Please Help Michael

     Last week summarized: “Don’t worry everyone is OK, and the cell phone is good too.”

      This is Michael’s truck after the accident, again EVERYONE walked away, almost unscathed, Michael has a small brush burn on his arm from the airbag deployment, and all the other safety equipment worked as it should have.

Although you hope this never happens, especially to your child; once the dust all cleared, poor Michael learned a lesson the hard way.

      Michael said, “This really sucks! I have prom and my girlfriend doesn’t have a car.”  Between prom and this accident Michael will have spent what has taken 17 years, his whole life, to save.  In lieu of graduation gift cards or gifts (unless that gift is a car) please send money to Michael, (get in touch with me and I’ll text you our address if you don’t have it.)

 Michael learned about driving and distractions and how he really isn’t Superman.

Donnie and I are learning the names of places that take salvage vehicles.  Michael’s right, this really does stink!

Twenty-three Days ~My favorite 23rd Mile

 June of 2004 I had been accepted to run the New York City Marathon. By November of 2004 I was living a dream.  The City is beautiful, the people are genuine, and I know I’ve already said it once but I was living a dream.

Famous people had run The City, my mom had run The City, people came from all over the world to experience New York.  Others would wait, another year, before  reading the words, “Congratulations! Youve been selected from your lottery entry …” I was only waiting for November.

The experience was like no other; Mile 23 in New York is just inside Central park.  I only had to run a 5k, 3.2 miles, I was almost there.  After I left the water stop, the tears began.  Tears of joy,  I was a 5k away from one of the most memorable experiences of my life.  Not just finishing a marathon, finishing in New York City!

24 Days ~ Love Austin

“26.2 Miles…I’m looking forward to regretting this”

All marathon runners have a story.  Most all can remember what they were doing at a particular mile marker in a particular race.  Since there are 24 days until the Austin Marathon, I’ll share a story about mile 24.

In February 2000 I ran my first full marathon.  It also happened to be in Austin.  I felt like I had done well most of the way.  Following Mom’s advice, taking extra care to hydrate.  There was something happening in Lubbock so Mom and Nene couldn’t be there; but that was ok.  Donnie and I were both newbies, him to being a support group and me to running anymore than 10 miles at one time.  Mom had given him advice as well, things like, “make sure each time you see her on the course talk to her make sure she’s not disoriented.”   I met Donnie at mile 18, I couldn’t have felt better.  A hug and a kiss and I was back on the course.  Five miles later I was in tears, I was hitting the wall.  By the time I got to mile 24, I was crying, hardly walking, and wondering why I had done this.  God answered my prayers, at that very moment, and brought Donnie to the course to see me.  I was able to gather enough strength to walk over to him and say, “I wanna get in the car and go home.”  For the rest of my life I will never forget what he said to me,he said, “You can’t I’m parked two miles away you might as well finish.  You’ll finish before I get back to the car.”  Ronnie: ”BLAAAAHAAAHAAA!!! YOU DON’T LOVE ME ANYMORE AND WANT ME TO DIE!!”

unfortunately for both of us, Donnie was right (again).  I finished the marathon that day, and he missed seeing me because after he got to the car he was stuck in traffic.

Love Austin – February 14

Marathon time is fast approaching.  My pre-race nervousness has already begun.  My running partner is great inspiration.  She’s helped me focus on the important stuff for and before race day.  Things like, clothing, hydration, nutrition, and the art of the taper.

A year ago I joined a running group that taught me how to love running again.   As of tomorrow there will be 27 days before I run 26.2 miles.  I’m looking forward to regretting it.  LOVE <3

Today’s long run

This morning started ugly.  I woke up in what I though was plenty of time to get dressed have coffee and leave for my long run.  While getting dressed I thought, “I”ll plug in my ipod.”  But because I am mostly disorganized and sleepy at 4:30 am I had to retrace steps as to where it may be.  Car, running bag, treadmill, those darn kids, blah blah blah?  So since I had to run out to my car to see if it was there, I might as well feed the cat.  Wow! it was cold too, so I ran back in to get shoes.  All I’ll say is thank God it was 4:45 because I was half-dressed, whispering obscenities because I know it’s in the car!  My teeth are chattering now, and I’m really mad, because now I not only can’t find my ipod, Zack and Michael’s cars are parked behind mine.

5:00 am: still half-dressed talking to myself, “Can’t run with out it.  Won’t run with out it, IT’S GOT TO BE IN THE CAR!!!  Forget it!  Just get dressed darn it and stop looking! Now your really late! And you still have to move cars.”

5:15 am: “Sorry Donnie I gotta turn on the lights.  I gotta have my ipod”  I cannot believe I have an addiction to ipod.

5:30: I look one more place…in the car; EUREKA!!!  Now, I’m really late, but I’m ready so, bye family I’ll see you later.

