November!

Um… the year is almost over. Days turn to nights in a blur, the weeks fly by and now today we turn the calender again. Only two full months left of 2010, time to start making it count!

Halloween, is one of my most favorite days of the year. (We all know my favorite!) Yesterday I hit the street with my two most favorite trick or treaters. As we were finishing up and M1 says to me,” thanks for some great costumes all these years mom, I love Halloween but I think this is my last year out to Trick or Treat”. My eyes filled up and I could feel the the lump in my throat. I told him to not make any crazy decisions and we’ll see what next year brings Even though I know that next year, he’ll probably be a good 2-3 inches taller than me and well, I’m not big on teenagers trick or treating.. so I guess he’s right. But wow.. emotional. I’m just not prepared for him growing up. The little lady will be keeping me company for some great years ahead and I will cherish every day that I have with them , every time I blink they get bigger.

Now it’s time to get serious about running again, that’s my plan for November!

getting committed. but not like in the mental way.

OK! Let’s get serious about this blog business. I loved my blog & loved writing and seeing the comments from the peeps who read my ramblings. So here we go again, committing to more posts and pictures and all that business! I want to love my bloggedyblog again.

I hope your ready !!

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”

This is the Circle of Friends Blanket …

We had been searching for a blanket and this was perfect! We picked out some super comfy cozy yarn and amazing colors and we got to knitting… on the DL. This blanket pattern is designed for a group of friends to come together, each knits a strip in their designated colors and then we seam them all together. The amount of love that was stitched into this blanket is off the charts. We rallied together, and finished it for our sweet soul sister and gave it to her this past Saturday. She’s due in just a few weeks and we are all busting at the seams for this baby to arrive. But this “little” blanket is just to remind her how much we love her, her husband and this baby girl that’s on her way. Not that she needs reminding, but to have that presence in their home that we are here for the long haul. This is tight knit group (no pun intended, ok .. maybe a little) and amazing things can happen with the power that generates between us.

Something wonderful brought us all together and I thank my lucky stars for being a part of it.

what doesn’t kill you …

“What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”

This is what I say to the kids many times a day, and it has a pretty high success rate. What I need to do is practice what I preach. To remember just because I am frustrated that it’s just a bump in the road and not a road block or the end of said road all together. My running has been a struggle since my half marathon in June. I’ve done a few longer runs and both of them have left me struggling toward the end and wanting to give up all together. Then I tell myself, did that kill you? NO. Are you doing more than you ever thought you could? YES. So, I suck it up and I finish the run. Sweaty. Grumpy. Defeated. I am so not ready for summer to end – but I feel like summer just isn’t a match made in heaven for Melody & Running. I’ll keep on keepin’ on and squeeze my runs in when I can and enjoy every step that I do take… because at the end of the day I’m doing it and I am getting it done.

summer in progress

Hello out there! Every single post I type, I say to myself, I am going to post more often, but then I forget or really don’t have anything going on. But, that isn’t true at all, we have a lot going on – all the time.

Since my half marathon, training has continued. I am not getting to run as much as I normally do because the kids are home with me and well, that really puts a crimp in my running style. I get in two runs a week, maybe 3 if I get off my ass on a Sunday. Once the kids get back into their schedules, I’ll be able to rack up some mileage again.

Our summer has been indeed splendid. My birthday was fantastic. I turned 39… thirty-nine! I have never felt better about myself that I do the day I turned 39. I did so much this last year for me and my health. I accomplished goals that I never thought would ever be possible. My kids are amazing, smart, funny, pains in the ass, gorgeous creatures. There is no better compliment in the world when people tell you what a fantastic job you are doing raising your kids. Who doesn’t love hearing how great you doing at your job? It makes my heart esplode.

We had friends visit from Colorado and it was the best week. We did everything you could.Maine.Beach.Boston.Lobster. We laughed hysterically and had good wine & conversation.

This is what life is all about. Enjoying each day to the fullest. Embracing the family, the friends, the friends that are your family. Laughing til you cry. At the end of the day, finding that one little thing that made you smile and lock it away in your memory box.

It’s Monday. It’s a new week, almost a new month. Enjoy !!

