March 29th we traveled to Southern Oklahoma for a few things. First things first, we had a family birthday party for Alivia on Saturday morning in Durant with Brandon's family. Shortly after the party Brandon and I loaded up the car and off we went to the A2A Maraton {Another race adventure}!

We arrived at the expo on Saturday afternoon. Packet pick up was easy-breezy, no lines and we even found a few goodies at the small booth they had set up at the expo. We had a little time to kill before the pasta dinner so we went exploring in downtown Ardmore. They were having their Music and Taste of Ardmore Festival so we grabbed a few tickets and enjoyed a slice of pizza from a local pizza place before heading back for dinner #2 at the pasta dinner. {Tickets to the pasta dinner were included in your race registration fee!} At the dinner we learned that this race is 100% volunteer ran. Not a single person is paid for their work in organizing this marathon. With that being said it was probably one of the best ran races we have ever been too! Great job A2A team!!

Saturday night Brandon and I stayed the night in the Durant Falls Creek cabin. It was fun to go back and see everything that had changed there. We got there a little before sun set so we went exploring! I had a great time with Brandon. We are very blessed with family that loves our babies when we sneak away! 
We played a little ping-pong, ate a great snack, laid out all of our clothes for the next day and off to bed we went with a early wake up call of 5AM!

The A2A Marathon is different than anything Brandon and I have ran before because it is a point-to-point run. So when we arrived at the stadium Brandon got on a bus that took him to the start of the Half Marathon and I got on a bus that took me onto the Full Marathon starting line. The air was chilly so I ended up staying on the bus until 15 minutes before the race was scheduled to start. While sitting on the bus I got to chat with Angie of Marathon Training Academy. {Check her and Trevor out! We love their podcast!} The buses drove away leaving me and 106 other people on top of the mountain ready to run 26.2 miles. 

The gun went off and the feeling I had was very surreal. It was crazy starting as such a small group. This was the smallest race I ever ran, and it was a real mental battle at first being at the back of pack. I kept reminding myself that I was there to run my race, and i couldn't compare myself to anyone else on the road that day. 

Miles 1-6 were pretty much down hill, the weather was perfect, the wind was chilly so I kept my sleeve on for the majority of the these miles. At mile 7 we turned and went onto a Ranch where we ran miles 7,8,9&10. The ranch was beautiful, this portion of the race was a loop so I got to see the leaders of the race. Feeling good at this point. 

Between mile 13-14 Brandon, the kids, and his parents came and found me on the course. Still feeling good, but the wind was starting to pick up, and the sun was shining bright. The next 6 miles were tough. I begin doing run/walk intervals around mile 15. Mile 17 I wrote Brandon a text message and all it said was "kill me".  That was the slowest mile of the day for me coming in at 13mins51seconds. I walked a lot of those six miles. It was pretty hilly, and so so so windy. One of the hardest parts of the day was being out on the course all alone. The race was awesome and there were water stops pretty much every mile from 12 on, but runners were few and far  between.

BUT I knew mile 20 was coming and we would finally get to turn and the wind would be at my side and back for a few miles. I had  a renewed spirit and felt pretty strong the last 6 miles.  I ended up passing several people at the end of the race. 

I finally came across the finish line at 4hours58minutes. My slowest of my 3 official marathons I have ran, but I am still super proud of the hard work I put in to earn that medal.

Overall this race was awesome. It was well organized, ran %100 by volunteers, and definitely a race we will be doing in the future! {And you should too!}

Big shout out to my mother-in-law and father-in-law for watching the babies for us and cheering us on, to Aunt Peggy for driving up to see me finish, and for all of our supporters here. Thanks for cheering me on! 
 
No, I am not currently a Knocked^Up Runner, but this time last year it was 4 days before my due date with Mr. Grayson Scott and I was either on the elliptical or the treadmill running/walking until the day he arrived {just a reminder, he was 11 days late}.

When I tell people I ran & worked out my entire pregnancy they look at me like I am crazy. My second pregnancy was MUCH different than the first. With Alivia I did not work out, I ate a large order of Chick-fil-a french fries at least twice a week, I indulged in so much candy corn around Halloween, and neglected my health pretty much all together. I made excuses like "oh, I'm pregnant, It's okay to eat two enchiladas a double side of rice and a bowl of chips for lunch" or "I'm pregnant, I don't need to work out."

