Very Inspiring Blogger Award

I was nominated for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award from Dawn at The Rushing Herd.  Dawn is so inspiring.  She ran her 1st 5k in November and 10 half marathons since then.  I believe that her goal is 30 half marathons before she turns 30.  Wowza! (Fyi, I've ran 7 in 3 years.)  Dawn's blog is very inspiring and she has lots of giveaways and reviews.  

Anyway here's the logo:

We are suppose to tell 7 things about ourselves..hmmm this might be difficult.

1. I met Travey when I was 29, and we got married when I was 31.  He's 4 years younger than me.  I always thought I would be married young, but apparently everything worked out just the way it was suppose to, and we've been married for  5 years.

2.  I'm a sock snob.  Back in 2008 (I think) Becky, Pam and did the Avon Breast Cancer two day walk in Charlotte, NC.  It was an adventure.  The best part was the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches they gave out, but it was suppose to rain and I didn't want to end up with killer blisters after walking 26.2 miles in the wet so a friend introduced me to smartwool socks.  I was hooked.  I began wearing them for everything.  Since I started running, I've fallen in love with pro compression #keepittight socks and their fun colors, so smartwool and pro compression is all that I wear.

3. I love camping.  I love camping on Lake George. The funny part about that is I use to hate it.  In high school I refused to go with my family.  Finally as I got older I would stay one night, once a year.  I can't remember when I finally went for the full week, but I would stay all summer if I could now.  And if there wasn't horrible thunderstorms on Lake George in the summer.

4. We have a crazy kitty named Stuart, who we thought was a female when we got him and named him Chloe.  When the vet told us Chloe was a boy, he became Stuart.  My nephew says Chloe is his girls name.  Hmmm do we all have boys and girls names??

5. I love pizza.  It's the one meal, that I believe that I could eat everyday.  I can't stop eating it.  I have no self control when it comes to pizza.  I make a pretty good BBQ chicken pizza, that I could eat all of.  The only other food I feel similar about is ice cream.  Why couldn't I feel this way about celery and lettuce?

6. I've lived in Vermont my whole life minus college in NH and two years that I lived in NH after college.  I love living in Vermont, it's beautiful and I love the changes of the seasons.  I just wish summer was longer and winter was shorter.  I don't really like the cold.

7.  I love to read.  I'm always have a book that I am reading and lots more on the shelves to read.  I love recommendations and I love belonging to a book club, because 1. it's a great group of ladies to hang out with 2. The food and wine is always good 3. I usually read something that I wouldn't normally read.  There is the anxiety of choosing the book, and what if someone doesn't like it...

I'm not going to tag anyone specifically, if you read this and want to participate, consider yourself tagged...I need to go find some ice cream or something :)

Otters From the North 5k

Today (after a late night of girls night) I got up to run another 5k, my 4th weekend in a row of running.  My running hasn't been great, and I am really trying to get my breathing under control, which in turn will help me feel like I am in control, But that will be explored in another blog post.
My co-worker Mallory has started running this spring.  Our schedules haven't connected and Friday afternoon was the first time we were able to go for a run together. There is a 1.5ish mile trail loop behind the school that she's been running on.  I've been twice, two weeks ago with Lauren and Friday with Mallory.  Mal decided to sign up for this 5k as it benefits our students and their PE program.  The race was small and informal.  It was an out and back on a road that provided beautiful scenery.  There were a few fast runners, some kids, some slow runners and some walkers.  There were a few hills but it was mostly flat.  Apparently there was a change in route morning of the race for reasons I didn't know.  It was a beautiful warm spring day, but not too hot.  I did however forget to put on sunscreen, but remembered a hat.
There was an informal start and we headed off.  We chatted the whole time, and I had my phone, when I saw the mileage read 1.55, and the turn around wasn't in sight, I knew something was off.  We kept going, and going and the turn around finally arrived.  There was a pretty big hill towards the end, that we got to go down on the way out, but I ran, jogged slowly, didn't walk up and and was able to finish the run 3.55 miles without walking.  Yay!  I know it's mostly in my head that I need to walk.  While running is a physical sport, there is a lot of mental stuff that goes in to it too.  It was Mal's longest run and she did great.  I was happy to have someone to run with/talk to.  I've missed that in these past runs that I've done.  I'm so slow these days, everyone I know is ahead of me.

