training schedule.

So I'm currently training for the Shamrock Shuffle here in Chicago. I can't wait. This race is such fun! There are SO MANY PEOPLE, but that's the fun part of it. I'm running with my best friend and we'll be knocking them dead!

The day after the shuffle, I start training for the 13.1 Chicago half marathon on 6/13. My friend Mandi worked her magic and persuaded me to train and run so I am...my 3rd half marathon. I'm super hopeful that my cousin Dana comes to run with me as well. It would be such fun!

And since I already have training on the brain, what's another 17 weeks...oh, that's right- just enough time to train for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon!! Yes, I have decided to run my first (and quite possibly, my last) marathon on 10/10.

gym bound.

In an effort to kick start my training, I have joined a local gym. I'm not crazy about the gym itself, but it has treadmills, weights and is 3 blocks away from my house. It also has several locations throughout the area so I can always take advantage of it somewhere! So I'm officially training for the Shamrock Shuffle- Hal Higdon style. Today's run is scheduled for after dinner...2 miles. Short and sweet. Like me. :)

My baby boy will be 10 months old tomorrow. My goodness- the first year of his life is passing like the blink of an eye. It seems like just yesterday I was staring into his eyes for the very first time. Now he's crawling all over the place, babbling up a storm and he's just mastered the art of clapping. Soon he'll be solving the world's problems. Speaking of which, my 3 year old will be doing that too. He just got a doctor set and Doctor Logan has been giving us shots and checking our blood pressure and declaring he will be a doctor one day. Wouldn't that be something?

new year, new me!!

Move over, 2009...welcome 2010!!
The start of a new decade. How incredible. The '00's were an amazing time for me. I met and married the love of my life, made a home with him and we welcomed 2 beautiful sons. The twenty-teens are going to be amazing and busy and I can't wait to see what the future brings!

This year I vow to:
- get back into running regularly. It's been rough to find time to run lately. With the snow and frigid temperatures, not to mention a treadmill that is still broken...ugh. Also, my 9 month old just stopped nursing and is still not sleeping through the night so it's been really hard for me to get back into a running schedule. Plus I'd like to up my miles, speed and endurance, so I'm coming up with a plan!

5k tomorrow.

My 2nd race of 2009 is tomorrow and I will be slow with a capital S. I haven't been able to get out there as often as I'd like and distance runs have been non-existent for me. But I'm running anyway- to challenge myself at the very least. Stay tuned for results!!

The date for the Shamrock Shuffle 2010 has been released...March 21! Yes! I will be there! And hopefully in one of the start corrals. I hope I still qualify!

Also, thanks to my friend Mandi, I will be running 13.1 Chicago in June. Just the kick in the rear to get motivation to start training again. Hopefully I'm in prime running condition by then!!!!

What is a post without an update on my 2 gorgeous, amazing kids. Logan is quite the handful these days. He's become quite assertive in his old age of 3 and won't take no for an answer. Of course. Meyer just turned 8 months and is on the verge of crawling. Watch out! I'm terrified of the day he becomes completely mobile. He will be into EVERYTHING. Such a curious little guy, so unlike his big brother. I will definitely be getting a run for my money with this one!

more fall running.

I ran outside this weekend...it was just gorgeous! A bit cool- perfect for acclimating my lungs to cold weather running. It wasn't a long run, only 2.3 miles, but it felt wonderful. And I ran my fastest since having my second baby- 9:58/mile!! That is pretty speedy for me, but I'm hoping to get speedier...and be able to run longer. What I really need to do is get myself awake before my kidlets wake up. That in itself is a chore. But right now, it looks like that's the only way I'll get back to a regular running schedule. Last week, I ran 3x. This week, I'm aiming for at least that- hopefully 4! I need to get out in the cold since my next 5K is scheduled for December 5. And since it looks like repairing the dreadmill is going to be pricy, outdoor running is really my only option right now.

