tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33650286876502443432024-02-06T20:31:20.148-08:00mamajogClødhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776988390304477099noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-41171994810673825842012-06-01T22:15:00.001-07:002012-06-01T23:54:34.088-07:00Double DownOkay. I started running from scratch in September 2008, about one year after my daughter was diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis (JM), a rare and terrible autoimmune disease. Since that time, I have run 10 (ten!!) half marathons and, with much help from friends, raised something like $55,000 for <a href="http://www.curejm.org/" target="_blank">Cure JM</a>.<br />
<br />
I will run my 11th half marathon in two days, on June 3, which is the day after my birthday.<br />
<br />
In October, I will travel to Baltimore for a wonderful weekend of educational events put on by Cure JM. The organization always plans these events around a road race that is used as a centerpiece for fundraising, and this time it's the Baltimore Running Festival.<br />
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I figured I would do another half. And then I read <a href="http://ww2.roadrunnersports.com/retail/erika-runs-cant-son-included/" target="_blank">this amazing piece</a>, written by fellow JM mom and my soul sistah, Erika. And I got to thinking, maybe it's time to go for the full.<br />
<br />
Over the 3+ years I've been running, I've often been asked whether I would ever run a full marathon. Frankly, I've never really felt the urge before. 13.1 miles is an AWESOME distance - long enough to be a challenge, but not so long that it does serious damage to my body. Running has become such an important tool to help me cope with life's challenges, and I feel very protective of it - like I don't want to jeopardize it by risking injury at the longer distances.<br />
<br />
But after reading Erika's piece... hmmm. I just have this feeling. The same kind of feeling I had 3+ years ago when Shari Hume, founder of Cure JM, originally sent me an invitation to run and started this whole thing. This little voice saying, "Maybe. Just maybe."<br />
<br />
I guess I always figured that someday the urge would probably strike. And if I WERE to try a full, what better place to do it than at a Cure JM event, where I'll surrounded by many of the children who inspired me to run in the first place, cheering me on?<br />
<br />
So. Long story short, I'm going for it. And while I'm afraid, I'm not nearly as <a href="http://mamajog.blogspot.com/2008/11/fear.html" target="_blank">afraid as I was</a> when I first started running. When I go back and read those early posts, I kind of shudder because I can still remember exactly how that felt. But look at me now.<br />
<br />
Here we go!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH06Hu2letAXPoU-ZPz15hE47nSNqewTIX2XedDS1zyACnLezXz7Eww09RF3zGGFKSOsJsb-XbXuVM3kd_yh6vMyRIa3ZTNS2Zg3Cowgp65RP-tMSCJPiNr1Q2cqrufcLzxheZ-A2_3iY/s1600/DSC_0054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH06Hu2letAXPoU-ZPz15hE47nSNqewTIX2XedDS1zyACnLezXz7Eww09RF3zGGFKSOsJsb-XbXuVM3kd_yh6vMyRIa3ZTNS2Zg3Cowgp65RP-tMSCJPiNr1Q2cqrufcLzxheZ-A2_3iY/s640/DSC_0054.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is why I run.</td></tr>
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<br />Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-32601013959389681252011-03-14T23:10:00.000-07:002011-03-14T23:28:41.435-07:00Highs and LowsWell, that race in February turned out pretty darn great. I did, in fact, set a new personal record - just over 2 hours, 3 minutes! Inching closer to my goal of coming in under 2 hours. I feel more confident that it will happen eventually. I'd say that about one third of the course for this race was a gentle decline, and that's probably what shaved those three minutes off my previous time... but on the other hand, it was an uncharacteristically hot day, which no doubt slowed me down a bit. So all I need to do is find a race that goes slightly downhill the whole way, and dial up a 50 degree overcast day for the run, and BOOM! 1:59:59. Easy.<br /><br />Since all my buddies had to back out of that race at the last minute for various reasons, I came really close to bailing on it myself. Obviously, I'm so glad that I showed up for it, after all. It is so exhilarating to push myself that hard, and achieve a new milestone. So why, oh why, has it been so hard for me to get my running butt out the door since then? Let me tell you, it has been hard. I'd say I'm in a bonafide funk. <br /><br />There are some actual reasons; I got sick a few days after the race - my first real cold of the season - and it hit pretty hard. Then I traveled to Las Vegas for several days for a photographer's convention, and although I had the best intentions of getting out for just one run, Vegas got the best of me. Then, my lingering head cold evolved into an energy-depleting sinus infection, and I'm still feeling the effects. Come to think of it, those are actually fairly valid reasons for taking a break. <br /><br />But still, it seems like there is something else, something I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe a bit of rebelliousness; maybe a bit of laziness. I don't know. I dragged myself out this evening (after berating myself all day about not running the past week, not running early this morning, not running after the kids went to school... it was pretty much a running commentary in my head all day long). So finally, finally I just did the dang run. And as usual when this happens, at the end I thought, "Why didn't I just do that earlier so that my internal voice wasn't bugging me all damned day??"<br /><br />I don't know, friends. I don't know. It wasn't a great run, but it was a run. And some days that's accomplishment enough.Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-55700457267097881702011-01-09T21:01:00.000-08:002011-01-09T21:43:14.121-08:00Hiatus, sort ofSo my buddy Claudia twisted my arm (not really) into signing up for this race in Golden Gate Park on Super Bowl Sunday. I just thought it would help motivate me to keep getting out there to run over the holidays. Well, it worked a little, but not much. So I'm lagging. But I did manage to eek out a slow 11 miles today when I was only planning to go 8, so I feel a little better. I know I can do it, but I don't think speed will be a big factor with this one.<br /><br />Recently, I've been giving all the fundraising stuff a bit of a break for a couple of reasons. First, everyone pulled out all the stops in helping little old itty-bitty Cure JM achieve the impossible - a first-place, $250,000 finish in the <a href="http://www.refresheverything.com/makejmamemory">Pepsi Refresh project</a> for August. (Go on, click the link... I still like to just look at it every now and then). Second, our boy Lucien has needed a lot of our attention over the past few months. (Sometimes I feel like a pendulum of urgent needs is perpetually swinging, back and forth, back and forth... first one child, then the other. Then back again.) Lately, it's been all about Lucien.<br /><br />But my commitment to Cure JM hasn't wavered, not one whit. Thanks to this organization, there is now a pretty tight community of JM families, and the terrible stories of suffering continue. They make my heart ache. They remind me that, as bad as our experience has been, it could have been so much worse. And let's be frank - it still might be, because (as we know) there is no cure, only remission - and always the threat of recurrence. <br /><br />I still think of these kids each and every time I run. They are still the <span style="font-style: italic;">reason</span> I run. I'm committed for the long haul and won't stop doing everything possible to defeat this rotten disease. So enjoy the break, because soon I'll be a-knocking on your door, asking for the green stuff once again!Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-4985113013441441412011-01-02T20:36:00.000-08:002011-01-02T21:45:37.819-08:00On skiing, and triumphWe've made it something of a tradition to spend time between Christmas and New Year's in Tahoe, playing in the snow. We make snowmen, sled, drink hot cocoa, sled some more. You get the idea.<br /><br />This year, however, our friends Fred and Julie really wanted to take their kiddos and Mielle skiing, and convinced me to come along. And that is how I found myself on skis again, after something like 20 years. I did a bit of skiing in high school, but that was a long time ago... and I can't say that I've had any pangs of longing in the interim. Truth be told, enough time has gone by that I actually felt a little afraid. But it felt fantastic! And, surprisingly, I got the feel for it again pretty quickly.<br /><br />We took a family lesson with the kids, so most of the afternoon was spent on the uber basics, and we finally built up to snow-plowing down a very gentle slope. It was really fun and gratifying to see the kids settle in and get more comfortable on the skis, but after a bit I was really itching to do more. So when Julie offered to take the cold children into the lodge, and Fred asked if I'd like to join him on a couple of grown-up runs, I was thrilled to say YES!<br /><br />We didn't have much time, and we weighed our options: a green trail, or a blue one. We debated and then decided on the green. We didn't want to get too crazy. Well, it was basically the bunny slope and while it was longer than the training slope we'd been on with the kids, it wasn't much more satisfying. We eyed the blue slope again... it really didn't look too bad... it seemed to be small, steep-ish hills with little plateaus in between. We decided to go for it.<br /><br />Ignoring the huge sign that declared "This is NOT a beginner's slope", we hopped on the lift and went up, and up, and up. Well. Turns out that the part of the slope we'd seen and evaluated was just the tiniest little end part of the run; my stomach dropped as the chairlift stretched up as far as the eye could see, and the mountain got steeper and steeper and <span style="font-style: italic;">steeper.</span> It was going to be way more challenging than we thought, and I won't lie - I was freaking out just a little. I mean, I was never that great of a skier in the first place, and it'd been 20 years, and the mountains where I grew up were nothing like this... I wasn't prepared for <span style="font-style: italic;">this</span>!! Fred and I, we chuckled nervously and said things like "You know, you just go slow, keep making turns, and stay in control. It'll be fine." Except I remembered how easy it is to get out of control and shoot straight down the damned hill.<br /><br />But, as they say, there's only one way to get down, and so we disembarked the chair lift, adjusted our gear, smiled nervously and started down. And this is what I did: I went slow, I kept turning, and I stayed in control. I was fine. I was better than fine - I was AWESOME and I was having a great time. My legs felt a little jelly-like at times, but whether that was due to nerves or simply from calling on under-utilized muscles, I don't know. It took a lot of effort and concentration, but about halfway down I was able to loosen up a little and let things fly a bit. And it was SO FUN.