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As this year comes to a close, superhero friends, there are 2 topics that I will soon be posting about here. The loose ends of the year that I am trying to tie up.

The obvious would be Goals for 2006. I have been putting much thought, prayer & discussion with Superspouse into what is really attainable in regards to events - Half Marathons, Sprint Triathlons, (gulp!) Marathons -- given the amount of time & energy that training takes. Because training does take. It takes a lot. And I just need to decide what I am really willing to GIVE in order to keep my word, achieve my goals & not be forever labeled as a complete SLACKER!! :)

The other entry I've been remiss in posting is History of Triathamom, Part 2: Sprint Tri to Half Marathon. I don't know why this has been so hard for me to write. I have started it many times. I think that this portion of my journey from Sept '04 to July '05 was really the most emotional portion of the transformation to date. It really cemented so many things in my life. I became a real athlete. I finished things I started. It was a fresh start for a great relationship with my only brother after years of mucking through a lot of family stuff. And I gained some truly amazing friends in the process.

So that is what's on the horizon for me. I plan to get these loose ends tied up in the next day or two. How about you, superheroes, any loose ends that need tying before the year ends?

Christmas Photo Journal, Part Two

Superhero friends, here is the rest...

We caught Santa....

delivering gifts,

eating peanut butter balls &

kissing Mommy!

Two leopard geckos, a piano with a microphone & a PS2!!!

Alot of My Little Pony stuff &

Two Front Teeth!!

Christmas Photo Journal, Part One

Whewww!!!!!!!!!! It was a blast! Here goes, superhero friends, enjoy!




Christmas Programs 1, 2 & 3!!


Feeding reindeer, herding shepherds & a little Christmas caroling!



Making Christmas Eve pancakes & stealing bacon!

Relaxing by the tree.

.......more to come in Part Two.

The 12 Days continued

Superspouse has really been doing a great job this year.

Day 6 - (which was actually given on Day 7) A Rosemary Christmas Tree (the herb, very fragrant)

Day 7 - A Panera Gift Card

Day 8 - A love letter (Awww. It was sweet, too!)

Day 9 - We went to a Cookie Exchange Party last night & I was told I would receive 2 gifts today. I see a trend here...Superspouse must be doing his shopping on the way home from work, because on the 2 days he had to be home "on time" I received "I.O.U.'s". I will, however, not make issue of this because I do love the gifts!! :) After 13 years of marriage, I've learned to let some things slide!

Some of my male superhero friends have had the shortsightedness to complain that Superspouse may not be receiving "equal" treatment. Oh, boys, you just don't get it. Do we really have to be so obvious? Superhero girls, they're so silly, aren't they? Must we always spell it out for you. Superhero guys, treat your superhero girls to 12 days of Christmas & your own Christmas season will be very merry & bright. You'll just have to trust me on this one! :)

Every Superhero Should Feel This Special

Everyone needs to feel special. To feel like their voice matters. To feel important. To know you are cared for. To be missed when you're not there. Some people seek this kind of attention from the masses or an entire circle of friends -- and I definitely fall into this category most times. (I mean, I blog, don't I??)

However, at Christmastime, the person who gives this to me the most is my dear Superspouse. This year & for the past several years, he treats me to 12 Days of Christmas.

This year certainly has a running influence:

Day 1 --Running Sox

Day 2 -- Lunch out at my favorite deli & a great candle (Just in case you're wondering, I had the Reuben! YUM!)

Day 3 -- a neat little Timex Watch with stop watch/splits feature

Day 4 -- Starbucks Gift Card

Day 5 -- Running Bra

Day 6 -- We hosted our 4th Annual Caroling Party last night along with 7 other families & we were a little distracted so tonight I get to open 2 gifts!!! Yea!!

I can't wait to see what the next few days hold. I'm feeling soooo special!! I love this feeling!! If I were Snoopy, I'd be dancing!!! :)

So, dear Superhero friends, I hope someone makes you feel this special, too. And it certainly is within your superhero power to make someone else feel this special...so even though it may be too late to do 12 days of Christmas, it's not to late to think of just one special thing to do for someone.

Thank you, Superspouse. I love being married to you!!!

