Thank you!!!!

Thank you to everyone who supported me this year for the March for Babies! The weather on Saturday was very cold and extremely windy, making the run more challenging... but it went very well. I expected to walk some of it since I haven't been doing any long training runs, but ended up running all 12 just fine. If my back hadn't been screaming at me I'd have been great! I definitely could feel that I wasn't running alone, and I'm sure I had help from a few angels.
I raised $1550.00 this year for the March of Dimes, $550 more than my original goal.
I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate your support!!!!

3 Below

Well, it's a balmy 3 degrees below zero today.

I just got an email about a 5k on New Year's day...I am hoping to run it. My plan will be to work on speeding up my pace this month so I can keep up with my running partner and set a new personal best for that distance. I've been running really slowly for months now, because I've lost all ambition to go fast or long.

St Nick came last night for Libby and Amelia...they were pretty excited. Libby is SO excited for Christmas that this was huge for her. She also has an advent calendar that we open each morning. It's from Starbucks (I know, not the most traditional...) and has little drawers for each day. Inside is a piece of chocolate, and after you open each one you turn it around and put it back in. There is a little bit of a picture on each one, so it shows a little more of the whole picture each day.

I swear that Amelia gets more fun and sweet each day lately. I think it's due to her constant growth in vocabulary, so she can express herself with much less frustration. It's so much fun.

I got my new website last night! I am so excited to have a really nice website for the business...it should be up and running (with the same URL... www.SoulReflectionPhotography.com ) within a week or so. Yay!!!!! It will be so much easier for my clients and I because there is a client proofing section as well as a shopping cart, so all of their viewing and ordering can be done right there. The site I've been using has caused nothing but frustration and confusion since I started using it.

I am in Milwaukee today for work and am anxious to get home so I can run and then get started on the site. I am forcing myself to run first, because being very OCD I know that I'd get working on the site and not be able to stop and run. I suppose I'll run on the treadmill, since it's negative three degrees. I love running outdoors in the Winter...it's my favorite time of year to run outdoors. But when it's less than ten I just stay in on the treadmill unless I'm running with Jo.

Things have slowed down now with photography, since the holiday photo season is wrapping up. I'm enjoying the slow time, but am anxious to do a few more sessions with my new camera, which I LOVE. If you want a REALLY good camera get the Canon 40D :)

Things I Learned on my trip to Ohio

It has been a very enlightening trip today.... I'm sharing what I learned today in hopes that it will improve your life.

1. Brandy in the sippy cup keeps the kids asleep--good when you need to get up at 4:30am for a flight.

2. If you must fly into Detroit (God forbid) do it early in the morning on a clear and sunny day, preferably from the North. When the sun hits the ground it reflects brightly off of all of the cars' reflectors and makes an amazing display of amber, red, green, and blue. It's truly incredible. It looked a giant Lite Bright game. It is the only time I've seen Detroit look beautiful. Fortunately I remembered to take my seizure meds this morning...otherwise all of that flashing would have had me doing the crappy-flop. (that's crappy like the fish, pronounced 'croppy')

3. Spending more time on the tarmac in a hot plane than you do in the air totally sucks-ass....and it's harder than one might think to work "suck-ass" into five separate conversations in one day. Even when challenged to by antagonizing co-workers.....Mr Richardson.....

4. Don't like running hills? Don't run in Akron...ever. For reals. I nearly died in my worn-out running shoes after running four miles. (even though I ran the first two miles with a charming young pilot from Idaho....which, I will admit, both made those two miles easier because of the distraction and nearly killed me due to running too fast in an effort to conceal the truth--that I'm a slow and uncoordinated runner)

5. It's acceptable (if not encouraged) to smoke marajuana at bus stops in downtown Akron. I think I only made it through the end of my run because the contact high numbed the pain.

6. Need an upgrade on your hotel room? Call the front desk and tell them that there was poop smeared on the toilet seat when you got into your room. They treat you real well after that and give you a room with a jacuzzi. Trust me, I know. And I didn't even have to lie about the poop.

