Taken from a friend...You can do it! And here's why...

Improve your cardiovascular health and increase your chances of living a longer life. Prove to yourself and others that you can do anything you set your mind to. Gain the confidence to tackle other challenges in your life. A few years ago, the idea of running 26.2 miles was extremely unappealing. I couldn't understand why anyone would put themselves through that kind of torture. I enjoyed running, and I thought that my 45 minutes on a treadmill was plenty. Running just five miles at a time kept me active, healthy, in shape, and energized. After running my first 10K race, I was extremely motivated to become a better runner. I had friends who were running half marathons, and I told myself that if they could do it, so could I. I started running longer distances and successfully completed a half marathon. The feeling of accomplishment was so great (and addictive) that I wanted to take my running to the next level and complete a full marathon. I'm now in training for number two! I plan on running many more marathons in my lifetime-- here are 26.2 reasons why.
1. You have something to look forward to. When you register for the marathon and have it on your calendar, you have something exciting to look forward to. As the marathon gets closer and closer, excitement and anticipation build. You'll probably be a bit anxious, as well, but the anxiety is part of the excitement.
2. Emotional release. Angry? Frustrated? Stressed? Go for a 5-mile run and I guarantee you that those problems will just melt away. You'll feel so wonderful when you're done that you will temporarily forget what you were so upset or stressed about.
3. It's a good conversation topic. When someone asks you how you spent your weekend, you can say "I did an 18-mile training run". It's likely that the person will be in awe of you and you'll have something interesting to share rather than "oh I just relaxed and watched TV".
4. Runner's high. After about 4-5 miles (perhaps a bit more depending on the person) endorphins are released into your system giving you a pleasant "high" feeling. When you have runner's high, none of your daily stresses or problems seem to matter. You're on top of the world. From personal experience, best high of all the highs ;)
5. Toned legs. Running is great exercise for your legs. When you train for a marathon, everyone at the beach will be admiring how toned and muscular your legs are.
6. Your neighbor isn't doing it. Distinguish yourself! Fewer than 1 percent of Americans have ever finished a marathon, and you can be in that elite group.
7. You learn to love and respect your body. If you have a poor body image and often find yourself complaining about your body, training a marathon will give you a new respect for your body and what it can accomplish. When I started running, I could only run one mile, and it took me 11 minutes. I was exhausted by the end of it. I was truly amazed at how my body was able to run 26.2 miles when I put the effort into training it.
8. Weight loss or weight maintenance. With all the calories you burn from running so much, you are bound to lose weight. If you are already at your ideal weight, then running will help you keep the pounds off.
9. Mental freedom. Running can be your time to zone out and give your racing thoughts a rest. Or it can be a time where you are free to reflect on your feelings and gain perspective on your life. When you are out running, there are no distractions or demands being put on you by others. Your mind can wander freely without consequence. Just be sure to watch where you're going!
10. Physical health. Training for a marathon requires that you exercise 5-6 times per week. You will greatly improve your cardiovascular health and increase your chances of living a longer, healthier life.
11. Greater music appreciation. If you like music (which most people do), running gives you an opportunity to let the music flow through your body. I strategically choose my running songs so that they motivate me and keep me energized. Music is often something we play in the background of whatever we are doing. By running, the music will take center stage, and you'll have a greater appreciation of it.
12. Carbs become your friend, not your enemy. Are you sick of hearing about how carbs are so bad for you? When you run long distances, carbs become your best friends. They give you the energy you need to keep running for an hours at a time. Enjoy that pasta dinner while everyone else is ordering burgers without the bun!
13. You can race against Oprah Winfrey. Oprah ran the Marine Corps Marathon in 4:29. Even if you don't beat her time, you can have fun trying!
14. Demonstrate that you are a highly motivated and committed individual. Prove to yourself and others that you can do anything you set your mind to. If you're on a job interview, casually mention that you ran a marathon (or are training for one) to demonstrate your motivation and passion.
15. Bond with other runners. Once you've run a marathon, you'll feel an instant connection with other marathon runners. It's a unique experience, so you'll enjoy sharing experiences. Instant friends wherever you go.
16. Improve your math skills. Marathon training requires quite a few numbers: your mileage, your pace and your overall time. Some runners even measure their heart rate with a heart rate monitor. You'll learn to pace yourself across a specific number of miles and you might find yourself doing math in your head.
17. Add structure to your life. Adhering to a training schedule gives your life structure and organization. For many people, this structure can stave off depression and give them a greater sense of purpose.
18. Boost your confidence and self-esteem. Running a marathon is such a fantastic accomplishment on so many levels. It takes athleticism, commitment, and mental stamina. Once you've finished your marathon, you'll feel wonderful about what you've achieved. It will give you the confidence to tackle other challenges in your life.
19. Enjoy the outdoors and the scenery. Spending time outdoors and having exposure sunlight is proven to stave off depression. When you run outside, you have a greater appreciation for your surroundings-- whether they are natural or industrial. If your marathon is not in your hometown, you'll have exposure to a new area. When I ran the Miami marathon in January, some runners were stopping to take photos on the course. When I ran the Marine Corps Marathon, I ran past the White House, the Capitol, the Washington Monument and the Pentagon, and the finish line was at the Iwo Jima memorial near Arlington Cemetery.
20. The medal and the T-shirt. You'll have some great souvenirs from your race, including a medal that you can display in your home, and a shirt that you can wear that tells the world you ran a marathon. Most marathons also have photographers stationed throughout the course, and you can purchase running photos of yourself as additional souvenirs.
21. The carb-loading and celebratory meal. Before your long runs and a few days before the marathon, carb-loading (eating foods with a high carbohydrate content) is necessary to give you sustained energy. And when you finish the marathon, it's customary to enjoy an indulgent meal. Go ahead, you've earned it!
22. You'll be able to say that you "did it". For the rest of your life, you will always be able to say that you ran a marathon. This could mean a number of different things to you and others. But whatever it means, you know that you "did it".
23. You know someone who ran a half marathon. The half marathon is quickly rising in popularity. In fact, within the last decade many marathons have added a half marathon option to the race so that more people can participate. Typically, the half marathon has more runners than the marathon itself. Why? Because a half marathon is half the distance, requiring half the training, dedication and commitment. It's much more accessible. Running a half marathon is certainly an achievement, and I don't mean to minimize that. But having run both half marathons and full marathons, I can say that running twice the distance is twice as rewarding.
24. Making more time for yourself. Even if you train with other people, running is your "you" time. Throughout the rest of the day, you probably have people making demands on your time and attention. Running is one thing that you can do for yourself-- an escape from the stresses of everyday life.
25. You become more in tune with your body. When you train for a marathon, you become more aware of how your body behaves and how it reacts in different situations. As you walk around throughout the day, you might be more aware of your stride, or how your legs feel, or how your shoes fit. In the weeks immediately preceding the marathon, you will be especially in tune with your body, as you will naturally have anxiety about how your body will hold up during the race.
26. Crossing the finish line is a feeling like no other. When I saw the finish line in front of me at the end of my first marathon, I felt like gold. I had such a wide range of emotions all at once: pride, relief, excitement and amazement. I couldn't believe that I had actually run an entire marathon. If I could bottle that feeling and sell it, I would no doubt be a millionaire.
0.2. Experience the power of adrenaline. When you pass the 26 mile marker and you realize that you only have a fifth of a mile left, you get a burst of adrenaline. You may have hit the so-called "wall: during the race, and you may have had times during the race where you thought you simply couldn't run any more. But all of a sudden, you realize you are almost there! The adrenaline rush hits you like a wave and pushes you to the finish line.

