Super Bowl Pool for the Cure!

Hello Friends and Family!

As you may know, I have registered to walk the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk in Chicago in August. The total walk will be 60 miles over the course of three days. I walked it in 2009 and it was truly a life changing experience. We are excited to have the opportunity to walk it again in 2010. We have doubled our team this year, and so far have 6 registered members. Each of us is required to raise $2,300 for this great cause. It will not be an easy task but I am sure we will meet our goal. We are planning many exciting fundraisers over the course of this Spring and Summer. Our first major fundraiser is a Super Bowl Pool. We will be splitting the proceeds of the pool 50/50. With 50 percent going to pay the winners, and 50 percent to our fundraising efforts. The rules for the pool are below. If you would like to be included, please send $20.00 per square to Jamie Wombacher, 1006 Dewey Street, Harvard, IL 60033. Please also include your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. If you could also send me an e-mail to let me know that you have dropped the money in the mail, I will know to look for your entry fee. In order to make sure that we have all the money collected prior to the Super Bowl, I must have all mailed entries to me no later than Thursday, February 4, 2010. If you do not want to mail the money, you may deliver to me or one of my team mates, listed below. We will accept cash hand-delivered entries (if space is available) up until 12:00 noon on February 6, 2010. We currently have 2 grids available for a total of 200 squares. We plan to payout $1000 per grid.

Susan G. Komen 3-Day Super Bowl Pool Rules

1. The cost to participate is $20 per square.
2. Players can purchase more than one square.
3. Values (0-9) will be assigned randomly to each row and column on February 6, 2010.
4. Emails will be sent before the start of the game on February 7, 2010 (to players who have provided an e-mail address) informing each player of his/her position(s) on the board.
5. Each players' position(s) will also be posted online before the start of the game at www.becca-mycuprunnethover.blogspot.com.
6. Winners will be determined by matching the last digit of each team's score with the grid at the end of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters and for the final score.
7. The proceeds will be split 50/50 with half of the money going toward the Boobalicious Babes 3-day team and half of the money going toward the payouts.
8. If the board sells out, the total of the payouts is expected to be $1000.
9. The expected payouts will be as follows:
a. $150 (or 15%) to first quarter winner
b. $150 (or 15%) to second quarter winner
c. $150 (or 15% to third quarter winner
d. $550 (or 55%) to final score winner
10. In the case of overtime, the overtime score will be counted as the final score for purposes of determining the final score winner. There will be no additional 4th quarter payout.
11. In no event will the payouts total more than 50% of the total proceeds of the pool.

Questions? Call or e-mail me (815) 814-3913.

My fellow team members are:
Rebecca Lee
Dani Parrotte
Shelley Stricker
Lani Fentrow
Tracey Perkins.

Thanks for participating in this fundraiser for a great cause!!

Training Update!

Training for the 1/2 marathon in October was enjoyable. I trained outside, and rarely stepped on the treadmill. Unfortunately, training for Maui has not been quite as enjoyable. I get so bored on the treadmill that I start playing mindgames with myself. I have been meeting a friend at the gym which helps, because I can't really quit when we have already decided what we were going to run. That just wouldn't be fair. I also started by 16 week full marathon training plan last week. My long runs are Sundays. I was hoping it would be in the 30s so I could run outside, but it was not. In fact it was so cold that the water froze to the side of my water bottle when I was out for only a minute. So, off to the gym I went. I was prepared though, I looked through the guide to find out when there was something on TV that I could watch for the next 2 hours. If I did 6.0 pace, it would take 1 hour and 40 minutes. Kinda depressing, huh?