7. Forget number 4? As a result your legs are not working? Easy fix. See number 6. Hot water and powerful jets cure all that aches you.

Happy Labor Day!

I hope everyone is having a fun holiday weekend! We took a trip to the little zoo nearby yesterday and had a lot of fun, except for Libby's first bee sting. Amelia was happy to see the monkeys, since they are, after all, her next of kin. Libby said that her favorite animal at the zoo was 'all of them'. I was personally most impressed by the 1100 pound pig...yes, I said eleven hundred. He is going for the state record, which is only a hundred pounds off. Last time we saw him (last year) we thought he was huge, and he was about half his current size.
I'm still quite sick...bad cough and sinus pressure. I haven't been able to run in a week...and it doesn't look promising for the next few days, either. I have the half marathon at the end of the month, and I'm so undertrained..........

We just dropped Chris off about 45 minutes away. He's kayaking to the van which is parked at his end point, and anticipates that it will take about 6 hours. I get very nervous when he goes by himself, but I'm thrilled that he's finally getting out on the water for a good paddle.

Some photos from the zoo and of playing with bubbles are below, and on the Soul Reflection blog there are lots of fun nature images that I took yesterday when I was scouting the location of the wedding I'm shooting on Friday.

Faceplant Photos

Well, the photos do not do the faceplant justice...her bangs cover the big one on her forehead and the ones on her cheek got better overnight. The scab on the left side (your right) of her nose is the only visible one. But you get the idea. And one of Chumley for fun...and had better include one of Libby, too, to be fair.

I'm running long-ish tomorrow morning with Jo. Probably about eight miles. I'm fighting off a bad cough so we'll see.

Libby and Amelia went to the doctor this morning. Libby has Strep Throat and Monkey seems to just have a bad cough. They are sending in a culture just to be sure, though. I'm coughing and both my throat and Chris' are sore...but that could be our imaginations getting to us. :)

Hello Chicago!!

Well, I'm on my last leg of the trip. I'm in Chicago and will fly home late this afternoon/early evening. I can't wait to see my family :)
I ran four miles by O'Hare this morning in extremely humid weather. Ouch for the lungs, otherwise good.

SO it's been a weird 12 hours.... I came home from dinner and took of my shoes and went over by the head of the bed to discover a wet floor. Gross. We stay in very nice hotels, so this was odd. Had it been Mo's Highway Motel it would be expected. Then, I kept hearing weird noises...no biggie, it's a hotel you know? As I was working, laying on the bed, I kept feeling like something was brushing up against my leg, but nothing was there. When I went to bed at 11pm I turned off the tv and closed my eyes. About fifteen minutes later the tv turned on by itself. Eeeeek. I didn't sleep all that well.

Edited to add: I got out of the shower and grabbed my towel...and thanks to my OCD behavior checked it over before using it...thankfully, since I found a short curly black hair (you know the ones) stuck to it.

Edited AGAIN to add: I forgot one more thing...when I was out running at 6am, I came across a large puddle. So i tiptoed around it on the curb. In the middle of the tiptoeing, however, a car drove by and sent up a splash all over me..the likes only seen in movies.

Hello Minneapolis!

I had my first on-site visit with one of my accounts today in Cleveland. Now I'm in a hotel room in Minneapolis, ready for my next visit tomorrow...then off to Chicago tomorrow afternoon for one more on Thursday. So far, so good! I'm glad that things are really starting to get going with my new job.
Chris' parents are taking both girls for the weekend...Chris and I are planning on riding our bikes to Madison to hang out, as long as the weather holds out. We're excited to get out for a ride and have some 'us' time!
Ran about three miles in downtown Cleveland this morning...and got lost. :) It was fun, though :)