Well, to say the least I learned my lesson. I gained over 60lbs and tipped the scale OVER 200lbs {Ouch, hurts just typing it!} But the good news is I have a happy, healthy, and beautiful almost 3 year old out of the deal! She does love some Chick-fil-a though!

So, when I found out I was pregnant with G I knew I needed to do something different. So, I continued my workout regimen. I continued taking fitness classes at our local YMCA, and running. Sure, I modified some of the moves in class, especially when my belly got so big it started making it hard to move as much. I stopped taking classes around 30 weeks. Not only were jumping jacks getting hard to do, they were also doing a number on my bladder. But, I continued moving. 

I ran until about 36 weeks and then I started having horrible shin splints every time i started to run on the treadmill. That is when I moved my cardio workout to the elliptical most days and ran {I use that term loosely, it was a very slow run} only once or twice a week until the day before G was born. 

Working out while pregnant not only helped me keep my weight gain under control, {I only gained 32lbs the second time around} it helped with the recovery after delivery. I had my running shoes back on when Grayson was just 3 weeks old. 

Two thing are very important here:
1. I am not a doctor, but I communicated with my doctor throughout my pregnancy. He was on board with my physical exercise but instructed me to listen to my body and if something was uncomfortable or caused pain to stop. 
2, Running worked for me during my pregnancy, but might not work for you. The most important thing is to make healthy choices for the babe growing in your belly.

I just want to encourage any momma-to-be, just move daily {even if it is just a short 20 minute walk around the block}! If you ever have questions about being a knocked^up runner feel free to contact me!
 
Well, we are almost one month into the year of 2014 and I guess it is about time I blog about the big goal I have set for myself for the year twenty-fourteen. 

Twenty-Thirteen was a great year for me as a wife, momma, and a runner. I accomplished my goal of running 1,000 miles despite having a baby and taking a few months off. I ran this 5K & this 5K with my momma. I ran the KC Half in October, and sadly my marathon was cancelled in December so plans had to change a little bit towards the end of the year.

With that being said this year my goal is not going to be about total mileage.

So, here it is:
 In August of '14 I turn 26 years old. 26 is an important number in the running world. The distance of a marathon is 26.2 miles. Therefore, my big running goal for 2014 is to run the distance of a marathon each month of the year. {yikes!} 


12 Marathons in 12 Months!


No, sadly that does not mean Brandon and I will be traveling the country participating in 12 awesome marathons. Funds would just not allow that. My plan is to run 4 {or 5} official marathons throughout the year. Some of the races include but aren't set in stone : 
Miracle Match Marathon,  January {Just finished this past weekend, click here to read the review!}
A2A Marathon, March {I officially signed up for this race today!!}
Kansas City Marathon, October
 Route 66 Marathon, November
Dallas Marathon, December

The other marathons will be ran here at home around Perry, We might venture to Tulsa, OKC, or Stillwater for a change of scenery, but I plan on running the marathons the last weekend of each month unless there is a prior commitment or a race scheduled for that month. 

This year is all about running more, eating more veggies, simplifying our life, growing closer together, and just enjoying everything God has given us as as a family. I hope you join us on another crazy adventure. 

 
This past Saturday morning we loaded up the car and headed to Waco, TX for the Miracle Match Marathon {MMM}. We ditched the kiddos with the grandparents and Brandon and I were on our way, just the two of us! {What a blessing!} 

The MMM is a very small race compared to the bigger city races we usually go to. There were no lines, a small expo, and just under 200 people that finished the marathon on Sunday. We arrived at packet pickup and I received bib #20. They had big maps hanging on the wall of the course route and a gentleman walked me through the route. He explained where the small hills were, where the big hills were, and where the even bigger hills were. I was told not to expect a PR {personal record} at all. To say the least I left packet pickup with a lump in my throat and my stomach in knots. I was so very nervous. Probably more than I ever have been before  a race. 

That evening Brandon and I ate at PEI WEI {YUM!!} and we stopped at Collin Street Bakery on our way back to the hotel. We got there about 30 minutes before they closed so we walked out of there with 4 cookies and 2 containers of cinnamon rolls FOR FREE because they were going to throw them away at the end of the day! Awesome! 

We ate our cookies, brushed our teeth, and got a great nights sleep {Besides when I woke up at 3:00AM thinking we had slept through the alarm and I missed the race}. Totally odd, but the hotel room had no clock so I woke Brandon up in a panic! 