Last Week's Stats

Monday 3 miles
Wednesday 2 miles
Thursday 2.5 miles (on treadmill - YUCK!)
Saturday 2.5 miles with Kid #1 We ran 1, walked a half, ran 1. It was nice.
Sunday 4 miles

Total 14 miles

Month to Date 35 miles

Goal for Month 65

6, 5, 4, 3....

Alright, superhero friends, countdown week is here!

6 days 'til the Fat Guy in the Red Suit gets here. Are you ready?

I'm totally kicking it into high gear this week. I have many preparations to make -- a house to clean, cookies to bake, presents to wrap & a few left to buy, parties to attend & friends to visit. But most importantly, I want to have a couple of hours of down time each day to reflect on the real reason for the season, to read with the kids, to relax with Superspouse & really let the sweetness of this season soak in.

I doubt that I'll be blogging much this week. I will be running 15 miles this week & next. I realized last week (which was also quite hectic) that taking a few minutes to just escape from the hustle & bustle, get outside & run really helped relieve alot of stress.

So, superhero friends, go run, read, reflect, relax & let the sweetness of this season soak in. & may your Christmas be a lovely one!

Cool Running

Okay, superhero friends, it is COLD in Tennessee!! Not as cold as someplaces, but for us, it is cold!! Facing these temps at 5:30am has its own challenge -- as the bed is usually very warm & getting out of it is HARD. However, due to the fact that I am, afterall, a superhero & I surround myself with other superheroes who will mock & belittle me if I don't show up-- I have persevered!

Here are my totals for the week, so far:

Monday I ran 3 miles with Enviro-man & a new running mate who has yet to select a superhero name because he "hates" blogs. Whatever! It was hovering around 34 degrees.

Today, Wednesday, I ran with the BlogHater (haha -- now he's named whether he likes it or not!). We ran 2 miles as the temp hovered around 30 degrees with a nasty wind. My eyes were watering & tears were freezing my face!! But I found this strangely invigorating.

I realize in reading other running blogs that distance & conditions compared to what others are doing is minimal -- but as I look back at what I was doing last year at this time -- I am elated with the discipline I'm developing & the progress that is being made.

On tap for the rest of the week:

3 miles tomorrow

10 miles on Saturday

Projected weekly total: 18 miles

So, superhero friends, you can't call ME a slacker. What should I call you?

Brief Week in Review

I survived the Christmas play!! It was truly wonderful, but it's always nice when it's behind you rather that looming ahead. Making great memories for friends & family sometimes requires extraordinary superheroic effort! BUT I managed to snag a Starbucks Gift Card as an appreciation gift (YUM!!) so all headaches are forgotten as the thought of a Lite Peppermint Mocha Latte - no Whip awaits this afternoon!!

I finished my running log last week about where I thought I would. 10 miles total. 5m during the week, 5m on Saturday.

Saturday's run was so fun. My regular weekend running partner was unavailable - our schedules just didnt' mesh - and I just didn't want to face the 35 degree weather alone - so I asked Marathong Mama to join me. We normally run during the week & never more than 3 miles at a time, but of course she said "YES!" because Superhero Girlfriends Rock!!! I don't know if all the laughing makes us run faster or not, but it makes the time go by alot faster!
This picture was taken last night at the play -- The Supermoms!

Superhero friends, I hope your week was productive & you had a chance to make some great memories this holiday season. Only 13 days 'til the big Birthday Bash!

A Quick Update

I've been busy, superhero friends, too busy to blog & I miss it!! I can't believe it's Thursday already. Here's a quick run down:

Fitness UPDATE
I ran 1.5m on the treadmill Monday. (I really don't like the treadmill -- you never get anywhere!)
I ran 1.5m outside on Wednesday with Marathong Mama -- it was 24 degrees!! Should I mention that Enviro-man started out with us, but turned around because he was too cold? Hmmmm. 'Thong & I deserved a medal for that run! We didn't have any medals -- so we settled for a Panera bagel instead!! And, surprisingly, Enviro-man showed up for the bagel even though he bagged the run. (Slacker!)
My plan is to run on the treadmill tomorrow morning. I'm going to shoot for 3 miles. I pray I'm not overcome by boredom!
This weekend will be way too crazy with dress rehearsal & performance of our play to fit in a long run, but I'm hoping to do 5m at some point on Saturday. That will give me 11 miles total for the week. Very short of my overall goal of 20 miles --but better than nothing!

