Is it almost December?

Where has the year gone?

I am still here but been on Facebook mostly. I don't kow who all reads this blog...for sure no one in my family :( otherwise I'd know.

It's Sunday evening and I am where I always seem to be at this timeof day and week....wishing I had a few more days, hours to add to my long to do lists...

School is almost over--semester is done on 12/14! Then, I get a wonderful break until 1/23...I will have my first 12 units of my grad classes done. Yes, I am in grad school now. I never thought I'd say this. It's the only way to get that much awaited Spec. Ed. credential!

Let's see if I can recap some major life events:

My son got married last December in Japan and he and his wife are expecting their first baby--my first grandbaby-- in March! I am flying out to meet this little one over my Easter break which is the week of April 1. I can't wait!

I started running again in August and am back with the LA Roadrunners. We are well into our training. Next Saturday we have a 14 mile run.

Work is going well at the middle school. I am learning something every day. My students never cease to amaze me and I feel blessed to be there. I am finally feeling like part of the team there...I love it.

This is it for now...

Geez....

Has it REALLY been that long? I was posting a comment on another Blog and had to use this as my login. Where have I been? Sadly, spending way too much time on Facebook~ (not good, I know) I am trying to limit my time there since I am back in school for the next 6 weeks and doing a bunch of other stuff too.

Lots of news to get caught up on....mainly, that I am going to be a GRANDMA (me? so young??)next Spring! My son in Japan and his wife are expecting their baby in March! Guess where I will be going over Spring/Easter Break?? Yup! Japan.

I have to work on my Japanese now more than ever....this will be my 4th time there and I think I should know more than the few phrases I know.

It doesn't look like anyone is looking at my blog anyways (except me) ha!

Have a great day if you do happen to read this!

An old entry from another blog I had started and just found today! It's fun to see where I was at back then....since this post, I ran 3 more for a total of 7 marathons...I have been on a running hiatus for well over 2 years. It's time to get back into it.

Stay tuned.

~:~:~:~::~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:

My marathon journey. . .

Saturday, October 01, 2005


After 9 months of no running (thanks to my Plantar Fascitis and bone spur in my left foot) I have started training for the Los Angeles Marathon again! It will be my third LA Marathon and my 4th marathon in my life.

I started running again about 2-3 months ago. Careful not to over do it! My left heel still feels sore after I run but it's at least 90% better than it was.
I have done a lot of research on this condition and have met a lot of runners who've had it, and outgrew it....who have had it for years....but are still all able to maintain a regular running regime!

I did see a podiatrist and an orthopedic specialist (who is also a runner) and I got some really cool custom orthotics for my running shoes. I feel no pain or discomfort when I wear them and I am sooo happy.

I ran my first marathon back in 1994. Not sure why I waited 9 years to train again but I did. After training with the LA Roadrunners in 2003-04, I ran a very hot LA Marathon in March 2004. It took me a little over 6 hours to finish. That marathon was one I will never forget! I remember at mile 20 looking up at a building that posted the current temperature of 91! At that point, our awesome pace leader had only one goal in mind and that was to finish and finish safely--which we did.....we walked a lot more than we had trained for....but it worked...we survived the 3rd hottest marathon in the history of LA's marathons.

After LA, I was in great shape and did not want to lose my runner's "base" so I kept running...and signed up for St. George Marathon which was in October of 2004. I entered and was chosen (this is a lottery style entry)to run. I, and a few other fellow runners drove to St. George Utah and ran the most incredible marathon ever....I will post more on that later....My PR was set there: 5hrs. 36 min!
(I can only dream of one day being a Sub 5!)

I kept on logging miles and continued training...and registered for the OC Marathon in December.
This was probably one of my most uncomfortable marathons...I went from one extreme to the other....with high winds and torrential rain....beginning 6 miles into the marathon, I spent the next 20 miles trying to keep myself warm and dry to no avail....going up and down the sidewalk did a number on my feet...I only finished this marathon because I was doing a fundraiser on my own for a young girl who was stricken with cancer. I ended up raising a ton of money to help the family foot medical bills etc...(I even got her aunt to run the half and raise more money) So, you see, I could not stop and I didn't....I got my finisher's medal and later I gave it to this young girl...

Soon after OC, I got the diagnosis and had stopped running altogether....I did some physical therapy and exercises....iced....it didn't take long for me to feel the running withdrawal. I missed running. I missed what it did for me....the "good" feeling....some call it runner's high...I had it after every run....

Only time could help...I learned to be patient and now I am ready. I am leading a group of mostly new marathoners and we are training to RUN/WALK the entire marathon at a comfortable pace. This is very exciting and I hope to see some of my runners post here!

Well...hope I didn't put any of you to sleep out there!

I look forward to meeting more fellow runners and sharing ideas and experiences!

Ciao for now. . .

What does the Superbowl and love have to do with my post???

I slept in (needed it!) Last week was tough--emotionally-spiritually...I had all intentions to make it to church but that didn't happen. I have such guilt feelings about not going to church (some say it's that left over Catholic guilt thing--who knows) I read my daily devotional and today's message was based on the famous "love" passage:

"Love is patient...kind...does not envy...does not boast...is not proud...is not rude...is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs..."
(1 Corinthians 13:4, 5).

The last time I heard this passage being preached was in Japan for my son's wedding last month. Needless to say, the timing for it today was right...

I don't deal very well with being hurt by someone I love dearly and then having that person not say a thing...not apologizing for hurting me...acting like nothing happened.

Even after 20 years of marriage...there are those times when things get said (yelled) in anger, and after the week I had, I wasn't ready for the spat my hubby and I had the other night.

So, when I read the part that says: "...it keeps no record of wrongs...", I cringed.
"Is not self-seeking.." Ouch...the truth hurts.

Is this what I do when I wait to hear him say "I'm sorry"???
Those 3 words are easier for me to utter than he...and I guess I hear that many men have an issue with saying the same three little words.

Then I wonder how do I keep on going beyond the silence and his acting like nothing happened? How do I reconcile with myself and find the joy that I so desperately yearn to feel?

I guess God knew I needed this reminder this morning. My son's marriage began with this verse and my marriage needs to also continue with its powerful words on a daily basis. It's that constant battle within me that makes me waver between what is right and what is better. I need to remove my inward focus and look beyond to what is better in the long run regardless of what he decides to do (or not do).

My dad continues to remind me (teach me) that I should not place any expectation on anyone...ever. To have expectations is to remain vulnerable to being disappointed and hurt. Ahh.....it's not easy I tell him even though he is so right.


This post is an affirmation of where I am right now at this moment. The house is quiet...except for the occasional barking of my dogs. The sun is out and the sky is blue...2 doves are quietly singing to each other as I peck the keys on my key board.

The washer is humming it's super fast spin cycle and will soon beckon me to move the wet clothes into the dryer...


So, what is the rest of my day going to be?

Well, let's just say that it's going to be a quiet one...just me and the dogs. My hubby flew to Arizona today for a business meeting on Monday. He gets to have some "guy time" watching the game with his buddy that lives there. The space will be good--it always is. I have to be thankful that he did kiss me good bye and he did say he loved me...and even sat with me to have a cup of coffee before leaving.

So, I made my list of stuff that needs to get done:

*One load of laundry (colors)
*Grocery shopping for the week
*Get teachers' lesson plans for next week (online)
*Prepare this week's lessons for my math kids
*Organize my office

Well, the list is kind of long...maybe I will pass on the office....the rest are all musts!

Tomorrow is a big day....my oldest son (in Japan) turns 27! I am trying not to feel too old....'cause I am "only" 48!

I hope your Superbowl Sunday is Super!