I ran a marathon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ooops.  It appears that I have completely neglected this blog for a really long time.  I've been incredibly busy--my life just keeps getting better and better!  So many incredible things going on!!!  I'll try to go back and catch up, at least with pictures, but I want to record my marathon experience now, while it's still fresh in my mind!

The decision to do this wasn't easy.  I mean, initially signing up wasn't a big deal.  At that point I was running high mileage regularly (despite it being the dead of winter.)  It seemed like a no brainer.  I had no doubt I'd be able to do it.  I was training very carefully.  I had learned from my mistakes of last year, so I increased my mileage very slowly and did everything by the book.  That was why, when I was up to 17 mile long runs, I couldn't for the life of me figure out why my knee started hurting.

At first the PT thought it was something to do with my back, but when the pain became so bad I could barely hobble, he thought it might be something else and sent me to an orthopedic sports doctor.  Who couldn't even fit me in his schedule for 5 weeks.  So I rested for 5 weeks.  I cross-trained and strength-trained, but I did not run for five whole weeks.  The ortho guy thought it was a baker's cyst and I would be okay to run with a cortisone shot.  The shot was WEIRD, but when I tried to run, the pain was still very intense--so bad I really couldn't do it.  So then I got an MRI, which showed severe bone bruising, a precursor to stress fractures.  He told me maybe I should think about training for a different marathon later on, because running that distance at this point would lead to stress fractures.  This was about a week and a half before the marathon.  I was so, so disappointed.  I didn't want to start the training process all over again.  I had spent months running in the dark through snow drifts with frozen fingers.  I did not want to start over!!!!  When I got home from the doctor, I got online to cancel my hotel reservations, but I just couldn't do it.  I wasn't ready to give up my dream.

Luckily I have a lot of running friends.  And one suggested trying out the Jeff Galloway Run/Walk method.  I had heard of this--even bought Jeff's special little timer to tell me when to run and when to walk.  This friend said something so profound to me.  She said (or wrote, actually, on FB), "A marathon, especially your first, is scary whether you're in tip top shape or nursing an injury. The fear is normal. Don't let it consume you. Don't let it keep you from trying. All you can do is TRY. Do your best and then you will have no regrets whether you walk the whole thing or even end up doing out mid way. At least you tried. I'm so excited to see how this goes!!! And fully confident you'll walk away a marathoner. "  I realized she was right.  I was scared.  I didn't want to fail.  But I decided that no matter what I could walk it.  I could do that much.   I talked to the PT about it and asked what is the difference in recovery between bone bruising and stress fractures and he said nothing.  Then he said (in an e-mail, so again I have the direct quote), "I can already tell that you are going to complete the race, based on me telling you that you can, so…good luck and don’t be afraid to do more fast walking than running."  Mind you, at this point I hadn't really run in two full months.  But I changed my thinking from "What if I can't?" to "What if I can?"

So, after questioning a few more running friends--I have a TON--the general consensus was the same: GO FOR IT!!  I started to get excited!  And then I got sick.  Really, really sick.  Eight days before the marathon I got the worst cold I have ever had.  I couldn't even get out of bed for 4 full days.  I was like IS THIS SOME SORT OF COSMIC JOKE?!  I mean, seriously, it was like I could not catch a break!!  I did everything I possibly could to get better--took more vitamins that I thought was humanly possible, rubbed essential oils all over myself at regular intervals, drank a cup of minced garlic (YUCK!!) and even rubbed minced garlic all over the soles of my feet and wrapped them in Saran wrap.  I was desperate.

By Friday I was feeling better--still not 100%, but much better than I had been.  We picked up the kids early from school and were off.  We drove through a snowstorm in the mountains, but finally made it to packet pick up.  I realized then that I just might have signed up for the world's smallest marathon.  The packet pick up was not some big race expo.  No, no, no.  It was a few folding tables set up in the middle of the "town square."  The very, very small town square.  No big deal, though!  It's not like I had anything to compare it to!  Finding a place to eat dinner proved to be tricky, though.  We finally found an Applebee's in the neighboring town.  It wasn't what I had wanted for my pre-race meal, but there really wasn't any choice!

