Not the Spring Break That I Imagined

Grandma Bal with 3 of her 4 great-grand children

This spring break had been a difficult one.  Saturday we went to visit my husbands 93 year old grandmother and she was asleep the whole time we were there.  She wasn't doing well.  We knew this and have been very fortunate to spend a lot of time with her the last few months.  We got home about 2pm and received a phone call that she had taken a turn for the worst.  This time we left the kids at home and my husband and I met his parents and his aunt and uncle at the hospital.  We stayed with her for 4 1/2 hours and then headed home.  His parents, aunt and uncle stayed and she passed away at 2am on Easter Sunday.  The crazy thing is she was born on Christmas Day 1919 and passed away Easter Sunday 2013.  Two of the most important days in Jesus' life were two of the most important days of her life.  We went to Easter Mass where they said a prayer for her.  Her funeral was yesterday.  She had such a great life.  She had 2 children, 2 grandchildren and 4 great-grand children.  I am so grateful that I was able to know her.  One of the last visits we had she thanked me for loving her family.  The example she set for her family makes it so easy to love them.  She was such and amazing woman and will be missed.

with my youngest

with my husband's other granmother

with my husband



all of the granparents

loving on her great-granddaughter

with her youngest again

Fall Plans

 
 Originally the plan was to run Chicago with my brother and NYC Marathon.  Well, that changed in December when my brother had a massive heart attack at 32 years old.  I knew that I still wanted to experience Chicago with him and that was obviously out the door.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do.  Come mid January, I made the decision to upgrade to the full at Wineglass Marathon on October 6.

 This will be my target race, going for the BQ!  Well, as time progressed and my brother grew stronger, completed cardiac and pretty much amazed everyone with his recovery he was okayed to run Chicago.  He is now working out and running regularly and doing amazing things!  So, registration opened and we know how that went.  He didn't get registered and I was registered twice.

  He decided to reach out and received a comp entry as a "role model" patient.  They will follow his story as he trains, runs and completes the Marathon.  His first race since is heart attack is coming up next weekend, The Shamrock Shuffle 8k.

I probably would of chosen guaranteed entry in 2014 in NYC if had known how things would of played out but I am so excited to hit the streets of  NYC in November!

 I am now registered for the Wineglass Marathon on October 6 (my 8th anniversary), The Chicago Marathon on October 13 and the NYC Marathon on November 3.  Not an ideal marathon schedule but guess I'll get my Marathon Maniac status :)

What marathon(s) do you have coming up?  Have you done more than one in a "season"? How do I survive it ?

Thanks to Some Wonderful Companies!

Here we go....so much has happened since I have last blogged!  I want to start with a shout out to some amazing companies!  On March 1, a guy I graduated with and his wife were killed in a car accident.  They were traveling back to their hometown.  In the car with them were their 3 children (ages 12, 9, and 3) and two dogs.  The three children and one of the dogs survived.  This story just tugs at my heart.  It is one of my biggest fears as a parent.  Two people taken from this Earth way too soon.  The support from the community has been amazing.  This upcoming weekend there is a raffle benefit at a local hockey game and un April there is another benefit.  The running group that I am in is donating a basket to be raffled off at the April benefit.  We reached out to some companies for help and I can't believe the support that we have received! My love for these companies has grown even more!  So far our gift basket will include 4 tubes of Nuun and a Nuun pint glass, $30 Road ID gift card, $60 gift certificate from Aspaeris Pivot Shorts, a Running Skirt, shirt, compression socks and bag from Running Skirts, 6Bic Bands, 2 Sparkly Soul headbands, Running Warehouse sweatshirt, hat and socks, 2 pairs of PRO Compression socks, 1 SPIbelt and a box of mint chocolate Clif Bars.  These companies have been amazing and will always be supported by me!!!  If you know of any other ideas to add or companies that might be able to help please let me know! The raffle takes place on April 20.  If you can help in anyway a trust fund has been set up for the boys.  Thanks!

Lake Effect 1/2 Marathon RR

    
       This past weekend my step-son's hockey team had Sectionals for hockey at SUNY Morrisville.  SUNY Morrisville is located in the middle of nowhere about 40 minutes from Syracuse.  The team had group discount for the Courtyard Marriott in Carrier Circle.  Naturally, when he has a tournament out of town I look for a race.  Well, it worked out that the Lake Effect 1/2 marathon was taking place the same weekend.  I registered early because I read that it would sell out quick!  I have not been very consistent in my training lately- I have been a cold weather wimp.  I had done a 9, 10, and an 11 miler is preparation but not very many weekly miles. 
       Packet pickup was at the Fleet Feet Running store in Syracuse.  It was a quick pick up and I was able to pick up a new Oiselle t-shirt.  I also picked up some Margarita Shot Blocks.  After that we headed to our hotel, let the kids swim and then headed to dinner.   We met up with my aunt, cousin, and her daughter at Ruby Tuesdays.  Then headed to my step-sons hockey game.  They won the game 14-1 and made it to the championship round.  One more win and they would get a berth to the state tournament. 

