a swift hard slap of humble on my face.

The Oklahoma City Marathon, I thought that was humbling. That amount of humbling is nothing compared to what I'm about to embark on. Me, the girl who has run 30 races over the past four years (no i don't mean that to sound cocky).... wait, I have something to say here.

RANDOM THOUGHT ALERT: yes, I know to some those 30 races consisting of multiple 5ks, 10ks, 10 milers, two milers, half marathons and only the one marathon,...well to some those are no big deal because there aren't multiple marathon notches in my running belt, which might cause some to think or act like I'm not a legitimate runner. I may do every other distance, but since I can't marathon that means I can't really run. But I am really proud of those 30 races, despite what distance they are. And no, I don't expect you to be as proud as I am, but the time and effort, the fun and friendships, the memories and lessons I have in all of them, I think that still legitimately qualifies me as being a runner. And a damn accomplished one.

Back on track. The big humble slap in the face. Me, non-marathoning runner girl since 2004, is starting from scratch. In about two weeks I will begin walking. Then in January I will start a beginning runners training program. Now that's some humble friends. Give me my 'piddly little a five hour marathon humble pie' over having to start over in running any day.

It's not what I would choose to do, because I know if I wanted to go and run 10 miles tomorrow, I could do it (again not being cocky, just honest). It might get ugly, and be painfully slow (not that i'm fast anyway) but it would get done. Instead. I will walk. Then I will run/walk. Then I will run. And hope this approach does the trick and keeps me healthy. One thing is definite... through my physical therapy the last six weeks, my perspective on running has done a 180. And it's what I've needed for about three years now.

But dang it if I don't go out there and become the best damn walker and beginning runner anyone has ever seen. I may have new perspective, but I still have a hell of a lot of determination. And clearly no shame.

So cheers to starting over. Washing the slate clean and starting fresh in 2010. With fresh new legs and fresh new perspective and fresh new moral support. I'm just thankful I have some people behind me telling me I can run, and believe I have the ability to run fast, and teaching me to believe that myself. Even if it isn't in a marathon. Running doesn't define me. But I sure am excited to see what it has in store for me in 2010.

best part of my day.

This is a little video my brother in law Lance created. If you love the show Glee, and in general love yourself some happy, give it a watch. It made my morning. Also, he created this at work.... with his buddies.... I need his job. Lance is the one with spiky brown hair, and beard, you will see him featured on some killer air guitar. He's got some sweet moves.

a wonderful rainbow covered in chocolate and beer.

That's what the newest local YMCA is. I swear, Wichita builds some incredibly amazing YMCA facilities. I think I want to move into the newest one, which is actually in a suburb right outside East Wichita called Andover. I went there last night for a spin class with my running injury rehab buddy Lea. I think it's safe to say we both had our rear end's handed to us on a big silver platter. WOW.

The most incredible thing is that the Andover YMCA has a spin studio, with stadium style bike platforms, and nice new pretty shiny spin bikes. I'm hooked. I don't know that I'll ever go anywhere else for a spin class again. The good news is that they have several 5:30a classes that Lea and I are up for attending, and since we live just a few blocks away from each other, and 15 minutes from said YMCA, it will be easy to go to the early morning classes. Which makes getting up stupid early worth it. Because who wouldn't want to get up that early to go to a wonderful rainbow covered in chocolate and beer at 5a to spin their heart out?

In other news. I'm still going strong in PT, and am not so secretly glad I have a fellow running buddy who is taking a break (lea has a stress fracture, she ran the sf nike marathon, amazing) too, so we are rehabbing together with spin classes and yoga. It's nice to have a pal in the same boat.

My PT discovered my lower back is all jacked up, which is most likely causing a lot of my issues. He worked on me a good long time this week, and I feel so amazing. He had me do a little run set, just to gauge my stride. There is a huge positive difference in my stride from when I went to him three weeks ago. When I ran, my legs FLEW, it felt like I was gliding on a cloud, with angels singing and sun shining down on me. I haven't felt that way since.... well I can't remember when. It felt like what I imagine the rest of ya'll must feel like when you run. Nothing hurt, my hips, quads, glutes, hamstrings and calves were firing in alignment.... it was like perfection in running. I felt like I could run FAST and far.

Even though that little sprint was perfection, I'm still not running, despite some temptation here and there after a horrendous day or two. I'm going to see how I feel in January and go from there. We'll see.

Can ya'll believe it's almost Thanksgiving? I actually LOVE this time of year. Thanksgiving is my family's big holiday, more so than Christmas. I'm so looking forward to seeing my sisssy's and aunts and uncles and cousins for three or four days (and my parents, but they live here in town so i see them whenever). It's my happy time!

PLUS, I'm taking all of next week off to work on the house, and take a needed break from work. And that little Edder we all like so much is even taking two days off with me, and said he'll work from home in the mornings. He hasn't taken a day off work since starting his new job seven weeks ago. And yes, I mean he literally works seven days a week. I'm looking forward to next week indeed! So really, not only is the new Andover Y a wonderful rainbow covered in chocolate and beer, next week will be that as well.

about chicago.

There are 10 very important things I learned while I was in Chicago last month:

1. I only like hot dogs if they are consumed in Chicago or at baseball games. Gene and Jude's in Chi-Town had the tastiest hot dog I have ever had. Hands down.

2. Local Chicago breweries are fun, informational, and have incredible tasting beer. Just YUM. And are even more fun with cousins!
3. Volunteering at a marathon is just plain incredible. It was a great experience. Plus I almost peed my pants when I saw the elites, it was verging on ridiculous how excited I got.
4. Being the first 'team' at your aid station to finish setting up your gatorade table is easy work for these cousins. We won t-shirts for it. Yeah, we are just that good. And there had to be at least 25 tables at our aid station.5. Matching is fun. Especially when it's with Chicago Marathon volunteer gear (and winning t-shirts) even if the matching jackets look like we are American Airlines workers.
6. Apparently my sub-conscious does not like heights. Because when stepping out onto the Sears (Willis, whatever) tower ledge I wouldn't let go of the wall, even though I wasn't really scared to do it. I am ridiculous. But I clearly made it out there regardless.

7. I love Michigan Avenue, Millennium Park and basically all things downtown Chicago. I could camp out there for weeks on end, maybe under a bridge somewhere, and be happy
8. I really, really want to run the Chicago Marathon in 2010, I guess we'll just have to see about that one.

9. Running along Michigan Lake was one of the best runs I have ever had in my life ever, ever.
10. I love my cousins, especially when Brian walks sweetly down the street with Edder, precious.