ON THE MENU: 21 MILES, ONE BLISTER, A SORE KNEE & PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE

WE'RE NOW INTO THE MILES OF PAIN. MOST OF US HAVE SOME PAIN, AT THIS POINT. GOD BLESS YOU IF YOU'RE PAIN-FREE. POOR DREW IS IN GOBS OF PAIN. I THINK HE NEEDS AN X-RAY, BUT INSTEAD HE SPENDS HIS NIGHTS DRAPED IN FREEZER BAGGIES FULL OF ICE. WE'RE SO OPPOSITE. I HARDLY STRETCH AND NEVER ICE. TSK TSK..

AHHHHH, BUT THIS IS IT! OUR LAST REALLY LONG RUN BEFORE RACE DAY, MAY 22! TWENTY-ONE MILES AT 7. SEVEN AM, THAT IS, NOT 7 PACE. :) JUST TO CLARIFY. WE IRISH DON'T RUN THAT FAST. THEN, AN EASY 12 OR 13 NEXT WEEKEND. WHEN 13 MILES BECOMES A QUICK AND EASY RUN, YOU KNOW IT'S TIME TO... TAPER, BABY! WHAOOO...I LOVE THE WORD, "TAPER."

I'LL CATCH UP WITH YOU TOMORROW, AT SOME POINT, IF MY FINGERS AREN'T TOO TIRED...

BEFORE I GO I NEED TO THANK MY DEAR FRIEND, MICHELLE, FOR HELPING ME ALL MORNING WITH MY SLIDE SHOW FOR THE MARATHON SPEECH (AND A COUPLE OF OTHER SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS I HAVE COMING UP NEXT WEEK). MICHELLE, YOU'RE A GIFT. I LOVE YOU AND AM GRATEFUL FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR ANSERING THE PHONE EVEN WHEN YOU SEE IT'S MY NUMBER. :) YOU MAKE ME GIGGLE.

GOOD NIGHT...MUST SET OUT MY CLOTHES, CHECK THE WEATHER AND WIND, AGAIN, POUR MYSELF A GLASS OF WINE EXTRA CARBS :) AND CLIMB INTO BED...

PS I HEAR THE ICE BAGS BEING FILLED, EVEN AS I TYPE. POOR THING.

With a head full of metal and a heart full of gratitude, I am...

RUNNING WITH A PURPOSE...PLEASE HELP ME
Hi Everyone! Don’t be alarmed: the bold print is for my benefit. Yes, my sight remains an issue. The progress is slower and more subtle than I'd like, but I have moved forward, in so many important ways! Aside from feeling remarkably blessed, I feel wonderful and very strong! We've all adjusted well. Even Harper's getting used to mommy walking into her and knocking her over! She doesn't look up at me with a shocked look on her face anymore! Hooray! Progress!!

Once my doctors gave me the thumbs-up to start running again, I decided to continue our tradition of participating in the Fargo marathon, May 22nd. Little did I realize how much endurance and muscle-mass I had lost while recovering. Needless to say, I sucked air for months. But, I am so excited to report that Drew and I are still (somewhat) upright, upbeat and closing in on the last few weeks of our training. I'll be running with a wing-man on my right side, to avoid getting hurt or hurting anyone who enters my blind spots. Please don't be alarmed, if you spot me on the course and I'm sobbing. Every milestone brings tears of joy and celebration. So, unless I indicate I need one, don't call the medics. :) It's weird, but I'm just celebrating...

Along the miles, each step I take will be for a purpose. I want to remember and honor those who have suffered or died from a brain aneurysm.

I am running this year’s Fargo marathon for them. And, I am running in an attempt to raise money and awareness for brain aneurysm research and cutting edge treatment options for brain aneurysms, insuring the very best care for patients and their families.

PLEASE HELP ME MAKE A DIFFERENCE. PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A TAX-DEDUCTICLE CHARITABLE DONATION TO:

www.healtheast.org/foundation/foundation-donation.html and click on the link: National Brain Aneurysm Center & St. Joseph’s Neurosciences Fund to donate. Please specify “In honor of Kathleen Wrigley,” just so I can send a proper thank you!

