Fall Trip to Brown County

Kaitlyn and Jackson were on fall break this past Thursday and Friday.  We took our third annual trip to Brown County State Park.  It is absolutely beautiful there this time of year.

Brown County State Park

We stayed in a cabin called The Snoozing Moose Lounge for 2 nights this year.  It is so cozy and secluded.  The views from the porches were amazing.

Porch at the Cabin

Warm and Cozy

The kids loved playing around in the leaves, playing family games, and their favorite thing was the hot tub.  My favorite thing was just hanging out with them.

Front Porch

Hot Tub

We also did lots of hiking at the State Park.  Nothing too intense though with a two year old.

Lots of Trails

Climbing Trees

Nathan loves to be outside!

Our dog, Indy

It was a perfect little get away.  I didn't check my phone, email, or blogs for 2 days.  Just what I needed...no feeling bad about how I am not running 10+ miles at at 7 something pace, not worrying about work, laundry, etc.  Just relaxing.

But when I came back to the real world...I had a big present waiting for me.  The pavement!
Yes it has been 3 weeks and my foot is feeling great.  So I did it.

My first run back.  I was scared at first.  Would my legs remember what to do, would my foot hold up, would my lungs be able to keep up.

I felt great for the first mile.  8:20 pace.  I thought...Yes, cross training does work.  Then, oooh, my legs feel heavy, my lungs are burning, and every mile seems to take forever.  But then I remembered how grateful I am to be running at all.  So I slowed down (a lot) and just enjoyed myself.  I did pick it up for the last mile.  I ran just over 5 miles at an average pace of 8:36.

The Monon Trail was Beautiful

I need to work on my endurance.  I need to work on losing these 5+ pounds I have gained while not running.  I need to work on not getting injured again.

But, I love, love, love running.  Yes spinning is ok.  Swimming is fun.  Core work is hard (I did this the first time on Monday and I am still sore).  But nothing compares to running for me.  It is part of me.  I feel complete again.

Happy Running!

My Thoughts on the Gym

I went to the gym 4 times this week.  I am pretty sure that is a record for me.  Even though I love to exercise, I don't love the gym.

I don't feel like I fit in to the gym stereotype.  There are so many cute girls/women there with their cute little outfits and their hair and make up just perfect.  Definitely not me!

But I continue to go because... I can't run.

I  did another spinning class today.  I think I finally found something that will hold me over until I can run again.  I was a sweaty mess.  The class was packed today.  Maybe 50 people.  They actually ran out of spin bikes.

Now even though the class is made up of all shapes and sizes, the front row of girls (and a few guys) are definitely hard core.  I guess some people love biking as much as running.  I don't get it;)

The biggest thing I don't get at the gym is the people that read a book or magazine while they are working out.  Are you there to read or workout?  If I can read then I am not working hard enough.  To me it's like studying while watching TV.  It can be done, but not very well.

There are many other things I don't quite get.  I think I could get burnt out from the gym pretty quick but I have a big goal to reach.  That sub 4 hour marathon will be mine.  Someday!  Until then, I will see you at the gym.

My First Spin Class

Today I took my first spin class.  It was sweatastic!  I have heard from so many people what a great workout spin classes were and it did not disappoint.  My work schedule was flipped around this week and so I had this morning off work.  Ryan also had some free time this morning so we both went to the spin class.

This is the best work out I have had in months.  Since my foot caused me so much pain while running, I was not able to push myself for a long time.  I have been swimming a lot but I still never feel like I get in a great work out.  I felt so good after today's workout.

The instructor was also amazing.  She pushed us but also kept giving inspirational words throughout the work out.  It is very rainy here today and so she said things like, "May you be the sunshine for everyone you meet today."  So cute.

If you are intimated to take a class at the gym, this is the class for you.  First setting up the bike is easy and there will be many people there that can help you.  There are no steps to learn.  Also you could have your resistance at the highest or lowest point and no one will know.  Everyone works at their own pace.

Even though I am excited for my next spin class, I wish I could run so much more.  But still no running for awhile.

Foot update: My foot feels great!  I can finally walk on it with no pain.  I hope to be running again in a couple of weeks.  Until then I will be doing lots of swimming and hopefully spinning too.

My First DNF

I did not finish the Chicago Marathon.  I made it to mile 14 and then I had to stop.  I really knew from mile 3 that I wasn't going to make it.  I think I am glad that I tried though.

Overall, the weekend was a lot of fun.  Ryan and I dropped off the kids at my sister's house.  (I owe a huge thank-you to Katie and Bart for watching my kiddos.  She has three children of her own and had 6 kids under the age of 7 at her house Saturday and Sunday.  Wow-not that is hard work!)

When we arrived in Chicago, we picked up our packet.  Then we ate at Lou Malnatis.  Yummy!  I love deep dish pizza.