<br /><br />Okay, all you black-diamond skiers that are reading this -- you can stop laughing now! I know that this is not all that impressive in the big picture of skiing - just as my personal record for the half marathon is not all that impressive in big picture of running - but it was for ME. I felt a huge sense of accomplishment - triumph even - for conquering that hill that was so frightening from a distance.<br /><br />It's exactly the same kind of triumph I feel when I run faster than I ever have, or farther than I thought I could - and I need that feeling of triumph in my life. I need it because, every single day, there are so many things that I can't control, that I can't "triumph" over - at least, not in the way that I really want to. I can't cure my daughter's illness, and I can't make my son's disability disappear. I do everything to help them that I possibly can, and I always will - but ultimately, it's not within my power to change the fundamentals of either situation<span style="font-style: italic;">.<br /><br /></span>What I'm realizing is that stepping out of my comfort zone, doing things that feel scary (terrifying, even), and conquering them makes me feel powerful, and triumphant, and is amazingly therapeutic. So for 2011, I think my goal has to be to do more of them. Any suggestions? Better yet, anyone want to join me on some yet-to-be-determined adventures? <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span>Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-61217667813892072062010-12-02T20:15:00.000-08:002011-01-02T20:35:45.484-08:00Big Sur Race that is not in Big Sur<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMATs3GRc0q1M7Ta9nn5ipHRNAnrgiqQOzts0tmerOdWYfVSnbkyrIc9GZjd6Whtawyie_f27lCvo1z3_EuP-XgNy48nihi6KRx7z1uy-MSKVE_KhRWgzo3shjnG7FXvnupF0KDFGOmw/s1600/big_sur_2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMATs3GRc0q1M7Ta9nn5ipHRNAnrgiqQOzts0tmerOdWYfVSnbkyrIc9GZjd6Whtawyie_f27lCvo1z3_EuP-XgNy48nihi6KRx7z1uy-MSKVE_KhRWgzo3shjnG7FXvnupF0KDFGOmw/s400/big_sur_2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557812154275375106" border="0" /></a><br />I ran another race in November - the Big Sur Half Marathon, which is not in Big Sur at all, but in Monterey and Pacific Grove. It was my 6th half marathon in the two years that I've been running, and I was psyched to post my fastest time yet - 2 hrs, 6 mins. That is not particularly fast in the world of running, mind you, but -- it is for me! I was thrilled.<br /><br />As usual, I wasn't able to train quite as much as I'd planned, so I wasn't holding out much hope for a notable time. I just wanted to enjoy a much-needed weekend away with friends and have fun on this most spectacular and scenic race course. But when my awesome running-mate Nicole looked at her watch at the 8 mile mark and noted that if we maintained our pace through the end of the race, we'd both set new personal bests, I just thought, "hell yeah!" and went for it.<br /><br />I was tickled to see my friends Carolina and Rob along the race course, and Carolina snapped the above photo. I just love it so much. She really captured the joy I felt during that race. It was so beautiful, and I so needed to run, to push myself hard physically in order to clear out my mind and refresh my spirit. It was a fantastic weekend.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMATs3GRc0q1M7Ta9nn5ipHRNAnrgiqQOzts0tmerOdWYfVSnbkyrIc9GZjd6Whtawyie_f27lCvo1z3_EuP-XgNy48nihi6KRx7z1uy-MSKVE_KhRWgzo3shjnG7FXvnupF0KDFGOmw/s1600/big_sur_2010.jpg"><br /></a>Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-65552426648786581022010-07-02T13:32:00.000-07:002010-07-03T21:21:09.244-07:00Kicked that race...right where I wanted to - in the arse!<br /><br />Things got off to a grumpy start when we arrived for the race. Everyone had to pick up their timing chip that morning, at the race, and it was a complete mess. Crazy lines, nobody knew what was happening, we had to split up to get in the right lines, and then suddenly it was 5 minutes before the start and I still didn't have my chip. Grrrrrr! Finally got it but then couldn't find any of my gals. GRRRRRRRRR! So frustrating! About 30 seconds before the horn sounded I did find them... so happy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHjhxSY7WPM341-TX_BvqP54YLf2XEeAZ_UM2y6HXNEAxb0kM0N3W30VlIlEZl6jWzS_-MEEpLU4vA6wjZrxFLgAXW49J-oi3K59hegXu23sGHLn_IomnoMBSh1SO_g9Ff6pJq40YKWg/s1600/SJR_2010-1158.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHjhxSY7WPM341-TX_BvqP54YLf2XEeAZ_UM2y6HXNEAxb0kM0N3W30VlIlEZl6jWzS_-MEEpLU4vA6wjZrxFLgAXW49J-oi3K59hegXu23sGHLn_IomnoMBSh1SO_g9Ff6pJq40YKWg/s400/SJR_2010-1158.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489531369275455666" border="0" /></a><br />It was a pretty warm day, but we still had a bit of fog at the start and I was hoping it would stick around. I ran the first 7 miles or so with Nicole and our buddy Rebekah, but they made a pit stop and I just wanted to keep going. For the first time, I had a really specific time goal in mind - 2 hrs 15 minutes. My previous best was 2:19 in Austin, but I had never really focused on my times that much. So I figured that if I actually applied myself, <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> managed to avoid the porta-potty line, I could probably do it. Especially since the route is my home turf - I run it all the time - and it's flat as a pancake. So anyway, I broke off around mile 7 and ran the rest alone.<br /><br />I felt pretty great for most of this race; I was still floating from all the birthday love, and during the time I ran alone I just kept thinking about Mielle, and all the amazing kids I've come to know through our experiences with JM... Dominic, Grace, Morgan, Connor, Gary, Mason, Megan, Parker, Kya, Sienna, Gracie, Brielle, Kristen, Amanda, Kendyl, Selma, Emma... the list goes on and on. I felt pretty strong but whenever it waned a little, I'd just think about those kids and it literally fueled me.<br /><br />Once I was to mile 10 or so, I was sure that I would beat my goal time so I spontaneously revised it to 2 hrs 10 mins. That would be close. I chugged along as hard as I could those last three miles and felt pretty good because I was passing a lot of people; I was getting tired but at that point, it's so close... so I just kept pushing and pushing, past all the familiar landmarks of my regular runs -- up Shoreline, past Park Street, Willow, Grand, the Crown Beach parking lot with our favorite water fountain... and finally around the curvy path to the finish at Crab Cove. I still had some kick left in the end and crossed the line in 2 hrs, 10 mins, 40 seconds. I just missed 2:10 - but still - Woooo hooo! (Next time I'll try for 2:05.)<br /><br />So I gotta say that the champagne sponsors totally redeemed this race, after the organizational fiasco of the "race day chip pickup"earlier. The slogan of this particular event is "I run for chocolate and champagne", but last year - by the time I finished - they were running low on the bubbly and I got about 1/3 glass. This year, things were different, and it was so nice! The champagne was flowing freely - we all had glass after glass, even the non-runners. It was so very festive! So we kicked back, waited for the rest of our peeps to come in, and then just basked in our glory for a bit. Nothing like a nice little champagne buzz on a sunny day after 13.1 miles! Sweeeeet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7HoEZ5aBzXsAsJKGThB_YGfkDVjG-glqcygBHEeYYikOUycoZpgeTZsD_6okS1aC3pmu2-c3tD9QA33FzYHg28I6yu2R2uuDva87nvMJsu-QZdPLIb5jWvOjAF69GkxT9_2xT-QtmQU/s1600/SJR_2010-2147.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7HoEZ5aBzXsAsJKGThB_YGfkDVjG-glqcygBHEeYYikOUycoZpgeTZsD_6okS1aC3pmu2-c3tD9QA33FzYHg28I6yu2R2uuDva87nvMJsu-QZdPLIb5jWvOjAF69GkxT9_2xT-QtmQU/s400/SJR_2010-2147.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489531363140959890" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Doesn't Mielle look great?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FW840j8JwT7RpEDFQdIBr62sa6Z_f6b0dOEkfrcUtlxfXF4W657bE1iOdeWYP8CkCVnO_eLU4gPibHKWVHWSzEUuQE7SCJz_dnTVWaHdYDFAiSESoKecE6qblNrXuISjLlWGLOj-7fM/s1600/SJR_2010-2095.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FW840j8JwT7RpEDFQdIBr62sa6Z_f6b0dOEkfrcUtlxfXF4W657bE1iOdeWYP8CkCVnO_eLU4gPibHKWVHWSzEUuQE7SCJz_dnTVWaHdYDFAiSESoKecE6qblNrXuISjLlWGLOj-7fM/s400/SJR_2010-2095.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489531393781298066" border="0" /></a>The medals were teeny tiny this year. Maybe they used the $$ they saved on extra champagne?<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVUMqX1jCNA92Cy1MOpoTp03OD0F7dM5VUw0v8DxPZBneufxyKzuAL8lAOSxC9XYqoTpOyXxZEIiT_TQRRO5QeZYjoqO_8f9wCQ77AmIDC6pXSnLAnFsWpN8Dss32QhHqJGsPnPUrUQg/s1600/SJR_2010-2119.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVUMqX1jCNA92Cy1MOpoTp03OD0F7dM5VUw0v8DxPZBneufxyKzuAL8lAOSxC9XYqoTpOyXxZEIiT_TQRRO5QeZYjoqO_8f9wCQ77AmIDC6pXSnLAnFsWpN8Dss32QhHqJGsPnPUrUQg/s400/SJR_2010-2119.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489539362712721186" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1H5hUcTtmuIlV_SRCw1G8T51vF_LWF4PWq0gJyvtKgs3dczydtD7NZMmv7kTchCK0-J4Pj9gDem_xEsyXskgJwWEJ57yTLxQKRNyuAQcam7k4stXPs9GOlqOq6uRIeyr8m_aEA8U1VA/s1600/SJR_2010-2076.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1H5hUcTtmuIlV_SRCw1G8T51vF_LWF4PWq0gJyvtKgs3dczydtD7NZMmv7kTchCK0-J4Pj9gDem_xEsyXskgJwWEJ57yTLxQKRNyuAQcam7k4stXPs9GOlqOq6uRIeyr8m_aEA8U1VA/s400/SJR_2010-2076.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489531375577088498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwe56JGpuTDdVyZ0elKhDazi_KfdFros9Qh6um2xaZG9GHBXCI5gid79UQ5bAxvEV9MatiobxuXC2pSvwLJ0yfyoAVdvt5fuBSg0z6vUxzxTnCkhg1F0yHMu67t9a7bXZYsSjqidPm1e8/s1600/SJR_2010-2093.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwe56JGpuTDdVyZ0elKhDazi_KfdFros9Qh6um2xaZG9GHBXCI5gid79UQ5bAxvEV9MatiobxuXC2pSvwLJ0yfyoAVdvt5fuBSg0z6vUxzxTnCkhg1F0yHMu67t9a7bXZYsSjqidPm1e8/s400/SJR_2010-2093.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489531386962800770" border="0" /></a>Gorgeous Nicole.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YIhTcUkYLxoK8Pp349wl1JXakM4VwdCh6g7LhxEbctehc2pqtfJRqsuMOyS4tsG2KH2GD-8hjWlu2y37J1-yPMtvUvYuGNf8Ht4A3WvwAUOAvn9jD8QyVhaOHee1GHipRr-6TO9DRXM/s1600/SJR_2010-2110.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YIhTcUkYLxoK8Pp349wl1JXakM4VwdCh6g7LhxEbctehc2pqtfJRqsuMOyS4tsG2KH2GD-8hjWlu2y37J1-yPMtvUvYuGNf8Ht4A3WvwAUOAvn9jD8QyVhaOHee1GHipRr-6TO9DRXM/s400/SJR_2010-2110.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489539355621715186" border="0" /></a>Hot, tipsy mamas! Awwwwwww yeah!</div>Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-41095291997731686302010-06-04T21:11:00.000-07:002010-06-04T21:36:06.278-07:00Race number 5!<span style="font-style: italic;">by Suzy</span><br /><br />Tomorrow is my fifth half marathon in the 1.5 years I've been running! Let me tell you, those are words I NEVER thought I would speak! But here I am, and I'm excited, and proud.