Three States, Three Days, Five Flights

I'm writing from the airport in Cleveland...first stop on my whirlwind tour of the Midwest. I'm meeting my boss-man in baggage claim, as he's joining me on these first three visits to my accounts. Tomorrow I'll fly to Minneapolis and then on to Chicago after that. I'm excited to be getting into the meat of the new job!
I shot a wedding on Saturday and am very happy with the results. I put 12 of my favorites so far up on the Soul Reflection blog if you'd like to see.
Ran eight miles yesterday with Jo (on her birthday...she's now as old as me) and it was HARD for me. Seriously, I'm really struggling on runs lately. We made the big decision to take next year off of marathons. After three marathons, I need a break to get inspired once again. Instead of training for the super long race, we're going to focus on mid-distance events like 15Ks. I'll still do the half-marathon next month but after that it will be a change of pace (literally) as we go for a little more speed and shorter distances. Maybe that will get me excited about running again...

Missing: a runner's ambition and drive. Reward for safe return

This happened last Summer, too. By this I mean losing my dedication and ambition regarding running. I have no interest in running long. I ran eight on Sunday and it went well, but I didn't want to do it. I don't want to run during the week, either. I do it, but it feels more like drudgery. It's burnout. I'm sure of it. Last year after my marathon I had no interest in running...no ambition...no drive. After months of running really, really long runs (15-20 miles on Sundays) even eight miles seems daunting. I'd rather just sit around and eat. Isn't that supposed to happen in the Winter, not Summer? I'm doing well with eating well and concentrating on Project Tenspot, but I'm not very happy about it. Maybe I'll feel better about it on Friday when I weigh (it had better be down a few). I don't know what's up. I have my half marathon next month and I don't even really feel like running it.
Someone, please, find my drive and ambition and return it? There will be a hefty reward.


I have been extremely busy with work lately...the new job is picking up (and going well) and I've been crazy busy with photography sessions. I did a newborn session that I'm happy with on Saturday...There are two posts with photos from it on my SoulReflection Blog if you're interested. :)

I just checked my running log and since I started keeping track in January 2006, I've run 1,015.83 miles. That is pretty unimpressive. I feel like a big lazy blob! :)

MIA

I haven't posted to my blog in ages! I think it's been over a week....unprecedented! I was on the road for business all of last week, and I shot a wedding last weekend. So once I was done with work each day I'd move on to the grandiose project of proofing all of the wedding photos. I'm nearly done...I think I only have the ceremony left to do. I'm shooting another wedding in a couple of weeks, so I need to get this done and move on to the next one! THEN I have another wedding about three weeks after that one. I think that's it then.

I totally wimped out on my long run this weekend. I was planning on running 10 miles on Sunday, but was so tired and feeling wiped out that I skipped it all together. I'm not proud of that. Today I'll try and run 6 or 7 to make up for it a bit, then I'm on to three weekday runs and one long run on the weekend. Today marks day one of Project Tenspot. This is a high importance project I'm working on....to lose ten pounds. I'd like to pull it off within two months. I think I've managed to gain a few, so want to lose those and a handful more. So far, so good today...but I need to learn to embrace the growling stomach feeling again!!!

I'm going to post a few of the wedding photos on the Soul Reflection Blog sometime today...so if you're interested in seeing, pop on over there.

Dungeon Runnin'

I ran eight miles outside on Sunday and it was hard. I did them fast (for me) and alone. My asthma was horrible and I spent the entire run wheezing and making noises which scared away baby bunnies and squirrels. I usually do longer runs with Jo, which makes it easier since she can tie a rope around my waist and drag me along behind her. I asked a few people along the way if they could try the rope technique, but they declined (while running away). I made it home that day, immediately falling into a dripping, limping, wheezing heap.
Yesterday was a rest day (except for the recently reinstated ab work) thankfully, since I was feeling a bit like Jello brand gelatin in a glass bowl on a skateboard on a 7.5 % incline...well decline.
Today I was still feeling sore in my left knee, right quad, and tight in both calves. Unfortunately I was scheduled for five miles. There is also the week-long headache to further complicate things.
I forced myself to get on the dreaded hamster wheel in the dungeon. I could not find my inhaler but I ran anyway...don't tell Chris or my doctor.
Managed to suffer through the five miles, the now-familiar noises escaping from my lungs. This time, however, there were no horrified small mammals. Instead I saw centipedes, spiders, mice, and dust bunnies running for their little lives. Doesn't running five miles in place in a dungeon sound like a blast???? Like, for sure...it was totally rad!!
It's been four hours now, and I think I'm nearly done sweating. And I figure that my legs should start holding me up without the broomsticks duct taped to them within a couple of hours.

