Perception...

Every morning, I face my own personal Everest, i.e. the ever-growing mountain of dirty clothes that is taking up over half of my master bath. Yes, we have a hamper but it has long overflown its brim, spilling out into the floor and thus creating this mass of stress and irritation for me. I try to ignore it but it's much too large for that. This past Sunday as I was getting ready for church I decided to move this mountain and step on the scale. I don't think I have to tell you what an awful decision that was! As I continued getting dressed, I grumbled and grumbled about the mountain and chastised myself for being lazy and undisciplined. About that time, the bathroom door opened and Teddy scampered into the room, completely oblivious to my rantings, and proceeded to make a nice, comfortable bed out of that mountainous mess.

The end result of his pawing and rearranging was this nice, warm, cozy bed. Then it hit me, this concept of perception. I looked at this mess and saw only my inadequacies -- Teddy saw only a cushy soft pile. What a smart guy that Teddy is -- he sees only the good from the bad. I learned a lot from Teddy that day. Yes, I still need to do my laundry. In fact, there is always going to be laundry -- hopefully not this much at one time but life is not about a clean house or made bed. When it comes my time to face my Creator, I will not look back on my life and say, "I sure wish I had done my laundry!" I'm going to try to live my life in such a way as to see all the good in things and not the negative. This pile of clothes, instead of causing me stress helps me to see my blessings -- I have nice clothes to wear, a nice, big master bath to pile them up in and a really nice washer & dryer that works great should I ever decide to do actually use them.

I'll leave you with a poem my dad used to say to me when I was little:

'Twixt the optimist and pessimist, the difference is droll;

The optimist sees the donut - The pessimist sees the hole.

Gotta run...

~Lisa =)

St Jude Half Marathon Race Report 12.6.08

Until the finish line photo and my pic with the 2 Elvi are posted, this is my proof that I did in fact finish today's half marathon. There were a couple of times today when I was a bit concerned that I might not. I thought I felt strong at the start -- I've been wrong before and today was no exception. The 1st 2 miles were brutal as my legs were absolutely killing me. That's the price you pay when you don't take the time to stretch properly. I pulled over and went thru my whole routine. Much better! From mile 2 to exactly 8.5 (I looked at my Garmin the minute they started) I was really in the zone. In fact, if I could carve out this stretch, I would say this was the strongest I've felt in a VERY long time -- slow but STRONG. Then at 8.5 miles my calves started twitching, spasming, tightening and eventually locking up. I tried everything I knew but it wasn't until a knight on a white horse came to my rescue. Well, actually it was a guy on a bike but the rescue part is true to form. He showed me a stretch that I've done many times but just didn't think to use and it helped a lot, well actually only a little but it got me from I'm quitting to I think I can crawl the rest of the way to I think I can walk it in. By mile 11 I was running again -- albeit very slow. But it gave me the confidence that I could run across the finish line. And isn't that what really counts? Looking good for your finish line photo and being able to make it up that LONG flight of stairs to enjoy a cold piece of pizza and a warm bottle of water?

Although this race was not one of my best performances, I had such a great time! Seeing Malia at the start line and Susan at the end was a great way to b0ok-end my effort. I didn't get to see Norma but she texted me at the start as well as afterward. She DID IT!!! My congratulations go out to her and all the 1st timers, especially Lance, Susan's friend who ran his 1st MARATHON in 4 hrs and some change -- totally UNBELIEVABLE! Lance, you ROCK!!

By the way, my Garmin finishing time was 3:08 which sounds much better if you pretend I'm 105 yrs old and only 1 week recovered from a full hip replacement...come on, squint real hard and visualize it in your mind. See how much better that is!!!

Well, after a long nap I think I'm going to have a bite to eat -- the cold pizza has officially worn off.

Gotta run...
Lisa

There's a Hero In Everyone of Us

I am asking for your support in the fight against childhood cancer. In August of this year, I took a job in the Human Resources department at St. Jude. I feel so blessed to be a part of this mission. Every day, I get to see what a miraculous place St. Jude truly is. I had already registered to participate in the St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon on December 6 but when I was approached to run it as a St. Jude Hero, I simply could not say no.

Did you know that no patient is ever turned away for their inability to pay? For more than 45 years, St. Jude protocols have benefited patients from all 50 states and around the world.

