Wow, where did the summer go?! I feel like I was just picking Little Miss up from the last day of school and here I am bringing her in for her first day of second grade! The summer flew by with lots of long runs and lots of work. I got a new old job. The golf course that I have worked at for the last 3 summers was sold and bought and I was hired to be the Golf Shop manager! It's been a crazy summer setting up golf events and running the shop but it has also been a blast. I work for and with some amazing people. When I am not at the course I have been hitting the roads. Training is going very well. I have felt strong on 95% of my runs. The best part is that I have running partners to keep me honest and accountable. Karly has been a rock and I am so excited to run with her in her first marathon, I have also been able to reunite with the Running Chick herself (and it feels so good). I incorporated yoga into my cross training and I have seen amazing results in my core. My long runs aren't as bothersome to my back and I feel like I am able to breathe more deeply. All around I'm feeling healthy and strong- knock on wood here people!
I also started drinking Monavie Active. It has really helped with recovery after the long runs. You can read all about it here!
In other news, Mr. Studdly and I are in the process of adoption. We are in the early stages of lots of paperwork and getting everything in order but we are so EXCITED! It was a long process for me to come to grips with the issues of infertility but in the end I think this is where God has led us. I've been praying all along for God to give us the child we were meant to have and maybe that child isn't one that I'm supposed to bear. I can't wait for our new addition and ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we enter this exciting journey.

So, a couple weeks ago I took Little Miss to KY to see my Mom for the weekend. It was a great getaway that I strategically planned before the return of Mr. Studdly. In planning the trip I found that the Rodes City 10k(the 12th largest 10k race in the US) was taking place so I decided to incorporate it into the weekend.
The day started out at about 4am my mom came in to tell me that she had to take G to the hospital. She was able to come home pick Little Miss and I up drop me off at the race where I got the opportunity to warm up and jog 1 mile to the start and then she headed back to the hospital with the plan for me to call her when I finished. When I got up to the intersection where the start line was, everyone was mulling around on the sidewalk. Going with the crowd I stood there watching as people ran by. I started to wonder if I was in the right place but thought it was the 200 preseeded runners getting a headstart, THEN the crowd started to move and we were trying to maneuver around newspaper stands and lightposts and began spilling into the street and to the start. It was crazy but once I got over the start mat, I pressed play on the IPod and tried to find my "happy pace". There was a little dodging and weaving in the beginning with such an awkward start. There were a lot of walkers mixed in with the runners and after a couple minutes I found open road and began to make up time.
The first mile was 8:40, I decided I could pick it up a bit, I was feeling fine, my legs were turning over quickly. When I passed the second mile marker I had a split of 8:30. From there my splits kept getting faster and I finished with an average pace of 8:27 for the 6.2 miles. I was 66th out of over 600 in the 35-39F and finished 1,043 out of over 6,000 runners.
It was a great race overall. The runners were having a good time, there were fans on the sidewalks, the weather was perfect for running and the finish was right in Waterfront Park along the Ohio River.
The things I would have liked to see change were the start, and they gave out mini plastic water bottles at the water stops. Seemed like a very un-green thing to do. I found that in my time in Louisville there is very little recycling which was disturbing.
So, I'm psyched about my running. I'm loving the fact that my pace is improving I'm building up the miles and things feel great. Things are so great that I spontaneously signed up for the Marine Corp Marathon in October!! I have been missing it all, the training and the marathon hype, and decided it was time.
In other news, I am going for a second opinion on Thurs with a fertility specialist. I have finally come to the point where I need to make a decision. I've tried it all and won't look back and say well if I only tried that or I should have done this... I've done it all, I have been doing Chinese herbs and acupuncture 10 months now, I've been seeing a naturopath for 3 months. I am curious to find out what changes, if any have occurred since I was at the UCONN fertility center a year ago. I am hoping that when I go to my appt that the Dr. will tell me that now there is a chance that with medication I can conceive. If he gives me the same POF diagnosis as UCONN, I finally feel I can move on the next option of adoption.
For 5 years my life has been in a limbo, between John's deployment and the infertility issues.
It's time for me to move on to the next chapter.