In other news, we had an awesome weekend! We celebrated birthdays with my family at a nice dinner out last night. My boys were VERY well behaved- I was so proud!! I can't believe I'm 34. I don't FEEL 34, but when I look in the mirror or at pictures of myself, I can see the years looking right back at me. No better time to get back in the best shape of my life!!!!

fall is here!

So the summer has come and gone. And I only ran one race. But I should be cutting myself some slack- I need time to get back in the swing of things! I am getting older after all so it's taking me longer to build up endurance.

My treadmill is out of commission. I will be calling this week to get a technician out to fix it because I won't be doing much running with my kids in the BOB in the cold weather. And once my treadmill is working again, training can commence!

I have been doing a bit of running, but I'm really lacking in speed and distance. I think my treadmill really helped in those departments- I'm anxious to get both back.

Stay tuned!

my first post-baby 5k.

So I ran my first race post-baby last Saturday. I have mixed emotions about my performance. Pride and disappointment, mainly. It was fun though...so I guess I should focus on that.

The race took place here in our town. We have an annual weekend fest and the Old Canal Days race is one of the events. We've lived here for years but this was the first year we've participated in the race. The race is at Dellwood Park which is a huge woodsy area with LOTS of hills. So I knew it was going to be a tough one. The race wasn't chip-timed so I thought I'd just run it for fun. My husband was running it with me. So were my sister-in-law and niece and this was their very first 5K. My decision to run was another impulsive one!! The story of my life. :)

I'd registered for the race the day before and the race started at 8:00a with packet pick-up ending at 7:45. Matt's brother and our nephew were going to keep an eye on the boys while we ran. We got to the park at 7:40a and picked up our packets. Found our family and then got ready to run!

We headed to the back of the pack. My sister-in-law was convinced she'd be the last to cross the finish line so we were in no rush. The gun went off and away we went! I saw Matt for about a block and that was the last I saw of him. I set off at an easy pace next to the girls and was good there for awhile and then I felt good and stepped it up a bit. The course was SO hilly. I'm not good with hills. I'd much rather run on flat terrain so I knew that my time would be off. That and the fact I hadn't run in 2 weeks and also that this was the first time I'd attempted 3+ miles in over a year!!

But I was doing great until I came to the mother of all hills. This one was probably at a 45 degree angle up and was gravel. I ran up it slowly and it took so much wind out of me that I had to slow down and walk to recover for a bit. I walked 2 times total during the race. Then I saw the finish line and willed myself to start running again and finish strong. So I did- at 33:27. Oh well. I can only get better from here!!

finding the time.

I've been back running for about 3 weeks now and was pretty impressed with the way my body has responded endurance wise. I'm at a 10:20 mile! Considering I've topped out at a 9:20 minute mile, that's darn good. I can't keep that pace for more than a few miles, but it's a start. I can only improve my performance!!

I've decided to run another 5K on 6/20. This will be just a fun run. I don't think it's even timed. I hope my husband runs with me- and my niece and sister-in-law are thinking about it too! The rest of the summer I plan to run easy races and just enjoy myself. I've got all the time in the world to start seriously training again, plus finding the time to run with 2 kids is not easy!

back in the game!

SO excited. I gave birth to my second son, Meyer, on March 27, 2009. I had an amazingly easy recovery and I got started running again yesterday on Mother's Day. It had been 10 months since my last run and boy, did it feel good! I was pretty slow...so I need to work on my speed. And my distance. Definitely not in race form yet but I don't think it will take long to get there! I haven't made any goal decisions yet. I'm thinking about a few races this summer, but I don't know what I'll be training for yet. I just think I need to get back into the swing of things first and then I'll have a better idea.

Just wanted to send a shout out to a running buddy. My friend Missy ran the Boston Marathon last month and ROCKED OUT!! I'm so proud and happy for her. I'm sure she's still riding the high!!

running on hold.