Couples who run are just like us.

This weekend during my recovery run; I found myself thinking how I wished Donnie was a runner.  Donnie and I have friends that run together.  I always find myself thinking, “How awesome they both run, and run together too.”  The funny part of this is, as most of you, my family, know, Donnie and I work together.  So outside of my running, we pretty much spend ALL our time together.

Well he’s made it very clear he is not a runner, and God only gave him so many steps to take in this life he says he isn’t going to waste them all running around in circles.  So back to my long run:

I found myself running behind a married couple, and again thinking, “How awesome that they run together, I wish Donnie ran with me.”  They stopped briefly to check directions that were printed on a small piece of paper.  As the wife handed the directions to her husband, he looked at her in frustration and said, “YOU KNOW I DON’T HAVE MY GLASSES, HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO READ THAT?”  She quickly, said, “Oh, I’m sorry I forgot.”  She read the directions to him and kept on going.  It was then I knew what we would look and sound like if we both ran.

What’s life if you can’t laugh at yourself?

This morning I got up early enough to make my smoothie for breakfast.  The only fruit I had in the freezer to put in it was either peaches or blueberries.  I’ve had a peach smoothie for the past two mornings so I used the blueberries.  I drank my smoothie, dried some laundry, fed cats…by the time I was done with the smoothie and chores I went to look in the mirror one last time before I left the house and my lips and tongue were blue.  I must be crazy because I thought that was sooooo funny!

“I have a tendancy to wear my mind on my sleeve…”

This has been an anthem for my life these last two weeks.  I told a friend recently that my life seems to be frantic but only in two week increments.  It began two weeks ago, I was running a 13 mile race and and fell at mile 8.  I was 5 miles away from the finishline, so I limped it in.  One week ago I went to Evanna’s wedding whining about it.  This week I hit the pavement AGAIN, and I mean literally!  Today I spent the afternoon at the Dr. waiting on X-rays to tell me if I broke my hand in the second quake.  I don’t know the results yet. 

This week I am taking Zack to San Antonio, don’t worry, I AM NOT RUNNING.  In two weeks Thanksgiving will be upon me, I hope my elbows don’t hurt anymore I need something to throw at 4 am when I get into the shopping lines.

Who wants to come with me?

Mrs. Odean

 We were all lucky enough to be a part of the perfect fairytale wedding.

Evanna was perfect.  She composed the perfect blend of friends, family, food and fun.  The pics say almost everything.  Thanks for sharing your most joyous day with us.

http://jonisphotography.zenfolio.com/

Missing in Action

I’m in action but not missing.  The past few weeks have only produced short moments of lucidity.   The rest of the time I have been, running, working, running, keeping up with Kayla 500 miles from home, running, keeping up with Zack’s social calendar, running, keeping up with Michael’s social calendar, running, and lastly making more excuses to go running.  Unfortunately for this blog the moments of lucidity I mentioned before have been while I was running.

This past Sunday, a running buddy talked me into doing a 1/2 marathon.  I’ve never been fond of that particular race only because running loops has never really been my style.  On the other hand I like it because it’s here in town, the scenery is great, the weather is usually perfect, and a lot of the runners I see running on long run days are all there.  I didn’t intend on running the race, until Edward mentioned it.  I was going to have a busy weekend with the boys, and Cy-Creek Homecoming.  Friday night was the football game, Saturday morning I had to drive to Mom’s to pick up food for dinner, (another long story; reference Zack’s social calendar).  I had to get home in time to clean house & set it up to look like a restaurant, AND clean myself up to play wait staff and bus girl.

Sunday morning I was up by 4:30 am. I made it downtown in time to park free.  I worked my way to the start line just in time to hear the Star Spangled Banner.  I couldn’t find Edward, but I figured, I’m running loops, I’ll see him.  Instead I find Marion and Susan, and run with them until my ankle starts to feel like it’s on fire.  Each step I took with my right foot would send shooting pain straight to my brain.  As I approached the last dreaded loop, I involuntarily dragged my toes over a bump in the road.  The pain in my ankle was immediately forgotten as my knees, elbows, hands and body came crashing down onto the concrete road.  At the same moment runners around me were gasping,  I had a moment of lucidity, I thought, “Oh no, I’m too old to fall like this”

At that very moment, to the spectators around me, I must have looked like I missed the Slip N Slide; but really, it was the moment God chose to say, “You need a break.”  Dear Lord, I hope you didn’t mean that literally. 

So I am taking this week to recover from everything.  I’m going to pay attention to my family, nurse my injuries, and smile.  I’m going to say Thank You to God for saving my face.

One last note: my running buddy, Edward, didn’t run the race.  I fell at mile 8, but was able to limp 5.1 more miles to finish, and got my medal.