Sunday morning I felt great. I was right at the front of the pack at the start line. The marathon, 1/2, and 10K all started together. The weather was perfect as we set out onto Baylor's campus. The sun was starting to rise and it was so peaceful. The campus was beautiful, and I had settled into a comfy pace preparing myself for the 26.2 miles and hills ahead. 

Right before mile 5 everyone split. The 10Kers went right, the 1/2ers went straight, and the marathoners went left, and believe me: the marathon route was the road less traveled for sure. There was no road congestion. I could see maybe 5-10 runners in front of me, and just a few behind me as well. I knew that the road ahead could get lonely. 

Mile 7 came with the first small hill {easy peasy}. On that hill I passed a man, probably in his mid 50's. He was walking up the hill and told me to take it easy, and that it was just the beginning. Around mile 8 he caught up with me and we quickly became friends. His name was Jorge, he is an ultra-marathoner. That run was his 48th marathon to run and I realized that he knew what he was doing. Mile 8,9,10,11,12,13 passed in a flash. Rolling hills filled with conversation with my new friend. Plant based diets, proper fueling, ultra-marathons, our families, blogs, and running groups were the topics of our conversations. 

Mile 13 came with a bang. A beautiful view of the lake and a hill that made you forget the beautiful scene all together. Mile 14-15 was one loooong hill that never seemed to end. We walked the hills that were steep {At that point our walk was faster than our attempt to run up the steep inclines}. 

Mile 16 came and Jorge and I got split up. He stopped to tie his shoe and get some water at a water stop and I continued on. Just ten more miles. I was feeling strong! I started concentrating on the the next 4 miles. I knew that the last six were going to be killer. Miles 17,18,19 were pretty much a breeze. Down hill or flat. 
 
Then mile 20... I knew at this point unless my body completely shut down I would have a PR. I continued on as my body grew more and more fatigued on the HUGE hills in Cameron Park followed by 2 small, steep, and rough hills. My hips were starting to hurt from going down so many hills, by that time I was hot, out of breath, and hitting the dreaded "wall". Mile 23 came with the promise of less hills and the end in sight. 

Mile 24 was a tough mile for me. Brandon had gone ahead to the finish line and I knew the last 2.2 miles were just me and the pavement. By this time I could only see a few runners ahead of me {which I ended up passing!!} I decided to run mile 24 for Alivia. I kept thinking of the joy she is to me. The things I love about her and her sweet little stubborn soul. Mile 25 was for Gray. My boy. His blonde hair and blue eyes that I treasure so much. He high pitch scream and the his sweet shy smile that makes my heart skip a beat. By now I was just praying there would be one more hill so I could walk, but there was no hill insight. Just the bridge I knew the finish line was located on and the promise of Brandon waiting for me cheering me on. 

After running up a pretty killer ramp there it was: .2 left over this old wooden bridge. There was B, along with others cheering us on. I crossed the finish line at 4hours 32minutes and 31seconds. {A 6 minutes PR, which I am so excited about considering the tough course! It is known to be the toughest marathon in TX!}

I got my medal, my finishers jacket,  chocolate milk, a delicious fajita, found a seat, and just processed everything that had just happened. Realizing how strong I am. How far I have come from just having a baby 11 months ago. How much I am loved and supported by the man of dreams, family, and friends. How much I love running and the challenge it is for me and how much fulfillment I get from pounding the pavement. 

Man, what a great experience Sunday was. I am so very thankful for the opportunity. I am so very thankful to the person that paid my way. I am so very thankful I got a redemption race after Dallas was canceled in December.  I am so very thankful that Brandon rode his bike for 4+ hours. He was my own personal traveling water station and he kept me going when I wanted to stop. His love, patience, encouragement, and persistence gets me to every finish line. What would I do without him?? I am so very thankful our babies are loved by their grandparents and we can leave them knowing they will be loved and cared for!!

I got 2 things I wasn't expecting from this race: 
1. A sunburn
2. A blood blister on my toe
Both things I would not trade for anything. 

The MMM was great race. Beautiful, tough course. Great water stations that were ran by spirited, encouraging individuals. I would recommend this race to anyone looking for a challenge. I hope to go back for sure. It's worth the hills! 
 

Well, the day is here. 