Also, if you know of anyone who has passed away or suffered from a brain aneurysm, please email me their name and a picture, so I can honor them.

And, if you're in town on May 21 @ 5:30 pm, stop by the Fargodome for the pasta feed. I am one of the speakers that evening. I'm quite sure I was still sedated when Mark Knutson, the race director, asked me to share my journey! Gulp! Friendly faces in the crowd would be a treat! I will have a slide show scrolling behind me with the names and faces of my fellow brain aneurysm friends!

Finally, your prayers and friendship have comforted us and carried us through some really dark moments and we are more grateful than we can describe. Some of our biggest blessings are seen through our toughest battles, and through the dust, our family has witnessed beautiful, kind acts that are imprinted in our memories and on our hearts forever.

With a grateful heart and a brain full of medal, I thank you!
And, with love &, of course, tears of joy always,
Kathleen (my turn: on behalf of Drew, Quinn, Patrick and Harper)

PS check out our blogs at: www.fargomarathon.com (click on the featured runners, and click on our pictures. Drew's a lame blogger and doesn't have many entries. :) Also, go to www.onthemindsofmoms.com to read some of the articles I've written along the way...

IF IT'S NOT YOURS, DON'T DRINK IT!

I SET OUT THIS MORNING TO DROP WATER AT APPROPRIATE MILES, FOR HYDRATION ALONG THE 13.1 MILE COURSE. TO MY ABSOLUTE SURPRISE, THE WATER AT MILE 4 WAS GONE. VANISHED. ZIPPO. SOMEONE HAD TAKEN IT FOR THEMSELVES. I WAS SHOCKED, AND THIRSTY.

NOW, I DON'T MIND SHARING. HONESTLY. IN FACT, I PRAYED THAT THE WATER I DROPPED AT MILE 6.6 WOULD STILL BE AVAILABLE...AND IT WAS...HALF OF IT! I COULD'VE BEEN GROSSED OUT, LIKE MY HUSBAND WAS WHEN I TOLD HIM I GUZZLED IT AFTER SOME OTHER PERFECT STRANGER HAD DOWNED HALF OF IT, BUT I WAS DANG THIRSTY AND DESPERATE. SEE, I DON'T MIND SHARING.

BUT, LEAVE SOME FOR THE DESPERATE FOOL WHO TOOK THE TIME TO DRIVE HER COURSE THIS MORNING TO PLANT WATER STOPS ALONG THE WAY OF HER LONG RUN! GEESH. I COULD'VE USED MORE THAN 3 BIG GULPS OF MOISTURE FOR 13.1 MILES OF TIMED RUNNING!

NOTE TO ALL RUNNERS: WATER BOTTLES JUST DON'T SHOW UP ALONG THE WAY FOR YOUR LONG RUNS. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBITY TO PLANT THEM, OR CARRY THEM, OR WRAP THEM AROUND YOUR WASTE, OR DROP BY A BUSINESS TO SIP OFF A WATER FOUNTAIN. MARK KNUTSON AND HIS WONDERFUL TEAM WILL HAVE WATER AT APPROPRIATE INTERVALS THROUGHOUT THE RACE. BUT, UNTIL RACE DAY, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN!

IF IT'S NOT YOURS, DONT DRINK IT...OR AT THE VERY LEAST, SAVE SOME FOR THE POOR, THIRSTY FOOL WHO PLANTED IT!

SORRY, BUT I HAD TO VENT. MY RUN WAS MADE MORE DIFFICULT THIS MORNING BC OF DEHYDRATION.

THE NIGHT BEFORE A LONG RUN...

PREPPING FOR A LONG RUN TAKES TIME. I ONLY (IT'S ALL RELETIVE) HAVE 13.1 MILES (HALF MARATHON) TO DO IN THE MORNING, BUT MY TRAINING SCHEDULED WANTS ME TO DO IT IN 1:50 (UGH).