Together, let’s make a difference in the lives of children battling cancer. Consider sponsoring me and helping me to reach my fundraising goal of $1,000. You can donate online at my personal Web page, www.stjudeheroes.org/users/23085.

Thanks for helping me accomplish my dream of becoming a Hero to thousands of St. Jude kids.

Gotta run...

~Lisa

Out With the Old, In With the New

Out with the old..




In with the new...


Okay, so maybe the shoes at the top don't look so old but trust me, if you could see the tread on the bottom, you would agree that not only are they old but they should have been replaced a month ago. I have always loved Saucony and the model that "was perfect for me" just happens to be pink. This is or rather was my 2nd pair of Saucony's but I began to question whether they were perfect for me or not as rather they are new or old, I ALWAYS get blisters at any mileage above 3. But they are the most cushioned ride out there. UNTIL I tried on the shoes to the left. I've never worn Asics. Don't know why, just never have. No running store I've ever entered has ever put me in them. Today, I took my destiny into my own hands. Meet my new favorite running shoe - the Gel Cumulus 10. There is a reason Asics names there shoes after clouds - the second I put them on my feet, I felt like I was on a cloud. They are completely mesh across the toe, very flexible, lighter than I expected. When I got them home, I took them for a spin -- very smooth...SWEET!!!!! There is one tiny problem tho...they're red. I'm not a red person, I'm a pink person. This is one characteristic of this shoe that I'm just going to have to deal with. I guess you can't have everything. Ok, so that's a lot blah, blah, blah about running shoes, I know but then I realized that there is a lesson here. For me, anyway.





Just like my pretty pink Saucony's, I have tried to make a certain person/situation to be the way I want it to be. And all the wishing and hoping in the world won't make my Saucony's quit giving me blisters -- all the wishing and hoping in the world won't change "her" (if you know me, you know who "her" is -- we'll leave it at that) You see, I plan to keep the Saucony's. I'll wear them on Saturdays, for quick trips to the grocery store, etc but they won't help my running progress. And even tho the Asics are not quite my ideal (sorry, I can be superficial, I know) they are what's best for my running success. I can't and won't disown "her" -- and even tho I can't have the relationship I want & need, I'll have to go forward with what I've got. I can't change the past, I can't get it back but I can move forward. I can break free of what I think things should be and accept things the way they are. That's what's best for me. Who knew buying new running shoes could be so enlightening.





I'll hop down off my soap box for a moment to mention that it was another great run in the park this morning. I can't say it enough, I love this time of year for running -- it truly breathes new life into it for me. At one point today, I felt like I was coasting, I was really in the zone. I ran a mile with no walk breaks at right under 10 min. That may not be too impressive to some, but after a week of battling a viral infection and laryngitis, I was not expecting great things this morning. What a nice surprise! It shouldn't have been too much of a surprise tho -- I was running with 2 of the most inspirational and encouraging ladies I know, Norma and Susan. We are gearing up this week for Norma's 1st 10 miler next Saturday. I can hardly wait -- new shoes, a new accomplishment for Norma and a new attitude for me. I'm going to view all my upcoming runs as if I'm running TO something new rather than running FROM my past. But for now...





Gotta run...


~Lisa

Let Your Voice Be Heard

Well, the irony is certainly not lost on me. This morning, I cast my ballot -- I let my voice be heard. Funny thing is, I physically have no voice. I lost my voice Sat afternoon. It comes and goes but it is for the most part, it goes. I open my mouth to speak yet the sound that occassionally comes out is indistinguishable and downright not human. It causes Teddy to bark. Anyway, I hope my "voice" is heard loud & clear when the election results come pouring in.

If you're like me, you're ready for this election to be over. I don't care which candidate you support, you have to admit this campaign trail has been a long one. I understand the historical importance and I am proud to be a part of this in my life time. Whomever is chosen, history will be made. We will either have our 1st black president or our 1st female VP, who will pave the way for the 1st female president. Although I don't completely agree with either side and I have my "preferred" choice, I think I'll be happy either way. I hope I'm alive when America elects the 1st black female president tho!

So, this time tomorrow, we'll have a new president and hopefully, I'll have my voice back. And remember, if you don't vote, you lose your voice...

Gotta run...