Tomorrow Brandon and I are headed to my redemption marathon, the Miracle Match Marathon in Waco TX. 

As most of you may know, my goal race was the Dallas Marathon and sadly it was canceled due to bad weather in December. BUT Brandon and I are extremely blessed and someone offered to pay my way in to the marathon in Waco this weekend. {THANK YOU SO MUCH--you know who you are!!}

There are two things I have read about the race that are important to know:
1. Be prepared for hills
2. Once you think you are prepared for hills, prepare some more...

Ya see, this Marathon is known to be the toughest in Texas. Just typing that out makes my legs hurt, my heart beat a little faster, and head sweat. 

As I am sitting here my nerves are growing by the minute, but despite that my GPS watch is plugged in and charging, every piece of my running wardrobe that might possibly come in handy is sitting on our bed ready to be packed {Better to be over prepared than under, right?}, and my shoes are laced and ready to go. 

I have prepared for this run {maybe not the hills--but we'll see}. I have put in the miles, the training, and the heart. However, I still sit here nervous as can be. Nerves aren't a bad thing though. I am thankful I sit here today nervous and excited instead of frustrated and burnt out. 

My love for running has grown deeper than I ever imagined over the past year. I have some pretty exciting goals for 2014 and beyond and can't wait to share more after this 26.2 miles on Sunday.  

 
Picture
AS MOST OF YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON REACHING A YEAR LONG GOAL OF RUNNING 1,000 MILES IN THE YEAR TWENTY-13. WELL, I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT LAST TUESDAY DECEMBER 31ST I FINISHED MY 1,000 MILE PROJECT WITH A 6.2 MILE RUN. 

IT DIDN'T COME EASY. THE LAST 10 DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR I RAN EVERY DAY BUT ONE TRYING TO GET IN THE LAST REMAINING MILES. MY LEGS WERE SORE AND TIRED THAT LAST RUN, BUT IT FELT AMAZING TO KNOW I PUSHED THROUGH AND FINISHED A GOAL I HAD SET FOR MYSELF{DESPITE HAVING A BABY AND TAKING SOME TIME OFF FROM POUNDING THE PAVEMENT}. 

THERE WASN'T ANY FIREWORKS OR A BIG MOMENT WHEN I FINISHED, BUT BRANDON DID SURPRISE ME WITH POST-RUN FLOWERS AND CANDY {IT WAS WORTH EVERY MILE}. 

I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT MYSELF THIS YEAR.

1,000 MILES IS A LOT OF TIME SPENT MOVING {EITHER ON THE ROAD OR ON THE TREADMILL}. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE SOME AMAZING RUNNING PARTNERS, A COUPLE AWESOME RACES, BEAUTIFUL SUNRISES, PEACEFUL RUNS IN THE RAIN, AND HILLY ADVENTURES THIS YEAR. 

THANK YOU ALL FOR CHEERING ME ON! 
CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE MY GOALS FOR 2014!

HERE ARE FEW OF MY FAVORITE RUNNING MOMENTS OF 2013 AND MY 1,000 MILE PROJECT. 

 
EVERYONE HAS THEIR DEFINING MOMENTS. MOMENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE THAT DETERMINE WHO THEY ARE, WHO THEY STAND FOR, AND WHAT THEY BELIEVE. FOR ME THERE ARE SEVERAL MOMENTS IN MY LIFE THAT STAND OUT AS DEFINING MOMENTS. HERE ARE A FEW.
#1 WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD I ASKED JESUS INTO MY HEART. FLAT OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION OF MY LIFE. THOUGH I HAVE SINNED THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I ALWAYS KNOW THAT I AM SAVED BY HIS GRACE, ALWAYS FORGIVEN. 
#2 ON JUNE 5TH 2009 ON A BEACH IN DESTIN FLORIDA BRANDON PUT A RING ON MY LEFT HAND AND WE SAID 
"I DO". THAT DAY I BECAME HIS WIFE FOREVER AND ALWAYS: THROUGH SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH.
#3 2&1/2 YEARS AGO A NEWBORN BABY GIRL WAS LAID ON MY CHEST AND I BECAME A MOTHER. I WILL FOREVER HOLD THAT TITLE IN MY BABIES EYES. 

I THINK THERE ARE SMALLER DEFINING MOMENTS AS WELL. DAILY CHOICES YOU MAKE THAT DEFINE WHO WE ARE, AND TODAY I HAD ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS. 

