13.1

i've never considered myself a runner.

yes, i've been running all my life.  on and off.  here and there.  soccer and basketball and softball practices of my childhood and teen years.  days long ago when my sister would be home from college on a break and she'd ask if i wanted to go for a run with her.  days when i'd latch key myself in the house and take the dog for a quick jog around the neighborhood.  i ran on the treadmill my last 2 years of high school, for health and beauty reasons mostly.  i ran my heart out in powderpuff football practices my senior year.  i ran around campus at michigan state, with friends and without, sometimes because i was late to class.

it wasn't until after harper was born that i wanted to run a race.  michael and i signed up for our first 5k, the detroit thanksgiving turkey trot, in 2009.  we trained for it, pushing harper in the jogger most times, but we left her with nana and papa for the actual race.  we ran it with michael's siblings, and it was tough.  i didn't think i could finish.  michael and i held hands as we crossed that finish line, so proud of that accomplishment after all of our hard work.  we signed up here and there for a few more 5ks after that, but nothing hard core.  michael ran a 10k in 2010.  i swore that was too much for me.

fast forward to my cancer diagnosis and my 18 days solo at my parent's house during my radiation.  i was itching to move, but couldn't go anywhere or be around people and it was extremely frigid outside (especially for a girl with no thyroid).  so one day, i hopped on their treadmill and ran.  it felt great.  so i did it again the next day.  and the next.  and it was there on that treadmill that i made the commitment to run a half-marathon.  i called michael post-run and told him.  he has always had the desire to run a half, so he was on board.  but he told me i should sign up before i changed my mind.  he knows me so well.  he also thought it might be a good idea if we made our run a fundraiser for the julian boivin courage for cures foundation, a foundation that began after friend's of ours lost their 5-year-old little boy to a brain tumor in 2011.  i liked his idea.

i signed us up in march, and we prepared ourselves to start training in june.  june came and i logged my first 2 mile run.  i won't lie, i struggled.  but i knew it was only 2 and i had to keep going because in just a few short months, i would be logging double digit miles at a time.  but june came and went and i couldn't get past 3 miles.  i posted on facebook asking for suggestions.  i made use of so many of them, and finally got to 4 miles on the fourth of july.  after that, it quickly went from 4 to 5 to 6 to 7 to 8 and 8 again.  we participated in a local 10k event, just so i could say that i did a 10k before jumping from a 5k to a half.

but then it stopped.  it was mid-august, i was nearing the end of summer break, and my heart just wasn't in it.  i ran a few short runs, but it was a month before i finally got around to a long run again.  i skipped the 9 mile run all together and just went straight for 10 to get back on our training pace.  10 went to 11 then 11 again and then 12.  and then it was 2 weeks pre-race.  we started our taper, a few moderate runs throughout the week and only one more 6 mile run before the big day.

we left the girls with nana and papa for an overnight and drove to grand rapids, directly to the expo to pick up our bibs.  we checked into the hotel, grabbed a pasta dinner with michael's brother, jeff, and his wife, megan.  (jeff was running his first full marathon the next day)  then we headed back for some good sleep.  i was ready.  i wasn't nervous at all.  i pictured myself crossing that finish line with 13.1 miles behind me.  i felt strong.

it.  was.  amazing.

it did not disappoint.  the trees changing colors.  the crisp, cool weather.  the energy of the crowd.  the motivation of fellow runners.  knowing the amount of money we raised for julian's foundation.  knowing that i wasn't only running for julian, but also for my sister, and all the life-changing events she has been through and the weight she has had to carry the last 6 months.

(heboo- you were with me in my thoughts every step of that race.  i love you more than you know.)

my goal was to finish in 2 hours, 30 minutes.  i crossed the line at 2:26:21.  i beat my time.  i accomplished something i never thought i could do.  and now i'm itching to sign up for my next one.  i've officially caught that runner's high.

i found a quote by nike founder bill bowerman that resonated with me...the real purpose of running isn't to win a race; it's to test the limits of the human heart.  this entire process sure did test every limit i could imagine.  i logged a total of 200 miles from june through race day, averaging 3-5 runs per week.  we raised over $2500 from family, friends, co-workers who wanted to show their support for us by supporting pediatric cancer research.  i taught one donation cycling class and participated in one hot vinyasa yoga class, both at which all participant proceeds went to the foundation.  i tripped on an uneven sidewalk crack right around mile 10 that could have ended in catastrophe, but instead i caught myself, steadied myself, and kept right on going, right to the handful of gummy bears waiting for me at the next aid station.  i sweat a whole hell of a lot.  i cried, during runs and afterwards.  my body ached and resisted more runs.  my knees started talking back to me more often.  i twisted and sprained my ankle near the beginning of my training.  my alarm clock jolted me out of deep sleep at 4:40 am for 5 am pitch black runs with my neighbor, sara, more often than i care to remember and it took everything i had to pull myself out of those warm covers.

but i did not lose any toenails in the process.  i did not quit.  and i did a whole lot of smiling.

don't compare yourself to others.  compare yourself to the person from yesterday.

debut

i borrowed this from the studio where i now instruct.  isn't that crazy?!  i set goals for myself this year, and i am doing pretty well on accomplishing them.  this one makes me pretty proud, and i am truly loving being in the instructor seat.