HERE'S HOW I PREPARE SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE:
*WATCH WHAT I EAT SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE LONG RUNS (NO REALLY SPICEY STUFF, YOU KNOW!)
*START HYDRATING...WATER WATER WATER!
*MAP OUT MY ROUTE(EITHER IN MY MIND OR DRIVE A COURSE) OR DEFER TO MY WING-MEN :)
*CONSIDER AVAILABLE/POSSIBLE BATHROOM AND WATER STOPS IN THE ROUTE
*CHECK WEATHER.COM FOR TEMPS, WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION

EVENING BEFORE:
*CHARGE MY GARMIN WATCH & IPOD
*CHECK THE WEATHER AND WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION...AGAIN
*SET OUT WATER, CLIFF BLOCKS (MY NEW FAVORITE ELECTROLYTE SUPPLIER-STRAWBERRY-YUMMY)
EXTRA PIECES OF GUM, A COTTON SOCK (WHICH I USE TO BLOW MY NOSE, AFTER I FARMER-BLOW (SORRY, I DO)
*TAKE IBUPROFIN
*CHECK WEATHER...AGAIN
*TEXT MY PEEPS TO CONFIRM TIME AND PLACE
*HAVE A GLASS OF WINE OR A BEER (WHAT? RUNNERS NEED CARBS)

MORNING OF A LONG RUN:
*COFFEE
*LIGHT BREAKFAST OF TOAST WITH BUTTER AND JELLY
*WATER, WATER, WATER
*CHECK WEATHER...AGAIN :)
*PUT GLIDE ON ANY UNSUSPECTING SPOTS WHERE SEAMS OF SHORTS OR TIGHTS CAUSE CHAFFING. USUALLY, THERE ARE PLACES I FORGET TO GLIDE AND FIND OUT WHEN I STEP INTO THE SHOWER AND FEEL THE BURN OF THE CHAFFED SKIN---OWEY
*TAKE A PILL TO RELIEVE ANY TUMMY ISSUES. THIS IS A LEARNED BEHAVIOR, FOLLOWING MANY LONG RUNS AND RACES. IT'S REALLY A WONDER DRUG THAT HELPS RELAX MY TUMMY. OTHERWISE, I SPEND THE ENTIRE DAY ON THE COUCH...ISN'T RUNNING FUN.
*SIP MORE COFFEE
*START GETTING DRESSED
*ASSEMBLE MY GARMIN WATCH TO CATCH THE SATTELITE
*LACE UP
*AND DRIVE TO OUR START DESTINATION!

WE'RE OFF...

TRAINING TAKES GOBS OF TIME AND PREPARATION. IT'S WORTH IT, THOUGH, WHEN YOU RUN PAST THE WONDERFUL FARGO SPECTATORS THAT LINE THE STREETS WITH THEIR SIGNS, WHISTLES AND HOOTS, GALLOP (OR CRAWL) THROUGH THE FINISH LINE AND SLIDE YOUR HEAD INTO THAT BEAUTIFUL MEDAL! INCIDENTALLY, FARGO HAS SOME OF THE BEST MEDALS YOU'LL FIND IN A RACE.

SO, GET GOING. SET OUT YOUR STUFF, CHECK THE WIND DIRECTION, AND CRACK OPEN A BREWSKI...IT'S PART OF THE GAME PLAN...RELAX AND ENJOY!

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!
KATHLEEN

RUNNING WITH A PURPOSE...PLEASE HELP ME

Brain Aneurysm Awareness
I am running this year’s Fargo marathon in an attempt to raise money and awareness for brain aneurysm research and cutting edge treatment options for brain aneurysms, insuring the very best care for patients and their families.

PLEASE HELP ME MAKE A DIFFERENCE. PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A TAX-DEDUCTICLE CHARITABLE DONATION TO:

www.healtheast.org/foundation/foundation-donation.html and click on the link: National Brain Aneurysm Center & St. Joseph’s Neurosciences Fund to donate. Please specify “In honor of Kathleen Wrigley,” just so I can send a proper thank you!