Glamour Shots

I still haven't been running. My lungs are just now starting to clear up, after three weeks of nastiness. I haven't run since the two times in Orlando 1.5 weeks ago. I'm obsessing about how I'm feeling like a big tub o' lard and am dying to run off the OCD and some of the tub. Hopefully tomorrow.

I have been focusing so much on developing my natural light photography that I've not touched my studio lights for months. I thought I'd spend a little time in my basement studio to knock the dust off.
Here is Chris' Glamour Shots-style portrait....



















And a couple of the dogs. Chumley, the Golden Retriever, is 10 1/2 years old and Holly, the Black Lab, is 4 1/2.

Mickey Says Hi

I'm in Orlando at the Premier Breakthroughs Conference...the big annual conference for my new employer. We are right on the Disney grounds, and the hotel is beautiful. It's great to see everyone again and meet more new people. I feel much more comfortable at these meetings now that I'm truly a Premier employee. I'm hoping to meet some of my accounts while I'm here, too.
Tomorrow morning I'm starting the day with a run outside on the grounds, and Friday morning (AT 5:30 am!!) I am running the 5K that is included in the conference. Im a little worried because of my cough, so I'll take it slowly tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be good for the 5K!

Getting Back on Track

Last week was my first week back running since the marathon. I took two weeks off to recover. I only did two short runs last week, however...easing back in and testing out the legs. This week I'm trying to ease back towards my normal training routine. I'm doing the Half Marathon again in September, so need to keep motivated. Tonight was four miles. I'll be shooting for three weekday runs of 4-6 miles and a weekend long run with Jo. This week is 10 miles, and we'll usually be somewhere from 9-13 miles for a while. It feels good to get back into it. I always start feeling a little lost and unfocused without running. Makes me wonder what I did before I started three years ago!!!

I mailed in my signed offer letter today, so it's all official! I start my new job on July 9, after taking a week off in between jobs. I'm at the annual conference next week, though, so I'll get a little taste of it then. I'll be meeting many of my future accounts while I'm there.

Chris is sick and stayed home today...sore throat, groggy, headache.... Libby has been coughing... and now my throat hurts and am coughing. That's just great, huh? I need to start taking a daily multi-vitamin and Airbornes!!

Libby The Marathon Winner

We pushed ourselves as hard as possible....but we couldn't catch Libby. She beat us by 3.3687 seconds. Maybe next year.

2007 Green Bay Marathon Race Report

The following is loosely based on the real life events of two nearly-elite runners surrounding the completion of their second Green Bay Marathon, as told by Reb (one of the two nearly-elites).

Saturday:
Jo arrived at my house on Saturday afternoon to collect me and drive to the pre-race expo and packet pick-up at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. When I opened her car door I was knocked back by an avalanche of debri, tumbling off of her passenger seat. I pulled myself up off of the concrete, with only a few scratches on my arms and face from the accident. Jo quickly tossed the piles of unread mail and half-eaten food into her backseat, where the mice attacked the granola bars with glee. Unfortunately there was still too much dirt and crumbs for my delicate behind, so we retreated to The Hornet (my yellow Vue).

The weather was threatening. The sky was black. Wind howled. Horizontal rain pelted The Hornet. A few close calls and many prayers later, we arrived at the historic home of the frozen tundra and abandoned The Hornet.

