I don't know what the future holds...

I love warm weather but this is getting ridiculous...

Running just 3 miles on Thursday was a killer...what will I do if it is nearly that hot on Marathon Day?? 

I will move my Friday long run to Sunday instead to wait for cooler temps.  11 miles on Sunday... AAUUGH!

I've heard alot about the "wall" that is hit at about 15-20 miles into the run.  You lose all the glucose in your system by that point...I am nervous about that!!!  Doesn't sound pleasant!

In this heat, I am really questioning if I can or should run the marathon. I have to be honest with myself...is this something I should be doing at this point in my life??? 

Despite my doubts...my answer is YES!  Not sure I will ever train for and run a marathon again but I will not let this challenge pass me by.  I am healthy and I am not getting any younger...it might be now or never...I don't know what the future holds... but I know what I need to do right now... I know in my heart this is something I can and should do...

So look in your heart...and act on what you find...


Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.
– Carl Jung

 
Please donate...the donations are trickling in...so if you haven't donated yet...no time like the present :)

Your friend Newbie

Please donate…it only takes a few minutes and the children of RMHC need your help

Link to my blog
http://newbiemarathoner.blogspot.com/

Link directly to donation page

http://teamrmhc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1008711&supid=359448020

"What Not To Wear" Runner's Edition

This is how I felt running on Thursday morning!  During the run, I thought maybe some new hot weather gear would keep me cooler.  That reminded me of one of Gabi's favorite TV programs, "What not to Wear".  The show is funny but it is also inspiration because the person always feels better about themselves at the end of the program...it's not just about improving their outward appearance.


So..."What Not To Wear" when running in the heat...OR ANY OTHER TIME!

Decided to go shopping at Naperville Running Company but ended up not buying anything...not sure what I wear will really matter when it's this hot anyway...nothing will keep me cool! 

Love Naperville Running Company!

Too ugly!  Gabi loves these!

Too bright!!

Even brighter!

Last time I was at Naperville Running I saw a pair of shoes that I liked but didn't feel like trying on...now they don't have them anyone...should have acted while I still could...

Not the end of the world, it's just a pair of shoes but it made me think (of course!) to look for some "lost opportunity" quotes for today. :)

I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one. 
~Mark Twain



“To dream by night is to escape your life. To dream by day is to make it happen.”



Your friend Newbie


Please donate…it only takes a few minutes and the children of RMHC need your help

Link to my blog

http://newbiemarathoner.blogspot.com/

Link directly to donation page

http://teamrmhc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1008711&supid=359448020

It was hot!!

Hottest 4th of July in Chicago since 1911.  I don't think I've ever been so hot in my life!  OK..I take that back..the Chicago Half Marathon last September was hot too.  "Marched" in the Hinsdale parade with K9 Fit Club.  The parade itself was short but the waiting was long! Everyone was in good spirits...dogs, babies and adults alike.

K9 was created by Tricia Montgomery.  A few years ago, the founder weighed 265 pounds.  She lost weight and was inspired to help others do the same.   She said overweight people tend to have overweight dogs too.  She had the idea of creating an owner and dog fitness program.  She took this idea further and created a TV pilot for a series based on this concept.  She recently learned her series will be produced by the Rachel Ray network.  How exciting! 

See her now in the 4th pic below.  She is an inspiration.  An entrepreneur and so passionate about her mission.  I met her today for the first time...another example of you never know what the day will bring...so be ready :)

Don't Sit Get Fit!
www.k9fitclub.com

Parade was so cool...but so hot! :)

Quote for today

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be eaten. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle--when the sun comes up, you'd better be running"

Fortunately, I don't need to outrun a lion tomorrow...we all know who would win that race...unfortunately I will be up running with the sun!

My final heat related thought...this heat reminds me of a General Public song:

"So hot you cool
So cool you hot"

Do your best to stay cool!

Your "cool" friend Newbie

Please donate…it only takes a few minutes and the children of RMHC need your help

Link to my blog

http://newbiemarathoner.blogspot.com/

Link directly to donation page

http://teamrmhc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1008711&supid=359448020

The Grim Reaper is back!

Jan complimented me on my lack of quotes about death recently :)  Well I can't disappoint...so...back to the Grim Reaper :)

Actually it is relevant...  I almost died the other day!  A semi truck was not paying attention and almost ran me off the road.  I was on an on-ramp and there was no where to go except into the concrete barrier.  Luckily my car has great acceleration and the trucker noticed me at the last minute.  But it made my heart stop!  My life didn't pass before my eyes...but I did think about some of my "death" quotes :)

“As long as you live, keep learning how to live.”

-Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Happy Birthday to Coach Mary Ann!  Glad I am not as old as she is...she is a whole 6 days older than I am :) 

Speaking of my "old" coach...went for a run with my young trainer.  Damn 31 year olds...she is so fast...and kept pushing me in the 80 degree heat and humidity!  Luckily we took this pic before our run :)

Started Tuesday by overtraining...ran and biked so I can have a day off today.  Ended the day at my local Starbucks. They started serving wine and beer! What will they think of next to take more of my $$$.   If they start serving McDonald's french fries I will really be in trouble!