~Lisa

YES!!!!!!!!

She arrived at the park fully armed -- water, apples w/peanut butter, gloves and a big smile. She says she was nervous. I believe her only because I remember my 1st 8 miler -- I was very nervous. By looking at her, you would never have known.

"Before"

I think I look more nervous than she does.

I woke up Sat morning still not feeling well. My fever broke around 3:30pm on Friday but Sat morning was the 1st time I'd been out of bed since I got home from work on Thursday. But Sat had absolutely nothing to do with me. I knew this run was going to be the deciding factor for Norma. Her decision to run St Jude in Dec would be based on her performance today.

"After"

Norma with Coach Susan

As you can see, Norma met her 8 mile goal. Seeing her face afterwards made me glad I got out of bed. Not only was it a great accomplishment for her but very inspirational for me. On November 24, 2007, I met Norma for the 1st time. She wanted to run 2 miles by her birthday. Almost a year later, she has an 8 miler under her belt! It just goest to show, you can do ANYTHING if you want it bad enough.

Well, it's time for my next dose of Advil Cold & Sinus.

Gotta run...back to bed...

~Lisa

Beware of the Black Light Test

This should be a post about Race for the Cure. What an awesome experience!! While there was no way to get any running in (we were literally elbow to elbow), it was truly one of the most fun races I've ever done. It will definitely be an annual event for me. My hope is to get a team together next year and raise some money. But, unfortunately for me, the joys of the morning were spoiled by a "simple" $9.99 purchase.

Linens N Things is going out of business and liquidating their stock. This product normally sells for $19.99 and I'd heard it really works. I was eager to get it home & try it. Basically, if you're not familiar with it, you shine this black light on your carpet, walls, anywhere and it will show you urine, blood and other "things" that you can't see with the naked eye. It really highlighted the areas that needed dusting but that's another post for another day. Anyway, I thought to myself "I'm sure Teddy has peed in this house but he's 4 & 1/2 lbs - how much damage could he do?" Well, my friends, either Teddy has made my entire home his toilet or there has been a gruesome murder committed in virtually every square foot of my home! I went thru the 24 oz. bottle in no time and never left my dining room/living room. I went thru every room of my house with that light and let me tell you, more than a few tears fell. Teddy followed me everywhere & had this look on his face like he knew what was going on. What am I going to do with him?

Some good did come out of this tho. We shined the light in Ian's bathroom. He looked at me, left the room and came back with the Chlorox wipes. He & I cleaned his bathroom until nothing showed when we shined the light. I think it was an eye opening experience for him. As Ian and I worked on our Bible lessons for tomorrow, Teddy begged to be held. He kept licking my face and putting his head on my shoulder. Perhaps this was his way of saying sorry -- perhaps this was an eye opening experience for him too (yeah, I know, but it is a nice thought)

While I'm not being paid to peddle this product, I will have to admit, this is impressive stuff. Some of the stains I have sprayed are gone, some have faded and I'm hoping by tomorrow, will also be gone. There is a caveat -- if you're not prepared for the worst, just say no to this purchase. If you're not prepared, it could potentially ruin an absolutely awesome day. This product should definitely come with a warning label. Caution: Black light test could cause uncontrollable weeping. Not safe to use around emotionally unstable women with PMS or who are perimenopausal. Can cause death or bodily harm to men, children, Yorkies or any species that contains high levels of testosterone as their very presence adversely reacts to the emotionally unstable user of this product.

Well, enough of that, for now...Gotta run...to bed...

~Lisa

Rest in Peace, TOM II

On Wednesday, October 15, 2008, TOM II, the 17 year old Bengal Tiger and University of Memphis Mascot, passed away - he had recently been diagnosed with cancer. He was a beautiful animal and he always made me proud to be a tiger. The games will not be the same without his presence but just like his predecessor, TOM I, he will NEVER be forgotten.