People came to the expo in full dress. Two men in tuxedos. A woman in a shiny satin gown. Another young woman in a flowing white gown fit for a bride. Glancing down at our casual dress, we blushed and lowered our eyes sheepishly to the ground. A photographer captured images of the four appropriately-dressed people on the steps of the stadium as we shuffled past them and into the expo.

Upon entering Lambeau’s atrium Jo and I made our way to the packet pick-up area and got our race bibs and timing chips. Next we made our way to the chip activation station, picked up our t-shirts and goody bags, and headed into the throngs of formally-dressed racers to hit the expo. I was in search of a long-sleeved running shirt. I was going to need it for the race. We found my shirt at the first booth…a bright pink and orange baseball-style technical shirt. Totally Reb. I was going to look CUTE laying face down in the street at mile 23.

We saw lots of interesting people…the 1% body fat short-haired women who look remarkably man-like…the people who wear all of their running gear to the expo (are they trying to intimidate people? Make people see how ‘serious’ they are? Look like they ran to and from the expo? Think that sports bras and nylon Nair-short shorts make them look sexy?)…the people offering spine scans and massages on the floor….But the most remarkable was without question…….

….the incredible seven-foot-tall farting man.

I’ll try and get through this for you, because I think you will be entertained, but it will be painful and emotionally draining. Please forgive me if I start to mumble or cry out.

Jo and I were walking down the center aisle of the expo behind a very, very tall man. He may have been wearing a dress. I don’t know. I looked over at the strange beaded jewelry on the table next to us and then it happened. The seven-foot-tall man farted in my mouth. I turned to Jo, who was safely tucked behind me, my face green and stomach heaving. “What?” she gasped. I couldn’t talk. “Ohmygod” Jo hissed, “He farted in your mouth, didn’t he?” Before we risked taking another breath, she grabbed my arm and pulled me to safety. Thank God for caring running partners.

We left the stadium in a rush, searching for fresh air and noodles. We found both at Noodles & Co, where we gorged ourselves on noodles of the Far East and diet soda.

We parted ways Saturday evening, going home to prepare our gear, pin on our race bibs, and get to bed.


Sunday:
My alarm went off at 5:00 am. I stumbled out of bed and made my call to Jo, making sure that she was up and nearly ready to go. Sounding stressed and slightly frantic, she told me that she had pinned her race bib to her stomach by accident and couldn’t get it off. I talked her down and told her that I’d cut the pins off with our wire snip when she got to my house.

To my amazement, Jo had spent four hours emptying her car and laying paper towels and Saran Wrap on the passenger seat so I could sit down without incident. (or maybe it was in case I peed my pants in a state of nervous panic…)

As we’d been told, there were to be only 2,000 parking spots for over 6,000 participants. We were both very concerned about finding parking and making it to the starting line on time. Exiting the highway, we made it a mere few blocks before traffic slowed to a standstill. I heard Jo’s respiration speed, saw her hands begin to shake and eye begin to twitch…. “Get into the right lane!” I barked. She questioned me, “but we need to go to the left up there!” I urged her to trust me, and we dove into the other line, flying past block after block of runner-filled cars. Finally we approached the stadium entrance. Jo tried to pull into the long line of cars, but I grabbed the wheel and pulled it to the right. Screaming, Jo skidded around the corner and we headed in the wrong direction…towards the convention center. After convincing her to perform an illegal u-turn, we rolled up to the stoplight, crossed the street, waved to those waiting in the long line to turn left, and pulled into the parking lot. Tricky, tricky, tricky. It is just this sort of inventiveness and agility that would make us compete with the elites.

Inside the Lambeau atrium once again, we made our way to the bathroom before heading for the starting line. It was a long wait, but we used the time to stretch and get to know some of the other runners. Walking into the bathroom, finally, you could smell the nervousness. Literally. We got in and out as fast as humanly possible, and nearly passed out from holding our breath.