I guess somehow I managed to miss a post in February unless you count the picture of Jacoby as an official post. I think of it more as eye candy I am sharing with my friends.
I'm still running! Can you believe it?! I feel great. I am running 3-4 times a week averaging about 10-15ish miles. My pace is getting quicker and it's not even spring yet- YAY ME! I'm getting pretty excited for the race in a couple weeks in KY. Today I went 5.1 on a pretty hilly course and maintained a 9 min/mile pace and felt strong at the end. I'm hoping to do another 5 this weekend and then 7 next weekend.
I've found a couple of new running partners that have introduced me to new routes which is always fun. It's also been nice getting to know each other and has provided the perfect distraction in snow and low teen temperatures. I'm still downloading new music to keep my tunes fresh and have discovered that I REALLY like Kenny Mehler. You can search him on iTunes or check out his myspace page. His music is fun and fresh. My favorites are Moses Brown and Carry Me.
In other news, Mr Studdly is midway through his trip to the Dominican with the Nat'l Guard. Little Miss and I are managing and keeping busy. I am volunteering in her classroom once a week as well as volunteering at the church office. There is still acupuncture and between my Chinese herbs and homeopathic remedies and supplements that is a part time job in itself. Still no results ;( sad to say.
Sadly, the golf course, I've worked at the last 4 summers, was sold and they are bringing in their own crew so I'm looking for a new part time gig that is accommodating to Little Miss' schedule. Which is easier said than done. There is a new market opening in town and 238 people applied for 3 manager positions! In the mean time, I am enjoying my volunteer role and looking forward to Bondi Bands this spring and summer. You can find me at the Boston Marathon expo April 18,19, at Derby Days in Louisville, Ky April 24,25 and the Broad St. Run May 2.

Bring on Spring Training...

• I've managed to average about 10 runs a month with no consistency or plan. I've been running when the feet move me.


• I got laid off from the golf course right after Thanksgiving.


• I spent a fabulous week in Florida with my family and extended family during Christmas break. Did a little warm weather running and then returned home on New Year's Day to 10F.

I need help, I need motivation, I need a running partner. I found some motivation today when an old friend of mine called and asked if I wanted to go running this weekend with him and his daughters. When I told him I wasn't running these days he responded, as only Harry can, he was worried I was going to turn into a toad this winter.

A couple hours later, I forced myself out the door just before twilight. With some new tunes on the Ipod I headed out into the cold. It was a great run despite the chilly temps. I had my Obama Girl Bondi Band on which kept me dry and my ears toasty, I had an Obama speech in my ear and the beauty of the white snow still clean in the fields. It was just what I needed.

I am planning another run tomorrow and one with company on Friday.

If I could bottle the feeling I had today while I was running and the high I still had when I got home I would have no problem getting out the on the road on a more consistent basis. If I went on a more steady schedule I wouldn't have to worry about getting out of shape and talking myself out of the next run. It's so hard starting up after stopping but I find myself in that cycle more often than I would like.

I am planning a race in Louisville, Kentucky March 21, 2009. It's a 10k which is about the only distance I can handle right now but it's a start.

Is it ever going to stop raining? I have been caught in the rain on my last 2 runs. It did make me run a bit faster back to my car so I guess it wasn't all bad.
I've been out there plugging along with the low mileage- 3, 5, 4, 5, 3. Still haven't decided if I'm going to start training for anything. The race bug is definately creeping into my mind. My new running friends are all preparing for the Hartford 1/2 marathon on Oct. 11 and with all the race talk I am finding that I am way overdue for an event. This weekend I am headed to San Jose with Bondi Band to work at the expo for the San Jose Rock n Roll Marathon, I'm sure that will stir up my itch for a race even more. I've been putting it on the back burner for so long now it's time for some serious consideration.
The fertility issue is still an issue. I'm entering my 5th month of acupunture and Chinese herbs and still no clear sign that my body is making a shift. Mr. Studdly and I are attending an informational meeting on adoption next week so we can get our other options lined up. So, the drama continues , the problem I face is not moving forward and allowing myself to stay in limbo while the drama figures itself out. I have to start living in the now and not the future. If I sign up to race and miraculously get pregnant- I won't race, but if I don't get pregnant I'm not missing out on the opportunity. So hard... It's not just running it's work as well. With Little Miss in the 1st grade I have to make a decision whether to return to work(outside the home work), part time at the golf course is not as stimulating as some might think :)
Decisions!!