I WAS SUPPOSED TO RUN 26.2 MILES TODAY IN DALLAS AT THE  METRO PCS DALLAS MARATHON. I WAS SUPPOSED TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE WITH A NEW PR, RECEIVE A MEDAL, AND FINISHERS SHIRT,  AND EXPERIENCE THE HIGH I ONLY GET FROM CROSSING A FINISH LINE.  I HAD PLAYED THIS DAY OVER IN MY HEAD HUNDREDS OF TIMES WHILE OUT TRAINING, BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. NO RACE, NO MEDAL, NO FINISH LINE. THE RACE WAS CANCELED BECAUSE OF THE SNOW/ICE STORM THAT HIT TEXAS & OKLAHOMA LATE THIS WEEK.

INSTEAD THIS MORNING I WOKE UP WITH MY FAMILY IN THE COMFORT OF OUR WARM HOME. ENJOYED HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES MADE BY THE LOVE OF MY LIFE AND MY LITTLE GIRL. 

THEN IT HAPPENED. I DECIDED TO GO ON A RUN. 

A DEFINING MOMENT. 
TODAY I LACED MY SHOES UP AS A RUNNER. I SET OUT FOR 4 SNOWY MILES. IT WAS WINDY, COLD, AND EVERYTHING WAS COVERED IN SNOW. IT WAS PEACEFUL, BEAUTIFUL AND EMOTIONAL. IT WASN'T THE 26.2 MILES I HAD IMAGINED FOR SO MANY MONTHS. IT WASN'T THE RUN I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN TRAINING FOR, BUT AS I WAS OUT RUNNING: BREATHING THE COLD AIR IN, WATCHING EVERY STEP CAREFULLY, AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT TODAY SHOULD HAVE BEEN I REALIZED SOMETHING.  

TODAY'S RUN WAS EXACTLY WHAT I HAD BEEN TRAINING FOR ALL ALONG. EXACTLY THE RUN I NEEDED TO CONTINUE ON THIS JOURNEY. 
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. IT MEANS THE WORLD! 
XOXO
 
Picture
I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE THAT NOVEMBER IS OVER AND WE ARE ALREADY INTO THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. IT BLOWS MY MIND THAT SUNDAY IS THE BIG DAY: MARATHON DAY!

2013 IS WRAPPING UP SO VERY QUICKLY, BUT I STILL HAVE QUITE A FEW MILES TO LOG BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.  NOVEMBER WAS A GREAT MONTH OF TRAINING. I LOGGED 141.3 MILES THIS MONTH. IT FELT GREAT TO GET OUT THERE EVERY WEEKEND AND WORK HARD ON MY LONG RUNS AND THE MID WEEK RUNS SHORTENED SO THEY WEREN'T AS HARD TO FIT INTO OUR BUSY WORLD. 

MY LONGEST RUN WAS NOVEMBER 16TH, I RAN 21 MILES AND IT WAS BRUTAL. THE DISTANCE DIDN'T FEEL BAD, BUT THE WEATHER GAVE ME A RUN FOR MY MONEY. THE WIND WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE THE WHOLE MORNING, BUT I GOT TO FINISH THE RUN WITH BRANDON & THE YMCA RUNNING GROUP WHICH GOT ME THROUGH THE TOUGH MILES.  ONE OF THE BEST RUNS OF MY TRAINING CAME ON NOVEMBER 23RD. IT WAS A SIX MILE RUN ON A VERY VERY COLD MORNING. EVERYTHING JUST FELT RIGHT AND I RAN IT UNDER A 9 MINUTE PACE (WHICH IS PRETTY FAST FOR A SLOW LADY LIKE MYSELF!) NOVEMBER WAS AWESOME AND FULL OF GREAT RUNS, BUT I CAME IN A LITTLE SHORT ON MY MILES FOR THE MONTH WHICH MEANS I JUST HAVE TO WORK HARDER IN DECEMBER THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED. 