The other side of 20...

NO, IT DIDN'T TAKE ME 24 HOURS TO FINISH. :) BUT, IT'S BEEN A PRETTY HECTIC WEEKEND, WITH BACK-TO-BACK FAMILY THINGS ON THE SCHEDULE. THIS IS MY FIRST MINUTE (SO, IT'LL BE A QUICKIE) TO TELL YOU HOW THINGS WENT...

CAN I START BY SAYING..........."YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" JODI ROPER AND I HUFFED IT OUT FOR THE FULL 20. THANK YOU, JODI. I WOULD'VE BEEN WEEPY AT THE END, IT BEING ANOTHER POST-SURGICAL MILESTONE FOR ME AND ALL, BUT I THINK I MIGHT'VE BEEN DEHYDRATED AND NUMB BC I HAD NO TEARS...UNTIL LATER IN THE DAY, THAT IS.

WE LOOKED LIKE A FORMIDABLE RUNNING GROUP! WE WERE A HERD: JODI, KRISTI, CATHERINE, CORY, KIM, PHYLLIS, NICOLE AND OUR TOKEN MALE: RYAN. SOME HAD 10 TO DO. SOME 6. THERE WAS ONE 15 MILER. AND, A 4. IT WAS SUPER FUN. NOW, GRANTED, I KNOW HOW MORBIDLY RIDICULOUS THAT SOUNDS, "20 MILES OF 'SUPER FUN,'" BUT, REALLY IT WAS!

JODI AND I FELT GREAT! WE PUSHED THROUGH THE FINAL 6 MILES, JUST THE TWO OF US.

HONESTLY, I NEEDED THIS ONE! THE LAST 3 WEEKS OF TRAINING HAVE BEEN A BUST FOR ME. OF COURSE, I'VE CHECKED OFF EVERY STEP, ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. MY LONG RUNS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, MOSTLY BY FIGHTING WITH THE WIND. AND, ALTHOUGH THE WIND DIDN'T WIN, IT NEARLY CHOKED ME.

I HAVEN'T FELT STRONG OR CONFIDENT...ALL PART OF TRAINING, I'VE BEEN TELLING MYSELF. BUT, AFTER YESTERDAY, I AM BACK IN THE GAME, AND FEEL REALLY GOOD (EVEN TODAY, I'M NOT LIMPING OR MOPING, OR ANYTHING). HOPE I DON'T SOUND TOO BRAGADOCIOUS, I REALLY DON'T' MEAN TO. HOWEVER, I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING, AND AM AS SURPRISED AS ANYONE TO BE ECSTATIC ABOUT HOW GOOD I FEEL. HENCE, THE "YAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..."

ENJOY TODAY! GOOD DAY FOR A RUN OR BIKE RIDE, OR THE DINOSAUR SHOW! THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND US, AT THE DOME, ENVISIONING MY SUCCESSFUL FINISH LINE!

20 miles this morning...

TALK TO YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 20...SO SLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPY. UP TOO LATE. WE HAD THE OAK GROVE GALA LAST NIGHT. GREAT FUN, BUT PAYING FOR IT ALREADY. WISH US LUCK!

Check it out: "On the Minds of Moms" on stands now..."just a thought" column, by kathleen wrigley, that's me. For my grandmother, Grace (Kelly) Boyle

just a thought

imprints
story by: kathleen wrigley

Our grandparent’s, or family elders, are uniquely positioned to influence us. Most often, they aren’t saddled with the daily rut and responsibility of raising their grandchildren. The culmination of their history and experience and placement in our lives, provides a nice recipe for us to learn. It’s up to us to tap into that expertise!

Eight years ago, I was in Ashland, Pennsylvania for the annual Kelly family reunion. My grandmom, Grace [Kelly] Boyle, and I sat in a bedroom and talked. She invited me to ask her anything. We chatted about family members and family stories that we’d never discussed before. It was the closest I’d ever felt to grandmom Boyle, and it paved the way for the relationship we have today.