The weather was brutal. Temperatures in the low 40’s and a strong wind. Jo and I walked to the starting line and then kept walking…and walking…and walking…until we found the starting area designated for the elite runners. I thought it was funny that the elites had to start in the area marked “5 Hours” but shrugged and jumped into the crowd. A gentleman to our right told his running partner that he had a really hard time getting that timing chip down…he had gagged and choked a couple of times before successfully swallowing it. We commented that he may have a harder time getting it out….

Next was the official false start. When you are an elite and start at the back of the pack, there is always a delay after the starting gun. The gun fires, the crowd cheers, and then….nothing. Moments later another cheer and we take a few steps forward…then a collective “whoa” and we stop…repeat three times, then start for real.

We are proud of, and impressed by, the people who have the gumption to walk the entire marathon. But PLEASE, walkers….PLEASE can you start at the back of the pack, behind the runners, and stay to the side of the road??? It is so frustrating to get caught behind walkers during the first mile of the race when you are already weaving and bobbing constantly, trying to find a free spot in which to run.

As always, Jo and I talked to lots of runners during the race. We love to laugh and joke throughout the event, making it fun for us and the other elites we run with. Those Kenyan guys are real pranksters, but we give them a run for their money in more ways than one.

A couple miles into the marathon we met a couple of middle aged gentlemen running their first marathon. We talked about training and strategy and chatted. Then we left them behind as we pushed forward. About a half mile later we came up on those guys again, making a comment about lapping them. Chatted for a while again and took off. Another mile down the road we came up on them once again, making the same joke about lapping them and encouraging them to hurry up. They said that they were taking it easy and enjoying the scenery. With that, I slapped my ass, said, “yeah, you just like this scenery” and we took off, listening to their laughter falling into the distance. We never saw them again.

Several miles later we came upon an older man, probably pushing 60. We talked with him a bit and he commented that he needed some angel kisses to get him through. I told him that if we finished at about the same time I’d give him a kiss. He agreed, said, “thanks, Angel” and we parted ways.

We saw lots of strange people throughout the race…the half-marathoner dressed as a sheep, the disabled man (possibly minor CP or a stroke victim) who does a very fast semi-paralyzed shuffle in shiny American flag shorts who we see during every marathon (he told me that he’s run over thirty marathons), the cow guy who wears everything Holstein, and other characters of every shape and size. We did not see Barefoot Bob this year, unfortunately. I’m still trying to get over that pain.

There are always long lines at the porta-johns. Therefore, there are always a lot of men running off into the bushes on the side of the road. Usually they run in at least several feet, so that they are somewhat hidden. One man, however, who was running in sandals by the way, decided that it was fine to simply stand facing the bushes and pee right on the side of the road. It was really gross and everyone was commenting on it. Soon afterwe saw an opening in the woods and went for it. We ran off of the course, sprinted into the woods and found a private-ish spot, dropped trou, and let ‘er fly. Jo had a bit of a wardrobe malfunction, but said ‘what the hell’ and we ran back out, arms stretched above head, inspiring cheers of several female racers.

We ran a few feet behind a short and squat man for a couple of miles. He must have been a cop because he knew most of the officers along the course. He’d yell out and get a high five or a fist-bump. After he got a fist bump from one particular cop, I ran over with my fist extended, yelling, ‘don’t forget about me!’. He looked at me with a look of complete confusion and fright, paused, then slowly raised his fist to mine. I had scared the crap out of him, and it’s a wonder I didn’t get shot.

The cramping started somewhere around mile 14. For me it was a constant cramp from everything from glutes to calves. Jo’s alternated between muscles, keeping her guessing. The cold and wind definitely contributed to this phenomenon. My hands were freezing through the entire race, and there were times I actually shivered while running. The weather was definitely a major contributor to making this marathon my toughest so far.

Chris and the girls waited for us at two spots during the last half of the race, and then again at the finish line. Each time I saw The Hornet off in the distance I told Jo, “there’s Chris…stand up straight, try to keep your mouth closed, and do your best to look like you’re not dying for the photos”. I think we did pretty well…Team Dingo (We are members of Team Dingo, the most impressive and accomplished running club of mothers on the planet.) members who saw the photos say that we look like we had only run around the block a couple of times.

