Introducing...

Three new blogs under "More Fun Stories".

A new friend who was an old friend from High School. I recently discovered that Jen now lives here in Austin, TX!! This is her blog: So Fecking What?

Jen's friend Kerri took us out to see a comedy show last Saturday. She follows Mean Rachel's blog so (armed with 2 six-packs) the three of us set out to see the performance. I knew that I liked Mean Rachel after she shared this observation about herself, "I am recently single, and therefore recently an alcoholic."

I happened upon the third blog just a few weeks ago. This is dear friend of mine, who I lost touch with about 5 years ago. She now has 3 darling children. It has been so fun hear from her and get a peak into her life. Apparently, there is Never a Dull Moment in the Burk household!

The Day After the Marathon

For those of you who didn't see me last Monday...

Save The Lights

I have what one friend has called an extremist personality.

When I decide that I like something, it becomes near impossible to change my mind. Sometimes, even to change my own mind. See for yourself...

I once ate dinner at Taco Bell for 6 weeks straight. Same order every night.

I have seen the same band perform the same concert 3 nights in a row.

I have watched the same movie every night for a month straight.

I have been known to listen to the same song on repeat. Ad nauseam.

The latest installment of extremist behavior is my newfound LOVE of the TV show Friday Night Lights. Gareth and I started DVRing it at the end of last season and have recently rented the entire first season to catch up.


We have been watching these shows for the past two weeks. Sometimes after pleas of, "only one more episode," staying up until 2 or 3AM. We are 1/2 way through disc 4 (out of 5). It has become somewhat of an obsession. I start to think about it an hour or so before I leave work. I plan dinner so that we can watch TV while we're eating. I have fallen in love with some of the characters. I have started to recognize parts of myself in others . I even had a dream two nights ago that Coach Taylor was my new volleyball coach. Seriously.

Talk is that the show might be canceled. If this happened, I would be devastated! This is, by far, the best show I have watched in a very long time. Real characters with real issues that hit close to home.

My favorite comedian loves it! VH1's Best Week Ever has started a petition to save it. I don't know what else to do, but I'm just not ready for the show to be over.

Save the Lights!!

Success

It was a grueling day.

I wanted to many, many, MANY times...but I DIDN'T QUIT!
And so, I consider the day a success.

I ran the first 13 miles well. I was only 5 min behind my goal pace of 4:30 at that point. I had already taken quite a few hills and was still keeping up...

Unfortunately, that's when the wheels fell off. I couldn't find the energy to hang on...I spent it all. About mile 15 the 4:45 pace group passed me. My friend Carol looked strong. I gave her a wave, told her good luck! I knew I couldn't keep up.

I saw Gareth about mile 16. At that point, I told him that I will be lucky to finish. I had already blown it, going out to fast. All I could hope to do was to hang on. Sharon jumped in with me about 1/2 mile later and ran until mile 18. She ran with me and cheered for me and inspired other spectators to cheer for me, too. Those were the hardest miles. I would not have made them without Sharon.

We passed Michelle's house just before mile 18. She had made signs for me. Seeing my name on a sign being waved in the air was awesome! She and her husband were out on their street waiting for me to run by. At mile 18.8 I ran past the Rogue water stop. Katie yelled started yelling for me as soon as she saw me coming and didn't stop until I had passed. I saw my name on the pavement "Banana". Just a few yards from there, Chris and Megan had a big crowd yelling my name in front of their house. Chris ran with me to the 19 mile marker and promised that I was almost there. It was a nice sentiment...but it was a huge lie!

I almost missed Lindsey at the 21 mile water stop, which provided some much needed comic relief. "Where the FUCK is Lindsey?! Oh there you are, move over I need to stop for a second."

At mile 23, Adrien and Landon jumped onto the course with me. They ran beside me to the finish. "I'm not quitting," I told Adrien. "I know. I'm not going to let you," was her response. She encouraged me and helped me through the water stops. She reminded me that I was strong and that I looked good and would finish. It still hurt like hell!