My grandmom is not the type of grandma that most our kids know. Oh, she’s a good grandparent. She loves each of us dearly. But, she didn’t play with us when we were growing up, or dole out many hugs and “I love yous’.” Her generation, sometimes, had a different idea of their roles. I remember many of our elders shushing us, saying, “Children should be seen not heard.” Can you imagine the crooked looks we’d get from kids today?!

Gracie Boyle turns 91, on May 29th. Anyone who’s lived that long has endured. She has always been proud, practical, tough, and quick with an opinion or advice and never minces words, similar to many of her generation. Grandmom’s stoicism and strength have guided her through a large share of heartache. She lost her mom to breast cancer, when she was just ten. She’s lived through the deaths of all six of her siblings, nursed her husband through lung cancer and lost him to the disease. Her only daughter was killed in a car accident. And we witnessed her age before our eyes, as our family endured the loss of her oldest grandchild, my brother, Danny, who was killed in the line of duty as a rookie Philadelphia police officer.

Childhood memories float into our consciousness. They’re often influential, allowing us to consider those moments, again.

I can recall grandmom sitting at the kitchen table, deftly handling a ciggy in one hand [fingers pointed and nails perfectly manicured], and sipping on her one cold mug of beer a day. Her house was filled with Irish accents and memorabilia that told visitors, “I am 100% Irish and proud of it.”

Incidentally, Grandmom quit smoking at the age of 80, right before gall-bladder surgery. When I asked, “Why stop now?” she answered, with a grin, “I wasn’t ready to before.” She definitely called the shots!

Grandparents of her generation were practical, too. She fit the mold. Our Christmas gifts year after year, were winter coats. We needed them, and she provided them. I don’t remember a toy. As we grew older, the coats were replaced with a card and a check, to “buy something we need.”

I remember the smell of grandmom Boyle’s roast beef dinners. She made the same thing, every visit, knowing it was our favorite: roast beef, home-made coleslaw, mashed potatoes, and corn. I used to mix them all together! The 7-up bottles we drank were a treat, too. To this day, I don’t pass the green 7-up cases in Hornbacher’s without noticing and smiling. She’d be pleased, knowing I hold these memories close to my heart.

Across the decades, she stiffened her back through pain and sadness. I have spent my life, watching grandmom from the periphery, until that visit eight years ago, when I began to absorb her. There was an invitation to share these memories, our pain. And, sitting together we cried and laughed, as we zigzagged through our life-lines, and I welcomed her imprint.

Since then, grandmom and I have had some of the most memorable conversations and have built a relationship, much deeper than I would have predicted. The years have changed her. As she aged, her shell has softened. Or, is it that I grew up and grabbed my chance to learn from her? Either way, our relationship blossomed. And I connected to her wisdom and history. I hesitate to think what would have happed had I let that opportunity slip away from me.

Now, time has just about run out for us. She’s frail, can’t hear, and is mostly confused. Still, in true grandmom Boyle style, she continues on, at peace, knowing her mark is indelibly imprinted.

Recently, we flew to see grandmom. I recognize this may be one of our last times together. Despite her hearing deficit and memory lapses, the conversation flowed loudly, but easily, and we laughed, even giggled, at times. Each visit is a wonderful souvenir for my kids, whom she doesn’t remember, but enjoys as they yell into her face asking if she needs anything, “a sip of iced tea, tissue, or how ‘bout your walker?” My nine year old daughter drinks in every ounce of her great-grandmother. She sits next to her and holds her hand, examining the wrinkles, rubbing them gingerly. This kid gets it. At nine, her intuition is one of her most astonishing gifts.

Our visit was special. At one point, for a moment, grandmom looked up at me and pointed, with a twinkle in her eye and a mild gasp, that told me, “I know you. I remember you’re woven in my life, somehow.” It was gone as quickly as it came, but I won’t forget that look for as long as I live.