I have been totally MIA...both on my blog and in my running! The CDC is this weekend...and I'm not running- I didn't even train because I found out that I'm pregnant!! And I don't run while pregnant. Technically, I could- I'm in shape enough, but I'm scared to. My heart rate soars sky high as it is, and I don't want to jeopardize anything with my pregnancy. So I'm taking 9+ months off! It's been hard, but it gives me something to look forward to...getting back in shape post-baby!

For my next race, my sights are set on the Rock n Roll half marathon in Scottsdale in January, 2010. Woohoo! And maybe a few 5 and 8Ks to warm up leading to the race. Now if I can only convince my husband that we'll need a vacation then! :)

In Logan news- my son is amazing. He's 22 months old now, and is SO smart- constantly blowing my mind with the new things he does and says. He's a pro at stringing 2-3 words together now. He pretty much repeats anything we say, the little parrot. I can't believe he's going to be 2 in less than 2 months!! He's going to make an awesome big brother. We were at a meeting yesterday and there was a baby girl in her carrier and Logan kept going up to her and cooing and saying hi. Melted my heart. I can't wait. ;)

summer running!!

So it's been awhile. I've been totally slacking with updating my blog. I've been slacking with a lot of things, actually- but I've also been pretty busy with a few things. Helping my husband kick start his new business, getting more involved in a local mom's club I'm a member of, helping friends with wedding stuff...not to mention running a household and being a mom! Moms really are jacks of all trades. :)

I decided today that I'm going to run the Chicago Distance Classic half marathon on August 10!!! Another spontaneous decision...but at least I have 9 weeks of training ahead of me. I can do it- my goal is to beat my previous time. One day, it's going to become impossible to PR. But that's okay. My ambitions aren't set THAT high. I'm pretty happy with my running abilities now.

fox trot race report, etc.

My first disappointment regarding races was bound to happen sooner or later. And it did- at my 7th race. I thought 7 was supposed to be a lucky number?

I should start off by saying that I wasn't expecting much from this 5K. After the half mary up in Milwaukee, I had a heck of a time getting back into the swing of things with my running. I guess it took a lot out of me- with the less than ample training, race conditions, etc. I was doubtful that I could come in sub 30:00. But I was hopeful.

The weather was forecasted to be crappy once again. But once Matt and I got to Batavia, dropped off Logan at my friend's house and started walking to the race, it was surprisingly pleasant, but overcast. No rain, no wind...all in all decent conditions!

Things definitely started off on the wrong foot, no pun intended. ;) I had to go to the bathroom as soon as we got to the race, ran to the port-a-potty, and forgot to lock it. DUH. A man barged in on me. How embarrassing. Then I heard over the loudspeaker that the race was starting in 2 minutes. I ran back to the start line, find my husband and friend and then we're off. Ah, I guess I got in some warming up with the walk and mad dash for the bathroom! :)

The race took place along an asphalt trail along the Fox River. Matt immediately took off ahead of us while my friend and I jogged along behind the swarm of people trying to funnel from the street to a footbridge about half the width. That definitely took some wind out of our sails and added some time to the clock. The first mile (9:52 on my watch) was another game of Frogger, but eventually things thinned out and we were able to find our pace. Gorgeous scenery, but I was a little preoccupied with my breathing and keeping pace with my friend. She's quick! Around mile 2 (9:03 on my watch) I motioned for my friend to go ahead and she took off and ended up about 20 seconds ahead of me, and that was after she had to stop to tie her shoe! I finally saw the finish line and the clock and stepped it up to finish strong. I looked at my time as I crossed the finish line and was amazed to see 28:40. My quickest 5K yet! But I forgot to stop my watch right there...I didn't stop it till after we grabbed snacks and water and started back up the street. 29:52. But that's okay- the time at the finish line was the one I'd remember!

I was on cloud nine...until we got home and I saw my time posted. :( 29:45. How could that be? So right there, the race turned into a big disappointment...but in my mind, I still accomplished a PR.