<br /><br />Training was not as consistent as I would have liked, but I pushed myself to get out there even when it would have been easy to blow it off, because I really really wanted to feel prepared for this race. And I do feel prepared. My AWESOME birthday experience really gave me some mental and emotional momentum and I hope I can keep on riding that wave tomorrow! Going for a PR, people! (aka "personal record" - are you impressed with my running-speak?)<br /><br />Here in Alameda we have a big local issue concerning a proposed parcel tax to fund the public schools. State funding is basically a joke these days, and it's been cut after cut after cut for years. There is no more to cut, and there is no other way to get the money than a parcel tax. So although it's not a perfect solution, many of us feel it is the ONLY solution available right now, and people have been working like mad to try and get this measure to pass. So mamajoggers felt drawn to making a statement at the race, and we'll be wearing these:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MpbMN-9xfmr3JPEvrhUbeX3UtJVxOAko6AEwJmLm_RkKTotVwJQVbVUB8CzA244o35UOdothb61pCmZ4guQ9lVZQS5qUwuup9isRj-XciFSV3OJeiQ_sEkkj3u02MloPeilCTwG4odQ/s1600/E-shirt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MpbMN-9xfmr3JPEvrhUbeX3UtJVxOAko6AEwJmLm_RkKTotVwJQVbVUB8CzA244o35UOdothb61pCmZ4guQ9lVZQS5qUwuup9isRj-XciFSV3OJeiQ_sEkkj3u02MloPeilCTwG4odQ/s400/E-shirt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479140955573555170" border="0" /></a>I'll wear my E with pride! But at the same time, I have to say that at my core, I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">always</span> running for Cure JM, and my kiddos. It'll always be Mielle, all the other JM kids, and sweet Lucien in my heart, propelling me forward.<br /><br />Send me good power vibes tomorrow because I want to kick this race in the arse!Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-32758260031250379992010-06-04T20:53:00.000-07:002010-06-04T21:39:54.368-07:00Blown Away<span style="font-style: italic;">by Suzy</span><br /><br />Okay. I asked a lot of people to sponsor me for the race in Austin in February, and many, many people did. Therefore, I did not want to ask for more so soon. However, I did want to share news about our Pip Squeak event, and the fact that Mielle is doing soooo much better these days. So I sent out this email:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hey there -</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Just a quick note to tell you that Mielle continues to do well these days! We are down to very small doses of her two most troublesome drugs, and we continue to taper. She is still on some powerful immunosuppressants and even in the best case scenario, it will be sometime before she is drug-free, but she is not really suffering any side effects right now, and her strength and energy are great. We still have blood draws every couple of months, but we stopped the weekly injections a few months ago. She still sees her specialist in Chicago as well as her great doctor at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, and we are so grateful to be in a better place.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />On the flip side, I learned of another recently diagnosed case of JM right here in Alameda. That makes three - for a disease that strikes three kids out of a million. The news hit me like a punch in the stomach. I just got really sad, because I have a sense of what that family must endure... but I tried my best to channel all those feelings into more activism for Cure JM.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />So! On May 22 we held the second Pip Squeak A Go Go event (a dance party for all ages!) here in Alameda. We couldn't have gotten it off the ground without the amazing Dorinda and Bernadette - and of course, the Devil-Ettes - and we never would have pulled it off without the help of so many friends that volunteered in every way imaginable! We had rockabilly Quarter Mile Combo and go go dancing upstairs, and Cowboy Jared, shopping, face painting and raffles downstairs. It was a busy weekend with a lot of competing events, but we pulled in a great crowd and raised around $4,000 for Cure JM.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZlFp99SmQiDR_vV5doTVXVUd8oF25YQt8a1erX-FnNL8podgaattZT8e-BNZKrZRsSu3RGq0ezDbkJH3ynWAxYXgmo3JMnEPF83ADaRs4uMahnnJQ83HKRZkf-NlejG9h40qI4gWmDo/s1600/final_collage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZlFp99SmQiDR_vV5doTVXVUd8oF25YQt8a1erX-FnNL8podgaattZT8e-BNZKrZRsSu3RGq0ezDbkJH3ynWAxYXgmo3JMnEPF83ADaRs4uMahnnJQ83HKRZkf-NlejG9h40qI4gWmDo/s400/final_collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479136286893150546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />We're quickly following that up with yet another race - the See Jane Run Half Marathon right here in Alameda - coming right up on June 5! This will be my FIFTH half marathon in the 1.5 years that I've been running! To tell you the truth, the training has been kind of tough - I feel more tired this time around - but I'm determined to make a good showing. It's on our home turf, after all!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Last but not least, tomorrow (June 2) is my 40th birthday. I choose to view this as an opportunity for a fresh start - a chance to take what we've begun here and just keep on moving forward. Through my experiences with my children, my life - and I - have changed in ways I never, ever could have imagined. So. New decade, new me. I just want to take the positive and keep on - ahem! - running with it.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">I'd be tickled to drum up a little more dough for Cure JM for this race, and I just set up a fresh fundraising page: www.firstgiving.com/mamajog If you are in the position to help, it would be the icing on my birthday cake.</span><br /><br />I sent it out around midnight and then I went to bed. I thought it would be AWESOME if we rustled up another $500 or so before the race.<br /><br />Well. When I woke up I was floored to see that something like $1100 had been donated! Wh-aat? I was so excited that I leapt out of bed and went for a final quick training run. I was just riding the wave of love and I know it's cliche to say this, but my heart was bursting. Bursting!! (Plus, I made a new playlist with lots of awesome Queen songs - I have to say, it felt great to run down the street with my bursting heart on my 40th birthday blasting "We are the Champions"!) And it just continued on all day. I had a wonderful birthday and did lots of lovely things, and every now and then I would check my email and be delighted all over again to see another donation. It truly was the icing on my cake!<br /><br />Now, the race is tomorrow and we are at nearly $2300 (and thanks, Nicole, for putting out the call to your peeps as well, and thanks to Nicole's peeps for answering!) I honestly can't believe it. Once again, I am blown away by the support we get from y'all. I feel like I say this a lot, but I hope that doesn't dilute the impact: Thank You. Thank You. From the bottom of my heart, Thank You.Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-52224815849779108412010-05-23T22:00:00.000-07:002010-05-23T22:08:16.796-07:00Pip Squeak A Gone Gone!Thanks to the Devil-Ettes for serving up so much luv yesterday at Pip Squeak A Go Go!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21Nq7ExTusL2W_pujr0Nwxn_kLjhumjdM_GjsXXoNzJCKrPJsAnb-SOH1jB9arCOJcAoiyRpNFtIX-x7mEohmIvIGPasSg-LsVXFBafSSmV7MvGS6oK6gizTDYXO58w-vYL2-DDzvKCY/s1600/photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21Nq7ExTusL2W_pujr0Nwxn_kLjhumjdM_GjsXXoNzJCKrPJsAnb-SOH1jB9arCOJcAoiyRpNFtIX-x7mEohmIvIGPasSg-LsVXFBafSSmV7MvGS6oK6gizTDYXO58w-vYL2-DDzvKCY/s400/photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474698153499048386" border="0" /></a>And thanks to Quarter Mile Combo, Cowboy Jared, and everyone else that participated in our event. We taught a bunch more people about Juvenile Myositis and raised over $3500 to boot! More photos to come...Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-76065577106970160122010-05-22T09:30:00.000-07:002010-05-31T23:10:51.598-07:00It's Pip Squeak Day!<div style="text-align: left;">All the errands have been run, prizes collected, volunteers lined up, flyers printed, last-minute details locked down. We're ready for the event and EXCITED! In all the planning, I kinda forgot how much FUN it's going to be!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a shot of the hard copy newspaper:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kuyoYaiw1GPHR0rh9A0XP3QS2rp74TqNmJ3dHcCgDg-spkAYe7cG1R8A2-A1AQiY-wCuiysaduqwonjTOM7tNy7Su_LS9vGaPFyFv3kUMneS3wTDG6INAOXFfPDWpOkjN-o0couoha0/s400/alameda_journal_may2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474133004572105794" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></span></div><div>The photo features Mielle with the other two Alameda girls with JDM. Three girls in Alameda with a disease that strikes 3 kids out of a million, each year... hmmm...<br /></div>Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-11287331930080687632010-05-21T23:14:00.000-07:002010-05-21T23:23:04.959-07:00Pip Squeak and Press!We've been running around frantically preparing for our big Pip Squeak A Go Go benefit for Cure JM <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#%21/event.php?eid=116310995050798&index=1">(details)</a>. Today we managed to get a little <a href="http://www.insidebayarea.com/timesstar/localnews/ci_15127239">local press</a>, which makes me soooo happy. I just wish I could figure out how to make this story catch on in a bigger way... I'll keep trying. In the meantime, I'm excited for the event tomorrow and I hope we are able to raise loads of cash! And I'll be saying it many times, in many ways, but I may as well begin now: THANK YOU to everyone who is helping, donating, volunteering, and attending! Here's the <a href="http://mamajog.blogspot.com/2009/03/pip-squeak-go-go-go.html">post</a> about last year's event...Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-68419740806343052152010-05-14T23:08:00.000-07:002010-05-14T23:16:41.855-07:00Running Rut<span style="font-style: italic;">by Suzy</span><br /><br />Yep, it's true. I'm in a rut, have been ever since Austin (and maybe even before). Just can't get myself back into a regular rhythm. Too much life happening, not enough sleep happening, and running buddy schedules have all completely diverged so there's been way too much solo running (yet still not enough solo running, if you know what I mean). I'm kinda dragging my arse for every run these days. Just getting out the door is the monumental feat at the moment (and it's absolutely the hardest part of the run).<br /><br />I know it'll come back; it's an ebb and flow, ebb and flow. The trick is to stick it out long enough... til the flow flows once again! I'm doing my best.Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-79476501779579443322010-05-06T12:48:00.000-07:002010-05-06T12:53:07.407-07:00"See Jane Run" is coming up!Our next race - right here in Alameda, the all-women's <a href="http://www.seejanerun.com/t-see-jane-run-half-marathon-and-5k.aspx">See Jane Run Half Marathon</a>, is coming right up... race day June 5! Mamajoggers are doing our best to get our training in so we won't embarrass ourselves! Hope you can come out to cheer us on!Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-60087882407022555212010-05-03T13:25:00.000-07:002010-05-03T13:48:00.351-07:00Dawn Runs<span style="font-style: italic;">by Suzy</span><br /><br />The days are longer now, so even a 6 am run ain't as dark as it used to be (and, truth be told, I haven't been making it out for many 6 am runs lately, thanks to my boy's newly erratic sleeping patterns) but anyway... a few months ago I brought my camera with me on an early morning run. I really wanted to share how magical it can be to be out at that time, and what a treat it is to see the light change over the course of the run.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP6SdNWvNbAyMu3gF3J21-6wa7v2Zz8gtnQmCKLiZ4x8MNjIeCoeILTIz9_uIj0Hqbie479Y6yecMCO-Kmv_nK5YjdgURpNH6_UbxYDFl5FloO4FnwjZ0N6GjlMH0GWU2RH4xvQ1WJmQ/s1600/dawn_run-0273.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYP6SdNWvNbAyMu3gF3J21-6wa7v2Zz8gtnQmCKLiZ4x8MNjIeCoeILTIz9_uIj0Hqbie479Y6yecMCO-Kmv_nK5YjdgURpNH6_UbxYDFl5FloO4FnwjZ0N6GjlMH0GWU2RH4xvQ1WJmQ/s400/dawn_run-0273.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467147175107488322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYID9mL0KzIa6YjdIMXtNA9CiWpKlJkOJPmywipMkNciaCsPEBk7G4YhVkfnAGJYmdOaADi_CtUKCto67HDJ7Wp-_w2DpP6rk5L-Hgax2RY7AQC0c31uxXslonsHjcraxGSLghY2m6RR8/s1600/dawn_run-0276.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYID9mL0KzIa6YjdIMXtNA9CiWpKlJkOJPmywipMkNciaCsPEBk7G4YhVkfnAGJYmdOaADi_CtUKCto67HDJ7Wp-_w2DpP6rk5L-Hgax2RY7AQC0c31uxXslonsHjcraxGSLghY2m6RR8/s400/dawn_run-0276.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467147182930728594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7jIrT16PtbL-BdJ7u-GJhOTeLDzpA4IL2fLISEQVKqjzahRZqk4l6OlA3W9tiYL_RfAi1w0B5LkdMWn6siVQgiRgb5eauVb7RJ3W2oQQfngAayTbN951IUMYiZkwdwWXLeDHdtZ89W8/s1600/dawn_run-0283.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7jIrT16PtbL-BdJ7u-GJhOTeLDzpA4IL2fLISEQVKqjzahRZqk4l6OlA3W9tiYL_RfAi1w0B5LkdMWn6siVQgiRgb5eauVb7RJ3W2oQQfngAayTbN951IUMYiZkwdwWXLeDHdtZ89W8/s400/dawn_run-0283.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467147187296417778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepXxapH7k5zzC3WNExUQUfvXeYe539DDVASgs_PBECO1sRbbVSO5nd_l71FlBmNXMau7rJ_4fWvb7qfAhXrdMTI27p01YXOUnbpCAmdQkSXF_w6ORRvofPb1ehKgmMSy52DEnevIrb3A/s1600/dawn_run-0286.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepXxapH7k5zzC3WNExUQUfvXeYe539DDVASgs_PBECO1sRbbVSO5nd_l71FlBmNXMau7rJ_4fWvb7qfAhXrdMTI27p01YXOUnbpCAmdQkSXF_w6ORRvofPb1ehKgmMSy52DEnevIrb3A/s400/dawn_run-0286.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467147189796051794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcC3whFrvynZMzFaiNqhzauZtVRnQO0ov0Dmfa8dQV7cNzbvEVq2G6PThAvNO1otmdZcLz6haslHOjbjGbWAKXoLhhRC-mjjZcvfMJIasvVfKSpmECdg6zGXS74sYSlHTxpBVp4gjf31Q/s1600/dawn_run-0289.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcC3whFrvynZMzFaiNqhzauZtVRnQO0ov0Dmfa8dQV7cNzbvEVq2G6PThAvNO1otmdZcLz6haslHOjbjGbWAKXoLhhRC-mjjZcvfMJIasvVfKSpmECdg6zGXS74sYSlHTxpBVp4gjf31Q/s400/dawn_run-0289.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467147197492050898" border="0" /></a><br /> And returning home, stretching in the backyard, morning in full swing, beautiful golden light everywhere, and the view of my favorite palm tree: <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOIRIw2hm_4WYCY2h9N01DE7OlyhEZomi5CyZdTIJ2SWvfUmj8JxiVwHm-q1_ISi49u1pr6z-wt8lDJNiuGDnMcNZvmftScdjVt5nQBowy9jlf_-h5_3yxRZfY6VOA40RPNNeN-9d9dU/s1600/dawn_run-0298.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOIRIw2hm_4WYCY2h9N01DE7OlyhEZomi5CyZdTIJ2SWvfUmj8JxiVwHm-q1_ISi49u1pr6z-wt8lDJNiuGDnMcNZvmftScdjVt5nQBowy9jlf_-h5_3yxRZfY6VOA40RPNNeN-9d9dU/s400/dawn_run-0298.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467148096777052162" border="0" /></a>Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-80758293781149088882010-04-08T11:48:00.000-07:002010-04-09T10:40:10.380-07:00Austin!!Oh shoot. I thought I had posted about Austin, but I didn't.<br /><br />So. The race was hard! I didn't look too closely at the course leading up to the race, but the night before, at around 10:30, I read the little description that came with the registration goody bag. Oh no - hills! And all of them after mile 8! Noooooooo!<br /><br />Have I mentioned recently that Alameda is utterly, completely FLAT? I think I could chug along for quite a while on flat ground, but hills are another story completely. We have to get in the car and drive somewhere to train on hills, and that doesn't happen too often. So I was a little thrown at this news. But actually, I'm glad I didn't know sooner - I already felt that I hadn't trained sufficiently for this race, and the knowledge of the hills just would have made me even more nervous, without increasing my ability to improve my training... at that point, it was just one of those "it is what it is" kind of things.<br /><br />Anyway, it was awesome to meet up with all the other Cure JM runners in the pre-dawn hours of race day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIELy4HJWAOkSVVyL2mDgSCwsCZvzAc3_o6rbJbWDfb_k5unF4UucQGumPRsP4_ODVCEinuo27Ze2hoc5UM8rsNdj57-fUr2Ptji7E85kR9GCTFvg0HUNzCTGS27vGuGCUDDJ3rg8QqYo/s1600/austin-2-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIELy4HJWAOkSVVyL2mDgSCwsCZvzAc3_o6rbJbWDfb_k5unF4UucQGumPRsP4_ODVCEinuo27Ze2hoc5UM8rsNdj57-fUr2Ptji7E85kR9GCTFvg0HUNzCTGS27vGuGCUDDJ3rg8QqYo/s400/austin-2-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457842974852916258" border="0" /></a>Shari Hume, one of the cofounders of Cure JM (first row, third from left), really likes the "fist in the air" look; the group was happy to oblige.<br /><br />Then there was nothing left to do but just, well, do it. My mamajog buddies weren't able to join me on this one, so I ran with Shari for a bit but she's just a TAD more advanced in the running department (she qualified for and ran Boston!) and much faster than me, so after a couple miles she had to leave me in her dust. I ran the rest by myself, which was just fine, actually. There was plenty of entertainment along the way, both official and unofficial, and I just kept chugging along. Around the halfway mark, the Cure JM cheering section was waiting:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNM_SbgH6Jcxl8E5Z5Z_NPFue7dB5IDDnE6hGSzImZGJiEQVzsRcGLyJ8K0d3bytsgbLfL_8bjDK9MC40bojNLXCpaQCE4rBOJHaS5oFoDq9lpSa6kWeTUHHOT08fNe60HRv6IiZtMoOY/s1600/austin-2-8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNM_SbgH6Jcxl8E5Z5Z_NPFue7dB5IDDnE6hGSzImZGJiEQVzsRcGLyJ8K0d3bytsgbLfL_8bjDK9MC40bojNLXCpaQCE4rBOJHaS5oFoDq9lpSa6kWeTUHHOT08fNe60HRv6IiZtMoOY/s400/austin-2-8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457844805531165826" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYXKPAHB7YeYlFPD88U9vBBRcIM1ZeoaRP2wHSDplpbFLxUQVSX3bsz2d_89y1NCB7O9I5MCE7MGvkz76DivzTOs5k9cgsZ19cJYosEuyM0hgCi-kSpZsq8RfECiVjymKLg1cqXm-QN0/s1600/austin-2-5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYXKPAHB7YeYlFPD88U9vBBRcIM1ZeoaRP2wHSDplpbFLxUQVSX3bsz2d_89y1NCB7O9I5MCE7MGvkz76DivzTOs5k9cgsZ19cJYosEuyM0hgCi-kSpZsq8RfECiVjymKLg1cqXm-QN0/s400/austin-2-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457844588307293186" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHZqpkEV9NuNrVY90YA7egWK5FOM6aYvsIF0UH9INue4b8DKlTYoif4bG5X9qu7Xd98hqLIBaoTMkV-OxD1G_l7y4ndL0dumuXfT4WSGjt7uCbPcyGspwm0KEQu4Owj0y2FfTkhHfVNc/s1600/austin-2-4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHZqpkEV9NuNrVY90YA7egWK5FOM6aYvsIF0UH9INue4b8DKlTYoif4bG5X9qu7Xd98hqLIBaoTMkV-OxD1G_l7y4ndL0dumuXfT4WSGjt7uCbPcyGspwm0KEQu4Owj0y2FfTkhHfVNc/s400/austin-2-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457844581311200258" border="0" /></a><br />I finally show up, hug my girl (and my boy, and my husband), and rev up the crowd before I leave (I figured that my little parlor trick of increasing my hand to the size of a frying pan would get them really excited):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pQkRiE-nY4ZhAA4PNZWUuJNu38vaTqzNvpi0wbk-YmwI1ph33vd5yyuFU8DbDvbxESi52t94CbCh2LzyNLxzEJnbAlXWl0Mzs3QeOyWm7LHdYfsiuRYIjl0JGByajNbvsmND31060Ys/s1600/austin-2-11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pQkRiE-nY4ZhAA4PNZWUuJNu38vaTqzNvpi0wbk-YmwI1ph33vd5yyuFU8DbDvbxESi52t94CbCh2LzyNLxzEJnbAlXWl0Mzs3QeOyWm7LHdYfsiuRYIjl0JGByajNbvsmND31060Ys/s400/austin-2-11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457844828868778978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbnx21BnLpAWk21ed6aFXBg3NH40WnPA6Ebndno5_lIlwpRt5G2wDtui1uZCsZOUe_GKI22OsoCIFILn4456W31Lxll749dn_r_-qOGbsPv7e1zCZmCA732ftDN2SMknqsnCDcuv0C5g/s1600/austin-2-12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbnx21BnLpAWk21ed6aFXBg3NH40WnPA6Ebndno5_lIlwpRt5G2wDtui1uZCsZOUe_GKI22OsoCIFILn4456W31Lxll749dn_r_-qOGbsPv7e1zCZmCA732ftDN2SMknqsnCDcuv0C5g/s400/austin-2-12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457844832701028242" border="0" /></a><br />Then it was just 6.7 or so more miles of one foot in front of the other. Right as scheduled, the hills started at mile 8. Okay. Just do it. And do it again. And again. Okay, got it.<br /><br />I knew I was getting close to mile 11, and I was pretty sure I'd read that course leveled out again after that, so I was getting excited... only two more miles to go, and they'd be flat... I was starting to get pretty tired so it was a welcome thought... well. Imagine my feelings when I turned a corner to see the 11-mile post, and a another big old hill stretching right on up behind it. Ugh. Okay. Just do it... and I did... gave myself another pat on the back and another "hallelujah, that must be it for the hills" moment.<br /><br />Well. Clearly, my memory about what I'd read of the course was ALL wrong. After slogging along another mile, I was looking forward to sighting the 12-mile post - a most welcome sight for the half-marathoner - evidence that you're ALMOST THERE!<br /><br />Well. Once again, I turned a corner, and this is what I saw:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjSAgAJyh6fYd7XrXxBQaUEhGb8RJboYFs03e1-SsqnytiLryKKFS8bwi10QP2UW2K69USlU1ycrAXTdZtVEVvjsgYlXuL0Ty_aeEAnKsnAFhKlzq5lF4iJ6l-r23aQ9PtxEuTiQ_rZs/s1600/12_mile_0488.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjSAgAJyh6fYd7XrXxBQaUEhGb8RJboYFs03e1-SsqnytiLryKKFS8bwi10QP2UW2K69USlU1ycrAXTdZtVEVvjsgYlXuL0Ty_aeEAnKsnAFhKlzq5lF4iJ6l-r23aQ9PtxEuTiQ_rZs/s400/12_mile_0488.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457897493884610562" border="0" /></a>Now, this image is small, but if you look very closely, right near the center is the 12-mile marker. And it's hard to miss the big old hill stretching on up beyond.<br /><br />To the planners of the Austin Half Marathon course: this is just plain rude. Putting a big old hill this late into the race is one thing, but to map it so that the thing is heralded by the 12-mile post - normally a beacon of hope to weary hoofers - come on, really? Just. Plain. Rude.