Grandmom has spent her years living a simple, practical life. She focused on her responsibilities and provided for her family. Yes, she’s endured, and built a legacy of strength and perseverance. And somewhere, along the way, probably after bringing another generation into our family, it struck me that grandmom is an enduring influence in my life, a vital part of my narrative.

She’s left her imprint on me...my heart...my family. When life throws me unexpected curveballs, I don’t duck. I try to stand tall, hang in there and endure, just like Gracie Boyle would expect. I’m doing my best, grandmom. Thanks for leading the way.

We will always love you…

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

MORNING! PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, NEIGHBORS, OR EVEN STRANGERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR'S MARATHON! IF YOU NEVER HAVE, COME OUT. I KNOW IT APPEARS TO BE A LITTLE INTIMIDATING, BUT IT'S REALLY GREAT FUN TO BE SUCH A PART OF SOMETHING SO BIG FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I CAN COMPARE THE CAMARADERIE OF OUR COMMUNITY TO, IS THE FLOOD FIGHT LAST YEAR. IT'S LIKE WE'RE ONE HUMONGOUS TEAM, ALL IN IT TOGETHER, WHETHER YOU'RE A RUNNER, WALKER, WHEELER, OR A VOLUNTEER. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND, AND I PROMISE YOU WON'T REGRET IT. PLUS, MARK AND HIS TEAM GIVE THE BEST GOODIE BAGS OUT FOR PARTICIPANTS!

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, GLORIA WRIGLEY, HAS WALKED THE HALF-MARATHON JUST ABOUT EVERY YEAR! GLORIA'S 70 SOMETHING. SORRY, G, I PROMISE I WON'T TELL. SHE GROWLS EVERY TIME SHE CROSSES THE FINISH LINE IN THE DOME, AND THEY YELL OUT HER NAME AND AGE! IT'S AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND WE'RE PROUD OF HER ALWAYS! SHE'S SIGNED UP AGAIN THIS YEAR! GO, G!

AND, THEN THERE'S MY MOM, NANCY BOYLE, WHO IS UNABLE TO RUN THESE DAYS BC OF HORRIBLE KNEES, BUT TREKS OUT FROM THE BIG CITY (PHILADELPHIA) AND SPEED WALKS THE HALF-MARATHON, MOST YEARS. MY MOM'S 60. SHE'LL BE HERE AGAIN, THIS YEAR!

THEY'RE BOTH JUST SOME OF THE STUDETTES PARTICIPATING!

GO NOW TO WWW.FARGOMARATHON.COM TO JOIN THE FUN AND SIGN UP FOR ONE OF THE RACES! IT'S WONDERFUL FUN, AND I PROMISE YOU'LL FEEL SO PROUD.

KATHLEEN
PS DREW AND I ARE STILL ON COURSE FOR THE FULL MARATHON. OPTIMISTICALLY KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED...WE GET TO DO 20 MILES THIS WEEKEND.

what a difference a year makes...

OK. SO, THIS ISN'T REALLY ABOUT RUNNING. I DECIDED TO TAKE A BREAK...FOR JUST THIS BLOG. BUT, I DID WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU.

I'VE BEEN OBSESSED WITH MY HAIR. FIRST, MANY OF YOU WHO KNOW ME, HAVE KNOWN ME TO HAVE SHORT, CHOPPY HAIR. IT'S EASY. IT LOOKS FINE...AND DID I MENTION HOW EASY IT IS? REALLY EASY. SO, SINCE MY SURGERIES, I'VE LET IT GROW BC:
1. THE LONGER THE HAIR THE MORE IT HID MY SCAR AND THE GROWTH OF HAIR FROM THE INCISION. AND,
2. I LOST A BIG PATCH OF HAIR IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD, FROM THE RADIATION THEY USE DURING THE 2ND COILING SURGERY, AND THE LONG HAIR COVERED THAT PATCH NICELY.

SOOOO....IT'S LONG-ER...FOR ME. ANYWAY, NOW WITH SUMMER ON ITS WAY, THE EASE OF MY SHORT DO IS TEMPTING ME TO CHOP IT ALL OFF AGAIN.