June 13, 2010 pt 2

My race was smooth. Like buttah. Mile 1. Done. Mile 2… this is easy. Mile 2.5 ish.. I see my friends. HOLY CRAP.. not only do I see my friends.. I HEAR MY FRIENDS. Steph,TC,Danielle,Heather,Jasmine,Hollis,Jen,Gina all there rooting us on. Cheering for Sandy, for Tom ( Jens hubby ) and ME ME ME! Signs. Cowbells. TOTAL EXCITEMENT. It fueled me. After running by them & hi 5′s all around, I slowed my pace down knowing that we were coming up on some hills .. and I was determined to get as much running on those hills as I could. We made it over Beechmont before I knew it we were on Salisbury, before I knew it again.. we were on May Street and two major hills from the race were over & done with. I was feeling fantastic! We head down Chandler and there they are again. My crew. The route back tracked on street, so they were able to stay in the same spot and see us again at mile 7ish. I can’t even put into words the adrenaline rush that they gave me alone. My heart exploded right then and there from the love & encouragement from this group.. after I passed them and I was just in a daze and was more than half way to finishing. I WAS DOING IT. Carmen looked over at me and she says.. your friends are amazing. I KNOW, RIGHT! I thank God every day for bringing them into my life, otherwise I would have withered away a long time ago.

We made our way through the city. We had trained on these roads, so that is how I treated this race. Just another training run, but this time I wanted to finish in a certain amount of time. Before I knew it we were at mile 10. TEN! Just a 5k left. My little toe got a wicked blister on it and it was painful… searing pain all the way up my leg. DUMB! Mile 11. Mile 12. lets finish this. Mile 13. I have point one to go. do you hear that? POINT ONE. I HAD DONE IT!!!!

Coming up on the finish line.. there he is. My man. Looking damn good for just having ran the 13.1 himself. He has my camera in hand and he asks how I feel and he was so excited and proud. I was almost there. Then.. there they are. My kids. My friends. My inlaws even came down to watch us finish. They were all yelling and clapping and shouting and the emotions took over. I yelled at them that they BETTER NOT MAKE ME CRY and there it was. FINISH.
I crossed the mat at 2:35:13. The medal was placed around my neck and I felt great. Tired, but I could have ran more!! I, me, Melody.. the couch potato, eater, drinker, knitter, 5k max runner, had done it. I had completed a half marathon.

Here come my friends & family. Sandy who ran an awesome race in under 2hrs.. Tommy T who ran it in just over 2hrs..and me. I wish I had got a pic of us 3.. DUMB. I dont have any pics of me with my girlfriends. DUMB . No family photos. DUMB. you’ll just have to take my word for it, it was by far the most amazing experience of my life. (other than having the m’s ofcourse)

I cannot thank my team leader Andy enough. My team all together who inspire and challenge and conquer their goals too. My parents, who were so proud from afar, but I think they were a little shocked that I had done this. They remember me when I was partier. not an athlete. My girlfriends, who cheered me on from Day 1… and now some of them are going to start out on their own running journy. Most of all. Sandy. He inspires, encourages me, supports and coaches. Now we have to flip a coin who gets to run what races, I dont think he ever thought that was going to be an issue.

I liked this ride, a lot! I wanna do it again.

June 13, 2010 pt 1

Finally. The day had arrived. Race day was here. I was nervous, but more of an excited nervous. I knew I could run the mileage and complete the race. Now doing it in a time that I saw fit, that was a different story. I had set my goal to be at 2.5hrs and would do my best.

Saturday night, we had a great team dinner with a ton of delicious food and amazing company. We all talked, calmed our nerves a bit and had a nice motivating speech from our team leader and a few others. But all I could think about the whole time was that I was going to run a freaking half marathon. This is not what I do. I do not run long distances. I drink. I socialize. Im a frakkin’ knitter for pete’s sake!

Sandy & I got home and got all our stuff ready for the morning. Laid out our outfits, ok, I laid out mine ..he threw his together and probably threw it on the floor. I put my number on my race belt (no pins in my shirt!) and finally was able to calm down enough to sit and slow down so I’d be able to sleep! And sleep I did! It was probably one of the best nights sleep I had, all the way til 4am, because I set my alarm clock wrong, and it went off an hour earlier. WHOOPS. 5am.. we were up and starting the process to get going. Waking up the M’s. Deep breaths and we were on our way. Our fantastic friends watched the M’s for us and would be waiting for us at the finish line. This soothed my soul, since it is a very rare occasion that I am away from them.. but I knew they were in good hands and I had nothing to worry about. Steph gave me an awesome LIFE IS GOOD hat with running sneaks and the BEST card.. this gave me even more confidence to do what I was about to do.