<br /><br />So I moped and whined on the inside for a minute or so, then just bucked up and did it. I didn't run fast, but I did run it. No walking. And then, finally, finally! the course leveled out - even went at little downhill, I believe, although at that point I was a little too delirious to tell you for sure - curving past the historic capital building and finally FINALLY to the finish!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTztPMKzsgG4yZ_JLfAhTWsxjks2CyB0BhkEuLffGQ5QObXBt0fnaotORZIKHwIBM2ssE3Q8zh2rWMe1VH348dLxgOeAFA1yFaOOYV6M3hNSVbtJrkzqONFzw1OX3TpdN04ieMOGSohBw/s1600/austin-2-16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTztPMKzsgG4yZ_JLfAhTWsxjks2CyB0BhkEuLffGQ5QObXBt0fnaotORZIKHwIBM2ssE3Q8zh2rWMe1VH348dLxgOeAFA1yFaOOYV6M3hNSVbtJrkzqONFzw1OX3TpdN04ieMOGSohBw/s400/austin-2-16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457912925420053410" border="0" /></a>And it's the coolest medal I've gotten yet.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XVeDawE2W5j2Cq28O-FI0uX1z_EDDdb4m2Sl9wdhU4hTHMIdQlomtoIc43SOVxMtjU0vHYkm8SmWlKLVGQpyrZ7t0F7K2l6WAc2n_G7tUrOpXtChng83zCEvN7C9l98ojvUTWRRYW5w/s1600/austin-2-13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XVeDawE2W5j2Cq28O-FI0uX1z_EDDdb4m2Sl9wdhU4hTHMIdQlomtoIc43SOVxMtjU0vHYkm8SmWlKLVGQpyrZ7t0F7K2l6WAc2n_G7tUrOpXtChng83zCEvN7C9l98ojvUTWRRYW5w/s400/austin-2-13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457912874336369234" border="0" /></a>All photo credit goes to the fabulous Julie Caine, with the exception of the 12-mile hill of torture - that one was mine. Special thanks to Ms. Caine, who once again donated her image-making talents to Cure JM - you are the best! And if you want to view more photos from the race, or from the amazing Cure JM educational forums and events that took place the previous day, check out our <a href="http://www.flikr.com/curejm">Flikr stream</a>. Over $180,000 was raised for continuing research of juvenile dermatomyositis... thanks once again to everyone who helped, and WAY TO GO Cure JM!!Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-83676491242318738462010-01-31T20:20:00.001-08:002010-01-31T21:33:45.535-08:00Unexpected 12<span style="font-style: italic;">by Suzy</span><br /><br />I had been hoping I could run today, but felt unable to fully commit (with being sick and all). Just getting out at all would have been an achievement, but if it felt ok, I thought I would try and go 5-ish, then do a long run a little later in the week - and hopefully feel more prepared for the upcoming race. But I still wasn't sure whether I'd manage to run at all today.<br /><br />Felt alright upon waking, then checked in with Nicole and confirmed she would join me - and I was very pleasantly surprised when Kirsten and Steph were able to come as well. We ran around 4.5 and then the ladies dispersed for coffee, work, kids, etc. I felt I had a little more in me, so I decided to keep going on my own and see where things led.<br /><br />So I kept on chugging. I felt pretty good, considering how little I've been running, and how sick I've been feeling. I just kept on.<br /><br />My mind began to wander. Just before setting out, I'd received a wonderful email from dear family friends (and I hope they won't mind my sharing it):<br /><br />"We think of you often, with love and prayers. Suzy, hope you are feeling stronger for your run - just imagine us and all of the people who love all of you pushing you along, giving you energy..."<br /><br />So I did that - I imagined them, and all the people that love us, pushing me along and giving me energy. I thought about the donations that have been coming in, and how moved I am by the support of our family and friends, and of perfect strangers.<br /><br />I thought about all the recent notes on the Cure JM message board from newly diagnosed families - heartbreaking, because I have some sense of what lies ahead for them. I thought about what a horrible time Mielle has gone through with her treatment, and about other kids that have had even worse times - much, much worse. I thought about how helpless I've felt at various times over the past two years, and how confused, and how conflicted over the terrible decisions we've had to make.<br /><br />I thought about other things happening lately, in regards to my special-needs son, that make me feel overwhelmed and hopeless and paralyzed with anxiety... and somehow this all coalesced into a single solitary drive to keep on RUNNING. I thought, "hell with it... I don't care about being sick, and barely running for weeks... I'm tired of feeling anxious about it... I'm running damn 11 miles today."<br /><br />Somehow, pulling this long run out of nowhere today became some kind of statement for ME - a way to regain some control. A way to say "Screw you!" to everything that is causing me to feel confused and anxious and sad. A way to affirm the love and faith that's been placed in me by everyone that has donated on our behalf. A way to honor Mielle and the other JM kids, as well as my son Lucien - to show them that sheer force of will can be powerful, and nothing is impossible.<br /><br />It's kind of silly, really, because in truth, nobody's really going to know or care whether I did or didn't run 11 miles today... except, of course, ME. I'd know. And for myself, today, I needed to feel triumphant. So I ran the damn miles.<br /><br />And when I hit 11, I figured one more would be even better - really get me within striking distance of the half marathon. So I kept going to 12.<br /><br />It was hard, and I'm more tired and more sore than I'm accustomed to from a long run. But I did it. I'm back in the game, baby!Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-72689302011931279312010-01-29T22:03:00.001-08:002010-01-29T22:25:51.624-08:00Lagging...<span style="font-style: italic;">by Suzy</span><br /><br />Okay, y'all. Between traveling, and being sick, and traveling again, and the holidays, and being sick again, and traveling AGAIN, and then being really really sick, and still not better, I haven't run much lately. And I'm not exactly bursting with confidence about the next race, coming up in Austin in a mere <span style="font-style: italic;">two weeks.</span> (ouch).<br /><br />My beloved training schedule has been kicked to the curb by life. I'm not prepared. It's weird, because for quite a while there, I was doing enough miles and I knew I could pretty much knock out 10 or 12 or 13.1 at any time, not really such a big deal. I got a little used to it. I may have even taken it for granted... which is something I really, really try not to do these days - about anything - after our experiences of the past 2+ years. But there you go; we are flawed creatures and we can't help ourselves, can we?<br /><br />And I'm behind in my fundraising, also. I'm trying to kick it into gear now. I'm throwing a hail mary.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure that if I can get one more long run in before the race, I'll be ok. Just waiting to be healthy enough...<br /><br />If anyone is feeling sorry for me, please express your sympathy with a donation! And if you don't feel one bit sorry for my whiny butt, that's fine too... please express your disdain with a donation!Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-30214210943793128642009-12-23T22:43:00.000-08:002009-12-23T23:40:30.054-08:00Turkey Trot 09!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpN4VfcbS40HWBW_4vEI5JwybPaWahppNcBAO1bOfhPYJ1DwWZpFrElMWOCQvt8yITVHzgaX-P8uwdrMJHHBgUrKttZqo35-hJXQwcVoP3dsTxjeYlBuQwqufD_J9TrzMPpwf9KjgVgA/s1600-h/09_11.26_turkeytrot_005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 373px; height: 373px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpN4VfcbS40HWBW_4vEI5JwybPaWahppNcBAO1bOfhPYJ1DwWZpFrElMWOCQvt8yITVHzgaX-P8uwdrMJHHBgUrKttZqo35-hJXQwcVoP3dsTxjeYlBuQwqufD_J9TrzMPpwf9KjgVgA/s400/09_11.26_turkeytrot_005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418691465240441586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />by Suzy</span><br /><br />Last year, we swore we were gonna get those turkey hats (check the blog entry if you don't believe me), and by gosh, we did! (It is amazing to live in a world where you can type "cooked turkey hat" into google and receive several options.)<br /><br />Fierce fashionistas that we are, naturally we had to accessorize them. Everything is better when it's beadazzled!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhME0Dpyw-yGgQ_M-JF1dF5iGj-dcA9JCPXk_36qBLtuq9RO815dCJ13K2yy_sIuoYlL70CywQomFA_QKZlM_0ouYGi7T4DQUGLhxsxiwa6iwigdQgqdUUHO9vNR6xs7E28fk84LSyGGdY/s1600-h/tenderthize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhME0Dpyw-yGgQ_M-JF1dF5iGj-dcA9JCPXk_36qBLtuq9RO815dCJ13K2yy_sIuoYlL70CywQomFA_QKZlM_0ouYGi7T4DQUGLhxsxiwa6iwigdQgqdUUHO9vNR6xs7E28fk84LSyGGdY/s400/tenderthize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418696166035998130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWiP32XmG-VgfBXdiOjlyKkSXGgCMe6he8wA8rakx-1jhSVZSg2ltkmD1LdC99e5XmtTzu0Wbj8d9jwNLJ_G35R9RsCJfAT3twzdWXi8vwCavBP4Qn3RkAp0qKQUJPwZN4mUolrKX3rY/s1600-h/white_meat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWiP32XmG-VgfBXdiOjlyKkSXGgCMe6he8wA8rakx-1jhSVZSg2ltkmD1LdC99e5XmtTzu0Wbj8d9jwNLJ_G35R9RsCJfAT3twzdWXi8vwCavBP4Qn3RkAp0qKQUJPwZN4mUolrKX3rY/s400/white_meat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418696173193810370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6xzE2b4krgafJXYXvt-hF-BbvY4t3Ao93BVCYY-sSGj4K5rcupSn8byLQIFQU_pEeF8t_iOA9Y0v4c5Kzlgg43ZE_QAZAOnndv_sRKuAAArg5t0bS8Qxp56tCZv-sLPFUlEOZbgjfRg/s1600-h/bonnie_baster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6xzE2b4krgafJXYXvt-hF-BbvY4t3Ao93BVCYY-sSGj4K5rcupSn8byLQIFQU_pEeF8t_iOA9Y0v4c5Kzlgg43ZE_QAZAOnndv_sRKuAAArg5t0bS8Qxp56tCZv-sLPFUlEOZbgjfRg/s400/bonnie_baster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418696182143643922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxUXILkH_M3lG0Fa9lcYGwjWq-yJlM1A9cpEp2BWwsoi8ttt2aG1ZAxdmHTxxaJqcXYqcJDWiNa3bGF6aG5vFqg3twg5hw6vGPjmVurjNgRpv-JbTAwsEUV1TSZZUAxKeyobmpRX2tOA/s1600-h/tina_turkey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxUXILkH_M3lG0Fa9lcYGwjWq-yJlM1A9cpEp2BWwsoi8ttt2aG1ZAxdmHTxxaJqcXYqcJDWiNa3bGF6aG5vFqg3twg5hw6vGPjmVurjNgRpv-JbTAwsEUV1TSZZUAxKeyobmpRX2tOA/s400/tina_turkey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418696189068687906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhbkp-5_Kr2mlOEkZtWXvcENgkyCHuCRP9uz9xPNI4hqytfc46zL9JaTxF8TB_JYqNuBzhINz1gHqNrUwRHfUS7rqqdPSLOeCPVFFAlHgx2iYF7ufx68QhySXFmzeXUdVOqp4Oc1SQEA/s1600-h/miss_pumpkin_pie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhbkp-5_Kr2mlOEkZtWXvcENgkyCHuCRP9uz9xPNI4hqytfc46zL9JaTxF8TB_JYqNuBzhINz1gHqNrUwRHfUS7rqqdPSLOeCPVFFAlHgx2iYF7ufx68QhySXFmzeXUdVOqp4Oc1SQEA/s400/miss_pumpkin_pie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418696195031653122" border="0" /></a><br />Mielle ran with Gabe in the kids race this year... she is doing so much better than a year ago.