again.    Yes to the ice maker and water line but apparently if you crank up your hot water for a half hour it will kill any bacteria in the water.   Things you learn!!!

Back on track

I got my 4 miles in on Saturday.    I was very sore afterward.   But it is a good sore!    Back at it again on Monday for 3 more miles and hit Snap this morning for my strength routine.   

So why am I doing this crazy Goofy thing.    I started running back in 2005.   I signed up for the 2005 Chicago Marathon before I had done any other races.   Sure I ran cross country in high school but I can honestly say that I never liked running.   When my best friend from high school found out I did a marathon she was shocked.  She would always drag me to go on runs to be ready for the meets.    I never thought I would run a marathon.   I raced bikes in college and loved that.   Unfortunately after college I fell out of the workout routine.  I married my wonderful husband and fell into an easy routine of eating too much and having too much fun. Both are fine but you have to still workout!!!  So the marathon seemed like a good goal.   I am goal oriented and task oriented.  If you tell me to run a certain distance on a certain day then I'll do it!    I used Hal Higdon's Spring training program and then his Novice Marathon program.  30 weeks total.     I finished the Chicago Marathon in 6:06:15 and swore I would never do that again!

This is getting pretty long so stay tuned for more fun with marathons.

Still Sick!!

Well so much for being better.   I ended up with a horrible cold again and the stomach bug did not go away.   Two antibiotics and two weeks later I am finally back on track.   I hit the treadmill yesterday for 3 miles and it was tiring.   Very tiring.    Today I went to Snap Fitness and did 3 miles again on the treadmill and my normal strength routine.  It had been over a month since I did any strength training and it felt it.   I am very sore now.  I hope to get in at least four miles on Saturday.  I think a PR in the Shamrock Shuffle is out of the question.  But I guess miracles can happen!   I will hopefully be able to post more regularly.  Next up will be some background on myself and some ideas for training.   Stay tuned.....

Sick, A Vacation, Sick Again!

This isn't off to a good start is it???  I came down with a nasty cold at the end of January that kept me from training.   Then it was time for our annual vacation to Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands.   We had a wonderful time, warm weather, beautiful beach, great food,  and fun with our wonderful friends.      Unfortunately I picked up some stomach thing the last day.    I finally felt a bit better today and got a run in.   3 miles on the treadmill.  I hope to get to Snap Fitness tomorrow for another run and some strength training.    It's only a little over a month until the Shamrock Shuffle so I need to get my butt in gear to try for my PR.   Stay tuned!!!!

Finished making the blog look better.

I've finished customizing my blog for now and am ready to go public!  I hope all who have found my blog will enjoy it and have fun reading about my training and other stuff going on with me.

It' official I am registered for the Goofy and a Half challenge. No turning back now.   I also registered for the Shamrock Shuffle 8K in Chicago on March 29th.    I plan on posting at least as frequently as when I workout.   

My First Blog Post!

Here's my first Blog post on my very first Blog.  I'm going to do a blog about my training for the 2010 Goofy and a Half Challenge in Walt Disney World.  The Goofy and a Half Challenge consists of running the Half Marathon on January 9th and the Full Marathon on January 10th.  If you complete both you not only get the Donald Duck medal for the Half and and the Mickey Mouse Medal for the Full but you also get a Goofy medal for being Goofy enough to do both in two days.  My husband Dave thinks I'm crazy and I probably am, but I have to try.  So stick around it should be a crazy ride.