And the winner is........

...... #19 Kristen at runningwhat? CONGRATS KRISTEN!! Email me your info and I will get this in the mail asap!!!! (kirstendyan@yahoo.com)

Thank you to all that entered!! I have another great giveaway coming very soon!!!

Right after I get The Hubby through his College Graduation next week, and BigGirl through the end of Kindergarten, and myself through the end of Softball season!!! Much more "fun" me coming, and less "stressed" me around the corner!!! And many new races, faces, and news this season!!!

Also, I will be taking any donations you feel like sending to me for the China Volunteer Trip I am taking this summer to show love to orphaned children. Just email me for my address. All donations are TAX DEDUCTABLE when checks are written to "Bring Me Hope". I will collect them and get them off in lue of my travel expenses. A giveaway will be given to a random donating submission on July 1st.
 Learn more about that HERE. 
I have $3250 to raise by July 1st!!! Please, Help me help the lives of others.

OMG.

So this past Sunday, I got in Half Marathon #7... Johnston's Wichita Half Marathon.
It was a last minute choice to not do the OKC Memorial Half, due to $, $$, and $$$. Oh, and my nice hotel I like there was Full.

Turns out, it was the BEST CHOICE I have made all month! OKC was delayed due to WIND, RAIN and Lightening. So sad for them, but dodged a bullet for me. And saved money sleeping in my own bed.
**Read here for the complete experience of a runner in OKC that day

Highlights were....
1. I ran a part of Wichita that I had NEVER known was there. WOW. That is a challenge.
2. It was a cool beautiful day (minus the head wind on the second half)
3. The homeless people along the path were just waking up for our footsteps. (except that unfortunate man that was waking himself up... if you get my drift, ugh.)
4. My sis n law and bro n law were running it too. I never saw the bro n law after the start line until the end. And my sis was in view until mile 2.5. LOL!
5. I finished 48 seconds past my PR. (2:33:08) so it was my 2nd best time so far.
6. I enjoyed some inner thigh cramping while in the truck heading home.

I let the Hubby and the kids sleep in and not come out in the early morning cold. We had spent all Saturday at the Kansas State University Spring Football Game and gotten home late that night. So, I have a nice sunburn too. (Granted I was GREAT with bathing the kids in sunscreen all day.... kinda forget about the parents.)

SO---- GIVEAWAY NEEDS AT MIDNIGHT TOMORROW!!!! GET IN NOW!

Easter Sun Run 10K

I had the Easter Sun Run 10K this past weekend. And the hubby and my BigGirl had there first ever registered 2 mile walk. (yeppie!!) **LittleMan just enjoyed the Crusin' Ride**

I had a good run, except for the little fact that they marked the kilometers and not the Miles. So I was all confused and thinking "Crap! i am rockin' this thing! 59 minutes here I come!!" Until marker #7 and then it hit me, "these are freakin' kilometers!" AWHH. So, after I kicked myself in the ass for pushing harder than should have too soon. I crossed the 10K with a 1:09:46... still a PR for me.

So I changed my shirt, put on wind pants, cheered on my friend Liz for her 2 mile run (like 20 minutes YEPPIE) then lined up with the Hubby, BigGirl and Littleman (in the stroller). We started out and the Hubby was POWER WALKING! So, I sent him on his merry way with LittleMan and had a nice walk with my 6 year old BigGirl. She kept telling me how she wished we could run.... (say WHAT?! thats my girl) so we decided that we would do a 1 mile run together this week and see how she does. So after the Hubby crossed at like 33 minutes!! He and Littleman turned around and headed back for us. we crossed around 45 minutes. Yeah BigGirl! She power walked her little behind across the finish and was happy to head for food.

All in all a good saturday morning :-) And a great Easter weekend.

On the calendar, Wichita Half Marathon this sunday morning.

AND HEY!! Don't forget about the SURPRISE GIVEAWAY!!!!

Keepin' it lite

In the hopes of keeping things lite today........ HAAAAAAAAAHAAAAHAHAHAHA!

I am a Coach (3rd in my life), High school softball. Last night, the "other side" of Coach Horton came out.