1 Year Ago Today

In some ways, it seems like it was only yesterday. In some ways, it seems like it's been a lifetime. One year ago today, I was sitting in an outdoor cafe with my roommate/fellow Team in Training teammate. Back at the hotel, TNT was throwing a post-race celebration, hosted by my idol, John "the Penguin" Bingham. We went to the party long enough to hear his words of consolation & encouragement. But when the DJ started spinning records & people headed toward the dance floor, we headed toward the door. We sat in silence for the most part, both trying to understand exactly what happened that day. We searched for answers that never came. For 4 months, I endured training in the hottest, most humid conditions I've ever experienced -- suffering thru shin splints, ankle tendonitis, an upper respiratory infection. For 4 months I held garage sales, sent out letters & emails, made calls, passed out flyers and raised $4,000 for life saving cancer research. The finish line was to be my reward... Things weren't much better for Jill. While she was able to cross the finish line, she did so with no photographers, no cheering crowd -- instead she was greeted with sirens, stretchers, fallen runners. Not the moment of victory or sense of accomplishment she had hoped for. We had both envisioned that day very differently -- this was my 1st mararthon, she was trying to qualify for Boston -- we had both practiced our "finish line phot0" moment but sadly, in vain.

In the days, weeks and months that followed, I tried to console myself in the fact that the most important thing about this marathon had indeed been accomplished -- I raised a lot of money. For this brief moment in time, I made a difference. And while I am indeed proud of that, something is missing. I received a card in the mail several months back from my patient hero. She is now in remission. This, in addition to the thank you card she sent me shortly after the marathon, are 2 of the most priceless possessions I am honored to have. But again, something is missing. I am plaqued with thoughts of what if and why but I try to push them aside as quickly as they arise. In many ways, this experience has made me a better runner and a better person. I try and tell myself that it's ok to be disappointed, it's ok to hurt, it's ok to cry but it's not ok not to move on. I am moving on, slowly but surely. It's been a year -- it's time to turn the page and write the next chapter of my life. But someday, Chicago, you'll see me at the start line again but this time, I won't be denied...

Gotta run...
~Lisa

It's A Cinch

What a GREAT day for a run! I know I have started posts out that way before, but it was so true of this day. Everyone's schedule came together and we had a nice group (Susan, Norma, Linda and me) It was a little chilly at the start but after a brief warm up & some lively conversation, it was relatively unnoticeable. Linda had to cut out at 2 miles followed by Norma at about 3 miles. Mark planned to drop Ian off at the park on his way to work so that he & I could enjoy the Arts & Crafts at 9am. I decided to catch up with Susan while waiting for Mark. When Mark arrived, Ian just continued with Susan and I. Sometime after 9am, we waved Susan on (I think she had a 10 miler planned - I have no doubts she accomplished her goal) & Ian & I browsed the booths. I looked at my Garmin & noticed my mileage, 6.5! I had set a goal of 3 miles and I had doubled it! Not to mention that I walked almost 1/2 a mile warming up. I was amazed at how easy it felt today. In the running miles, I never took more walk breaks than I should (not like me) & we were on a walk break when we came to "the hill" and decided to sprint it (also not like me) It felt so good -- today's effort, well, it was a cinch.

Then I saw it! The booth selling Beijo bags. If you know me, you know that even tho I have only 1, I LOVE Beijo bags! I instantly fell in love with the brown one.

I LOVE THIS BAG!!!!

I asked how much -- $80. Hmmm...do I really NEED this bag? I got the seller's info and decided I would think about it & give her a call later. On the back of the business card she gave me, she wrote down the name of the bag & the price that she quoted me. Guess what it's called? "It's A Cinch" Coincidence or a sign that I should purchase this bag? Only I can connect 2 totally unconnected things to rationalize purchasing something I not only don't need but shouldn't spend the money on. If you ever need help rationalizing a purchase your spouse or significant other wouldn't understand, please consult me. I'm an expert in this area. Anyway, having my penny-pinching 10 year old with me, I was able to walk away. But, that bag will end up being mine eventually. If not today, some day I'm sure. Mark was shocked to find out that when he went to the park later this afternoon and saw the Beijo bags, I had not purchased one. He described me to the seller and then inquired how many I bought. He called me & praised me for "being strong" and then vowed to stay at the park until the Beijo lady packed up & left. But, as much as he knows me, he has failed to see that I function under the premise of "where there's a will, there's a way" It was this philosophy that saw me to the finish line of 26.2 of the most gruelling and painful miles I've ever known. It is this philosophy that will get me across that finish line again in March '09. So in re: to the bag, I definitely have the will, and the way, well that'll be a cinch...

