Monica HEARTS NY

I am ready for the New York Marathon.

Not because I have trained and trained for it (because I didn't!)
And not because I don't have a choice to move it back 6 months.
Or even, not because I told too many people about me doing it and I can't back down now.

I'm ready because I have exercised the most important muscle in my body this year - my heart.

So far, 2007 has given my heart some major, shall we say, training. In January, my Tae Kwon Do teacher had a massive stroke - and is still in the hospital today.
In April, my dear friend, Brenda, lost her 2 year battle with leukemia.

My heart has been beaten, kicked and broken this year. And yet, it still beats strong. It beats for those that don't have the choice to run, walk or move a marathon. When I return to TKD, I know my teacher would have made me show off my medal from the marathon. If Brenda was alive, she would be in NY, getting ready to kick my ass on Sunday. I want to repeat 2006 so that I can share this moment with both of them.

I know that this heart has trained and is ready for NY. No doubts about it. I Heart NY will take on a new meaning for me from this day forward. :-)

My heart and I would like THANK YOU for all of your well wishes and good luck! We promise to have a good time, not drink too much :-) and of course, finish strong and with a smile on our face.

But Monica, when will you actually run?

this weekend, I saw a good cycling buddy, bikinmike, at the alumni ride. He mentioned that he reads my blog from time to time and wondered if I ever got any running in amidst all of the drinking I have been doing. . .!

Well. . um. . yeah. . .right. . . that running thing. . .I guess here is a list of my 'running' over the past few months:

• I've run my mouth more than once at TNT events
• I've run around town looking for the perfect thanksgiving table decorations
• I've run into old friends
  
• I've run after Murphy & Shannon as they chased the ball
• I even (almost!) ran out of gas once!

Needless to say, I totally have been running ;-)

5 days to go. . .better start running (& screaming!)

still pooped

nike is over. thank you jesus! all went well. but I am still pooped and can't believe that I am supposed to move (no longer run. . . ) the NY marathon in 12 days. It will happen. I just have to keep saying that to myself :-)

On a nike related note - check out the blog of one of our super cool honorees, Amy Bartlett. She spoke at the pasta party and is dope! http://www.ichoosehope.com

18 days to go. . .

this is all that i can think about this week (thank you tnt!):
nikenikenikenikenikenikesleepnikenikenikedon'ttrainnikenike

yeah. a bit tired if you can catch my drift. . .

Get your rear in gear

I did some training today. Myself, murphy & shannon power walked around lake merced. If I can keep up my pace - which was super comfortable - the marathon will take me 6 hours. yeah, longer then the last 2, but remember, i trained for them ;-)

the Colon Cancer Foundation had their 5k run/walk at LM too. I found it quite funny that their slogan is 'Get Your Rear in Gear.' too funny. yet a bit ironic. 6 months ago today, brenda passed away. in the past few months of her life, she had some major issues with her . . .um. . .shall we say rear :-). So, I had to smile every time one of the walkers went by me. Brenda would be so proud that people (including myself) are getting their rears in gear.

I miss you B. You and your rear.

here i go . . .

10 miles. sunday. be there or be square.

No rest for the liver.

here's the skinny on my weekend:

• big d. came to town friday night. she and I drank all the good liquor in the house that night. great way to start the weekend. . . with a massive hangover on saturday morn. . .!
  
• carol & mickey got hitched - CONGRATS to the beautiful couple!!

• since it was an irish wedding, well, yeah, there was some drinking that night. . .
  
• sunday was spent in the Kezar, watching football and playoff baseball with big d, laura, kieran, craig, andres and random young thang named bill . . . so, again, more bicep curls. Lift the pint to your lips, take a sip, put it down. . .repeat. .. . for about 7 hours. . .
• We had hoped the day would look like this:

• but it looked more like this:

• monday morning: woke up with massive cold that made my hangover seem small.
  
• 10 miles is still in the cards for me. . .just not today.

atchoo!

My bicep curling weekend

Since my NY buddy Diane is coming to town tonight and Carol & Mickey are getting married tomorrow - I think the only exercise I will be getting will be some bicep curls. You know, pick up the pint, bring it to your mouth, put it down on the bar. That kind of exercise. . .

The 10 miles we have planned for Monday is already scaring me. . . .

BTW - I can't seem to get the font size thing down for this blog. If you are blind like me, I can make it real big if you like. I think I choose 'normal' size every time. Yeah. . .that's also true for my life as well, and we all know that's never the case. . .!

Keep on, keepin' on

to quote my dear friend Yas (from her own blog posting) - i better get crack a lackin' on this training thing! Lindsay and i are planning to complete 10 miles this Monday. How? Well, not in a car. . .that's for certain. And not too fast. . . that's for real certain! I will recount the gory details then. . .

on another note, say a little prayer tonight for a dear friend of mine, k? whoever you pray to, it doesn't matter. just think of me (as you always do when you pray, right?) and then, say one more for my friend. heart, monica

My best excuse yet!

Today, I totally have my best excuse for not training yet - my nephew Caleb Nate was born!!

these feet will run a marathon one day, I know it!

My sister Amanda gave birth to the cutest little kid today at 11:38 am. I was in charge of calling the family when it happened - and when you are one of 7 kids, that can take a while! I was definitely rewarded for this good deed as Amanda let me come and visit. She had wanted to keep the baby calm for a few days before having any visitors.I guess her epidural had not worn off yet as she asked me to come. . yeah, that would be loud Auntie Monica! Anyway, it was a great excuse to not exercise tonight, don't you agree?

So, Kieran, his hangover and myself jumped on the Harley and headed for Oakland. It was kinda like exercising. You know those 1980's looking machines that wrap an ace bandage around your middle and shake you? I've never been on one (really. . .), but I'm guessing it's the same feeling you get when you are on the back of a Harley on the freeway. :-)

Welcome to world Caleb!! Thanks for providing the best excuse to not train today!

check out the video kieran took of little Caleb (go ahead and ignore our conversation though!!):