I didn't sleep well that night--to be expected, especially since two of my kids and my husband had now all caught the bad cold I had had--and woke up about 4:50 to start getting ready.  You know--eating a meal replacement bar, taking vitamins, applying anti-chafing stuff, sunscreen, rock tape, etc.  We left the hotel at 5:50.  We left the kids there, asleep.  When Ryan got back to the hotel, he found this note that Audrey had left them from "me."  "Kids.  I'm at the marathon.  You can wach TV and play on your screens.  Audrey gets the romote.  Wish me luck!"

At the starting line, I realized that yes, I had signed up for the world's smallest marathon.  There were 58 of us signed up--but I'm not even sure that all of those people were there.  We were a small group.  They didn't even give us timing chips!!  When it was time to start the guy just said, "Okay, here we go.  3, 2, 1, go!"  And we were off.

About 2 minutes into the race, I just had this overwhelming feeling that not only was I doing something I had wanted to do for a really, really long time, but that I was going to do it.  Like I had no doubt in my mind that I would finish.  I started crying a little, but then just started smiling.  And I smiled the rest of the race.  I was so happy.  Giddy, euphoric, deliriously HAPPY for 26.2 miles.  I kid you not.  I don't know how else to describe it.

The race went great.  Mile 4 had a killer hill.  In all we gained 1700 ft. in elevation and I'm pretty sure most of it was at mile 4.  But even after that it was really hilly.  Not a big deal to me, though--I live in a really hilly area, so I was used to it.  For the most part I was completely alone--just the way I like it.  I did run with an older woman for a few minutes.  It was her 97th marathon!  But other than that, it was just me and the horses and the roadkill.  I ran through lots of beautiful vineyards, along a river and past a nudist colony.  (Didn't see any nudists, though!)  Around mile 20 I think, I really started to notice my hips hurting, but I just continued on with my run/walk method (I did run 3 minutes/walk 1 minute) and it was bearable.  Mile 22 was back down the big hill from mile 4 and that hurt my knee, but I was still fine to run!  And that wall that people talk about?  The one you hit and have to mentally break through?  Yeah, that never happened to me.  I was just crazy happy the whole, entire, time.  The weather was ideal--overcast and in the high 60's.  For fueling I did everything Isagenix style, so I brought all my own stuff, and it was perfect!  I felt incredible!!

I decided to run the whole last mile--no walk breaks.  About a half mile out I just got so emotional.  I started crying--hard.  Then, at the last bend before the finish, I saw my kids waiting for me and I really lost it!  They thought I was hurt.  I was just so happy!!!  I was so grateful that I had been able to do this.  We sprinted to the finish and I just buried my face in Ryan's shirt and bawled my eyes out.  The after pictures are really embarrassing because I was smiling and crying at the same time.  I was thrilled.  I still am!  I can't believe I did that!  Especially considering I had to stop training at mile 17 two full months before the race!  I did it!!!!



We drove straight to the hot springs in Glenwood Springs and soaked for a good 4 hours, which was wonderful.  We got the race results that night and I couldn't believe I came in 17th out of the 30 women that ran!  When I saw how small the race was, I was really worried I would be last.  But I was just over half way!!!  My final time was 5:24.  Not speedy, by any means, but I was just hoping to finish!! I fully expected to be in EXTREME pain on Sunday, but I wasn't too bad!  I'm pretty sure I don't have any stress fractures.  I'm sore, but I can walk!!  I can't believe that the recovery has gone this well!!  I thought that I would be dying because of that two month break!!  I should be!!

So, there is my report.  Hands down, one of the very best experiences of my entire life!  Such an emotional high.  I loved it!!!!  And no, for all that have asked, I will never do another one.  :)  At least I have no plans to!  While I loved the actual race, I got really tired of the training for it!  I felt like it was sucking the joy out of running.   I'll stick with smaller races from now on.  But I'm so glad that I faced the fear, embraced it and did it!!!  I am a marathoner!!!