HERE IS MY TOTAL MILEAGE:
JANUARY: 25.45 MILES
FEBRUARY: 0
MARCH: 15.2 MILES
APRIL: 50.2 MILES
MAY: 69.1 MILES
JUNE: 86.55 MILES
JULY: 83.4 MILES
AUGUST: 139.6 MILES
SEPTEMBER: 137 MILES
OCTOBER: 143.45 MILES
NOVEMBER: 141.3 MILES

TOTAL FOR THE YEAR:  891.25 

I HAVE 109  MILES LEFT TO RUN THIS YEAR.
26.2 OF THOSE MILES WILL BE CHECKED OFF THE LIST AFTER SUNDAY! 
THE LAST FEW WEEKS OF THE YEAR ARE GOING TO BE SPENT HITTING THE PAVEMENT AND CONTINUING THE HARD WORK I HAVE PUT IN TO REACH THE GOAL I SET FOR MYSELF. 

DO YOU HAVE ANY END OF THE YEAR GOALS YOU ARE WORKING ON? I'D LOVE TO HEAR! 


 
Picture
I FEEL LIKE OCTOBER WAS THE BEST MONTH OF MY TRAINING SO FAR. MY GOAL WAS TO RUN 131 MILES AND I ENDED UP FINISHING THE  MONTH UP AT 143.45 MILES! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? THAT IS A LOT OF TIME, ENERGY, AND SWEAT FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER {I MUST HAVE KNOWN HOW MUCH HALLOWEEN CANDY I WAS GOING TO CONSUME}!

THIS MONTH PROVED ITSELF TO BE AWESOME! I RAN TWO TWENTY MILE RUNS {ONE OF WHICH WAS ALONG SIDE MY BEST FRIEND, MY HUSBAND BRANDON {THANKS TINA!!!} ALSO, I RAN THE KANSAS CITY HALF MARATHON THIS MONTH AND SMASHED MY PR BY 6 MINUTES! YOU CAN READ ABOUT IT HERE. MY SHORTEST RUN WAS A 2.5 MILE RUN ONE SUNDAY TO THE PARK AND BACK WITH THE FAMILY! 

JUST LIKE LAST MONTH THE MID-WEEK LONGER RUNS ARE PROVING THEMSELVES TO BE HARD TO GET IN. I'VE HAD TO SPLIT MOST OF THEM UP RUNNING A FEW MILES ON THE TREADMILL AT THE LOCAL YMCA IN THE MORNING AND FINISHING IT OUT IN THE AFTERNOON AFTER BRANDON GETS HOME! WE ARE MAKING IT WORK THOUGH!

HERE IS MY TOTAL MILEAGE:
JANUARY: 25.45 MILES
FEBRUARY: 0
MARCH: 15.2 MILES
APRIL: 50.2 MILES
MAY: 69.1 MILES
JUNE: 86.55 MILES
JULY: 83.4 MILES
AUGUST: 139.6 MILES
SEPTEMBER: 137 MILES
OCTOBER: 143.45 MILES

TOTAL FOR THE YEAR: 749.95

I HAVE 250 MILES LEFT TO RUN THIS YEAR.
BIG GOALS REQUIRE HARD WORK, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO CROSS THIS FINISH LINE KNOWING I WORKED HARD TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL!




 
SOMETHING I AM RE-LEARNING EVERY WEEKEND WHEN I TRY TO FIT IN MY LONG RUNS IS THAT MARATHON TRAINING IS HARD. 3 PLUS SOLID HOURS OF RUNNING IS A LOT OF TIME WHEN THERE IS A HANDSOME MAN, AND 2 YOUNG BABIES WAITING FOR YOU AT HOME. ESPECIALLY WITH ONE BABY THAT IS STILL NOT SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT AND IS BREASTFEEDING.

MARATHON TRAINING BEGAN, ALARMS STARTED BEING SET FOR 5 OR 5:30 ON SATURDAY FOR BRANDON BEFORE HIS BIG RACE AND MY SCHEDULE CHANGES EVERY WEEKEND DEPENDING ON WHEN GRAYSON WAKES UP TO EAT. A FEW WEEKENDS I HAVE BEEN UP AT 4:00 TO FEED HIM AND OUT THE DOOR BY 4:45 TO HIT THE ROAD. 

MARATHON TRAINING IS HARD.
MARATHON TRAINING WITH A 8 MONTH OLD AND A 2 YEAR OLD IS EVEN HARDER.
SOMETHING I LEARNING EACH WEEKEND AS I POUND OUT 10, 15, 18+ MILES IS THAT MARATHON TRAINING IS WORTH IT,
EVEN THE EARLY WAKE UP CALLS.