2008 Race Schedule

1/27: Ground Hog Run
3/29: Olathe Half Marathon
4/6: Brew 2 Brew...Teammates needed!
4/20: Lawrence Half Marathon
4/27: Trolley Run
5/18: Heritage Park Duathlon
6/15: IRONMAN KANSAS!
7/13: Shawnee Mission Park Triathlon

And then some cool fall races as well....

Update!

Ironman Kansas 70.3 is June 15, 2008!!! Lawrence KS at Clinton Lake. Not quite sure what I've gotten myself into but I am super excited about it!

I just found a house to move into once my apt lease is up. But I still need another roommate, so let me know if you need anyone!

I have my first speaking engagement at the KAO alumni meeting in February. Wish me luck! I'd love to speak to more groups about domestic violence and the realities that surround it.

Its almost Christmas! Which means things are super busy with work... be sure to drop some change in the kettle when you see them!

I never thought it could happen to me.

October 13, 2007 will be a big day for me. It marks the one-year anniversary of the day that I got out of an abusive relationship. I can hear your jaws hitting the floor now. That’s the reaction I usually get when I tell people that, yes, it happened to me. I never thought it would be possible. Only poor, white trash, barefoot and pregnant women are abused. I’m too smart, with too good of a family, too well-off and too, well, normal, for that to happen to me. I always thought I would know better. But I was wrong. And it’s taken me a long time to realize that there was nothing I could have done to have stopped it. He was just that good.

We met in March 2006 at a bar. He was different. He told me he wanted to get to know me for me and that set him apart. I went on that first date with the perspective that, if nothing else, it would be a free dinner! We connected right away and were immediately inseparable. It seemed like the makings of a fairy –tale love story. Before I knew it, I had more or less moved in with him. I still had my apartment, but if I went there once a week, that was a lot. I quickly lost my best friends and began to fight with my family – both very uncharacteristic of me. He had me convinced that none of those special people really cared about me. That he was the only one I could rely on.