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeISUoeh-ABHkvEolMny1mop_JPV9M7KqQctgciGyVd41VUwX-cy5cR4OcjRL8NTIGKamWOadhOUI_bewSUEqtSNFttfEXbovb1Lb_HO9ZD6fu6Y0_cwU4bhD00f77AvH_1ppdcfeJNDw/s1600-h/09_11.26_turkeytrot_019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 354px; height: 354px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeISUoeh-ABHkvEolMny1mop_JPV9M7KqQctgciGyVd41VUwX-cy5cR4OcjRL8NTIGKamWOadhOUI_bewSUEqtSNFttfEXbovb1Lb_HO9ZD6fu6Y0_cwU4bhD00f77AvH_1ppdcfeJNDw/s400/09_11.26_turkeytrot_019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418697488310082242" border="0" /></a>And they're off...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv15MCOzEGNLQLfekODbRADssAOGZp9XOr_VDDC9VVGurEkwxB_i2H-k_1qee6rdmzqQEZ27VCyHriZptMCT9eo4D9Mhg8YF-0Bh2Vd39ldl8bynHevwaR4lYbFQ_A_OXq7MB8j_eTVB0/s1600-h/09_11.26_turkeytrot_085.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv15MCOzEGNLQLfekODbRADssAOGZp9XOr_VDDC9VVGurEkwxB_i2H-k_1qee6rdmzqQEZ27VCyHriZptMCT9eo4D9Mhg8YF-0Bh2Vd39ldl8bynHevwaR4lYbFQ_A_OXq7MB8j_eTVB0/s400/09_11.26_turkeytrot_085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418698476186178546" border="0" /></a>Billy, Gabe and Mielle kill time, Lenny shoots, and the mamas hoof it...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-HvG_BrRdedK4jFuJnlwpnwcXshLfTVhSwxhHSA0mFF-VBcpoWJQqjXa_JDS8_eMxKzNI-3ceUhRkaL9qggGTk7BVTUc0eZIOU7htfzxsYHiNfM-z_6xAq2y69DSXTomgGla6cgBu80/s1600-h/09_11.26_turkeytrot_096.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-HvG_BrRdedK4jFuJnlwpnwcXshLfTVhSwxhHSA0mFF-VBcpoWJQqjXa_JDS8_eMxKzNI-3ceUhRkaL9qggGTk7BVTUc0eZIOU7htfzxsYHiNfM-z_6xAq2y69DSXTomgGla6cgBu80/s400/09_11.26_turkeytrot_096.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418698478571084706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTe7WTCwXlWKcIELlcAv4519ajfQR7ru2fMFdB-A86ciFlBAMNq8UPl-gHVxH1eN9gCtbdPHM8gxMbzYEgVMSaLIbUKGt4mcG0gB_SpUmz4yG0jDfR-NTh6XolfT_S9a-Q2MFMyrkn8dQ/s1600-h/gabe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTe7WTCwXlWKcIELlcAv4519ajfQR7ru2fMFdB-A86ciFlBAMNq8UPl-gHVxH1eN9gCtbdPHM8gxMbzYEgVMSaLIbUKGt4mcG0gB_SpUmz4yG0jDfR-NTh6XolfT_S9a-Q2MFMyrkn8dQ/s400/gabe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418699067879175682" border="0" /></a><br />And here we come -- look at that form! So tight, soooooo pro!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hIqrNEsPEhzDI6mst5EW82-G-jfpyiT-H0ECKhf0C3SlRRiN6-7A11T4ZvEQWJaY2hO6jKI5C2kMqOmFrOwi04x6uZIhxrlTJ_yd38znbCNGcuhRLZ_9gG2gHHnTXiIzV8_nVk3x95E/s1600-h/suzy_finish.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 385px; height: 385px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hIqrNEsPEhzDI6mst5EW82-G-jfpyiT-H0ECKhf0C3SlRRiN6-7A11T4ZvEQWJaY2hO6jKI5C2kMqOmFrOwi04x6uZIhxrlTJ_yd38znbCNGcuhRLZ_9gG2gHHnTXiIzV8_nVk3x95E/s400/suzy_finish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418699697042568946" border="0" /></a>Steph's not in the mood for the paparrazzi:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKCmoL35JTls8sQJz-38m-jIa6qgQohaNHveEDE-mVSKChb5fAoNgp5MtPVajIoo_m3keRI7KZ8RPyENHd_y3lNzlmFoUlenEooGcSwRo9InHWrIxqRkHiPvttF_052xqdIQ8nswXjBY/s1600-h/steph_finish.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKCmoL35JTls8sQJz-38m-jIa6qgQohaNHveEDE-mVSKChb5fAoNgp5MtPVajIoo_m3keRI7KZ8RPyENHd_y3lNzlmFoUlenEooGcSwRo9InHWrIxqRkHiPvttF_052xqdIQ8nswXjBY/s400/steph_finish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418699703499545026" border="0" /></a>Kirsten and Claudia finish with a flash of white meat, just like the hat says:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmYB8LgRNG1tqzwyYDQQA5EZDZycU-YGhqcEUH0XxIy11-WjUJz5prnDkRtiRR45dgyGTYYwdH-DVPQ6qFUyBbZDDPLUscSxeHPXurnzgv3dRVGmes_gfwr9qHJ1eNLqi_G2kv3DZq5E/s1600-h/C_and_K_finish.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmYB8LgRNG1tqzwyYDQQA5EZDZycU-YGhqcEUH0XxIy11-WjUJz5prnDkRtiRR45dgyGTYYwdH-DVPQ6qFUyBbZDDPLUscSxeHPXurnzgv3dRVGmes_gfwr9qHJ1eNLqi_G2kv3DZq5E/s400/C_and_K_finish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418699705623801474" border="0" /></a>And my happiness upon winning the next-to-last bottle of two-buck-chuck in the post-race raffle. Awwwww yeah.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_H50U9k5BrcsAwJHMQi06GKZym8Ky4w2oMfyKusDVTIi533WKSmGW7QBn8Gm21z3wuVUFy_a2XtHU1D7KnLO8dJN8YrEhyphenhyphenxTO-tkwHsLs4fz7ziaBsLnK1v0Jm58MP3xmEMXGhuAXZY/s1600-h/09_11.26_turkeytrot_140.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_H50U9k5BrcsAwJHMQi06GKZym8Ky4w2oMfyKusDVTIi533WKSmGW7QBn8Gm21z3wuVUFy_a2XtHU1D7KnLO8dJN8YrEhyphenhyphenxTO-tkwHsLs4fz7ziaBsLnK1v0Jm58MP3xmEMXGhuAXZY/s400/09_11.26_turkeytrot_140.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418699709893205218" border="0" /></a>Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-34360071395085401322009-12-23T22:17:00.000-08:002009-12-23T22:42:56.578-08:00Big Sur Half (in Monterey, not Big Sur)<span style="font-style: italic;">by Suzy</span><br /><br />We had two last-minute disappointments right before the race in Monterey - both Steph and Nicole had to back out due to illness. Big, big, bummer. But Claudia, Kirsten, and I persevered, and had a FANtastic time. Arrived the day before the race, picked up our packets and did a little gear-shopping at the expo, checked into our room, wandered around quaint Carmel and had an amazing meal at one of my favorite restaurants in the area, The Forge in the Forest. They have a sweet outdoor seating area filed with vines and plants, fireplaces and heat lamps! Super cozy and the food is perfect.<br /><br />The next day, race day, was GORGEOUS. Sunny and cool. I guess there were about 10,000 people there altogether, although I'm not sure. It was really well organized so we corralled up and started off shortly thereafter. What a glorious route... almost entirely along the coastline, and totally stunning. No real hills to speak of... fun bands playing and plenty of water stops... even some good samaritans handing out dixie cups of Coors Light at around mile 11.5. Very very very nice. We got lazy and didn't even bring a camera for the actual race, and now I regret it... but at the time, it was nice to just BE, and RUN, and not worry about documenting it. Just that once!<br /><br />After the race we ate some snacks but quickly headed out in search of real food. We found it at a dark little English pub, where we loaded up on red meat, potatoes and bloody mary-s for K and C (what's the plural of bloody mary, anyway??) and beer for me. Then headed back to our hotel for hot tub and a swim (brrrr!), shower, and nap. All refreshed, we enjoyed tea in the sweet garden patio of the hotel, then headed back to Carmel to watch the sunset on the beach. Here we are:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggo5QG-EZSFpq7IC4R_2BLvCibVJR6LiC5RdvL-t5EFZW4UE1VjDNoBEdtOfo0PHlSV8OVG9MB7ehgicztf4bZPXFzlkFMSBLfofoDtseU_zWsWdmiSOBXZ8TpWzW4CSuAVCzzKPhBhoI/s1600-h/S&K.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggo5QG-EZSFpq7IC4R_2BLvCibVJR6LiC5RdvL-t5EFZW4UE1VjDNoBEdtOfo0PHlSV8OVG9MB7ehgicztf4bZPXFzlkFMSBLfofoDtseU_zWsWdmiSOBXZ8TpWzW4CSuAVCzzKPhBhoI/s320/S&K.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418687306790330818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORH-PDd5eDkmayvjFYLiEcLeOdsIUs5hsHph8jdmw40YouVSwfMxHGYJptUpTPc1ag4X9pSwq4p-loqunmhnTp4NZjqtpoRaA6CBk4fNOPVEfNzDY6h8bKlNQrZG0MMmfl7pm6zuAdlA/s1600-h/K&C.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORH-PDd5eDkmayvjFYLiEcLeOdsIUs5hsHph8jdmw40YouVSwfMxHGYJptUpTPc1ag4X9pSwq4p-loqunmhnTp4NZjqtpoRaA6CBk4fNOPVEfNzDY6h8bKlNQrZG0MMmfl7pm6zuAdlA/s320/K&C.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418687303917067826" border="0" /></a><br />Pretty mellow, man. The sunset was awesome. I have some pics of it, just not sure where!<br /><br />Sooo, then it was a little shopping and - get this - back to the same restaurant for dinner. We felt kinda lame not going somewhere else, but it was just so good that we decided to go for the sure thing. And it was the right decision!<br /><br />After all that, we were collapsed in bed and sound asleep by 9:30.<br /><br />Could a day be any more perfect?Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-55343520866266689262009-11-14T08:21:00.001-08:002009-11-14T08:25:05.434-08:00Off to Monterey<span style="font-style: italic;">by Suzy</span><br /><br />We're headed to Monterey today for the <a href="http://www.bigsurhalfmarathon.org/site4.aspx">Big Sur Half Marathon</a> tomorrow! It's just the ladies this time - no men or children allowed - so we're all excited about a girlie weekend away. Hot tubs, yummy food, and, oh yeah - 13.1 miles!Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-23884474014334531982009-11-06T13:07:00.000-08:002009-11-06T14:04:40.524-08:00Next Races!<span style="font-style: italic;">by Suzy</span><br /><br />Our next race is coming right up... November 15, Big Sur Half Marathon! Yippeee!<br /><br />Can't forget about the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day... we'll be making a fashion statement...<br /><br />And then Mielle, Lucien, Lenny and I will travel to Austin to rendezvous with 50 other Cure JM families and run the Austin Half Marathon on February 14.<br /><br />Just got the new fundraising page up and running...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.firstgiving.com/mamajog">www.firstgiving.com/mamajog</a><br /><br />Thanks for your support!Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-80960483017049805062009-09-30T21:04:00.000-07:002009-11-14T08:39:02.344-08:00One Year Anniversary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VESeFLLZ-OzluTZ04RD6YHt2_Ch1-GjtTtA1FUZqMAeMbyslZUJ80Gt-xv1jH_OHpvlpOH9PBfuFIZNCo0megiOL7G3N5DJE6aJT5ebtmnCE_VyZTBj9B1pyxp4lFJabvRnC1-78XyU/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VESeFLLZ-OzluTZ04RD6YHt2_Ch1-GjtTtA1FUZqMAeMbyslZUJ80Gt-xv1jH_OHpvlpOH9PBfuFIZNCo0megiOL7G3N5DJE6aJT5ebtmnCE_VyZTBj9B1pyxp4lFJabvRnC1-78XyU/s200/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401114667328085762" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">by Suzy</span><br /><br />Yes, the blogging has slowed down of late. When I'm running, I always think of all the stuff I want to write about, but there never seems to be time, and before long I've forgotten all those great ponderings... (Hey, I just realized that this could be a rationale to buy that new iPod nano that I truly don't need, but kinda really want, because it's so CUTE and it has a videocamera in it, for crying out loud! I could use the video camera as a voice recorder to capture all of my profound musings on the road! And then still probably NOT write about most of them!! But I digress...)<br /><br />What I've been thinking about lately is my one-year anniversary of running. It's right about now. I remember, because I photographed a wedding last year on October 4, and it turned out that the bride and groom were big marathoners. I summoned up all my courage and sheepishly mentioned to them that I'd begun running - it had been less than a week and I was still in the throes of all that early embarrassment and insecurity. They were, of course, lovely and encouraging, and now I will always remember that date, and that it was a few days prior to October 4 that I began.