I found from a friend of mine last night that The Hubby has a waitress at our local Pizza joint that has a little crush. She is married but apparently my man is just too HOT! (Yeah for me and my hunky stud selection!)

The SURPRISE GIVEAWAY PACKAGE is coming along nicely! I am having a blast choosing items to spoil someone with! I am even going to add another way to entry:
IF YOU ARE A NEW FOLLOWER- 1 ENTRY!!!
IF YOU TELL ME WHERE YOU FOUND ME: 1 ENTRY!!!

So- keep those entries coming!!!

Secrets

My fav blogger aka my sis in law (yes I am biased) did a "Secrets" post yesterday. So, I thought since I am at home, with a sleeping LittleMan and the Hubby and BigGirl are out herding cow (for real) I would let mine out. For those of you that know me, many may not be at secretive.

I hide candy (mainly chocolate- but not right now, lent time you know) around my house. But when my kids ask for a treat, my answer is 80% "no- have an apple/grapes/banana". *and then I sneak a chocolate.

I prefer a quite empty house for me, my fancy coffee and a book. But can often be found starting a family dog pile in own living room.

I am a professional and thus dress as one. But I still dream of getting my pink punk hair back daily.

A garden is something I REALLY want to grow- but I kill everything that is ALREADY beautiful so how would I even get something to GROW.

I hate attending showers/home parties- but I love shopping for the gift/goodies. (How does that work?!)

I want to own a white Porsche 911 Turbo with a sunroof so I can go FAST! But I wouldn't give up my Tahoe for the world. :)

I want to travel everywhere with the Hubby- but I don't want to do a THING without my kids. Huh?

I love weddings....... for the cake. ;-)

Soooo...... that me! What about you?

Don't forget about my GIVEAWAY!!!!

Just stay out of my way!....... unless you want a GIVEAWAY!

Yep.
That is right.
It is one of those days.
Steam is sepping from my ears.
My eyes are bulging out of my head.
My hands are flying everywhere when I speak. (making typing a little difficult)
But you have all been there a time or two, right. RIGHT?!

Ok- so my emotions are out of control today. If there is something going wrong, or someone to make upset with me, APPARENTLY that is my job this week.

SO- TADA! (insert tongue sticking with raspberry sound included)

Why today of all days you might ask. Well, I HAVE NO CLUE!

And in spite of my temper and need to want to throw something, I see 2 men running today. And for a moment, I feel peace.

Then, I feel jealousy and anger. I mean look at them. Chatting and laughing while they sweat purfusly and release them daily anger in this peaceful act of running. I want  Need that today.

Then, I feel sad. I was mad because 2 men took time out of their lives to enjoy the company of a friend while doing something that makes them feel good. What is wrong with me?! I could be them if I only MADE myself MAKE time. I am beyond words with myself... for that moment.

So I dropped my LittleMan at school and headed towards work, where I got to see the happy carefree men enjoying their morning. And I decided right then. I NEED MY RUNNING TIME. It is a daily necessity. Period. I MUST make time for that, or my stressors have no healthy outlet. I have signed up for the Easter Sun Run 10k this saturday. The Wichita Half next sunday. AND the hubby has decided to join me in the Kansas City Warrior Dash 5k. YES YES YES!!!!

And in the midst of this all....... A GIVEAWAY!!!!!!! It will be a surprise package sent straight to your door. A little bit of HAPPINESS to brighten your day. Maybe it will be your "bad" day and it will be just what you need. What is in the package you say?? No way! That is what will make it a surprise!!

WHAT YOU NEED TO ENTER:
~~1 comment about something or someone that made you say "Hey! Snap out of it! You can do this" etc.
~~1 comment each for posting my blog link on your blog page/facebook/twitter

**update**The SURPRISE GIVEAWAY PACKAGE is coming along nicely! I am having a blast choosing items to spoil someone with! I am even going to add another way to entry:

~IF YOU ARE A NEW FOLLOWER- 1 ENTRY!!!
~IF YOU TELL ME WHERE YOU FOUND ME: 1 ENTRY!!!

