September 25, 2011- Today was a special day!  My friend, Mary, with ovarian cancer (currently cancer free) invited a bunch of her friends to walk / run with her in the 5th annual ROC 5k run / 1 mile walk.  While I have 30 extra pounds over last year, (I call it physical grief) I was determined to run the whole thing.  The most I do in training in 2 miles.  You can only get 5K (3.1 miles) out of me for a special occasion.  I had a week during training where I was stupid and decide to up my leg press weights.....by 50 lbs.  Needless to say, there was no running that week.  There was hardly walking until Friday.  I don't know why it seemed like a good idea at the time, but it did.  Then the next week I was sick - flat on my back head cold sick.  Another week no training.  I thought the weight and those two weeks would be a good set of excuses but, after losing my Dad this summer, it seemed all the more imperative that I run the whole thing.  Well, I am happy to say, I DID IT.  I was 4 minutes slower than last year and look no where near as cute in running clothes but, I DID IT.  Sad as it is to say, I talked to my Dad in my head the whole time.  It was especially useful when I was going up hills.  People who plan races in places with hills should be punished!  Anyway, it was a good day.  Hopefully the beginning of me getting my act back together and finally beating my lowest time in a 5K.

Afterwards we went to the Wolf Sanctuary with Yukon and the boys to be part of a demonstration for the Gateway Sled Dog Club - yes, we joined.  Yes, they're  mostly crazy dog people - yes, they're very nice.  It was a great time.  Reece got to ride the scooter and Yukon got to run a 5K AND pull the scooter all in the same day.  He couldn't have been more happy.

I keep reminding myself that two years ago I joked that I wouldn't be caught running out of a burning building.  Today I made it through this.  Hang in there people!  I still believe it:  We can do what we have to do!