Speaking of food...the best Steak Cobb Salad is at White Chocolate...Jan considers herself a Steak Cobb connoisseur and thinks she found the best but I will prove her wrong. Lunch on Thursday at White Chocolate. I can't wait! She introduced me to Nabuki so I am sharing my favorite Steak Cobb place with her... We both run to eat...but I eat much more than she does :)

Happy 4th of July!  Had a blast at the parade.  It was hot!!!!  More pics tomorrow....

Waiting for parade to start...and waiting...and waiting :)

Your friend Newbie

Please donate…it only takes a few minutes and the children of RMHC need your help

Link to my blog
http://newbiemarathoner.blogspot.com/

Link directly to donation page

http://teamrmhc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1008711&supid=359448020

Where does the time go?

Seems like only yesterday I decided to go back to graduate school at 40ish.  I was intimidated at first since I had not written a paper in years!  But after my first big assignment I was much more confident.

I keep in contact with a few of my cohorts and after rescheduling for months, we finally had dinner on Monday.  Tiffany and Cedric were my core study group.  We spent long hours after work and on weekends working on assignments and wondering how we were going to finish all our school work while working full-time.  The stack of books we had to read and the papers/assignments/projects we had to complete were daunting at times!

My favorite memories are the lunch breaks (Northwestern has excellent food for grad students!), quite a few inspirational professors and walks/runs on Lake Michigan.  I had just started running at that time and it was the class "joke" that I always wanted to be outside "in nature" instead of in class :)

Final class dinner and some silly pics

Dinner with Tiffany and Cedric

Bonus for today!  Not one but three...three quotes for the price of one!  (free of course)

“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”

― Michel Legrand

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

― Nelson Mandela

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

So...my reco for today...learn something new!  Sign up for a class...read a book on an unusual topic...or teach a class and inspire/share your gift with others. 

Since you are still reading my blog, I assume you like my quotes and recommendations.  If not, I am sure you have something better to do with your time :)  Early morning run on Tuesday to make up for my 3 days of slacking off!

Your friend Newbie

Please donate…it only takes a few minutes and the children of RMHC need your help

Link to my blog

http://newbiemarathoner.blogspot.com/

Link directly to donation page

http://teamrmhc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1008711&supid=359448020

Don't tell my trainer I am not running again today...

I'm scheduled for a 5 mile run this morning...but not feeling it...  Maybe it was the 2 days off...  anyway I need to get back on track and have to make up for it the rest of this week.  Feel free to send me "a get off your bum you slacker" messages to inspire me :)

Also having a case of writer's block...so short note today.

I know I will find some inspiration today...and you never know where inspiration will come from!

Will end with a funny quote:

When in doubt, make a fool of yourself.  There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on the earth.  So what the hell, leap!
-Cynthia Heimel

PS.  My trainer reads my blog everyday so I am sure I will get an "inspirational" note from her.  More tough love :)  And, yes Shar I know I used the word "inspiration" too many times in this post but that was for effect not because I don't know how to use a Thesaurus :)

Your friend Newbie

Please donate…it only takes a few minutes and the children of RMHC need your help

Link to my blog

http://newbiemarathoner.blogspot.com/

Link directly to donation page

http://teamrmhc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1008711&supid=359448020

Great friends are priceless

This post has nothing to do with running, training or fundraising....  But is about friendship and how our friends inspire us and shape our lives...


But, it does relate to what doesn't kill you makes you stronger from a previous post.    I'm being silly but I have had many situations with my good friends Joe and Julie.    I've known Joe and Julie since high school. They knew me way before I was blogger and NewbieMarathoner :) 

Julie is a great friend and has always been there for me. No matter what... no matter when! She is so laid back I wish I was more like her.   Joe usually looks at me like he is not quite sure what to think...Kind of silly confused look at the things I say sometimes.  Not sure what that is all about but it is amusing.  They are a great couple and best friends.

This brings me to the "Firework in the face" story.  A few years ago Joe and Julie had a fun filled 4th of July party (they are great party throwers!)  As usual Joe had a spectacular fireworks display planned.  Midway into the display a firework when astray and shot into the crowd.  It was like something out of a war movie.  Shots firing...people running...and dodging the balls of fire.  Unfortunately Gabi was sitting on my lap and we did not react quickly enough.  I was hit in the face with a firework.  My lip was bleeding and swollen.  But luckily it did not hit Gabi.  A few inches lower and she would have been hit in the eye.  So... I still enjoy a firework display...I am the one way in the back...usually with my hand over my eyes...and ready to sprint.  Guess my marathon training will be useful come this July 4th!

In high school, I had a waterskiing incident with Joe and Julie.  I learned my lesson...I will never forget to release the tow rope again! Ouch! I will not tell you where I had rope burn.  But everyone at the summerhome that weekend remembers and reminds me of it often...  See what great friends remember about you :)

Spent the weekend at their summer home and...happy to report...no incidents this weekend!

Pushed it to 50 mph!  Lake speed limit is 35 but lake was empty :)

Better than training!

I'm sure you all have your own funny stories...so call a friend today and laugh about something silly!


Most of us don't need a psychiatric therapist as much as a friend to be silly with. 

~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com

Yikes!  Only 98 days until marathon! Time to start singing 99 bottles of beer on the wall.

Please donate…it only takes a few minutes and the children of RMHC need your help

Link to my blog

http://newbiemarathoner.blogspot.com/

Link directly to donation page

http://teamrmhc.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1008711&supid=359448020