I settled on 5:00, because there was a special about a previous Biggest Loser winner, Eric, who had gained back nearly 200 pounds. I was intrigued, and thought that it would be a good motivator. Actually, the better motivator was the guy on the treadmill next to me. He was running pretty fast when I got on. Shortly thereafter his treadmill shut down and he got off. I know that the treadmills shut down after an hour, so he must have been running for an hour. About 3 minutes later, he was back on the same treadmill, still running just as fast, and he did another solid hour! WOW! So, I set the treadmill to 6.4 miles per hour and off I went. Somewhere during the run, I felt that I was a little slow and upped it to 6.5. At the end of the first hour, I had run 6.5 miles. I got off, went to the bathroom, and hopped back on again. I looked at it as only 3.5 more, just a little over a 5K. For the next 2 miles, I settled on 6.8 pace, a little faster, but I just wanted to be done. For the next mile, I upped it again to 7.0. About this time my knee started hurting. I had visions of my horrible knee pain pre-physical therapy. I said a little prayer, and told myself that I would finish all 10 miles. (I also knew at this point, that my marathon buddy, Beth, had already done her 10 probably on this very same treadmill, earlier in the day. My competitive spirit wouldn't let me quit!) So for the last 1/2 mile, I upped the speed again to 7.5, pretty fast for me! I finished all 10 miles, and felt pretty good about it too! My knee is a little sore today, so I think tonight will be an elliptical night!

Did I mention that I leave for Maui in 11 days, and run the 1/2 in 13 days!

Marathon Update

I finally decided that I will not be doing the full marathon in Maui as originally planned! My leg is really feeling so great, and running has been good (when I have actually been doing it), BUT, I realized how much training I missed out on when I was not running, but going to physical therapy. I have decided to run the half marathon in Maui on January 24th. I have enough time to train hard for it, and still enjoy the race. I loved the 1/2 marathon in Des Moines, so I am sure Maui will be much better! In Des Moines I ran around a couple of very pretty parks and lakes, but I was also wearing gloves and a stocking cap! In Maui, I am planning on sporting my Good 'Ole Hawkeye Black and Gold Running Shorts, and my Black and Gold Sports Bra, absolutely no hat, gloves, or shirt for that matter!!!

I could not let myself abandon a full marathon altogether, afterall it was my goal and dream. So, I have decided to run the Wisconsin Marathon in Kenosha on May 1st! I am super excited to have 2 of my running buddies and great girls, Hollie and Beth, along side of me for this race. It will be the first full marathon for all three of us, hopefully it will be a great first marathon, with many more to follow.

Countdown to 1/2 in Maui -- 44 days! Oh, and that means I will be on the beach in 42 days:)

Countdown to FULL marathon -- 140 days!

Happy Thanksgiving

I remember as a kid in school writing Happy Thanksgiving down the page and then trying to fill in things I was thankful for that began with each letter. I wish I had that paper now to compare, I am sure it would be much different. I have added some commentary where needed:

H - Hubby
A - Affection (from my children and husband)
P - Parents (mine)
P - Priceless moments
Y - You (all the people that have taken time to read this blog, because you are my
friends and family)

T - Ten Ks (or any race for that matter - I just needed a T)
H - Haley and Olivia (there is no O in Thanksgiving, so I have them both listed
here:)
A - Awesome friends!
N - Nieces (all 10 of them)
K - Knowledge (it is power you know)
S - Siblings (My sisters and brothers are the best and I cannot imagine my life
without them)
G - God
I - In-laws (and I have some of the best parents-in-laws, and brother and sister-in-
laws - on both sides)
V - Vacations! MAUI in less than 2 months:)
I - Investments (no I don't mean just $$ here, I mean the time teachers, coaches,
and others invest in my children; the investment I made by spending 3 years in
law school; in friendships; there are so many investments we have made over the
years, for which I am thankful)
N - Nephews
G - Gymnastics (it has been such a great activity for both my girls - they have grown
strong, have met new friends, and have learned discipline)

Happy Thanksgiving All!

Marathon Questionable Depressed:(

For the past month every time I run I had pain in my right knee and right hip area. A week ago I went to a sports massage therapist, who worked out my leg, and it felt pretty good for a day, and then I ran again. The pain was unbearable for a while, but on Sunday it became unbearable, tears in my eyes pain. I was supposed to run 12 according to my training plan, but could barely finish 4.5. After I finished, I was in a lot of pain the rest of the day, and had trouble sleeping Sunday night. On Monday I broke down and called Dr. Dehaan (read orthopedic surgeon), and today was my appointment. I asked Chad to come with me, because I was really afraid to hear the words, "do not run," or "you cannot run."
So here's the news:
Good news: (1) the x-rays looked great; (2) it's not surgical; (3) I can walk, do the elliptical, ride the bike, or swim.