WHAT TO DO...

IN THE MIDST OF MY OBSESSION, I REALIZED... WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES!!!!

LAST SUMMER I/WE WERE TRYING TO GATHER RESEARCH AND ADVICE AND SEARCH OUR SOULS FOR DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE AS TO WHETHER WE NEEDED TO GO THE "CRANIOTOMY ROUTE" OR GO IN THE "COILING DIRECTION" AGAIN. TRY AS WE MIGHT TO BE IN CONTROL, WE'RE NOT ALWAYS THE DECISION-MAKERS. IN MY CASE, I ENDED UP GOING THE CRANIOTOMY ROUTE, FOR WHAT I THOUGHT TO BE A CURATIVE END TO MY BRAIN DILEMMAS, AND ENDED UP WAKING UP WITH PARTIAL BLINDNESS AND BEING TOLD THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE COILING 7 WEEKS LATER, ANYWAY!!! HOW'S THAT FOR PLANNING?!

SO, INSTEAD OF OBSESSING, I EMBRACE MY NEW DAUNTING, DECISION-MAKING TASK OF WHETHER OR NOT TO CONTINUE TO GROW MY HAIR OUT, OR GET IT CUT SHORT AND EASY AND CHOPPY AGAIN. OR...EXTENSIONS. JUUUUST KIDDING. OH MY GOSH, DREW WOULD DIE!!!

CRANKY AND TIRED

OK. THIS IS THE TIME THAT I COMPLAIN ABOUT TRAINING. WE'RE TIRED. CRANKY. MOODY. DID I MENTION TIRED?

MY ALARM SOUNDED THIS MORNING AT 5:10. I WANTED TO PUNCH SOMEONE. INSTEAD, I SNOOZED...3X'S. SORRY, DREW.

I STARTED TO FEEL THE EFFECTS KICK IN OF THE SAME BUG THAT MY KIDS AND HUSBAND FELT THIS WEEKEND. WAVES OF NAUSEOUSNESS. STILL, I PULLED MYSELF OUT OF BED AND TREKKED TO THE GYM, FOR WHAT SHOULD'VE BEEN SPEED WORK. INSTEAD, ALL I COULD MUSTER WAS 3 MILES OF A MILDLY SPEEDY RUN. I DECIDED THE SMOOTH LINES OF THE ELLIPTICAL TRAINER WOULD BETTER SUIT MY CONDITION. THAT LASTED ANOTHER 20 MINUTES.

WAHHHH...EVERYTHING HURTS AND I DON'T FEEL GOOD.

TOMORROW'S ANOTHER DAY. SPEED WORK, HERE I COME...IF I'M NOT THROWING UP, THAT IS. :)

KATHLEEN

HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY, PATTY DONAT!

WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR OWN BLOG, YOU GET TO POST FUN NOTES, LIKE THIS ONE! :)

NOW, GO SHINE YOUR STUBBY NAILS WITH THE RAINBOW POLISH JANEY GAVE YOU. LET YOUR INNER PRINCESS SHINE THROUGH FOR YOUR KIDDOS TODAY! FANCY PANTS.

YAHOOO...

LOVE YOU,
KATHLEEN
(ALIASES: SPECIAL K, SPEEDBUMP, K-WRIG)

17 TOUGH MILES = SIX CRANBERRY SCONES

OK. SO I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE TOUGH RUNS. BUT, STILL IT'S FRUSTRATING. TODAY WAS MY TURN FOR A BAD ONE.