of course

Mal and I at the end

Koman Race for the Cure Portsmouth

Last weekend, I got to drive to NH to run a 5k with one of my BFFs.  I was excited to see her and run with her but overwhelmed by all that I had to do before and after I ran those 3.1 miles.  Friday, I got up an hour earlier than usual to head to school to go to a conference with a student.  The conference was great, served great food and even maple ice cream.  I drove the student back to school and turned right around and went back over the mountain (3 times in one day).  It was a nice drive to NH.  At one point I stopped at a rest stop and really didn't want to start driving again.  I was  tired!  I arrived at Pam's she cooked a yummy dinner, we ate, chatted and by 9:30 I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.  I headed to bed.  I slept good, just not long enough.  The alarm on my phone went off at 6:00 am and it was pouring rain. Ugh not fun.  I had some coffee, got dressed, it was warm out so I wasn't sure what to wear.....
About 7 we headed across NH to Portsmouth to do this run.  I've done the Koman Race for the Cure 3 times in VT. Before running it in 2011, I talk about it, and some pictures from 2010 and 2009.  Last year 2012, we were camping and I didn't  run it.  This was the 2nd year in NH, and I was excited to run it.  
Pam and I arrive in Portsmouth and find a place to park and walk a few blocks to the start time.  The rain has stopped for the most part.  During our drive over, we said, if it's raining we're going to just go out to breakfast, who wants to run in the rain?
We picked up our bibs, and shirts and wondered where to put the shirts.  We tied them up together and bag checked them.  The race was smaller than the ones in Manchester VT, and the start line was casual.  When the race started, we jumped in somewhere per usual.  I liked the race, but I wish is was more scenic, I mean we were in NH on the sea coast and we ran through the town of Portsmouth.  I wish there had been more coastline along the run.  It started and ended in Strawberry Banke.  I wasn't feeling the best, I had trouble regulating my breathing and we walked some of the 5k.  We ended it running and I was glad that we didn't bail because it looked like rain.  
After perusing the survivor tent and the tent with the free goodies, we headed back to find the car and back across the state.  Pam and I ate breakfast in Manchester, NH  and by 12:30 I was on my way back to VT to prepare for Mother's Day brunch the next day.

Pamela after she sayes "I hate running but I love my friends"

And I finished!

Friday Facts

So I missed 3 Things Thursday, so we'll go with some Friday facts.  Not sure how many, I'm just going with it.

1. Tomorrow is my 4th weekend in a row of running in a race.  I say running, because I'm not really racing (although I haven't come in last in these runs).  I did TMJ Run for Lung cancer, Middlebury Maple half Marathon Relay, then last weekend the Koman Race for the Cure (soon to be recapped).  This weekend is the Otters from the North 5k, it benefits the PE programs in the alternative programs at one of the schools I work at.  

2. On Wednesday I had chemo #13.  A few quick answers for your questions.  I'm feeling pretty good, next week is an off week and no, I don't know how many more I have left.

Look who came to visit me at chemo.  Peyton!!

3. Tomorrow after the run, Travey and I are going to the movies to see The Great Gatsby.  Have you seen it?  I read the book in high school.

4.  If you check out my sidebar of upcoming races runs, you'll see I don't have anything scheduled until July.  Not sure if I will do any in June, a. there is a lot going on in June (wedding, graduation, graduation party, relay for life) b.  I've been feeling defeated about my running and I think that I tried to do too much too soon, and as I keep running in these races, I get disappointment with my time as it's not improving.  So I am going back to the basics.  I have a 10k training plan and and I am starting it next week, and I will follow it and try to will  improve my timing.  I am also going to be strength training as I know that will improve my running as well.

5. I'm super excited to hang out with some girlfriends tonight for a much needed girls night!

6. 

Another cute picture of Peyton when B and I went for a walk on Tuesday

7. I hosted mother's day brunch last Sunday for 11.  Sadly I didn't take any photos, maybe Uncle Gary will post some of the ones he took on fb so I can borrow???