Bad news: I cannot run for a while. He would not say when I could expect to be running again, because he thinks that will be up to the physical therapist to decide when my legs are ready.
I have to go to physical therapy 2-3 times a week for the next month. Hearing that leads me to believe that I will not be back to running for about a month. Given that the marathon is January 24th, and I am in the heart of my training, I doubt I will be able to run the full marathon in Maui. I missed a 12 miler last week, and was scheduled for a 13 this weekend. I just don't think my body will be physically able to run 26.2 after taking a month off. I am just going to work hard at therapy, pray about it, and we'll see what happens! I would be lying if I didn't admit that I am pretty upset about it!

He said there were 3 separate injuries and they are all causing some of the pain. He talked a lot in medical terminology but what I got out of it was (1) bursitis in the hip area (or swelling / irritation in the bursa); (2) patellofemoral problems in both knees, even though the left knee does not hurt at all (basically the knee cap was not tracking where it is supposed to); (3) sacroiliac / pelvic something - causing my gait to be off and my left leg to longer than the right.

HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY OLIVIA!!

Was it really 8 years ago? Where has the time gone? I swear sometimes it seems like only a day or two ago that I rolled over in bed and said, "Honey, I think my water just broke," and Chad casually replied, "Jam, go back to sleep, you are dreaming." I was not dreaming, but my dreams were coming true. That day I became a mom to the most beautiful little brown haired, blue eyed princess! I remember so clearly the doctor telling me that day I was going to have a 9 pound baby, and responding, "oh, no we are not!" Sure enough, after an 16 hours of labor my 8 pound 14 ounce baby was born (just shy of 9 pounds)!

Two days later on Halloween we brought her home in a premie pumpkin sleeper. It was all they had and Chad's mom really wanted her to celebrate her first Halloween! She couldn't really bend her arms because it was pretty tight. As I buckled her into the car seat I cried tremendously, and looked at Chad and commented that now we were responsible for this little tiny human being, and there was no way I could handle it! I think I have done pretty well over the last 8 years, if I do say so myself:)

My princess is so smart, and can be quite funny, loving and inspiring! She loves music just like her Daddy; for her 8th birthday she got her first ipod! Olivia was blessed with natural athletic talent, which we all know she did not get from her mother! In December she will begin her career as a competitive gymnast! She is shy and outgoing all at the same time. She was the lead in the first grade musical last year, even singing a solo! She is a great big sister, and would do absolutely anything for Haley! I am so proud to be her Mom!

P.S. I tried to upload some more pictures, but it is not working. Maybe later!

Happy Birthday, Olivia! I love you!

Back on Track!

88 days! We leave for Maui in 88 short days! So, today I am officially "back on track". I am back to counting points; back to the marathon training plan; back to working out twice a day most days!

I have two goals in mind. The first, to finish my first marathon! I don't want to set a time goal, because I have never ran a marathon and don't want to get discouraged with times. I just want to finish, and feel good about it in the end! I finished my half marathon with a huge smile on my face, and I want to do the same at the full marathon.

My second goal, to be able to wear a bikini on the beach, and feel good about myself doing it! The last time we were in Maui in January 2008, I was near my heaviest weight. I sat on the beach and swam in the ocean, but I did not feel good about the way I looked or felt! This time, I want to be proud of myself as I sit on the beach and swim in the ocean. A couple months ago, I got the motivation I need from my husband! I asked him if he thought I could wear a bikini in Hawaii (at this point I had lost nearly 30 pounds), and he responded with a shrug and a funny face. I was so upset, but then again, thank him for being honest! I would rather have him tell me the truth, then lie, and embarass myself! I guess I will just work that much harder on my core muscles at the gym over the next 88 days!

Here's to "back on track"!!!