  

Certifications – Mad Dogg Spinning, CPR, Speech Language Pathologist / M.A. CCC-SLP

Emily has always incorporated some type of fitness into her life, including spinning here and there, but before Studio, she never had a consistent fitness plan. “I joined Studio one month after they opened, and from the first class, I was hooked. I knew I had found a place I could stick with for the long haul. The people, the Keiser bikes and the studio were what kept me coming back. Within 2 months, I knew I wanted to get certified to teach; I loved it that much.” Getting certified was on Emily’s 2013 bucket list. In June 2013, she completed the requirements for certification. She began teaching at Studio in July. As a full-time Speech-Language Pathologist, Emily motivates her clients to communicate, and has now found a new way to do so. “I have been so inspired by every teacher at Studio Now I am loving being in front of the class, motivating others to push just a bit further and encouraging the concept of training for life in each class I teach.” Emily hopes to provide a positive health model for her two young daughters, to encourage fitness as a way to improve self-esteem, reduce stress and increase overall happiness and enjoyment in life. “I share with my girls the idea that I don’t exercise because I have to, I exercise because I want to; it makes me a better mom. It’s a win-win situation; what can be better than that?” In addition to cycling at Studio  Emily participates regularly in power yoga and local outdoor running races as a way to balance out her fitness regimen.

Emily on Studio:

In this studio you’ll find a place without judgment; a place with encouragement and motivation. You’ll find people who are happy and energetic and enjoying life. It’s an amazing community of instructors and clients both and I am so thrilled to be a part of it.

gluten-ous

glut·ton·ous

adjective

1.

tending to eat and drink excessively; voracious.

2.

greedy; insatiable.

hello january 1.  hello twenty-twelve.  hello once again to the new years resolutions.  and mine are filled with challenges this year.  starting with my friend, danielle's, monthly challenge for several of us in the mom's/recipe club- spend the month of january gluten free.  given that i have been nothing but gluttonous on junk since, well, halloween, i thought it best to give it a shot.  from the "just one more" fun size candy bar, to the stuffing and pumpkin pie on thanksgiving, to my first annual cookie exchange in december where we shared 10 dozen delicious concoctions, and culminating with more food and desserts than one should consume over the several christmas holiday get togethers and christmas gifts from co-workers and parents, my body is screaming for some reprieve.  mind you, i am actually fairly close to my pre-harper weight thanks to lots of running with my friend katie and weekly spinning classes that i started attending in november, but that doesn't mean my overall health doesn't need some tweaking.  so starting tomorrow, michael (he's agreed to try it with me) and i are saying bye-bye to gluten.  stay tuned for updates to this challenge, and check out danielle's blog.  she provides so many yummy and good-for-you recipes and lots of fabulous information for good health.

pre-challenge, though, we spent new years eve at home, quietly enjoying some steak with zip sauce and champagne.  michael, harper and i stayed up til 11:15 watching movies on the blow up bed.  and while i'm certain harper could have made it to midnight and the ball dropping, us parents just didn't have it in us.

we also had some fun with the camera's self-timer and my fabulous little photographer in the making.

one thing i will never change being gluttonous for, however, is my girls, and that's why i post lots of pictures.  and here is the wee one at 8 months...


pulling herself up to standing and being very adventurous...



always smiling...



and cracking us up with her new head tilt.  when she's trying to get your attention, or just trying to play with you, she takes a side view.



these two are starting to interact much more, and i can't get enough.



oh, and then she went ahead and turned 9 months.

she's standing and cruising, and braving it by holding on to something with only one hand.  she's waving and signing milk.  she's eating, but prefers small bits of finger foods to being fed with a spoon.  she's saying dada and mama and nana and yaya and lala.  she's a regular chatty cathy.

she is always happy.  she is always smiling.  she is pure enchantment and deliciousness.

she is a horrible night sleeper, and is often waking us up 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 times a night.  thank goodness she's always happy, cause when she smiles at you at 2 in the morning when you go get her from her crib, you can't help but smile back.  she's got our number and she knows it.

ok, off to check the cupboard and make sure there is nothing else that could satisfy my gluten-ous cravings before the challenge begins in less than 3 hours.  here's to good health, good changes, and an exceptional 2012.

hope your new year was a happy one.