As for the other things going on in my life- it's been busy! Logan is just absolutely amazing me with his abilities. He says SO many things now. Yesterday, he said "Bye-bye, da" so he's starting to string 2 words together. When I count one, two, three- Logan says the two and three right along with me! His new favorite book is Chicka, Chicka ABC and he gets an absolute kick out of the Boom, Boom part. ;) He's having fun with friends and playdates, and I'm getting more involved in a local group here in town so we'll have a summer full of fun, the park, the pool, walks, nature...and hopefully more family time with both mom AND dad. :)

my 2nd half.

South Shore Half Marathon, Milwaukee, WI
April 12, 2008

<---me, trying to keep it together in the last 1/2 mile!

(thanks for the pictures, Missy!)

So my 2nd half marathon has been completed. I was SO nervous about this race. Mostly because my training was really not up to speed to complete a half. But with my consistent running over the past 6 months, I wanted to give it a shot. So I did!

This race was in Milwaukee, WI and I started my journey at 4:55 am on Saturday, April 12. As usual, I set everything out the night before, except for my bib- as I was registering when I got to the race site. I poured myself a big travel mug of coffee, made sure I had an energy bar and a banana and plenty of water and I left. In the rain. It was drizzly/rainy the entire 1 1/2 hour drive up to the race site (I made great time) and I was really dreading the weather. I'd never run in rain before and I wasn't sure how my feet would handle soaking wet socks/shoes...but it turns out that the rain should have been the least of my worries!

I arrived at the race site in plenty of time...and scored a prime parking spot. I brought a lot of gear up but ended up wearing my "uniform": my UA capris, pink NikeFit longsleeve, fleece vest, beanie, gloves and visor (to keep the rain out of my face). I also put on an old windbreaker, but ended up leaving it in the car because it was too bulky. Looking back, I should have worn it. I headed into register and was totally inspired by all the energy of my fellow runners!! I waited for Missy (she'd told me she was shooting to be at the race site by 8:00a), stretched a little, pinned my bib on and just took in my surroundings.

Missy arrived and we chatted until race time. She's a sweetheart! We were off- and about a minute later Missy headed off into the pack...a few minutes later I looked behind me and I was in the very back of the pack. I started to feel a little overwhelmed and my confidence started shaking. Maybe I wasn't ready for a race of this distance!!! But too late- I wasn't turning back now. I drove 110 miles to run and I was going to RUN damn it! ;) That's when the girl running along next to me struck up a conversation about being in the back...she promised I wouldn't be last, and she also told me that the people running this race were pretty hard core seasoned runners...so I felt a little better. I found out my new friend's name was Melissa and she was also a great running buddy- why do the best running buddies have to live in Wisconsin! ;)

The first few miles were a breeze. The scenery was phenomenal. I couldn't believe I was running right next to the lake. Wow. My time was right on par as well. I pin-pointed a pace right around 10:35-10:40/mile and seemed to be hitting it very close to that the first few miles.

Then we entered the trails. And the puddles, or ponds, as Missy calls them. OMG. See, the reason I was so worried about running in the rain was how my feet would handle it. I've never run in all out rain. Drizzle, sure, but rain...nope. I was terrified of chafing, blisters and pain in my feet. Well, as soon as I saw the first lake, panic set in...and I ran around it. I thought it was the lesser of 2 evils, until my feet sank in the surrounding mud. Yuck. So after oh, the 5th puddle, I finally surrendered and ran through it. Soak city. OMG. But after a few minutes of squish, I didn't really notice my wet feet anymore. Mind over matter, I don't know...but I kept going.

Around mile 5, I started lagging a bit. I was still talking/running with Melissa but I had to stop talking once in awhile and concentrate on regulating my breathing. I cramped up a bit, but nothing bad at all...I could work through it. We were about 1/2 way through and were already seeing runners return back- it was an out and back route. I was still going pretty strong, despite a tiny bit of discomfort. Right before the 1/2 way point I saw Missy and we gave each other thumbs up. She makes it look so easy!!

