Oh, and I just signed up for the PF Chang’s 1/2 Marathon too…

Maybe I should start training…

Tomorrow is a good day to start…I’m gonna make an appointment for Blake at the gym.

I am hoping that this kickstarts the once healthy lifestyle I used to lead a couple of years ago…

Paying a decent chunk of money is good incentive to get my ass in gear and start moving these feet!

Here I go!!!

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It breaks my heart to know that so many people are affected by breast cancer, but I am hopeful and amazed by what is being done on a daily basis to make sure that one day this cancer will no longer take any of our loved ones away.

Sunday morning I woke up both kids early, got them ready and headed out to the race with my two favorite women in the world…Mom and Shannon.  We got the kids strapped into the running stroller and made our way to the start of the 5k run…

Brook and Blake in the Running Stroller for the Breast Cancer Run

As we got to the start of the race, we saw a sea of people here to support their Mom, Grandma, Sister, Aunt, Friend, Co-Worker, Daughter and any other person that was going through, went through or lost their battle with breast cancer.

Mom and the Kids...

I always get emotional seeing the names, pictures and stories behind this disease.  I saw a 87 year old woman walking for her grand-daughter and I saw a family of three young girls and their Dad with their Mom who fought the disease and won.  I really did see so many more people with their own stories…but, those two stand out in my mind.

The Start Line View

There were company groups there, families and people who just wanted to support this great cause.  We are there because of the women in our lives just as much as for every other women out there too.

Me With My Shanny...My Best Bud

When we started the run, I thought about my girls…Mom Fermanian and Karissa Ma.  I also kept in mind Sara Sullivan who’s story has rocked my very core.  She had her whole family life ahead of her…Her husband and their newborn daughter and because of this cancer, she was only able to be with Chloe for a few short days.  It isn’t right…

Brook Running Part of the Race

On a lighter note of this race, Brook really wanted to get out of the stroller and run…The picture of her above captures her running in action.  I think she ran for about a 1/2 a mile total.  Some in the middle and some at the end near the finish line.  She would pump her arms and was very excited to be a part of the race.  Of course I heard a few people exclaim how cute she was while running and my heart swelled up with pride.  She may learn to love running, she may one day hate it…but, for now she is happy running with us and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Brook and Mommy at the Finish Line

So it was a magical and beautiful morning.  I spent it with some of the people I love the most and I did my part for operation “Second Base”.  Or you can say I was, “Running for the Jugs,” or doing my part to, “Save the Tatas.”  You pick.

All I know is these are the moments that make life wonderful…moments with family, moments with inspiration and hope, moments of joy.

Let’s all do our part to help Breast Cancer Research…

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The other reason why this event is so special, is that it really encompasses family.  For three years I have done this event with my Mom and Brook.  After the main “adult” race, they have a kids race that Brook has been apart of.  Here is a picture time line of her being in these races.

Brook and Jolene at Pat Tillman 2007

Brook in Deep Thought 2007

In 2007, she was a 1 year old.  Now given, she was getting close to 2, but she was still such a sweet baby in my eyes…oh, who are we kidding, she is still my baby.   I am pretty sure I carried her most of the way during the .42 kid race.  But, it was the foundation for the future.

Brook Running the Pat Tillman Race 2008

Brook and Mommy at Pat Tillman 2008

Here we are in 2008.  She is now 2 years old and I am pretty sure she ran most of the .42 mile race this time.  She was so cute with her arms pumping and excitement in her eyes.  She stole the show with her determination and cuteness.

Brook Running at Pat Tillman Race 2009

Brook and Mommy Pat Tillman 2009

Here we are 2009 and look how my baby has grown.  She is now three, going on thirty!  With a mind of her own and a love of running established, she ran the whole .42 race this time by herself.  I didn’t carry her once.  With the same happiness and determination, she completed this year with a stellar performance.  She is already asking when are we going to run again.  I can’t wait till she is old enough to run next to me in the “big” race and to finish right along side me.  That is if I can keep up with her.

Here are some more pictures from this years race…

Cece (my Mom), Me and Bill after the race...I averaged 10:15 minute miles. Not bad for 3 weeks of training.

Brook Already Loving on the Football Players

Brook Loving on More ASU Football Players

Travis Loving His Free Rubio's Fish Taco

Travis, Mom, Brook and I Inside Sun Devil Stadium

So as you can see, this race holds a special place in my heart.  It’s 4.2 miles of memories, running and family.  It’s a healthy and exciting tradition that really honors an amazing hero…Pat Tillman.  To give his life to our country and for his wife and family to dedicate their lives to promoting the legacy of leadership through action, I am proud to say that I once went to school, to ASU, with Pat Tillman.

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Then in 2007 my friend Shannon and I made a group New Year’s resolution which was to compete in at least one major sporting event a month.  It could be biking, running or even a triathlon.  We blew that resolution out of the water.  Sometimes we would do two or three events each month just because we were athlete rockstars.  On the smaller events, I would take Brook in her stroller and she would love to watch all the runners and spectators.  Once she was able to walk, we even got her involved in some of the kiddie events that would take place after the main adult event.  Between participating in the events and training for them, I was in great shape and really developed a stronger relationship with Shannon based on being workout buddies.  Those were the days that running a half-marathon was really, “no big deal.”  I know that sounds crazy, but we were in such great athletic shape, that we could run 13.1 miles pretty much with little to no problem.  Then it became the game of beating our personal best times.

Bike Race 2007

But then I got pregnant with my second child and although I was still working out, I started to slow down and not compete as much.  My energy was all about creating the new life inside of me.  I basically worked out just enough to try to stay healthy and to minimize pregnancy weight gain.  Then, I lost her at 20 weeks (that is for another blog post), and went into a pretty severe depression.  I thought my body had failed me and that I was worthless.  I’ve never been so sad or so betrayed in my life.  And when I say betrayed, I mean by my body…this amazing body that could run 8 1/2 minute miles for 5 miles straight, couldn’t keep a baby healthy and alive inside of it.  My workouts were no longer important.  All that mattered was getting through the loss of my baby and trying to conceive another one as soon as possible.

Miracle upon miracles, Travis and I got preggers again right away.  I was so happy and so scared that all I did was concentrate on being pregnant.  I worked out a tini tiny bit, but I was nervous that if I over did it I might lose this baby too.  So, really my workouts stopped with Blake’s pregnancy.  Luckily, he wanted to live and we had our healthy and happy little boy on February 11, 2009.  Now that he is here and we are done with having anymore children, my body is screaming to get back into shape.

In my head I am still that same woman who could just get up, run 10 miles and then go about my day like it was no big deal.  The only problem is, my body isn’t as ready as my mind is.  I am working on it though, one step at a time.  I’m running like the turtle, but you know what?  Even the turtle eventually crosses the finish line.

PF Chang's 2006

Yesterday, I went out with Shannon and we conqured a 5.5 mile run!  It was the farthest I have ran since the end of 2007 and while it was not easy and although I am as slow as mollasses, I did it…one foot infront of the other.  I used to be quite a bit faster than Shannon, but now she can out run me by leaps and bounds.  I told her to soak up all the glory now, because when I come back, I’m going to be better than ever!  I missed hanging out with her during our workouts and I am estatic that we can slowly start having that part of our relationship back.  My new goal is to complete a full marathon next January of 2010.  I think I am off to a great start!  Now if only I can convince Shannon to run that far with me !

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