 

 I definitely couldn't have done it without so much support, advice and love from so many people!  My poor family that spent many a Saturday morning without me and then drove to the middle-of-nowhere, Colorado to see the finish, even though half of them were really sick.  My online running group--when I joined I could probably run a mile at the most!  Those friends have encouraged me and pushed me to be more than I ever thought possible!  Especially Evelyn, who I have only met in person once, but who was there with me every step of the way--texting me motivation from a far!!  One of my shirts had her name on it in memory of her doing the same with my name last year.   I'm so grateful to so many friends and family!!

Requested Recipes!

I keep having people asking for recipes, and since I don't really keep up with my Fit Family blog anymore, I'll just post them on here.  Sorry it has taken me so long!!!

Healthier Pumpkin Bread--makes 2 loaves  (I make this all year round--I puree and freeze our Halloween pumpkins every year.  We love it!!)

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup agave nectar
3 egg whites
1 15 oz. can pumpkin or 1 3/4 cup fresh cooked pumpkin
1 cup applesauce
2 TBSP water
2 1/2 cups flour (you can sub wheat flour if you want)
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup chopped nuts, optional
(chocolate chips also taste yummy!!)

In a large bowl, thoroughly combine first 6 ingredients (through water.)  Mix together next 6 dry ingredients.  Stir into pumpkin mixture, a small amount at a time.  Mix well.  Stir in nuts or chocolate chips, if desired.

Divide batter into 2 well greased or sprayed loaf pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Allow to cool 15 minutes.  Remove from pan and allow to cool completely.


Breakfast Cookies (Every time I have made these they have been a hit and gone in a flash!  I have had so many people ask me for this recipe!  My kids have them for breakfast, lunch, after-school snack or a treat.)

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup protein powder--I use IsaLean Creamy French Vanilla...hey, if you want to know how to get this high quality, all-natural, super-food, top-grade protein powder, let me know!  I can hook you up.
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup agave nectar
1/2 cup olive oil
4 egg whites
1/2 cup blackstrap molasses
1/2 cup apple butter
1 TBSP vanilla
2 TBSP plain, low-fat yogurt
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup craisins

 Mix dry ingredients and spices in a large bowl.  Cream olive oil and agave nectar together, then add egg whites and mix well.  Add molasses, apple butter, vanilla and yogurt and mix again, then add to dry ingredients.  Add raisins, craisins and almonds.    Form the mixture into a ball.  Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour or more.  Spoon balls of cookie dough onto sprayed cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Autumn Harvest Soup--(I found a copycat Panera recipe on Pinterest and gave it a try after falling in love with the squash soup they have there right now.  I had to make quite a few adjustments and this is what I came up with.)

1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 TBSP canola oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 15 oz. can pumpkin
3 cups vegetable broth
3 cups apple juice
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 1/2 TBSP honey
1 tsp. curry
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. cloves
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
orange zest

Heat oven to 450.  Toss butternut squash with canola oil, salt and pepper.  Roast for 30 minutes.  Let cool 5 minutes.  Puree squash in a blender (you have to add water to make it work.)  In small batches, blend together squash puree, pumpkin, vegetable broth, apple juice, almond milk and orange zest.  (This is messy and not fun, but worth it, right?!)  Pour mixture into a sauce pan and heat over medium heat.  Add honey and spices.  Simmer for 10 minutes and serve with roasted pumpkin seeds.

Happy 10th Birthday!!

We had an art-themed party for the girls this year and I think it turned out pretty darn cute.  We had fun with the decorations...

And the activities...

They all made their own artist aprons and then painted their own masterpieces.

We also went on a hunt for a missing masterpiece.  My girls weren't really thrilled when it was found, but Ryan and I found it quite humorous.

For lunch they painted their own pizzas, and decorated them with toppings.

This was the pizza sauce

Jello cups of yumminess

And we were painting everything else, we might as well paint our faces, too!