I slept ok on Saturday night.  We had the best hotel room possible.  Thanks to my mom who got the room for us!  It was a lot of fun watching them get organized in the morning from our window.

I look ready but I am not

View from our room

I met up with Jacque, Aimee, and Meghan at 6:30 and headed to the start.  The corral was packed.  Their goal was a 4:15 marathon and I was just going to follow them along.  We were so packed in that it was hard to get off to a good start.  Also running with 4 people in such a huge marathon is difficult.  I felt like I was constantly looking around for them.

I never got into a groove during my short run.  My foot was painful from the first step.  My form was off from the first step.  I knew after a few miles that I had the wrong decision to run this race.

The crowds were amazing!  The best cheering I have ever heard!

At mile 10, the pain in my foot really intensified.  Then at mile 12, my right hip started hurting.  I knew this was because my form was so off.  When I saw the medic tent at mile 14, the decision to stop was easy.  I was talking to one guy that had also stopped because he was also running on a stress fracture in his foot.  We described the exact pain.

Moral of the story:  DO NOT RUN ON A STRESS FRACTURE!

Ryan met up with me and we walked back to our hotel room and that was it.

Now it is time for me to take care of this foot.  I will not be running for awhile.  Lots of swimming and biking.

I need some time to heal my foot and my pride.  I have plans to run many more marathons in the future.  I just need to get my body healthy first.

I also think that I will stop blogging for awhile.  Maybe when I start running again, I will start back.

In the meantime, if you run...keep going.   If you are thinking about running...do it!  It may feel hard at first but if you stick with it, I promise it will be worth it.

Happy Running Everyone!

Chicago Marathon Goals

I have ONE goal for this race:  TO FINISH! (with no further injury)

I honestly don't know if I will be able to finish.  I have never said this before a race.  But I will be running on a significant injury.  What if the pain becomes too much?

I will have no time goals for this race.  On one hand this is good because it takes all the pressure off.  But it does make me sad.  I really, really want to run a sub 4 hour marathon.  I know I am capable of it (when healthy).  Someday I will!!!  But this weekend will not be the time.

I usually tell myself-no walking in races.  This weekend, unfortunately, I know there will be lots of walking.  I just don't want to have to start walking early on.  That won't be good for my foot either.

So I guess I am going to start this race.  I hope to finish but don't be surprised if I don't.  Man that is painful to say.

Even though this race will not be what I had planned, overall the journey this summer has been great.

I was able to run with some great running friends and meet some more great running friends.

Me, Lisa and Jacque.  Lisa and Jacque will definitely be kicking butt this  weekend!

Jennifer and Me.  Jennifer will be running her marathon next month.

I can't believe I don't have any pictures with my super speedy friend Alyssa.  Next training cycle...


I ran with a lot of family.  My husband, my daughter, my sister, and even my brother.

Ryan and me after a hot and hilly run at Eagle Creek.  I can't wait to be able to push myself like that again.

The best pacer around-Miss  Kaitlyn

Me and Katie.  She is a natural runner.

Mike and me.  He kicked butt in his first half marathon this summer.  I hope he gets the running bug now.

I even did some hard cross training with a great friend.

Christy making the bike look easy.  Unfortunately Christy also has an injury that will prevent her from running the Chicago Marathon this year.  She will be running her marathon next year.

Not a bad running summer at all.  It's the journey that matters and not the destination, right?

The race is on Sunday.  I am nervous but in a much different way than I normally am before a race.  Until then I will be resting and icing...Maybe that will help?

Weekly Recap: One more week?????

This has been the biggest roller coaster ride...  My training started off slow, then went well, then came the injury, then some recovery, then bam my foot gives out.

I ran my last significant run on Saturday and it finally happened.  My foot crashed!  I knew it was coming. My foot has been hurting more.  When I run I always have a cramping feeling in my foot with occasional shooting pains that last about a minute.  On Saturday, the shooting pain did not go away.  I literally could not walk on it at all over the weekend.  I was even using crutches.

I wanted to get in to see the ortho doctor but he couldn't get me in today.  What?  I guess this is how the real world works.  But as a Pediatrician, this would never happen in our office.  If a patient wants to be seen, we will fit them in.  Anyway, he did order me an xray.  (Which is really just what I wanted anyway.) Xray results:  completely normal.  Still can't see my stress fracture (which is normal).  But at least no further damage was done?

He said... I can run and to use pain as my guide.

So will I run the Chicago Marathon in 6 days?

I don't know yet.  I am not going to run at all this week.  I will just wait and see how much better my foot feels by Sunday.  If my pain does not significantly improve, I will not be able to run.

Weekly Recap:

Monday: 6 miles
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 5 miles
Friday:  Rest
Saturday: 8 miles (My legs felt so good on this run, too bad my foot didn't)
Sunday: Rest

Not much running went on last week so I am not sure why my foot decided to act up.