So much of the next few months have become a blur to me, and I’m so thankful that I’ve blocked out much of those memories. My day would go like this: Get up, go to work, come back to his house, fight from 5 pm until about 3 or 4 am, get a couple hours sleep and repeat. I nearly lost my job. I could barely function because I was so sleep deprived and so depressed. Plus, I had no support system, no one to rely on. He had isolated me from everyone. I didn’t see my brother, one of my best friends, for more than three months. He intimidated me, threatened me, degraded me, insulted me and even physically harmed me. Yet he was so good that I was convinced he truly cared about me, and was doing everything for my own good.

Then one day, I called one of those 800-number hotlines, that you think only get used on TV. I wanted to know what the definition of an abusive relationship was. After the conversation, I finally realized that if I had to ask, I was probably not in a good situation. So I called my brother, who had nearly given up on me, to ask for his help. He dropped everything to come take me out of that horrible situation. It was really hard to leave. In fact it took about 6 hours for me to actually get in Tim’s car and go. I am so thankful that he never gave up on me.

The months following were still hard. I wanted to go back so often, but I was slowly building my support system back. I had friends who insisted I call them instead of calling him. I am so grateful to those friends and my family who stood by me through those tough times. My brother invited me to move in with him. It was supposed to be for about a month, which quickly turned into six. I don’t know what I would have done without him.

It is my hope that no one EVER have to live through a situation like I did. So here’s the part where I ask for your help. First of all, share my story. Remember that it can happen to someone just like you and just like me. And every day it happens to someone’s sister, daughter, sorority sister, friend, co-worker, mother, niece, neighbor. I like to think that I’m about as normal as it gets, and that just proves how abuse knows no bounds. Second, take a stand. If you know someone who is being abused, let them know that no matter what, you’ll be there for her, no questions asked.

And third, I want you to know about what my brother Tim is doing to fight domestic violence. He will compete in Ironman Florida on November 3, 2007 – swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles – and he is doing it to raise money and awareness of this issue. Tim amazed me when he opened his heart and home to me, and now, he’s doing it even more. I will be so proud to watch him cross that finish line, especially because I wasn’t allowed to go to his race last year. He inspires me daily.

There are days when I still have nightmares about what I went through. But I know God has a plan. Because of my experience, I have become a much stronger person who knows what she is capable of. And right now, that’s spreading the word about domestic violence and abuse so it can stop and not affect one more girl just like me.

I made it!

Special thanks to Samantha Youngblood for making the donation to push me over my limit! I've raised just over $4,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and I'm well on my way to physically being able to run the marathon. I did slightly injure my knee, so I'm taking a few days off. The doctor said it was an intrapatellar ligament strain. Which means, ice, rest, elevation and ibuprofen. Going down stairs isn't the most fun thing. And neither is Pete pulling me along when he's on his leash. Guess thats what happens when your dog gets a girlfriend. :-)

And now, a few photos of some special little people!!

Sean's First Day of School. He isn't as innocent as he looks!
Ian's First Day of School
Jake, King of the Corn

I am a STUD!

Well, I ran the 20 miler. I think that makes it official: I'm a runner! Hard to believe huh? Unfortunately, I did something to my knee mid run and I have to go to the Dr today to get it looked at. Hopefully its nothing, I will complete my marathon!! Even if its on one leg! :-)

I only have about $10 left to raise to hit my goal. If I do a couple more fundraisers and get to +$500, there are incentives... a cool TNT hat, etc. I'm tempted... We'll see how good I do selling beads at the K-State football game! Ya never know how generous people will be in Aggieville after a Wildcat Victory!!

This weekend, I'll be manning The Salvation Army booth at the Kansas State Fair. Which means Pete and I head to Wichita to stay at Hotel Nanny and Poppy. I've never done the fair thing before, so I guess it could be interesting. I also plan to work and visit donors in Humboldt, Neodesha, Benedict, Altoona and Iola, Kansas. I'm sure those are all bustling metropolises! Seriously though, I'm loving my job. I have met some of the most interesting people who are generous and selfless and have great stories to tell. It keeps things fun!

Now that the race is less than two months away and its officially post-Labor Day/Fall, I want to pick my next race. Katie and I want to do a half... maybe Gobbler Grind. Any suggestions would be great! Especially if it means I get to steal my brother's Grinch costume and run with Pete!! ;-)

Fundraising update!

Only $484 to go!!

And once I get there, I can spend some time and effort helping Tim reach his fundraising goal of $15,000 for Stepstone. Domestic violence - an issue oh so close to home. See the link to Tim's blog for more info...

On a more personal note, I've decided to start figuring out how to buy a house! Somehow I've got to figure out how NOT to be an impulse buyer on this one. I get excited and I want things to happen right away, but considering this is a bigger deal than a new pair of shoes, I really need to take my time to get it figured out right. Any advice????