At some point we hooked up with the 4:45 pace team and hung with them for many miles. We walked through each aid station in order to get the Gatorade down, and then she blew her whistle and called for a roar. And each time, Jo and I howled like the Dingos we are. After about mile twenty we fell back and let 4:45 lady vanish into the distance. They needed our help no longer.

The last six miles were tough. I would not say that we hit the wall. We haven’t yet. But it was tough. A struggle. A true test. It was sheer will that kept us moving forward during those last miles. Our legs were cramped, we were cold, exhausted, and….quiet. That is not normal for us. When we turned onto the last street of the course, a spectator (or was it a cop) told us that there was only one more turn. We ran a couple of blocks and then the stadium came into view. We were within a mile of the finish. A guy at the 25 mile aid station offered us beads. I did not have the energy to flash him, so passed them up.

We turned into the parking lot of the stadium and headed for the player entrance. Ran the familiar route through the tunnel and out onto Lambeau Field. Jo said, “and now a lap for Owen”, I said a few words to him and we took off around the track. I had chills and knew without any doubt that my father was running with me. I could feel him there.

Running back through the tunnel and out into the parking lot, we could see the finish line. We waved to our families, gave some high fives, joined hands, and ran as hard as we could. The announcer called out our names on the loudspeaker and we got lots of cheers.

Libby came running up to me full of excitement, yelling, “mommy, Santa Claus knew your name and said, ‘here come Berecca Klich and Jo Phillip’!!!!! She swore that it was Santa who announced our finish and was AMAZED that he knew our names.

A photographer took our finish line photo, we got our medals, and staggered over to have our timing chips cut off. We started to walk off to meet Chris and the girls and Jo’s sister and the EIGHT kids she brought along with her without help. Jo said, “you’ve got some kissing to do” and I saw our older friend who I promised to kiss at the finish. He smiled, stood up, and I gave him a big kiss on the cheek and a hug. He had popsicles stuck down each shoe and was looking pretty rough, but he was smiling….and he finished before us. As we walked away, a paramedic came up to check on him, but he claimed that he was fine.

Official finish time: 5hours, zero minutes. Average pace of 11:27 minutes per mile. Although my Garmin said that we actually ran 26.62 (all of the weaving back and forth in the first five miles and the run into the woods added up) miles with an average pace of 11:18 minutes per mile.

Both of us are sore, but neither is injured. Last year I hurt my hip and knee, wound up in physical therapy, and was unable to run for a couple of months. Three days post marathon I am walking fairly normally. I had no chaffing and only one small blister under my toe. Unfortunately, my flu from last week returned with a vengeance and I spent last night violently vomiting and until moments ago hadn’t eaten in 30 hours. I left work after two hours and slept for six hours straight, until the Chris and the girls came home. I’m still feeling rough, but I think I’m on the mend.

Jo and I decided during the race that we would not run Green Bay next year. Instead, we will pick a different marathon each year…starting out with a different race in the state (maybe Madison or Milwaukee or up North somewhere), then a different one in the region (maybe Chicago?)…then somewhere really fun like the Rock N Roll marathon in California. I plan to run the half marathon at the Fox Cities Marathon in September, but who knows…maybe I’ll run the full. We’ll see!!

Marathon Girls

We did it!!!!

Jo and I finished the Green Bay Marathon in 5:00 flat. We missed our personal best by four minutes, but that's still good! I had the flu most of the week and we've both had a MILLION things going on in the last month (both of us closed on the sale of our houses, etc), so we did better than I had expected. Plus, the weather was brutal. Very cold and very windy. My legs were completely cramped up from mile 14 to 26.2....well, they still are......
I'll do a complete marathon report tomorrow, but here are some photos that Chris took today :)

T Minus 10 hours

Ten hours from this moment I will be nervously standing in the parking lot of Lambeau Field, staring down the starting line of the Green Bay Marathon.
...well, I suppose I'll actually be staring down the back of some dude in Nair-short nylon running shorts and neon green racing singlet.....
And I won't really be standing...it will be more of a bounce-and-rock manuever reminiscent of Rainman missing Wapner.
Oh, yeah...and I'll be verging on losing my cheerios and coffee.