<br /><br />I'm proud, thrilled, grateful, relieved, and generally ecstatic that, one year later, I am still running.<br /><br />If anyone had told me that I would ever willingly peel the covers back in the dark of pre-dawn, pull on some shorts, eat a banana and head out to <span style="font-style: italic;">run</span>, I would have thought s/he was absolutely delusional. Yet, I did just that this morning. And I wasn't even meeting any of my fabulous mamajoggers. It was just me today, and I just got the hell up and ran, and it felt <span style="font-style: italic;">great. </span><br /><br />I simply cannot overstate what running has come to mean to me, and how it has saved me during the hands-down most painful and challenging period in my life. Of course, it's the physiology - the endorphins, and the shifts in body chemistry - and the getting out, the breathing fresh air, the being in nature. But it goes so much deeper than I ever dreamed it would, and that is because of friendships, and community, and love.<br /><br />A year ago, when I asked Kirsten and Steph if they would take pity and run with me now and then as I just started out, I had no idea that they would immediately step up and offer to actually run the Carlsbad race with me. I was so blown away that they would do that with me, and for me! And then, lo and behold, Nicole signed on, and Claudia too! The depth of their caring was overwhelming. And over the course of weeks and months of training, and long runs, and cold runs, and wet runs, our friendships became deeper, wider, and more meaningful than I ever could have anticipated. This is what running has brought to my life.<br /><br />Fast forward to the next race - more wonderful women signing on. Old friends, like Barb (all the way from Seattle!) and Jan, and newer friends, like Anna and Jennifer and Debamitra, and friends of friends, like Jen and Amy. Our group was a little harder to coordinate, but it was also incredibly gratifying to continue building our community; and for me personally, it was deeply meaningful that these ladies would take up Mielle's cause.<br /><br />I was giddy with the possibilities for Mamajog... I wanted it to go national! Viral! Global! I was, and still am, mesmerized by the power of this simple act: running, and using the running as leverage to raise money and awareness for a cause (not even necessarily MY cause). I still dream of growing the Mamajog idea - and I'm still "living it" in my own way - but circumstances of life have forced me to postpone my plans for world domination! (At the same time that Mielle's health has been steadily improving, my son has presented us with some special challenges as well, and he needs much of our attention at the moment).<br /><br />Today I revisited the firstgiving page that collected most of our donations - <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> the entries, <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> the comments. Of course, in the moment, I appreciated each and every one profoundly, but at the time, in the heat of the fundraising drive, and the running, and all the coordination with all the Mamajoggers for the last race, it was just one of many things that were happening all at once, competing for attention. Now, in the calm of this moment, I am stunned all over again with length and depth and breadth of that list. Family, friends, people unknown to me but beloved by other Mamajoggers, and perfect strangers. How amazing that all of those people could care enough about my little girl to want to help, and choose to join us in this new community of ours.<br /><br />So, there you have it. The deepening of friendships, the spread of compassion, the creation of something beautiful from a truly dreadful situation... and the community created from these... all of this is the true magic that running has brought to my life. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Simply running</span> - honestly, can you believe it!) I don't care to know where I'd be right now, without it.<br /><br />I'm one year in, and it feels wonderful to have made it this far, and still love it - and I really really REALLY hope that it will stay this way for many more years to come.Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-6063342319316822992009-07-27T21:57:00.000-07:002009-07-30T14:33:18.639-07:00Sooo late - Alameda Half!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZFdulUYho3IM92mDV-f34Bsh_7xlNTJTwNMP8cbvZROmZ41qBqov7XAyQph5pq1fDqUlZSeGlwi9cCadO4lXmRqQIwSbV7wYoLe0XTV4Rq-bQz9rUBFDfDHZOsUmiwMP4dBN6Fz0VIA/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZFdulUYho3IM92mDV-f34Bsh_7xlNTJTwNMP8cbvZROmZ41qBqov7XAyQph5pq1fDqUlZSeGlwi9cCadO4lXmRqQIwSbV7wYoLe0XTV4Rq-bQz9rUBFDfDHZOsUmiwMP4dBN6Fz0VIA/s400/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363373780319194018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">by Suzy</span><br /><br />D'oh! How did... ahem... two months pass since the See Jane Run Half Marathon? I dunno.<br /><br />The race was fantastic. All mamajogs finished handily - and a few weren't so sure they would, due to illness, crazy work, injuries, etc. in the month preceding the race. I don't want to blather on - I think the photos tell the story. But of course, I have to offer a thousand thanks to all my fabulous gals who ran... to everyone that donated, or spread the word... thanks to Claudia for designing our awesome t-shirts, and to Court who gave us a great deal printing them... to all the spouses who spent many Sunday mornings alone with the kids while mamas ran... to Julie for documenting, to Mike for popping up all over the route to cheer and snap (and thanks for letting me use your some of your images) and on and on. All told (through two races, two events, and the simple act of asking loved ones to help) we've raised over $30,000 for Cure JM in the past year. I think that's pretty damned impressive.<br /><br />Now, the photos!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvmaQCvqdUsIAViOviZlZ_qYCL6kgdVYIHPheyjeayXXbamgT6is1-py-t-SngVd3xdcL4zzi2REaDtK0eZSAK5uwCJLBGSs4ZmJOobZ0VIeyCNjGiN05ybVxu8eBFnev00rScSbwvks/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvmaQCvqdUsIAViOviZlZ_qYCL6kgdVYIHPheyjeayXXbamgT6is1-py-t-SngVd3xdcL4zzi2REaDtK0eZSAK5uwCJLBGSs4ZmJOobZ0VIeyCNjGiN05ybVxu8eBFnev00rScSbwvks/s400/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363373777882857218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Another late-night t-shirt painting session... they were barely dry...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeUWs8UTXHpGoWB52a3ksmAyxuEwwawd1V5IfebUCoTQSZPKlPNrHTbNrHMBWgzW4AEWDxV2_vCHyIvzIyimDaROdxKSfuxvwZns5EOnItQMP_6vM5aUiRlc6gmpzPsPcqGQ5JPQELFQ/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeUWs8UTXHpGoWB52a3ksmAyxuEwwawd1V5IfebUCoTQSZPKlPNrHTbNrHMBWgzW4AEWDxV2_vCHyIvzIyimDaROdxKSfuxvwZns5EOnItQMP_6vM5aUiRlc6gmpzPsPcqGQ5JPQELFQ/s400/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363373770281853730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anna, are those Shot Bloks in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyxcLTzg0COC1f2jmXGn9g59OJY50KIZwytIsEIJSi2QdhsPbIg-Dut4GF5lyKYwUyWXp4-pwpqjHk-Yi99DIQNhdAc8MEPOzlKXD1f3Ubvj4GCJKg2xSsOolQtJ0h4JTOryoHNt_XRs/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkyxcLTzg0COC1f2jmXGn9g59OJY50KIZwytIsEIJSi2QdhsPbIg-Dut4GF5lyKYwUyWXp4-pwpqjHk-Yi99DIQNhdAc8MEPOzlKXD1f3Ubvj4GCJKg2xSsOolQtJ0h4JTOryoHNt_XRs/s400/4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363373769652959682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Pre-race warm-up silliness... and Art, trying not to drown in the sea of estrogen...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CEeu0dUSWDcvGlZ36_VtRJ91pPm61DbIg6l9HyvGBgD6TSi6l2A20dO-mbaJYH-p6Dh36PkaT-XSqP13rqvi-KBTiTFpw8zPvKEKbZM7gXp_0Bm6tfM_tNLRdNfj9O-mTJXG9SXlGYE/s1600-h/5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CEeu0dUSWDcvGlZ36_VtRJ91pPm61DbIg6l9HyvGBgD6TSi6l2A20dO-mbaJYH-p6Dh36PkaT-XSqP13rqvi-KBTiTFpw8zPvKEKbZM7gXp_0Bm6tfM_tNLRdNfj9O-mTJXG9SXlGYE/s400/5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363373763791686082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Heather, Barb, and Luca came all the way from Seattle to join us for the race!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8L3KNL364B8INx-4fBt2PsU4fuNF2W1_7u99RXfPZ3ibPQfO-ZVQYQbRzSu3hqbzyJ6jML4PV-JmYWtYVrnFZO2NQ4XUnGE4HVb37t4LlTxEhuSrios8y9Faz_uaGUE0QD1B_S5BdII/s1600-h/6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8L3KNL364B8INx-4fBt2PsU4fuNF2W1_7u99RXfPZ3ibPQfO-ZVQYQbRzSu3hqbzyJ6jML4PV-JmYWtYVrnFZO2NQ4XUnGE4HVb37t4LlTxEhuSrios8y9Faz_uaGUE0QD1B_S5BdII/s400/6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363373241068123490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Heather's sneaky way of catching a shot of an elderly couple in their pajamas, watching from their living room window.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGsk1j4APBbwi8GNFIfmsmfDK2WCOxvmFwRuCHwCqQfnrKGSqmrulonFTSZVBYCHco7rlHrQ0IGAC4LX3mRB8kx2l8yf39AQESkeTvABR3rr_7xjRmfNpYLGJsDZX2CZ6VY8AQM2sc58/s1600-h/7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGsk1j4APBbwi8GNFIfmsmfDK2WCOxvmFwRuCHwCqQfnrKGSqmrulonFTSZVBYCHco7rlHrQ0IGAC4LX3mRB8kx2l8yf39AQESkeTvABR3rr_7xjRmfNpYLGJsDZX2CZ6VY8AQM2sc58/s400/7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363373239004373394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For a while, we weren't sure if Lenny, Mielle and Lucien would actually make it before the race started... this is me finally seeing them and heading over for final hugs, just as the horn blew<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblWZmFhig632PH8UDTxbqdpHCHqY5R0iQXVVE7mANhM5mX28EFTuu9eWvcEP7a8PlUQ5fWlpEpRLxL_yB3LjJuzGGLeZgQwV5iwz4CjtMMqn6nPuEPi2sYPPHIQxLAB1WsjsNpp2vLXI/s1600-h/8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblWZmFhig632PH8UDTxbqdpHCHqY5R0iQXVVE7mANhM5mX28EFTuu9eWvcEP7a8PlUQ5fWlpEpRLxL_yB3LjJuzGGLeZgQwV5iwz4CjtMMqn6nPuEPi2sYPPHIQxLAB1WsjsNpp2vLXI/s400/8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363373229742790386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And they're off!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VqXiapxINJlit-qf8BaKm7mmi8SfkVlSgVyllhhtJ8UnaQjvTR_LBgM-F5jj5zw15_h7QNjNdKcJylHVAEBBrx-X1C_iWn6LYqdpKa4CIU9T-69RUeVAH0hu95e33YAqyIjzlPHBAZM/s1600-h/9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VqXiapxINJlit-qf8BaKm7mmi8SfkVlSgVyllhhtJ8UnaQjvTR_LBgM-F5jj5zw15_h7QNjNdKcJylHVAEBBrx-X1C_iWn6LYqdpKa4CIU9T-69RUeVAH0hu95e33YAqyIjzlPHBAZM/s400/9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363373230482501762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One last sweet hug from Claudia before taking off. This just kills me.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPi48vRaE-gKlxpwC53IGJ5vSmhaFecuO_kbhIZaLhOnaMXJg7sRx4_z2hWENDiitNAJzLOmGQQNtW12bgELBbxo7FFzHMbuaSaIv00HQ0eJaucFTQiuL8bD0ncpSrEEoitE067SyIkM/s1600-h/10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPi48vRaE-gKlxpwC53IGJ5vSmhaFecuO_kbhIZaLhOnaMXJg7sRx4_z2hWENDiitNAJzLOmGQQNtW12bgELBbxo7FFzHMbuaSaIv00HQ0eJaucFTQiuL8bD0ncpSrEEoitE067SyIkM/s400/10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363373222407566866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Our great friends Gabriel and Kelly came from Vallejo to cheer us on - it was a surprise and it put a HUGE smile on my face! Thanks, guys!