Raising the bar...

I finally got a good solid run in! I went almost 12 miles yesterday and am actually not sore at all today. A lot of it was uphill, and I hate to admit I had to walk the last half mile home. I kept trying to jog but the heat beat me down. As I was running I realized LV is only 3 weeks away! I will only get in 2 more long runs before then, and struggled with 12 miles! I finished the LB half in 2:35 and my plan is to beat that time! I guess I have to keep in mind the important thing is that I finish and raise awareness of NF2. I hate the idea of not improving with each race, part of running is always raising the bar. I remind myself I had my wisdom teeth out and was forced to sit out for about 3 weeks, but the evil running dictator in my head scoffs and says not to make excuses. So I wont. I'll just add an extra run on Wednesdays, a few short hill runs for endurance, and be prepared to limp for a week after the race. If it doesn't hurt, you're not running!

Just to share:
Mica is now totally potty trained, and she is running around the house in Beauty and the Beast underwear bending her finger at me whispering Redrum Redrum.
Yesterday she walked up to Paul butt naked and in a deep voice said "I'm Daddy!"
JT says he is growing his hair like Goku from Dragon Ball Z, and I am supposed to know what this means..
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Fabulosity!

As women we tend to get down on ourselves all the time, being positive is good for our souls, good for our kids, and good for our husbands who are sick of reassuring us! Kadi over at Womb at the Innsane had a great idea to list all the reasons we are awesome! I loved the idea, and the possibility of winning this adorable necklace didn't hurt either!

I am an intelligent woman who is not afraid to be a nerd!
I am a compassionate and loyal friend.
I'm silly and fun.
I really like the golden tone of my skin.
My legs and booty look great from running! LOL
I ran a half marathon and continue to run!
I am a really good organizer and always step up and take charge.
I love animals, and have the self control to be vegetarian, and am a good enough cook to pull it off with a meat-eating husband!
I am a good Mom, I am very involved and loving with my kids.

Do you have a blog? List all the reasons you are fabulous and grab this button Kadi made! Don't forget to link back to me of course!

3 weeks til Vegas!

Daylight Savings can kiss my ass. (Sorry Nani!) I hate that it gets dark so early! I can't fit a run in at all. Paul gets off early today so if it's not super hot I will finally head out for that 10 miles. Sunday I hope to repeat the 10 miles, then run 10 miles every 3-4 days for the next 3 weeks. Lofty goals, I know. With Las Vegas coming up I have real motivation. I just found out CTF will be in Vegas! Yeah! I didn't know that. I really love having a team to meet up with and run with. It makes everything so much more exciting.

As I have said before I wont actively email fundraise each run, but I am going to be having an actual fundraiser next weekend in Rancho Cucamonga to raise some money for CTF! More details will be coming soon!

Back on the wagon!

I took a great, mostly uphill, 7 mile run Saturday! I feel so much better already! I actually had to walk just a few times, on the steeper parts of the hills. I feel 7 miles is a solid accomplishment after almost a month of being sedentary! Hopefully tomorrow I will run a flat run, and cover 10 miles. I will be kicking ass and taking names in Vegas!

I also had to stop taking propolis for a month while I had my wisdom teeth out. You can't take propolis 2 weeks before or after surgery, something about the blood not clotting. So this week I get back on track with both.

It feels great to have that little pull in my calves everytime I walk, the burn in my legs when I lift anything, and that stiffness anytime I try to crouch. Everytime I wince a little I know I had a good run!

Shave the Date

Escape

I haven't gone on a real run since Long Beach! I am gaining weight and losing aerobic capacity very quickly. Yesterday during a solid game of "I'm gonna getchu!" with Mica, I actually lost my breath! With the sun setting so early, Paul working overtime, and my complete aversion to treadmill runs, it will be very difficult to get in enough training to be ready for Las Vegas on December 7th. I will do it, I don't know how yet, but I have to. With everything going on in my private life right now, running is my solace, my escape. When I run I am not Mommy, or wife, friend, or organizer... I am Olivia, I am myself, independent and able to face whatever is thrown at me. When I run I work out all the kinks, first the ones in my feet, then ankles, then knees... and as I hit my stride I clear out all of the clutter in my mind. The rythm of the road creates a meditative mood, I can clearly see what I need to do, what I haven't done, and create plans for what I will do as soon as I get home. People say once you build up the athletic ability to run a long distance, the battle becomes completely mental. You have to force yourself to keep going, not to stop, even when your body is telling you to. Mind over matter. In overcoming that challenge you build mental fortitude as surely as you build muscle mass. Now that I have had almost 3 weeks off to recuperate from my wisdom teeth extraction, I feel like my mind is cloudy and filled with cobwebs. It's time to stop waiting, and start running...

Get out and VOTE!!

This weekend was a total blast! We got to celebrate my fave holiday, Halloween...

Then Saturday was JT's 6th birthday! I can't believe my little baby boy is a little man! He was so excited and got way too much stuff of course, but he is worth it.

Today of course is election day, I am all prepared with my Obama shirt! I've read through all of the CA props and am ready for No on everything but 2 (better treatment of farm animals) and 7(clean energy, creates jobs), and especially no on h8te! I love the debates surrounding an election. Too many people get so incredibly angry when people disagree with their political beliefs, and try to force their own religions/beliefs onto everyone else. I love that we live in a democracy, where we can have a beer and talk about the issues, then let it go and still be friends. I just hope that this election more people vote based on the greater good, rather than forcing ideological beliefs into law. Whichever way it turns out, whoever and whatever comes out on top, we will still be America, and that is something we can all be thankful for.