WE SET OUT TO RUN OUR 17 MILES ON "GOOD" FRIDAY. I WAS ILL-PREPARED. THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN MY FIRST CLUE. RUSHING TO GET OUT THE DOOR TO MEET MY FRIEND, KRISTI WHO REARRANGED HER SCHEDULE TO BE MY WING-WOMAN (THANK YOU, K!), I WAS GRABBING AND THROWING WATER AND GUM AND MY GARMIN WATCH INTO MY BAG AS I LEFT THE HOUSE. TYPICALLY, I LAY EVERYTHING OUT THE EVENING BEFORE A LONG RUN. NO TIME TO PROPERLY PREPARE THIS WEEK. AS I STRAPPED MY GARMIN ON MY WRIST, I REALIZED I HADN'T EVEN RE-CHARGED IT, AND IT ONLY HAD 2 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE IN IT. TURNS OUT, SO DID I. :(

FORTUNATELY, DREW AND THE KIDS FOUND US AT MILE 12.63, JUST BEFORE MY GARMIN WATCH WENT KAPUT. THEY CAME ARMED WITH FRUIT SNACKS, JOLLY RANCHERS AND WATER. THAT JOLT OF SUGAR GAVE US THE BIT OF ENERGY NECESSARY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MILES.

NOT SURE OF OUR PACE OR EXACT MILEAGE, SINCE MY WATCH STOPPED AT MILE 13 SOMETHING. BUT, I AM SURE OF THIS: WE FINISHED OUR DUMB LONG RUN THIS WEEK, AND IT WAS THE TOUGHEST ONE YET FOR ME. EVERYTHING HURT.

SO, I STOPPED AT BREADSMITH'S AND ORDERED 6 CRANBERRY SCONES (WHAT? I ATE THEM PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY). I THINK THEY PUT CRACK COCAINE IN THOSE PUPPIES. I'M ADDICTED.

BAD RUN. GOOD SCONES. SOMETIMES, WE TAKE WHAT WE CAN GET...

Go, Carmen, Go!

MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, CARMEN, IS TRAINING FOR HER FIRST MARATHON! SHE'S OUT THERE, IN THE WIND AND COLD TEMPS, HUFFING OUT THOSE MILES, ONE AT A TIME...LIKE A CHAMPION, I MIGHT ADD. SHE DID 18 TODAY! EIGHTEEN MILES! FIRST-TIME EVER! I DON'T THINK SHE CAN BELIEVE HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, EITHER.

I CAUGHT UP WITH CARMENT TODAY. SHE WAS ON MILE 5 OR 6, AND I WAS JUST STARTING MY FIRST OF 17. WE RAN A BIT TOGETHER BEFORE BRANCHING OFF. HER STEPS ARE METHODICAL AND DELIBERATE, LIKE ANY CHAMPION.

CARMEN, EVEN OUR KIDS ARE CHEERING YOU ON. THEY COULDN'T WAIT TO TELL ME HOW WELL YOU DID, WHEN I RETURNED HOME, AFTER MY 17 MILES. THEY'RE PROUD OF YOU, TOO.

YOU'RE A STUD...AND AN INSPIRATION!

HAPPY EASTER!

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL EASTER WEEKEND AND HOLY WEEK!

I NEED TO DO ANOTHER 17, BUT HAVE NO WING-PEOPLE TO GUIDE ME THIS WEEK, SINCE WE'RE ALL ADJUSTING OUR SCHEDULES FOR THE HOLIDAY. SOME OF MY PEEPS RAN THIS MORNING, BUT I DID SPEED WORK YESTERDAY, SO COULDN'T ADD ANOTHER 17 A DAY LATER. THEN, OTHERS ARE DOING SATURDAY MORNING. BUT, I DON'T DARE MISS THE TRADITIONAL EASTER EGG DYING AT MY IN-LAWS ON SATURDAY MORNING. :) MOSTLY, I DON'T WANT TO MISS THE YUMMY TREATS MY MOTHER-IN-LAW SETS OUT FOR US.

SO, I'LL DO MY LONG RUN ON FRIDAY TO ACCOMADATE FOR MY SWEET TOOTH...AND FAMILY TIME, OF COURSE! UNFORTUNATELY I'LL BE ON THE DREADED TREADMILL, WITHOUT MY WING-MEN. WHAT I WON'T DO FOR A SUGAR FIX. SUCH IS LIFE...

ANNNYWAY....HAVE A BLESSED EASTER!

KATHLEEN