      The race had a late start Sunday morning.  10am.  Probably the only time that I wished for an early start as my step-son's game started at 12pm.  My mom and I  got to the race at 9:45 and headed straight to the bathroom and start.  I was on the line for about a minute before the gun went off.  I really wanted to be sub 1:55.  The course was out and back x 2 The first three miles were great 7:55, 8:14, 8:19,  we turned around shortly after 3 miles.  The way back brought us back to the start and little loop that brought us past the finish line 2 times.  These three miles were 8:21, 8:30, 8:25.  We headed back the way we started but this time the wind had picked up.  I couldn't believe how hard it was to run into the wind!  These miles were 8:41,9:06,9:01,9:37 (walked through a water station and had a margarita shot block which was frozen)  we had turned around and finished the previous mile.  Once I got through aid station and the wind wasn't in my face  we headed back to the finish 8:38, 8:56,  8:51 and the last .23 8:26 pace.  It was tough running by the finish line so many times and not being able to finish until the fourth time :)  Overall I was pleased with the 1:54:36 for the 13.1 which is 8:46 pace.  I have a goal to break 1:40 in the 1/2 this spring and this race made it feel doable because I didn't train well.  I loved the medals they gave!

         Afterwards my mom and I headed to Chipotle for reward meal :) After that we headed to hockey where my step-sons team won in triple overtime to advance to championship game and qualify for states.  They ended up losing in the championship game but the season just got two weeks longer!

 This weekend I met up with some Lady Warriors to for the Virtual half marathon/5k for Sandy Hook Elementary School.  We all met at 10am.  I started out with a nice 6 miles with another Warrior and then she headed back.  I am nowhere near 1/2 marathon shape so I ended up with 11.1 miles at about a 9:30 pace.  It was hard to get traction because of the snow and it was cold! It was so great to get some double digit miles in.  I haven't done that since the Harrisburg Marathon in November. 

New Year's Day RR

      December  was a nice easy relaxing training month.  It wasn't meant to be, but bronchitis and some quad pain sent it that way.  I ran a total of 50 miles for the month.  I usually run between 120-150.  I did absolutely no speed work minus one race at the beginning of the month.  I emotionally needed a break after not being selected for the Oiselle team, Cleveland Blogger or Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon.  I was feeling down about running in general.

      I figured new year new start. I ran the New Year's Day 5k (which was really 3.4 miles).  This was formally the Cookie and Hat 5k.  I missed the fun theme of the race but it was still a good time.  I wasn't sure how it would go and had a goal to run around 8 min. miles. I figured it would be a good speed workout back.  Once I started I felt pretty good and ended up doing the first mile in 7:20.   It was cold but not too bad.  My second mile was 7:30 and my third was 8:00.  The final .4 was at 7:51 pace.  I ended up finishing with a 26:02 (7:39 pace).  I was third in my age group.  I didn't stay for the awards because of my kids being home and I didn't want to be away too long.  They ended up mailing me my award which was a 2013 training log. 


     Overall, I was very pleased and I am looking forward to many positive things for 2013.

My Brother Survived a Heart Attack

       2 weeks ago today I received a phone call from my mother.  My brother was on his way to the ER by ambulance.  He thought he was having a heart attack.  My brother is 32 years old. 40 minutes later a second phone call came.  It was definitely a heart attack.  He had a 99% block in his main artery.  They put a stint in and he was going to be okay.  He is very lucky that he recognized the symptoms of his heart attack.  My brother lives in Chicago.  It was a very helpless feeling being so far away when he was going through something so big.  My first reaction was to go running.  Running is my go to when things are going wrong.  It was one of those runs where the miles flew by.  The thoughts of my wonderful brother and all the great memories that we gave shared.

 
 

          My brother and I weren't always close.  We were too much alike as kids. Always vying for attention.  As we grew older, we grew closer.  When I went away to college, I realized how much each of my siblings meant to me.  At this point, my siblings became more than my brothers and sister but my friends.  As the years went by I learned that 3 of the people who would always be there for me were my 2 brothers and my sister.  Danny and I hung out a lot.  I lived in an upstairs apartment and Danny lived downstairs with my grandma.  We were able to spend a lot of time together.  Danny then headed of to Fredonia.  I was able to go and visit several times and had a blast with him every time!  When Danny moved back home we continued to hang out.  It seemed that I was able to go out or do something with him every weekend! 

     Eventually, I got married and he was even my maid of honor (at the small ceremony) when we got married in front of our family and friends he was one of the groomsmen.    He is the godfather to my youngest child.  Danny lived with us for a little while and he was able to develop a relationship with my kids.  Danny is such a great uncle to all his nieces and nephews.  He has had some struggles and made the decision to move to Chicago.  This was a big move for him.  The only person he knew was one of our cousins.  He had no job.  He made it work and found a job and met an amazing group of friends.  This isn't surprising though.  Everyone who meets him  loves him.  We went out to Chicago this summer to visit him and I was so happy to see him so happy.  He was in a good place. 

 

       Since his heart attack, I have realized how quickly things can change.  I have talked to him almost every day since and Skype him much more frequently.  I am so thankful that things turned out the way they did.  I am so proud of Danny.  He has made so many life changes in the past two weeks.  I am sure it is hard but he is fighter.  He looked death in the face and won!  I am so thankful that he is my brother and my kid's Uncle.  He is a great brother, brother in-law, son, Uncle, and friend.  I just hope he knows how much we all love him!