So we finally head out of the trail portion of the race. No More Ponds!! And my feet were not bothering me at all as far as blistering was concerned so that was good news. However I did need to stop to re-tie my shoes. I guess the water loosened the laces which has never happened to me. We stopped at Margaritaville for a quick recharge (one of the aid stations was Jimmy Buffett themed- it was cute!) and then the last 4 miles happened.

All I remember about the last 4 miles of this race was the relentless wind, the frozen numb fingers and the absolute struggle to put one foot in front of the other. And Missy... ;) Melissa surged ahead after a hill so I was on my own. I had vowed to myself that I was NOT walking...under any circumstances...and just kept telling myself 3 more miles, 2 1/2 more miles...I did walk twice. For about 4 footfalls each time. And then I repeated my mantra...I can DO this...and I started running again. At mile 12, my time was only around 2:06...so I knew coming in under goal was possible , but I was really struggling at this point and I was having a hard time keeping it together. But And then in the distance, with about 1/2 mile left to go, there was Missy waving to me. She ran back in those awful conditions, to motivate me to keep going. And my goodness, was she a godsend. :) Finally, the finish line was in view and I crossed it, with a time of 2:19:05 (10:38/mile). I officially shaved 7 minutes, 4 seconds off my previous half. WooHoo!!

After the race I was out of it for a bit. I followed Missy and her husband into the pavilion and tried to thaw out and collect my thoughts before heading home. It was a tough run, but I did it! I don't know what I'd have done if Missy hadn't run me in. I'd probably still be out there. Ha Ha. :) This race taught me a lot. Runners have each other's back! Pay it Forward! I can run in the rain! I can RUN!

i've decided to go for it.

I will be running my 2nd half marathon on Saturday, April 12- this weekend!!!!!

I'm headed up to Milwaukee for this one, but it's going to be a great time all around, I'm sure. The only not-so-great thing about it will be the weather. It's supposed to be cold, rainy and possibly snowy. :(

Stay tuned for results!!!

shamrock shuffle race report- 2008.

My first Shamrock Shuffle has come and gone. I spent the better part of 12 weeks training for it, and my training definitely paid off in a faster time than I thought possible!

Matt and I prepared for the race the night before. We laid out all our gear: I wore my blue NikeFit long sleeve layered under my sleeveless black fleece vest, black UA capris, black UA skull cap with a headband beneath and black UA gloves. Matt had on his grey NikeFit long sleeve layered under a green cotton t-shirt and a black jacket, black NikeFit pants and black UA skull cap. I laced our chips onto our shoes. The plan was to wake up Logan, load him in the car still in PJs and be off by 6:45. Well, that didn't happen. We left about 7:00a to drop Logan off at Matt's parents' house. They were watching Logan, feeding him breakfast, and taking him to church!

We dropped Logan off at about 7:30, stopped at Dunkin Donuts for coffee and headed down to the city. I was nervous the entire drive...but I always get super nervous before a race, regardless of the distance. We made it to the race area in record time and parked in the Grant Park garage...and still had an hour to kill before race time. So we were able to take our time getting ready. The weather was cold and windy with a slight drizzle. Thank goodness the rain held off. We walked over to Grant Park and just had a nice time enjoying each other and people watching! There was a small group of people stretching...reminded me of a Richard Simmons workout...it was so funny. Right before we lined up, it started drizzling and I made a comment and a girl asked me if I wanted her extra poncho. No thank you. I'm soaked enough by the end of a race... a layer of plastic would have made it so much worse! Matt had made the decision to run with me. He doesn't run a 8K distance all that often, and since I'm a slower runner than he is, but more accomplished at the 8K distance, he thought it would be a good idea if I set the pace for us. Matt and I were in the open corral, behind the 11 minute pace marker and this was a mistake I made...more on that later.

So we're lined up. 10 minutes to race time...4 minutes to race time...Race time!!! And we're still not moving. It took about 25 minutes AFTER the race had started to move up to the start line. I guess that's the delay in such a huge race! The anticipation of it was crazy...and of course made me even more nervous! But the crowd finally started breaking up, I could see the start line...and we were off!!!