Thanks, ladies, for a great day at the park! Beijo bag lady, that means you too!

Gotta run...

~Lisa :)

Long overdue for a GREAT day...

It's late but I just could not go to bed without posting a few words about my day. For those of you who don't know, I was supposed to run in Harbor Town Tuesday after work with Brooke & Norma. I was sidelined by a migraine and had to skip. Wednesday, we kicked off Walktober at work and still I had a lingering headache. I tried to be a trooper and get my steps in (my goal is 10,000/day) but I only got 6,600. This morning I woke up & noticed right away that my headache was gone. I'm definitely off to a good start. I had a wonderful lunch with my manager from Hallmark, Janis, who by the way, is doing some temporary work at St Jude. It is so great to be able to work with her still even tho I don't get to see her as much as I would like. At noon, I walked the St Jude campus with a rather large group of ladies who are also participating in Walktober. I made a new friend & also got to chat w/the Director of Comp/Benefits. It's so nice to be able to get to know people and get in shape at the same time. I met Brooke after work for a run on the river. This is a recycled picture from a previous post but the view from the park hasn't changed -- ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!! How could you not be inspired by this view!


Anyway, my plan was to do something, be it run, walk, or crawl, for 45 minutes. A huge thanks goes out to Brooke. If she hadn't met me, I would probably have skipped it. It's just no fun by yourself. It was so great to be able to catch up. I really miss seeing her every day -- I am so glad I work downtown so we can get together even if it's just a couple of days/week.

I'm beginning to feel like I'm getting back into the swing of things. Susan is on the mend & on cloud nine -- she's ready to hit the road again (on the mend) & found out that she's having a boy (on cloud nine) I cannot begin to tell her what joy awaits her. My sister always told me that there is a special bond between mother & son. Now I know exactly what she was talking about. I knew I would love my child but to be able to say that my 10 year old boy is one of my best friends, well, I certainly never expected that. I can't remember what celebrity said that, "having a child is like having your heart walk around outside your body." Ian is truly my heart. Isaac will be that for you too, Susan, as I'm sure he already is. When you find out the gender and give them their name, well, that's when it really became real for me.

You may be thinking, ok, you had a great day but not that much happened really. I'm learning to be thankful in small things, small successes that put me in a postive frame of mind. Today just felt really great -- oh, and I almost forgot, I put 16,215 steps on my pedometer today. The thing is virtually S-M-OKING!!!!

Gotta run...
~Lisa

October 1st -- My New Beginning

Ok. I've got to get serious here. 5 weeks into training and I have relatively speaking, no miles. No substantial miles that is. Today, the wellness program at St Jude kicked off Walktober. Basically, you register, pick up a pedometer, wear it all the time, log your steps, earn leaves, win prizes, get in shape...This is just what I need to kick start my training. Today my steps were not too good -- only 6000-ish. Best I can tell that should translate to about 2-3 miles. My goal is to get in 10,000 per day. That's going to be tough but hopefully on the days I run, maybe it won't be too tough.

All this week I've battled headache after headache with Tuesday's turning into a full fledged migraine. That caused me to bail on the run on the river with Brooke & Norma but I'm hoping that tomorrow I can try again. I truly believe that if I can get back into running on a regular basis, the headaches will stop or at least get less severe and I know my stress level will go down significantly. These days it seems it's always something.

The great thing about life is that if you don't like where you are today, if God grants you another day, you get a do over, you can start fresh. And that's exactly what I intend to do. And it's what I'm going to keep doing until I get this right!

Gotta run...

Lisa

Seasons of a Woman's Life

This weekend I had the unique opportunity to gather with apx 119 christian women for a retreat that focused on the different seasons of life we all go thru and the blessings and challenges each season brings. This retreat could not have come at a better time for me. And although the hotel was only 5 minutes from my house, I felt like I was a million miles away. I just love the artwork on the program!

