Mother Racer

Corom and I finally went out tonight. Z (our foreign exchange student) went to dinner and a dance tonight and one of the track girls came over to babysit. We went with our friends the Fullmer’s to dinner…

This place was so good. We had a great time. We then went and saw a movie…

I went into the movie thinking I was not going to like it. I thought it was funny and entertaining… A good movie. It was nice to get out and spend time with Corom without kids. We have not done this in a long time!

We came home and our babysitter began to cry. She just found out that one of the students at school ended her life. It broke my heart to hear this. After working with the high school kids as a coach for 5 years now, I have seen so many of their insecurities, their weaknesses, and their desires to fit in. I have been there… We have all been there or we are going through it. It is hard! I also see a lot if good, too. We had a long talk in the car as I took her home. I am at a loss of words… I really struggled in JH and High School but I am who I am today because of it! It makes me want to reach out to those that are in need! Every new season (track and cross country) I have a talk with the boys and I always challenge them to ask the girls out that don’t get asked out on dates or dances. Then as a group I express the importance of befriending those that need a friend and those that are struggling. I know it has nothing to do with running but it has everything to do to bettering yourself and in the long run it will make you stronger as a person. Anyway… I know I am rambling on and there is so much I can say right now but it would just go round in circles. Life is good!!! It is hard at times (and in some cases, many times) but it is good! I have my Savior on my side and I know He is always there for me! Have a good night!

It was a beautiful morning for a long run…

We met up with Runner’s Corner’s group at the Murdoch trail in Provo (about 25 people total, everyone with different paces and different distances they wanted to run). I made it to the “Red Barn” with a group of ladies…

That was the 6 mile point. On the way back Rachelle and I picked up our pace. We ended up going hard for a mile (6:38 pace), then backed off a little for a mile, then a hard 6:30 pace again. My legs were tired from yesterday’s run but it still felt good to push a little. I ran a total of 13.5 miles in 1:42.40.

The people I run with are so motivating and inspiring! I am grateful for a support system.

I came home, hurried and got ready and got the girls ready and went to Corom’s basketball game (he is a coach for a freshman/sophomore city league team). He coaches with Mike Fullmer and Travis Barney.

It was fun to watch… The boys played well!

I was supposed to go to my in-door soccer game but I decided to stay home and hang out with the kids and get things done. They also had enough subs so that helped my decision! I’m bummed now that I’m not there but it is good to slow things down today!

So far Kitty our English Mastiff looks OK… She is a little slow moving around but that is to be expected after being hit and then run over by a truck.

Well today I had 3 extra kids that I watch on Fridays for a friend of mine. They were all playing, doing their normal thing when I heard a crash… I ran upstairs and I saw their dresser tipped over and crying…

My 3rd child tried climbing up and as it was falling over she jumped off. She landed in the corner… Unfortunately, our fish tank was on top and shattered the side and the bottom. There are little rocks and glass all over in that corner. (It is now 9 pm and neither Corom and I have even attempted to pick all that up.) 🙂 I am grateful she wasn’t hurt. It freaked me out!  Once I found out all the kids were OK from the dresser falling and glass shattering, my impatience level dropped.   I was not to happy about that. Honestly… it is always something here with my kids! Later the girls went to a birthday party and then we had people over for dinner. After dinner the ladies and I went and played basketball for our church. Our husbands came (with the kids) for moral support.

I am so not good at basketball (it is mainly the shooting of the basketball). I had a free throw and the 1st one I totally missed… So the 2nd one I shot underhand…

And totally missed. We had fun though!

Z our foreign exchange student also played. 1st time ever playing basketball. (Out team won thanks to Megan B, Misty L, and Camille B.) With the last 5 minutes of the game, I heard my 2nd child start crying (a hurt cry)…

Needless to say… I stopped playing and went to help Corom take care of her and clean up the mess. She hit it on a chair and cut her lip and had a bloody nose. She was good to go once we got her cleaned up. Never a dull moment!

I met up with Mac, Aubrey and Beth. For the 1st 50 minutes it was a slow, cautious pace. It was still way dark at 6 a.m. when we met up (the kids have no school today). The roads were so icy in certain spots that by the time you thought you were good to go and have your footing, you would slip and slide. It was pretty sketchy at times. Right when the sun started to come up, I decided it was time to push my pace. I ran for another 49 minutes at a good, solid, hard pace. I am so glad I was able to push the 2nd half of my run… I was getting a little antsy… I ran a total of 1:38.06.

I went to my daughter’s (2nd child-kindergarden) class this morning for the SEP’s (parent/teacher conference). It was good to see what my daughter is doing well in and what she needs to work on.

I, then, headed to Runner’s Corner to have a “heart-to-heart talk with Hawk (the stores owner and well known “Coach”). We went over many of my goals and ways to help me to improve. Very insightful and I am ready to start training again! I will finish off this week with mileage, but starting next week, it will be more planned out.

After a couple of hours I came home, we all hung out for a little while, then I picked up my oldest from school and of course she came out with no jacket.

We then went to indoor track practice (Corom was home with the younger 3)…

As soon as I sent the distance runners off on a run in the snow :), I went with my daughter to her parent/teacher conference. She is doing much better in the areas that she has struggled in!

Corom was working on our van when our just barely 1 year old English Mastiff got hit by a car. “Kitty” (our dog) was then dragged under the guys truck and he said his truck ran over her with his back tire! It is the saddest thing!

Our good friend Mike Fullmer came over (Kitty loves Mike) to pay a “Doctor’s visit”. As soon as he got here Kitty jumped up and came to him. That was a great sign.

Mike is our pediatrician and now our vet! I appreciate him coming over to take a look at her! I hope Kitty is ok!!! 😦