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviKjwlam3sRmiUtg7m9h1LbwsSe_U1KgDygt5hrYlV4S5IDHBhR7mJCoLafr6tz9lUATejDkCFaqzlN0dz3qWGBgAWmSEXkAxIgUWq9_X5L6Gh4zqh1log0K15cXhm_rUpyJRrqVI9qY/s1600-h/11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviKjwlam3sRmiUtg7m9h1LbwsSe_U1KgDygt5hrYlV4S5IDHBhR7mJCoLafr6tz9lUATejDkCFaqzlN0dz3qWGBgAWmSEXkAxIgUWq9_X5L6Gh4zqh1log0K15cXhm_rUpyJRrqVI9qY/s400/11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363372711012956898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Looking good, ladies!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhX_RK2G7sTUR7y_sAHtqkeGx98I6Y0HOU8j_RKZ0fZp7GpNBuEXI-s5YJ3K1-53TgExGj43Zrlxt11xtmof8_gDlvcja3dJmrOcsBAgKhc8MOtTSjadb-MnL7oFjNNB4dXkllZHpfR0/s1600-h/12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhX_RK2G7sTUR7y_sAHtqkeGx98I6Y0HOU8j_RKZ0fZp7GpNBuEXI-s5YJ3K1-53TgExGj43Zrlxt11xtmof8_gDlvcja3dJmrOcsBAgKhc8MOtTSjadb-MnL7oFjNNB4dXkllZHpfR0/s400/12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363372706688282146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Barb, hitting her stride...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IA0QLWKHhmfz7XikVS_mmpn7P8250usnWL3BgCigmN2VR4QO5AKtPCUPsuIRD3SRaMkXw9j28wd112_8jweBwPPczPCyi7-dkZlou_B-bXeHDZX90-yUqk23cVeSjDyAZFImb6MxZOA/s1600-h/13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IA0QLWKHhmfz7XikVS_mmpn7P8250usnWL3BgCigmN2VR4QO5AKtPCUPsuIRD3SRaMkXw9j28wd112_8jweBwPPczPCyi7-dkZlou_B-bXeHDZX90-yUqk23cVeSjDyAZFImb6MxZOA/s400/13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363372702646370914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Meanwhile, Kirsten was already kicking back with a cold one. She was recovering from a marathon the previous month, so she ran the 5k. I'm noticing how much more champagne she got... seriously... by the time we got ours, it was a tiny splash at the bottom of the glass! No fair! ; )<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRH06-klv_rTyM2XEuE5DI6uZdvEur6oPbIbS-97bY0tzslDE0FnnkatRDePSOmldy2gaSeHGnX3KqzUJLeQMho7OC8kGvUZAYUeUhrmh2Nqb4ChYyNda41E842DTZXwhmP0WG6af4G8/s1600-h/14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRH06-klv_rTyM2XEuE5DI6uZdvEur6oPbIbS-97bY0tzslDE0FnnkatRDePSOmldy2gaSeHGnX3KqzUJLeQMho7OC8kGvUZAYUeUhrmh2Nqb4ChYyNda41E842DTZXwhmP0WG6af4G8/s400/14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363372696349831490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hey Billy, ya got something stuck to your leg...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjBMEvA0qHkxD5qORnCWDDuIb-NqM2nKSHQFGlm6y3X4m9g92MemHvQzGWj0XHRcs1hv_2wjPNeiuyB3IH4XR0b3X2jy3p4THmmPIEZkgyVvsCVz_avzTa-tgdXjV33QowUpGDW8v4vw/s1600-h/15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjBMEvA0qHkxD5qORnCWDDuIb-NqM2nKSHQFGlm6y3X4m9g92MemHvQzGWj0XHRcs1hv_2wjPNeiuyB3IH4XR0b3X2jy3p4THmmPIEZkgyVvsCVz_avzTa-tgdXjV33QowUpGDW8v4vw/s400/15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363372694597278962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A slew of chillins! Thanks for entertaining the kids during the 2+ hour wait for us to cross the finish line. (It's true that no speed records were broken that day - but we finished, dammit!)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyiXP3pA5in83KUOSneb7u0FLQZJRya26EJqzpW6lWqFCEdzGqlmUmcn7OgoQKaD-uJ9SbPBzrKmrmq1KgpXFiCNjPqwgFKrwfwZVvp4J92rn6y0Rvz6aYAeelBbdXrc_1JlbHXmIvaM/s1600-h/16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyiXP3pA5in83KUOSneb7u0FLQZJRya26EJqzpW6lWqFCEdzGqlmUmcn7OgoQKaD-uJ9SbPBzrKmrmq1KgpXFiCNjPqwgFKrwfwZVvp4J92rn6y0Rvz6aYAeelBbdXrc_1JlbHXmIvaM/s400/16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363372071187422962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />With my girl at the finish!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWgM0QpqDCeluxJwxP2ZoxQvfRFt8A_RImW_ImPs26xy61DFqJ5IzjrHcChsn0Qm5P3A4nZEc1hFrz6D4KtyCJvoBhFYGw0mGF0FFdlhLBDPhbD3aFEYHH5TJ4YS7BMEvuyxz2kNUAWg/s1600-h/17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWgM0QpqDCeluxJwxP2ZoxQvfRFt8A_RImW_ImPs26xy61DFqJ5IzjrHcChsn0Qm5P3A4nZEc1hFrz6D4KtyCJvoBhFYGw0mGF0FFdlhLBDPhbD3aFEYHH5TJ4YS7BMEvuyxz2kNUAWg/s400/17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363372067836250626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />She immediately swiped my medal, and I had a hard time getting it back -- but I got it back - it's MINE!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYBR46exLJXeE8CXzxZKUiiVctq0SYxmZBeiGpsiIe7YhSCsl0cu1D3fz-6s-BLXGQq9cPuWAuV5YAeG7kkZbVPGreDM1MrdFKgrhUCLIxKNRsoI6H0v-3-Zd0yqeCkdZ3lfgpkgC08s/s1600-h/18.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYBR46exLJXeE8CXzxZKUiiVctq0SYxmZBeiGpsiIe7YhSCsl0cu1D3fz-6s-BLXGQq9cPuWAuV5YAeG7kkZbVPGreDM1MrdFKgrhUCLIxKNRsoI6H0v-3-Zd0yqeCkdZ3lfgpkgC08s/s400/18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363372062696900114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A shout out from our man Lucien!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7MCzpYjQhHlsvRHBPOpQ3eawzdzVDKkPbbowks7b-LyaYsj4cNHVT1E4kW9Ag67AkpC10beBfyyuCFFvzdHOjgROI-2EJHNzvcGzJCshyphenhyphenDc8u6XXvyx-ZZ06OQUIoiVl08_jX9xXd6g/s1600-h/19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7MCzpYjQhHlsvRHBPOpQ3eawzdzVDKkPbbowks7b-LyaYsj4cNHVT1E4kW9Ag67AkpC10beBfyyuCFFvzdHOjgROI-2EJHNzvcGzJCshyphenhyphenDc8u6XXvyx-ZZ06OQUIoiVl08_jX9xXd6g/s400/19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363372057821111698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Couldn't do any of this without this guy. Love.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DKUbB13frnfjXsTCQLuyUz9xGTP6sT07PNngLMmtZOaghC5mlS43Xp0ZnGQWpKa7Q_j5WtwegcMvULZbkb-QAFLe4R40CDF89tzfKFMIBiIx5_UjAwZIOv-gCjcQpBR_g7ggS28TWEQ/s1600-h/20.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DKUbB13frnfjXsTCQLuyUz9xGTP6sT07PNngLMmtZOaghC5mlS43Xp0ZnGQWpKa7Q_j5WtwegcMvULZbkb-QAFLe4R40CDF89tzfKFMIBiIx5_UjAwZIOv-gCjcQpBR_g7ggS28TWEQ/s400/20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363372055395910770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lene (Mielle's best friend) ran with Claudia (her mom) in the last little stretch.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhNRfzhKorn1u3isKk3nBxOwgno0Mw2XzCzhvGOlQlxbrRx1vZ9glMbLkeZXkSAmivVhA7SiEp3-jRVwd3_sGZWboDGKgDPvDNF-PEH_wLoJVIGovGoiGbOjWegYu9lsrxv-izWd_W3M/s1600-h/21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhNRfzhKorn1u3isKk3nBxOwgno0Mw2XzCzhvGOlQlxbrRx1vZ9glMbLkeZXkSAmivVhA7SiEp3-jRVwd3_sGZWboDGKgDPvDNF-PEH_wLoJVIGovGoiGbOjWegYu9lsrxv-izWd_W3M/s400/21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363371036275387586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Claudia was on cloud nine, seriously - the highest runner's high ever in history, I do believe! She'd been in serious doubt as to whether she could finish - but she DID - because she is a Serious BadAss!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbFarSmx_i0JcwrurwuovJ-7oEtAmcimniPnYacAzRZcf5khv6ieBtyPTHyzspObjCOqS-8TFsp_O2W08PIBHuw6yNu2lyxv0Ac4o8M7gAXtU97gDrVVIH4FA-XVt5qsXW7Q8gXbP-QQ/s1600-h/3719922431_3cbb0454bf.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbFarSmx_i0JcwrurwuovJ-7oEtAmcimniPnYacAzRZcf5khv6ieBtyPTHyzspObjCOqS-8TFsp_O2W08PIBHuw6yNu2lyxv0Ac4o8M7gAXtU97gDrVVIH4FA-XVt5qsXW7Q8gXbP-QQ/s400/3719922431_3cbb0454bf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363378419953773266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I pity the fool that tries to swipe HER medal!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOKAubSpkhmUcP7WuTF7uEou5XGA1bJSj_DgqiWwLEDSYqbFdXtJLlSvtEcpt9J2utI-YGBDYNX-thYrd2oatfwOb2wdeCROAQ9dXGgbuPsf5yxTuplFb4r6YkXOiHFtPGqtLZadT18E/s1600-h/23.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOKAubSpkhmUcP7WuTF7uEou5XGA1bJSj_DgqiWwLEDSYqbFdXtJLlSvtEcpt9J2utI-YGBDYNX-thYrd2oatfwOb2wdeCROAQ9dXGgbuPsf5yxTuplFb4r6YkXOiHFtPGqtLZadT18E/s400/23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363371022342425826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBuOd4KaEiqfEhZ2qWrLvjjj6luxKptPSqikDbwBE7tLdkOnBZtPSh3C0nbSkICbm0_v83eQN3Nj5YRZIK75cKdPMryoY_VYNfHronpg2IDVpJybLR90BBefNX6kRKQDuwCtRsaW1h-I/s1600-h/24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBuOd4KaEiqfEhZ2qWrLvjjj6luxKptPSqikDbwBE7tLdkOnBZtPSh3C0nbSkICbm0_v83eQN3Nj5YRZIK75cKdPMryoY_VYNfHronpg2IDVpJybLR90BBefNX6kRKQDuwCtRsaW1h-I/s400/24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363371019834324994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBc1YtTP9H6eznaIvgk2CdFto28xKxr3WnNzDVcI5dMdRzPmNSPRQyTTo2BKMO723gT6PVXfrKPKVki68gGuIIECc1QBa7-8HyQPkcaaaZBQRiSAk1GuEiv2xznVyyrL2BYFzvF-SFoE8/s1600-h/25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBc1YtTP9H6eznaIvgk2CdFto28xKxr3WnNzDVcI5dMdRzPmNSPRQyTTo2BKMO723gT6PVXfrKPKVki68gGuIIECc1QBa7-8HyQPkcaaaZBQRiSAk1GuEiv2xznVyyrL2BYFzvF-SFoE8/s400/25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363371037593600210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Triumphant ladies. You are all wonderful, and amazing, and I love you!<br /><br />Soooooo, when's the next race? : )Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-16829297237269173832009-06-07T18:25:00.001-07:002009-06-07T18:27:31.842-07:00Yeah, Baby!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVD0asKCAoEyZVI4rZW98p_9G1c755rjb3dGGLuWh_S6ax7U_q6XtfnzcaRL84XFjWhqzzjaH1Y-INY5bxtI5jtND9MsoPVkcj-vvcGiMn0SQH-6pUDVxfF88vBaJG_0OazuXlGr1iX-0/s1600-h/Medal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 375px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVD0asKCAoEyZVI4rZW98p_9G1c755rjb3dGGLuWh_S6ax7U_q6XtfnzcaRL84XFjWhqzzjaH1Y-INY5bxtI5jtND9MsoPVkcj-vvcGiMn0SQH-6pUDVxfF88vBaJG_0OazuXlGr1iX-0/s400/Medal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344762007137065986" border="0" /></a><br /><br />(it seems that we are all a bit too tuckered out to write about is just yet, but meanwhile...here's the short version....)Clødhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03776988390304477099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3365028687650244343.post-71959431405871196822009-05-29T21:44:00.000-07:002009-05-29T21:47:39.211-07:00We're Gonna Rock It!<span style="font-style: italic;">by Debamitra</span><br /><br />I just read Suzy's recent blog and wanted to add that YES we are going to rock it in whatever way we can:) I know I can speak for all of us when I say no matter what happens tomorrow, just the journey to get here as been amazing. I realized I could do something that I never in a million years thought I could do and in the process I also got to meet some amazing women and build friendships. But that's it about me. Everything else is about the cause we are running for and what it means to Suzy and her family. I am glad that we could help out in this way Suzy!<br /><br />Good night and see you all tomorrow bright and early!Suzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00119996605293345992noreply@blogger.com1