Boston

I don't know what made me decide to start a blog, but here I am. I tried face book, still trying, I guess with little sucess. Can't seem to run with it yet. We'll see if this suits me better!
I wanted to say hurray for the Boston marathon!
I am an average runner who works really hard. It only took me 8 years and 9 marathons to finally qualify! I picked marathonmom for the title of this blog apprehensively not sure if I was worthy, but I guess 12 marathons, 9 in between 3 kids qualifies me. I anticipate my journaling here to be about kids and also running. Not really sure if anyone we'll even read but I do like writing as a means of getting my thoughts out. (that's also why I like running)

Boston=Fun
3 cheers to Boston race directors, volunteers, and the spectators.
I met my friend Jen in Boston for a girls weekend. My only goal was to have fun. I accomplished my goal. We had a lot of fun. Even the marathon was fun. I understand the irony of fun and marathon in the same sentance.
As for the marathon itself we went out comfortably. We didn't care about our time we just decided to have a negative split (2nd half faster than the first). The marathon is known for its hills at the end and we wanted to power through them.
We spent the first 7 miles just cheering with the crowd. We wrote our names down our legs. I carried a cowbell (thank you Jenna) and Jen her video camera. The crowd gave you attention if you asked for it and I soaked it up. Rarely do I like to draw attention to myself but I made an exception. They made me feel like I was in first. I was seeded 13253! I felt like Oprah when everyone stands and cheers for her on her show when she first walks in. Odd comparison but just so you get a feel of the crowd.

Now for the mom side. Even as I write this my kids are fighting and taking turns tattle telling. A good friend once said our kids only bug us when they interupt our agenda. I seem to always have another agenda. I came home thinking 4 days away and I would be ready to be a mom again. Boy I was in for a shock. I had now tasted freedom! But after at least 10 breakdowns from Cody over how to write a cinquain poem for his homework (what the heck is a cinquain poem? Thank goodness for google) I reminded myself the grass may be greener on the other side (freedom) but only for a season.

The running side of me is now more interested than ever to keep running marathons. Running can take over your life if you let it. Some people spend their lives travelling around to different races. They have the "never miss a day" running club, the "I've ran a marathon in all 50 states" club, and several others I'm sure. I tried the mile a day (except for Sundays- I never run on Sundays). Didn't work. Tapie jokes about the marathons in all 50 states. I told him, "nah, not for me". But that got my mind stirring so maybe. I'm 10% there.
But I know life is about priorities and the right time and place for things and right now running 3-4 marathons a year is not right for me.
I don't know what it next. Should I train and focus on the half marathon? I'm just shy of being competitive here in Greenville (small field of competition!) I actually won a nice gym bag for getting second in my age group in one of the bigger 5k races here. The only reason that happened though is because the top winners can't also win the age group!

So sorry for the long post, I'll keep the next ones shorter. I'll try to add some humor in, my dad had a corny sense of humor, maybe I got a little of that, maybe not. But so life goes.