A random winner will be chosen on May 4th!!! SO START POSTING!!!!

The BIG debate part 3

ok- we have made a decision!! We are both happy with the choice AND we might even need to get 2 eventually. I am pumped!  We even went to look at 2 that are at an Animal Shelter in the near by town of Hutchinson. (Where our state fair is...which started this weekend-yes we went)

So- WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR MY RUNNING BUDDY/FAMILY LOVING DOG???!!

I am NOT telling yet. Nahnah Nahnah Nah Nah!
Mad yet??

Let me explain.
What we have learned from this experience is that things change. We don't/can't spend much on another dog right now. So if we can't find the specific breed in a shelter or rescue that is near by, then we may have go through this debate again.
Totally praying that this does NOT happen, after all this was a hard decision with LOADS of research to find the right match for our household.

So-how did today's venture out to meet & greet these dogs today go?
Like my life- sucked! There were 3 dogs there.
#1- approved adoption TODAY
#2- a pending application already so we are 2nd in line
#3- 2 pending applications already so we are 3rd in line

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
nope not kidding.... God will prevail!

Yes, God WILL prevail... he decides when and whom.
 Dear God, please keep in mind that 1 have already been jumped by a dog while running alone. Just saying. Amen.

SO--- more to come (they say by tuesday) STAY TUNED FOR MORE!!!!

**DON'T FORGET MY GIVEAWAY TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!!!

Motherhood of the Traveling Book!!

For my 28th birthday, my sis in law (you can meet her here) gave me the book "Run Like a Mother" I have recently completed it and was SO entirely FULFILLED by it that I wanted to share it with my friends, and their friends and so on!!

SO- here is what is happening with my precious book. ~sis, i love you for gifting me this wonderful book, I am temporarily sharing the love and will hope to see it back in my arms in the future.~

I will be sending it off to a Mother Runner Friend in Lawrence Kansas tomorrow. Inside the cover, I will include the readers directions of usage.
#1: My name, address, and email.
#2: They are to read it the book (timely) enjoy it, breath it in, take a picture of it with them, the kids, their running shoes, whatever!! THEN email me their thoughts, best parts, the picture, etc AND to whom the book is headed and where. (needs to be a running mommy to really get the entire book btw)
#3: Each participant will do the same. And someday, the book will HOPEFULLY find its way back to me.

During this process- every time I get an email, I will blog it and MAYBE even have a giveaway or 2 (or more) corresponding to its travels.

Fingers crossed this all goes well and that my BBF (Bestie Book Forever) has a traveling good time!!!

DONT FORGET ABOUT MY GIVEAWAY GOING ON NOW!!!

Keep them Running in!!!!!

Ok-
Today is the day-
The day that I am taking a leap-
A leap of sheer faith-
Faith to keep moving-
Moving towards a great Start-
Start to the big list I need from you-
From you, all the GREAT runs in your area-
Area being your town/state/continent-

SO, throw them out there everyone! Give me your most fun, always sold out, must do once your lives races! Halfs-Fulls-Trail Races-Sprint Tri's-Even you ULTRAs!!!

Because I am starting today! I am making my list! The list that gets me to ALL 50 STATES! Even Different Countries!

The Goal.
My first Marathon in the next 2 years. (Expires August 10, 2012)
My first Trail Race in the next year. (Expires August 10, 2011)
My first Sprint Tri in the next 2 years. (Expires August 10, 2012)
My first Ultra in the next 5 years. (Expires August 10, 2015)
All 50 States in my lifetime (Sorry can't predict that date)
And at least 1 other Country in my lifetime. (again sorry)

SO- repost this on your facebook, or blog, or tweet, whatever you have!! And lets see what I can get planned!!

And a random blogger will be winning: INJINJI MICRO TOE SOCKS!!!

*Color and Size will be chosen by winner

*Every Race post is an entry

*Tell me you Linked it with your blog, facebooked it, tweeted it- each one is an entry
*Become a Follower- one entry

GIVEAWAY ENDS OCTOBER 10TH!! (This is a good 2 months to get me something good! And to get me some more followers! LOL!!!)