All this running has paid off. The sweat,tears,pain and everything else that goes along with running. We have ran just about everyday for the past 30 days. At one point I was thinking I would never be able to do this run because I have the most painful shin splints. I even had to stop running a few days because it was bad! I have changed shoes 3 times, bought inserts and still have them. I can run and run and then have no problem but will wake in the middle of the night in pain. Very strange.

 

 

 

Anyways...the week before this run we were all getting excited and a little nervous. It was important for me to do this one for a couple reasons. 1. I have a friend who is part of the group who put it together and I wanted to support her and the other wives 2. Fallen Heroes...need I say more? Very close to my heart. I don't want to ever be in that situation but if it ever happened I would want support. It just so happens this years run was for someone who worked with my husband so I really felt like I needed to help in some way possible.If you ever see something that supports a family from a Fallen Officer please support them. Any little bit helps.

 Our group before the run. Haley and her boyfriend joined about the week before, they were so sweet and I was happy they came along. Tasha is Nat's bff Mom. I am pretty positive if it wasn't for Tasha I wouldn't have made it the entire time. She knew when I was getting tired and would talk to me. She would encourage me and I seriously think the only reason she did this run was to keep me going! THANK YOU GIRL!

OOO I had to edit this! I left Eric out! He has pushed me, stopped when I stop and listens to me whine and complain! Thank you "EWIC"

We originally talked about sticking together but I knew I was the slowest and didn't want to hold anyone back. If they could get a better time I really wanted them to. Somehow we broke off into groups of 2. It really worked out.

Not gonna lie..when we took off it felt like we had been running forever! We hit the 1st mile marker and I swear to god I wanted to die! I would have sworn at that point we had already gone 2 miles. I kept looking down,looking at the cars passing, looking all around trying so hard to focus and pass time. If you know me you know my attention span it so short! Mile 2 came around and I was starting to wear down but it didn't hurt. It was hot,humid and I was distracted...by everything!

We got midway thru mile 2 and I could see my Husband and kids! It was like seeing light at the end of the tunnel! They waved and it gave me the energy I needed.

Before the end of mile 3  once we saw the finish line I had to pull ever single ounce of energy I had and speed up! HOLY CRAP that takes a lot!

At this point I was so excited, wanted to cry and honestly was a little light headed and dizzy.

It felt so good to finish the entire thing without walking! I was so excited and it felt so good!

After the race!

I plan on doing this again next year but we will have a team! With matching shirts!!

My legs never hurt until we stopped. I think the adrenalin of running and the cheering of people make you forget about it all.

Then there is my Husband...my inspiration! He had to work this day. I had no idea how I was going to do this without him there. I needed him to be there more than anything. I needed him there when I finished and he was. I always can depend on him for anything but I figured today would be one of those crazy days at work. He always finds a way. 

 

So this day is proof I can do anything I can set my mind to.I am SO proud of myself! I am proud that everyone pushed me and helped me the past few weeks! This doesn't mean we are done with running we are still going every night.

 I am already looking for our next race and my goal is to have a better time next year.

 

My time~31:42 not bad for my first time! I was number 18 in females.

 

 

17 days of running!

I actually like it a lot. We have a routine and try to stick with it. We have moved up to 2 miles which just about killed me the next day. My legs hurt like hell! They burn and ache but its OK. We all signed up to run a 5k which will be our first...wait Nat did one last year. Anyways I am determined to run the 3 miles without giving up!

While we are on this subject.....

The thing I love most about going running every night is listening to my music and thinking. 25 minutes of uninterrupted thinking. That does not happen in the house during the day at all! I'm not complaining..just saying. So last night our run was a late one because it was also National Night out. As we were running I was thinking about the 3 females we came across. One a Game Warden, one a Firefighter and one a Deputy. It hit me all at once that I gave up my dreams and goals so early in life. I have always wanted to go back to school but never have. I have no idea how I even would. But I gave up and walked away from everything I ever wanted...(except my kids) I wanted to go into the Navy. I didn't, I let things scare me and I chickened out. I wanted to be a Nurse, I let people talk me out of it. I wanted so much more but I decided to look for the "easy way out" By easy way I mean I looked for my night in shining armor to come sweep me and my girls off our feet and tried to make everything seem so perfect. Things were not horrible but definitely not what I had in mind. Now I can say I do have this GREAT husband(he is my knight) and awesome kids and a happy life but I am just hating the fact that I don't have a career or gave up a career. I don't have something to be so proud of in the career dept. I guess I saw how the little ones looked up at the 3 we saw tonight and I thought WOW they will never see that in me. No No No don't feel bad for me. It may not be coming out right because I know plenty of Moms are thinking "wow I wish I could stay home with my kids" I LOVE BEING WITH THEM and the other little ones all day. I know they are safe and sound and in a loving place. It just never came to me how I didn't do more..until tonight. So as I ran I had to fight back the tears. One I didn't want to fall on my face and two I didn't want them asking questions.
I got home and decided this is why I push my kids so hard. This is why I MAKE them do things they are unsure of. This is why I expect so much from them. As much as it broke my heart to have Lauren move away to school I made her. I made her pick a school away. I want her to have no regrets and not be held back. I want her to experience everything I didn't. I want the same for Nat and I push her just as hard. She has mentioned a few career ideas and I will push her. I don't want hesitation to talk her out of it. I don't want them sitting down at 35 saying "OMG I should have....".
I know it sounds like I am sad...BUT I love my life and everything I have right now. I have a very loving and supportive husband, great kids that never get in trouble, great friends and sweet sweet kids that I care for (which I adore). I guess my point to all of this is I will never stop pushing my kids towards their goals and dreams. I just wish my parents had been more supportive and done the same.