Gareth and his faithful friends served as my entourage the whole day, then rode with us through campus on the last mile. There were some points that I was expecting to see him, but he also surprised me...and it was those surprises that provided the most relief.

The cannon sounded to start the race at 7:00AM. Fireworks went off and 13,000 runners took to the streets of Austin. Five hours and 19 minutes later, I crossed the finish line...and became a marathoner.

Last night as we celebrated our victories together, one of the coaches asked me what I learned. Thought ran through my mind about the things I learned about my training, about my preparation, or even about my intention to run a marathon again. None of those seemed right...

What I really learned - out on that course - is that I am tough!

Twenty-Six Reasons

Twenty-six reasons that I will run 26.2 miles. These are the things that I will think on when my mind and my body want to quit this Sunday.

And then - I will not quit.

(1) a boyfriend who quietly agrees to come out to the start line, he doesn't know why it's important to me...only that it is

(2) two friends who ran many miles with me in the past six months, listening to my stories as we explored Austin's neighborhoods and sharing theirs

(3) a father's love that, while flawed at times, is still completely perfect

(4) co-workers whose talent carries the burdens of the whole office...and then some

(5) 12th row Matchbox Twenty tickets in two weeks

(6) a friend, without whom I would not have finished marathon #1, temporarily sidelined and working towards a full recovery

(7) a mother whose strength knows no limit

(8) the beaming smile of a student sharing a good report and the joy found in sharing her joy

(9) a drink with my brother and the realization that he has become my friend...maybe one of my best

(10) a friend willing to let me make my own mistakes and determined to stand by me through every one...and then pour me a drink

(11) a personal trainer who is my motivation when I have none, who is upset when I do not make good decisions, who pushes me when I want to give up, and who is more ecstatic than I am when I succeed

(12) a sister-in-law who adds value...poised, intelligent, beautiful, with the skill to put up with the yahoo family she married into

(13) my first running coach, without whom I would never have run a marathon, ridden a bike, competed in a triathlon, or learned the important skill of running while intoxicated

(14) a friend with the best timed emails, she somehow manages to share encouragement or insight at the exact moment it is needed

(15) the anticipation of a well-deserved vacation

(16) a good dj and a crowded dance floor

(17) a friend who I can call at any hour, invite to any event, and tell any story

(18) strangers who will cheer for me on the course...who I do not know now and will not know when the race is said and done, but who for those 26.2 miles - will be everything

(19) my bitches

(20) the distance I've come since my training started in September

(21) a chiropractor who is nothing short of a miracle-worker, making sure I am pain-free on Sunday

(22) the opportunity to become a marathoner, to challenge myself, to set myself apart

(23) the group of friends that doesn't need a reason to be together, that enjoys rowdy evenings and late nights, that refuses to rest until everyone has a drink in their hand

(24) a friend who teaches me the importance of positive words, who will toast with me anytime - there is always an occasion

(25) a friend who has always asked me the tough questions...because she isn't afraid of the answers, she knows she will love me regardless

(26) the opportunity to be one of 13,000 runners hoping to make it from start to finish - with the city of Austin behind us!

Preparation Begins

Tonight I'll be on a bus ride, making my way through the marathon course. I'll listen closely to insight from Coach Sisson and the race director...then onto the Rogue pep-rally at Ringers.

This is the week that it starts to sink in. The week when six months of training comes together.

I have not trained as well as I did two years ago. I've missed more runs than ever and don't think that I ran on my own once. I am, however, much stronger. Stronger than I have ever been. I am curious to see how these two factors come into play on race day.

I was talking with my running partners last week about why I was doing a second marathon. Of the three of us, we'd all done two or were about to do the second. I told them that I had decided I didn't want to be a person who just ran one marathon. I didn't want to just check it off my life list...I want to become a marathoner.

Next week, I will be on the course. Running. It might not be pretty, but it will be me. Laying it on the line. To become a marathoner.

Important Delusions

Found this on my iGoogle quotes of the day...

The ability to delude yourself may be an important survival tool.
- Jane Wagner

...this may be true.