Sandy & I were off. We made our way down to the Y. The team all started to arrive . everyone stretching, laughing, being nervous and it was time to make our way down to the starting line. We had time to wait in line FOREVER for the bathroom and run to the starting line. 1523 runners. I was one of them. I was getting ready to run 13.1 miles. I had my training partner Carmen, from day 1 by my side. I smooched my hubs and wished him a good race and I’d see him at the finish line. I wished my teammates good luck and WE WERE OFF!

to be continued ….

it’s just the beginning …

At the beginning of 2010, I set a new goal for myself. I was going to train to run a 10k this year. 6.2 miles. Could I do this? Would I have the willpower to stick to it? This race wouldn’t be until October, so I should be able to do this. Maybe. Ya thinK? I don’t know.. maybe not.

Until… we came across a half marathon that was being held right here in Worcester in June 2010. At the same time we found this race, we also found that through the YMCA there was a training group forming for those who need guidance and the know how to actually train and complete a full 13.1miles. I thought it about it all weekend and finally on Monday morning, I had made the commitment and announced to everyone I knew what I had to decided to do. My parents, my girlfriends and anyone else who would listen. they were beyond supportive and had faith.

On a spring chilly morning in March, I showed up at the Central Branch YMCA, not knowing a soul and ran my first 2miles with my group. Some ran it without a problem, some struggled. But we all finished. We all found a person in our pace category and introduced ourselves, thinking we’d all be seeing a lot of each other. The adventure began..

After that, every single Saturday morning and some Wednesdays (for me), our team would meet and we’d set out on a new course, and a little bit more mileage each time. Each Saturday I was a nervous wreck. MORE mileage? The voices told me that there was no way I’d succeed. The voices told me to give up. The voices told me I was week. Each Saturday, I ran those miles. Each Saturday, that mileage got easier. Each Saturday, the voices got quieter and eventually quit all together. I was doing it. I was not weak. I was succeeding.

I had made the commitment. I was sticking to it. I was seeing changes. In my mind, body & soul.
March (42miles) , April (69miles), May (91freakin’ miles) … we ran in rain,snow,freezing temps and surprisingly unseasonal warm temps, wind and humidity. We had trained through everything. June was upon us. Days away from goal that my entire team, who I had got to know as not only as fellow runners, but as friends. I had seen them succeed and cheered them on, as they did me. I could not have accomplished this without seeing them twice a week. I could not have got as far as I did without my husband encouraging me and sharing his experiences and knowledge as an already accomplished marathoner. My friends… they complete me.

It was finally here. June 13, 2010. Everything I had worked for.

I can’t wait to tell you about that … next.

Cookie of the Week

I totally dropped the ball on the cookie of the week…. especially since I started training for my half marathon.   I really could not have all that delciousness in my kitchen,  bad news.   But the M’s started asking about cookies and why I hadn’t made any for a long time.  So, for them .. cookie of the week is back.   Instead of Tuesdays.. we switched it to Thursdays.      So.. each week, I’ll share with you what we’re having.      Here we go!

My mother in law actually made these for my husband & sister in law ..these are def one of their favorites. So..I”ll give her all the credit

BULLCHIPS!

2 cups of sugar

5 tbls of unsweetened cocoa

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup chunky peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups quick cooking oats

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1 cup coconut (optional)

I omitted the nuts and added the coconut.. mm mm delicious.

Cover a baking sheet with wax paper.

Combine sugar with cocoa in a large saucepan. Stir in milk, butter & peanut butter. Cook, stirring continuously, over medium heat until butter melts and mixture is combined, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla Add oats and nuts; mix thoroughly.

Once mixture has cooled slightly, drop by large spoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheet.

Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.

Because I am always in such a hurry… I suggest really letting mixture cool in saucepan.  I always drop the cookies too early and they don’t firmly set.     They are still delicious.. very gooey.

I hope you make them and enjoy them.. let me know if you do.

baby sweater! times two!

I started this first sweater about a month ago and even though the pattern is a little tricky around the placket on the neck.. I fudged it and made it up as I went and what do you know.. it worked.    Mr. Knitpho’s cousin is having twins.. boys.  GASP.     So, instead of a trip to babies r us.. why not do what I do best and give her something from the heart.     Instead of making two matchy matchy.. one is brown with blue and the other blue with brown.  TOOT CUTE.

Instead of buttons.. I put in those little sew in snaps and will send them on their merry little way.

I hope the mother to be enjoys these little sweaters as much as I enjoyed knitting them for her new baby boys.