Christmas UPDATE
Superspouse took the day off from work & we went Christmas shopping today. We finished shopping for 3 of the 4 kids and some of the relatives. It was a very fun & productive day. When we picked the kids up from school we took them to the mall to see Santa -- and thankfully they asked him for what we purchased earlier in the day!!!
I pulled out all of the decorations from the attic & we plan to put the tree up tomorrow night.

It's official -- I'm in the Christmas spirit! I hope you are, too, superhero friends.

All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth!

A Really Nice Weekend

Well, superhero friends, it was a really nice weekend. Here's a brief recap --

We took the kids to Toys R Us on Friday night so they could make their Christmas wish lists. I was kind of dreading this, but it really went well. They are always a little in shock when they get to go to a store like that -- I rarely take them shopping & we don't have cable -- so it's fun to watch their faces. They really amazed us with their self control. Kid #1 has just a few things on his list, but all his things total the most. I guess the bigger the kid -- the bigger the price tags. All Kid #4 wants his own piano with a microphone -- Superspouse & I met doing theatre, so we think this is pretty cool.

Saturday was very drizzly & cold -- so I assumed my weekend run with my fantabulous weekend running partner was off -- but she called shortly after noon to check on a time so....we went running in the rain!!! It was so cool. I had never done that before. We ran 5 miles on the levy in just under an hour. I really needed better gear. My Christmas wish list is LONG this year, I'm not nearly as self controlled as my kids!! I'm so excited now that I've done that...running in the rain...I'm not going to let weather be such a hurdle --once I get the right clothing. I'm also excited to have logged 10 miles for the week despite the rocky start. I did not, however, do any Christmas decorating. (Mara'thong, you are way ahead of me!) But I did think about it.

Today was a great day. I really love Sundays. We go to church, see a lot of friends, & usually eat out. I'm directing the big Christmas Musical/Drama production this year & we had a major rehearsal today. Next Sunday night is the performance -- so this week will be spent getting the set ready & a lot of last minute rushing around with rehearsals most every night. I love weeks like this...I did a lot of theatre in my 20's before the kids & I miss it at times. This gives me just enough of a fix without causing any major family sacrifices.

Also, I think today I finally got excited about the fact that the Christmas season is upon us.

See,superhero friends, it was a really nice weekend. I hope yours was, too!

Friday at Last

Wow. It's been a long week. I really haven't done much, but it just felt really long. I did go to the Y this AM & ran 1.5m on the treadmill. That brings my total for the week so far to ...4.5 m. Ugh!!! My plan is to run 5.5m tomorrow bringing the week's grand total to 10 solid miles. Given the fact that I had the stomach bug (yes, I'm milking this for as long as I can), I'm gonna say that 10 miles is darn near heroic this week!
That's my story & I'm sticking to it!!
Have a great weekend, superhero friends, I plan to!!!

An Unexpected Major Milestone Day

I missed my early AM journey to the Y this morning because I chose instead to snuggle in bed with Superspouse & my two youngest kiddos who had somehow made their way to our bed during the night. Once I was up & going and had everyone off for the day, I began to feel very guilty because I am 99% recovered from the stomach bug, today is December 1st and I really want to start the month out right. So I threw on my running clothes & headed to the nearby soccer complex that has a 1 mile track. I was thinking 2, maybe 3 miles. I really didn't know what to expect because it had been several days since I have done any significant moving.

Well, superhero friends, I ran 3 miles in 29 minutes. 9 min/10 min/10 min. YEA!!!
What makes this milestone is that I was running by myself at a great pace and I didn't stop once.

When left to my own devices I tend to be quite a slacker. Superspouse says that if I were a dog I'd be a beagle, because beagles work best in pairs. I just know that the many times before that I have set off alone I usually end up giving into the feeling that says I want to stop & walk. But today I didn't. Wow.

So get out there, superhero friends, push through a wall. Do something you've never done before -- 'cause if feels good!