The race starts at 7:00 am, which means that Jo and I will be on the road well before 6:00. Apparently there are only 2,000 parking spots for 6,000 runners. The starting line and finish line take up a lot of the Lambeau parking lot, which eats up a lot of stalls. They are anticipating major parking issues. I think I'm more nervous about finding parking and getting to the start on time than I am running 26.2 miles.

They are predicting that it will be 44 degrees at the start, and about 52 when we finish. AM clouds, afternoon sun. I bought a long sleeved running shirt today at the marathon expo, so I'll have something weather-appropriate to wear...plus it's super cute--bright pink and orange baseball style shirt.

So at least I'll look cute laying spread eagle in the middle of the road at mile 24.....

33 Hours and Counting....

33 hours until the starting gun of the Green Bay Marathon!!
I have had a stomach virus/flu thing all week (actually missed two days of work), so I'm a little concerned. We definitely won't be running for a new personal record this year. I just hope to finish as strong as possible.
You can track our progress with free automated text messages and/or emails if you go to the Green Bay Marathon website and sign up. They send updates every few miles letting you know where we are in the race :) you just need my bib number, which is 1724.
Wish me luck :)

The 12 Days of Marathoning

Twelve days until the Green Bay Marathon. I thought a song was necessary.

The Twelve Days of Marathoning
by Reb Klich

On the first day of marathoning my training run gave to me...
... a blister and a sore knee

On the second day of marathoning my training run gave to me...
...two coughs with crud... and a blister and a sore knee.

On the third day of marathoning my training run gave to me...
...three Vicoden... two coughs with crud, and a blister and a sore knee.

On the fourth day of marathoning my training run gave to me...
...four naughty words... three vicoden, two coughs with crud, and a blister and a sore knee.

on the fifth day of marathoning my training run gave to me...
...five sweaty things...four naughty words, three vicoden, two coughs with crud, and a blister and a sore knee.

on the sixth day of marathoning my training run gave to me...
...six socks decaying...five sweaty things...four naughty words, three vicoden, two coughs with crud, and a blister and a sore knee.

on the seventh day of marathoning my training run gave to me...
...seven dreams of winning...six socks decaying, five sweaty things...four naughty words, three vicoden, two coughs with crud, and a blister and a sore knee.

on the eight day of marathoning my training run gave to me...
...eight bouts of wheezing...seven dreams of winning, six socks decaying, five sweaty things...four naughty words, three vicoden, two coughs with crud, and a blister and a sore knee.


on the ninth day of marathoning my training run gave to me...
...nine cramps advancing...eight bouts of wheezing, seven dreams of winning, six socks decaying, five sweaty things...four naughty words, three vicoden, two coughs with crud, and a blister and a sore knee.


on the tenth day of marathoning my training run gave to me...
...ten wounds a-seeping...nine cramps advancing, eight bouts of wheezing, seven dreams of winning, six socks decaying, five sweaty things...four naughty words, three vicoden, two coughs with crud, and a blister and a sore knee.


on the eleventh day of marathoning my training run gave to me...
...eleven bursts of griping...ten wounds a-seeping, nine cramps advancing, eight bouts of wheezing, seven dreams of winning, six socks decaying, five sweaty things...four naughty words, three vicoden, two coughs with crud, and a blister and a sore knee.


on the twelfth day of marathoning my training run gave to me..
...twelve needs for outdoor plumbing...eleven bursts of griping, ten wounds a-seeping, nine cramps advancing, eight bouts of wheezing, seven dreams of winning, six socks decaying, five sweaty things...four naughty words, three vicoden, two coughs with crud, and a blister and a sore knee.