I have really faced a lot of challenges lately. And although I had challenges prior to, it seems that things really began to unravel for me following the Chicago Marathon in Oct '07. It just seemed that once the ball got rolling it was one thing after another -- injury, illness, financial problems, job loss and then coming to grips with things from the past I had buried deep inside. It has been an emotionally, spiritually and physically draining time for me and I just knew I was the only one. I have also dealt with the guilt of wanting to just run away from all of it. I have felt like a failure at motherhood, a failure at my marriage for having feelings of just wanting to leave. I have been consumed with thinking "what have I gotten myself into? why me? I don't need this much stress in my life!" Then when I got the job at St Jude, I somehow convinced myself that everything would miraculously get better. But it didn't. The laundry still piles up, the dishes still get dirty, my son still refuses to clean his room and complains about homework, my husband still sleeps thru TV on the couch, and I'm still overwhelmed, in fact, more overwhelmed than ever. The problem is that I now have a job that pays well enough that I can financially afford to leave. How can I claim to be a God fearing christian woman when I entertain thoughts like these? The guilt consumes me. Then I hear a message Friday nite and learn something that just completely set me free from the guilt. Not only do other women find themselves feeling like this BUT other CHRISTIAN women do as well!! WOW! Then, I was given the tools combat these feelings -- tools that I've always known were at my disposal but sometimes you just need to be reminded of what they are at a time and place where you are among godly women who know what it's like. I was reminded that through prayer, I can have intimacy with God. I can tell Him anything. Not only can I unload all my troubles on Him, but I can expect Him to deal with them! I can rely on His word for every answer and I can be assured that it will ALWAYS guide me in the path of righteousness. I need to have an attitude of service. For me, it is easy to have an attitude of service at work and with friends but I never looked at my role at home as a place where I needed a servant's heart. I have always viewed cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc as obligations and the "have to" stuff in my life. I was truly humbled and ashamed that I have missed the opportunities to please God in such simple tasks as folding towels and scrubbing toilets. I also learned that marriage is not about feelings and it's not about whether I'm happy or not. I made a vow before my family, my friends and most importantly, my God and regardless of how many times he overdraws the bank account, my commitment to my husband is TIL DEATH DO US PART! And while these seem like such personal issues and that the decisions I make about my marriage, my family, my life, may seem like they are no one else's business, I learned another sobering truth. People are going to judge God by what they see in me. GULP!! What an awesome responsibility! Everything I say & do, including the way I handle things when life becomes difficult, the way I treat my husband, the way I interact with my son, EVERYTHING is a direct reflection on my heavenly Father.

I also had the opportunity to walk (and even run a little) with some of the ladies from my church -- that was such an incredible experience. Then at lunch, I met some very sweet ladies. Some time during the meal I overheard them discussing the St Jude Half. Well, you know me and whenever the subject of running or St Jude comes up, especially when the 2 are combined, I'm going to be all over that! Talking with them really rekindled that desire in me. Their enthusiasm coupled with my planned runs on the river next week with Brooke have really motivated me. It helped me to realize that even tho I'm having issues with my foot still, there's no need to quit. I just need a new plan, a new strategy and an altered goal -- the miles will be the same; the way I cover them will change. And that's ok.

I feel like I could write a novel about the events of the last 24 hours but it is late and I am tired. I am excited about tomorrow -- it's been many years since I was excited about going to church. I usually don't give it much thought -- it's just habit for me. Don't get me wrong, church attendance is a very good habit but that shouldn't be why you go. I'm simply looking forward to the opportunity to worship my God, who revealed Himself to me this weekend thru godly women in such a way as to give me hope and strength and renewed faith. And even tho my laundry is piled to the ceiling and the dust bunnies have taken over every surface and Ian's bathroom (I won't go there), I can rest knowing that I will have the opportunity to serve my family and my God by addressing all those things tomorrow and I will do so with a cheerful heart. It truly is all about how you look at things...

Gotta run...

Lisa

The Face of a Frustrated Runner vs. the Face of a Frustrated Wife...Is There a Difference?

The plan, a 4 miler @ 7am. At 6:15am, I received a text from Norma -- raining really hard at her house. A look outside to check the weather in Olive Branch showed conditions looked iffy. So, I decided to check the forecast only to find that my cable was out which for me, means no TV, no internet and no phone. We decided to bail. I told myself that I would run later but really felt that was most likely a lie. The good news is that I DID get out for a run about 6pm. The bad news is it wasn't a very good one. I shouldn't have expected great things. I haven't been very consistant lately. And I've come to rely very heavily on Susan's company. I have such a good time that the time and the miles just seem to fly by. But the biggest problem today occurred at mile 2 -- numbness in the left big toe. I so thought I was over this problem. Well, I ignored it and by the time I decided to call it quits, the numbness had radiated my entire foot and up to my knee. What the heck is that?!?!?!?!?!?! This is the face of a frustrated runner...

