One week countdown

Hopefully by this time next week I will be celebrating finishing my second full marathon with a PR. I think the week before the marathon is the toughest. You have done all your training now you just have to wait.......... torture! I have a few small runs this week but nothing big so I also will have a lot of free time :)
I am very thankful I have been able to do the training for this marathon. Sometimes you have to find something that is just for you! It may sound selfish but sometimes I need alone time. Maybe it is on a treadmill or running in the snow, 20mph winds, pushing a baby, listening to loud music on my Ipod, listening to a Beth Moore study or Jillian Michaels podcast but for whatever time my feet are moving it is my time. I can think, sing, pray whatever I need to do at that time. I like to dedicate certain miles or runs to people close to me. When the hill is tough or legs are tired I think of this person and pray for them, asking God to get bless their life and help me to finish this hill :) It's amazing how much it helps me. I also think of people in wheelchairs, hospital beds, etc that would do anything to be able to run. It pushes me to keep putting one foot in front of the other and counting my blessing.
Living in Ohio with no family or close friends to help with John Thomas and my husband constantly traveling with work I am proud I was able to train for a marathon. I probably ran more miles on a treadmill than you should in marathon training and did not do enough hill training because I had to stay as close to the house as possible but either way I did complete one 19 mile and two 20 mile runs. A total of 514miles as of today!! Plus teaching 5 group fitness classes a week :) My weight is pretty much the same as when I started but my body fat is 14.7 % which makes me very happy!
I am excited that Tommy will be able to watch this marathon and I will have my biggest fan, JT, there! Praying for a uneventful, restful week and great weather next Sunday!

People I will pray for and give thanks for during my run
0-6.5 - Gavin, my nephew and my new niece or nephew that is due May 15
6.5-13 - a dear friend battling breast cancer
13-19 - Tommy, my stepson, and John Thomas
19-26.2 - Tommy, my husband

PJ's

Yesterday I was going through all of JTs newborn clothes to mail to my sister.

 (Leigh Anne is 37 weeks pregnant and we do not know if she is having a boy or a girl. I can not wait for the baby to be here! As soon as she goes in to labor I am going to buy the first ticket I can to Alabama! I am so excited to hold a little newborn and to be able to help with the baby and Gavin.)

John Thomas newborn

 A big baby yawn. So cute! Look how loose the PJs are on him.

John Thomas 15months old

My big baby! I can not believe how big he is!!!

 FYI - the reason they are laying on his back because I could not get him to stay still long enough any other way to get a picture :)

I am off for my last long run (only 8 miles) before the marathon today. Yay! Unfortunalty it has to be on the treadmill since it is raining and cold and Tommy is out of town. Then we are meeting some friends at the circus! JTs first circus!

Day One

My new blog..... one of my New Years resolutions :)
I have decided to write a blog share pictures and stories of my sweet boy, John Thomas, brag on my husband, Tommy, and share my journey through training for a marathon along with helpful workout tips and recipes.

So I have decided to run the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon! I have mixed feelings about this marathon. All the reviews talk about how hilly the course is (Big Con) but my husband will be able to watch me run (Pro) My one and only previous marathon was a hilly course. The shirts said "what hills" so I was hoping to find a flatter course but oh well. Just train harder :) Week one long run will be 10miles on Saturday
Today is the first training day. Over the next 18 weeks I am hoping to eat mostly whole foods to help with fuel and recovery and drop around 5lbs to help increase my speed.
Biggest Challenge? Training for a marathon with a almost one year old baby. Living away from family and having a husband who works on average 7days a week and very long hours some runs maybe challenging. Not looking forward to clocking 10+ on a treadmill!
On another note I am very excited to be planning my little mans first birthday party! One year old! How has it already been a year?! John Thomas is definitely the highlight of my little life. How can one person change you so much?? We are having a puppy dog party. His favorite thing in the whole world is our sweet dog Kennedy. His favorite activity is crawling to her to pull her hair out......poor Kennedy and his favorite toy is her food and water bowl. So what better theme? I do wish our families could be here to celebrate but I will make sure to document well for everyone :)
My husbands basketball team won a huge game this weekend. We are 2-0 in conference play. Hopefully we will continue with our winning streak! Go Flyers!