Mile 1- 10:22
The first mile was a TOTAL blur. It went by so fast...all of a sudden, we're turning left off of Columbus and there's the marker for mile 1! Matt spent the entire race at my side or behind me.

Mile 2- 9:39
Shaved almost a minute off that first mile and this is where my mistake of where we lined up became evident. My strategy for a race is that I start off slower and that way I can build my endurance to go faster as I progress through. Hence my decision to start at a pace of 11 minutes/mile. Well...I guess that should be my strategy for a longer distance...because people on the course REALLY started slowing me down. I came up to LOTS of walkers and runners who were going much slower than myself. I felt like I was playing a game of Frogger- weaving in and out of the pack, hopping up the curb to run on the sidewalk...poor Matt. He was having a super hard time keeping up with me...but he did it. He told me people were getting really ticked at me. And I knew it...but lesson learned. I will not start that far back next time!!

Mile 3- 9:14
Still felt fantastic. I could tell I was cruising for the most part, because I kept passing people up. My adrenaline must have been in high gear because I was feeling so great and not winded at all!

Mile 4 to finish- 17:29 (8:52 average)
I missed the mile 4 marker so I didn't press the lap button. Oops. The last mile was rough. I had to go to the bathroom. Bad. TMI- by the time we reached Roosevelt Rd. coming into the last blocks of the race, I'd lost a bit of bladder control. But that was minor compared to the fact that the finish line was visible! That gave me a blast of momentum and Matt and I crossed the finish line together!!! In the excitement of everything, I forgot to press the stop button on my watch, so we looked at Matt's- 46:42!!!! Not official...but a good idea of our finish time...which was well below my goal of 50 minutes! Not bad for my first 8K distance race!

My official results: 46:44
Overall finish: 10131/22575
Sex Place: 3896/12178
Division Place: 779/2442

Matt's official results: 46:44
Overall finish: 10133/22575
Sex Place: 6237/10397
Division Place: 1327/2190

Also, according to the Shamrock Shuffle website, we *may* have qualified for a corral start next year since our time was sub-9:30/mile!! Woo Hoo!

After the race, we stopped for a yummy big breakfast at a cafe in Matt's old neighborhood. THE.BEST.COFFEE.EVER. So good! We picked up Logan and relaxed the rest of the day.
What an awesome experience...till next year!

runnermom, etc.

Well, well. It's getting harder and harder to keep up with my blog here! I had every intention of updating often when I started it...now I'm lucky if I update once a week. So, in order to boost my updates, I'm going to start using this as a journal for everything that is going on...running, motherhood, cooking, reading, decorating...EVERYTHING! Might make it more interesting!

On the Logan front. I cannot believe how much he is growing, changing and learning! It's unreal. I always knew kids grew up fast, but I never really understood till now. He's been an explosion of new things lately. He talks all the time...I wish I could understand what he was saying half the time though. But now he's starting to say no...so I know what he doesn't want! He can point to many body parts, and make many animal sounds, and we've retired the high chair. He now sits at the table like a big boy in his booster seat and eats off a plate, most of the time with a fork! Sometimes his food gets dumped on the table, but I'm trying to teach him to leave it. I have got to say my patience level has risen exponentially since Logan arrived. That's one of the keys to my sanity!

Running has been going well! I'm sticking with my training program for the most part, averaging around 20 miles a week. Yesterday, I ran 7 miles. My right foot has been bugging me and I was in a little bit of pain the first 1/4 mile, but it disappeared after that and now it seems fine. Anyway my perseverance is starting to pay off...it took me 1 hour, 7 minutes and 15 seconds to run 7 miles. :faint: I can't believe I was that quick. I'm so proud of myself!! The Shamrock Shuffle is about 2.5 weeks away and Matt and I are so excited! It's going to be a blast.