(Please forgive the lighting. The camera phone is a great thing but...)

I make my way back to my car and I'm trying not to be too hard on myself. I'm supposed to call Mark to let him know when I'm done. Usually, he's very good at helping me see the good in everything and running is no exception. I'm expecting that I'll whine a little and he'll tell me to cut myself some slack, etc, etc, etc. When I call, though, it goes straight to voice mail. I wait a few minutes and try again. Same thing, straight to voice mail. This can only mean that his battery has died. Should this cause me frustration? Well, no not really. Cell phone batteries die, I do understand this. But, what I don't understand is why can't he go to his truck, plug it in, call & check on me OR why can't he use someone else's phone to call & check on me. It has been over 2 hours since I called to tell him I was headed out for a run. He specifically asked me to call him when I was thru so he would know I made it home all right. It has been over an hour since I finished. He'll have a legitimate excuse (as always) and I am home safe & sound (as always) but this is something I deal with on a daily basis. Well, usually I get, "my phone was on silent & I didn't know you called." This is one of the many reasons I get frustrated and here's what IT looks like...

So, while frustration comes in many different forms for many different reasons, it looks the same. Or it does for me anyway...

And the frustration continues even at this late hour. All I want to know is "DID MEMPHIS WIN?????" We are not in Knoxville, yet I know that Tennessee lost (I HATE that!!) Arkansas lost also (I also HATE that!!!) But this is Memphis for goodness sake -- what about the Tigers!!!! There are still some of us fans left....PLEASE!!!!!

With all this being said, it's time to take my frustrations and put them to bed. Tomorrow is a new day...

Gotta run...

~Lisa

Since I'm obviously not using them for running...

Could the weather be any more perfect? Normally, temps such as this would have me out the door in seconds flat only to return home when it got too dark outside to see. But, alas even these ideal running conditions could not persuade me to even look at my dusty Sauconys let alone put them on. No, instead I went SHOPPING! I'm as addicted to shopping as I once was to running. I honestly don't know what to do to get my motivation back. I am registered for the St Jude Half in December; I am registered for the Little Rock Marathon in March -- good grief! Are these not 2 of the best reasons there are to get cracking?!?!? In the mean time, since I'm trying to become more environmentally conscious, I believe I've found the answer as to what to do with my running shoes...

Gotta run...well, that is, Needta run...

~Lisa

Goodbye Yahoo 360...

Well, it finally happened -- I am officially dumping Yahoo 360 and moving on to bigger & better things. I finally got tired of typing for 30 minutes only to receive the message, "your post could not be saved!"Anyway, I've threatened to move my blog for months now. Better late than never I guess.

So, I had such a hard time coming up with a title for my blog. I do tend to stress over the smallest of things. I knew it had to have some reference to running. You know running -- that thing I'm not very good at but I love to do anyway. I tried to be clever -- Marathon Mom, Divas Do 26.2, Eat.Sleep.Run.Repeat -- I just couldn't decide. I was looking at my shirt from the Cooper Young 4 miler last nite. Yesterday, I woke up feeling very ill. I haven't been getting good sleep and then with the nausea, yesterday was just not a good day. But, never once did I consider skipping the race. Why is that? Well, yes, I love to run, I love the crowds, I love the comraderie (thanks, Susan!) but most of all, I LOVE the T-Shirts. And to be able to wear the shirt with pride, you have to run the race, right? So there you have it all summed up -- I run for T-shirts. When I learned that, in addition to the T-shirt, if you finish a Marathon or a Half, you get a medal, well, that was a no brainer for me! :) Okay, so there's a lot more to crossing the finish line than the bling but you gotta admit, it's much better to show off your medal than to show the blisters you got somewhere around mile 14 that painfully burst at mile 21...I digress...

So, in keeping with the title of my new blog, I find it only fitting that my 1st pic be of the shirt that I earned on a VERY warm & humid nite while not feeling well...

I promise I will spend the upcoming days & weeks improving my photography skills. :) But for now...

Gotta run...

~Lisa