Our colorful cake...

Inside and out!

Their actual birthday is on Monday!  I can't believe they are ten!!!!!

Chloe got her braces off!!!

Here she is before...

And right after!

Our awesome orthodontist throws a big party one day a month for all the kids getting their braces off that month.  It was complete with jawbreakers, caramel corn, salt-water taffy and caramel apples (aka: all the stuff she hasn't been able to eat for the past year.)  

That's one happy girl!!  (Audrey has to wait a few more months--she is not quite as happy.)

A while back I...

ran a half marathon with a bunch of my friends.

The morning started off CHILLY, even though it was in August.



Brrrrrr!!!!

But it ended up beautifully.  I did a lot better than I thought I would, too, considering I had just moved and hadn't trained at all.  My time was around 2:19.  Not too shabby for my first!  (And maybe last--I'm not sure distance running is for me.)



Here I am with some of my more speedy and beautiful friends.  It was a fun time!!

Befores and Afters, round 2

I have a few more rooms to show in my tour!  Here is the before of Lincoln's room:

This picture was taken probably the day after we moved in.  I had to paint almost immediately because the walls were so filthy--so you can see my paint samples already up on the walls.  Look closely and I'm sure you can see the dirt, too.

After:

Here it is now.  I still need to lengthen his curtains.  Don't judge.

The girls room was also a brown nightmare.  Here is the before (back when we first saw the house in March.)

You can tell these people really went all out in preparation to show their house...

And after:

We went with a vintage theme throughout the house.  The girls love those antique desks and I love the pictures of our ancestors on the wall!

Ugh, blurry picture!  I found this antique vanity on Craigslist and the antique mirror at an antique store.  Those prints above are vintage paintings of little fairies that the girls helped me pick out.

Here is their bathroom before:

And I'm not a professional photographer, so the lighting is terrible, but here is the after:

And the boys bathroom before:

Notice the hole punched in the wall...

After:

Notice where Ryan patched the hole...and has yet to finish up.  We'll get there.  Again with the bad lighting.  This has a vintage car theme, so there are a bunch of old license plates and car ads on the wall that you can't see.

And the master before (a dark cave):

After:

I breathe so much easier just looking at this picture.

Okay, so I have still to post the loft and Isaac's room, which are both really close to being done.  The laundry and mud room have bad lighting that we are going to change, so I will wait on those.  The garage is also still in process.  And I haven't even touched the master bath...so that one might be a while.

But hopefully this will keep Kayla pacified for now.  :)

Before and Afters...Part 1

Yes, there is a valid reason why I haven't blogged since early August.  We've been a little busy.  But now, it's pretty much done!  The house of horrors is gone and we are so happy with the way it's all turned out.  So, without further ado, we will take a tour of the before and after shots of our new house.  Most of the "befores" were taken last March, the one and only time we ever even saw the house before moving in!!

Before--the office, used as a bedroom.

Now--we are still going to add artwork, but now it is actually being used as an office!  :)

Before--the kids showing off the front hall.

Now--new and improved.  It needed to be lightened up considerably!!

The living room (before.)

The living room now.

The dining room before--i.e. the room they let their pets pee in.

That's better.  And the smell is gone!

The kitchen before.  At least they had good cabinets..

Also before--Audrey doesn't know what to think.

And now.

 

View into the interesting family room before.  Chloe gives it a thumbs up.

I prefer the new look, personally.

Before, looking down from the loft.

Is it even the same house?!

I don't have a before of the half bath, but you can get the idea, I'm sure.  Brown, brown and more brown.  Here it is now!

Lest you think this was easy...

Pet stains on the carpet.  No wonder it smelled so awful.

We lived on sub-flooring for a few weeks.  Not my favorite.

Ripping out baseboards!

Child labor is the way to go.

Stay tuned, I'll do the upstairs soon.  Right now I've got to pack.  We are going camping tonight!!  Now that the house is mostly done, we get to have some fun!!