I go through these stages where I read book after book after book, and then I'm stagnant for awhile. I saw the movie "Jane Austen's Book Club" last week and was inspired to start reading all Jane Austen novels. I'm on my first- Emma. It's really delightful...but as with any classic, it's taking me some time to get through. I watched the movie with Gwyneth Paltrow a few days ago and it's become one of my favorites. Also, I was at a bookstore that is going out of business last week and I picked up 2 books- House of Mirth by Edith Wharton and The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo. So I will be re-reading that soon. One of my favorite books ever.

Matt and I are also starting to plan an overnight to celebrate our 5th anniversary. We are also planning a trip to Hayward, WI with his side of the family. Matt's been talking about going up to Hayward for ages, and it looks like it's finally becoming a possibility! Fun times. This summer is going to be so awesome, but as always, I'm sure it will fly by...

spring is coming.

Finally! This winter has been a killer and the end is in sight. This summer is going to be so awesome. Long walks, park playdates, sunshine, the pool...ahhhh. I can't wait to show it all to Logan. He'll have a blast, I'm sure!

According to my calendar, daylight savings time begins this weekend! I haven't heard anything about it, so I'm wondering if it's really true. Anyone know?

Speaking of walks, Matt, Logan and I will be walking in the March of Dimes March for Babies in Joliet on May 4. Logan and I did the walk last year, and since we are in a small way affected by this cause, our family is walking in honor of those families who aren't as fortunate. It's the least we can do.

And with spring around the corner, so is race season!!! The first race of the year is in about 3 weeks. Cannot wait. I'm also thinking of running a half marathon in April up in Milwaukee. We shall see.

took today off.

I was supposed to do an easy 3 miler today, but I decided to take today off. Not feeling it today...but I'll be right back on track tomorrow- I promise!

Yesterday was a 6 miler. I haven't run that distance since the summer- and man it felt great!! Best of all, I was able to keep up my pace throughout so I was super proud. YAY! I completed it in 58:25- around 9:45/mile. I tacked on an extra mile to my neighborhood route. So now I'm pretty confident that I can finish the shuffle at or under my goal of 50 minutes. The only thing is that my right leg has been bugging me. I can't put my finger on it, but I get a dull little twinge every so often in my shin. It didn't hurt at all yesterday- before, during or after my run, but it was bothering me a little today. I'm trying not to think about it...plus it's not bad, just more annoying, so I don't think it's anything to worry about.

new shoes, etc.

Well, last week I said goodbye to my old Brooks...and hello to my new Brooks!! Aren't they pretty?? They look just like my old ones, except they are purple. I tried a few other pairs...but figured if it ain't broke, why fix it?

So I was able to get outside for my run yesterday. It was so nice, after countless treadmill runs these past few weeks. The weather was iffy...but I managed to stay dry. I completed my 5 miler in 49:00 even. And my new shoes worked perfectly!

Logan's been having a rough time cutting his bottom cuspids. He was Mr. Crankypants for 2 days straight! Yesterday, he got his first boo-boo...he fell down and put his tooth through his lip. So he has a fat lip today, but the swelling has gone way down. Poor little guy! He's feeling much better- he's in pretty good spirits today!

rip my brooks.

The day has come for me to retire my Brooks Trance running shoes. :( I will miss them. I have made so many memories in these shoes and they treated me very well. But the top of my right foot has been hurting me during my past few runs so I know the shock isn't being absorbed anymore. I did today's run in my old NBs and no foot pain. So my suspicions were confirmed. Au revoir, my dear Brooks. You'll be missed.

In Logan news...the boy has been learning SO many new things!!! I'm so proud of him. He started saying "girl" a few days ago. We call our dog Cami-girl sometimes and I guess he picked up on the girl part so now he walks around saying it. Yesterday, Matt was watching Daytona qualifying and Logan picked up another word...yep, you guessed it. Car. Big surprise there...insert sarcasm. I'm surprised car wasn't his first word! I'm trying to teach him more...but it's looking like one word at a time is the way it's going. I was reading about milestones during the 17th month, and he should be able to stack two blocks. I think he can do this too, because he can stack 2 jumbo legos together also. My baby is getting so big...I can't believe it!!