The Second Half

Hi Y'all!

Or Mom anyway.

*blows dust off blog*

Ahem.

This is hard. I don't even know how to start so here goes...

Here is me and my good friend, Cheryl. She came to my fair city for the first time. I have had the opportunity to visit her a few times now so it was fun to have her come here this time.

We did our usual spa and shopping on Saturday which was, and always is, so much fun. I swear my fashion sense goes up a notch every time we shop.

But this time we also added a new activity, one that we have been talking about doing for a very long time.

We ran together.

A half marathon to be exact.

Cheryl is a veteran half marathoner so we agreed we would run at my pace, you know so I could remain conscious. My goal was to beat my first half time from 2.5 years ago of 2:22:29.

Here we are at 3km (all photos courtesy of Cheryl's husband, Tim) and I was on pace and feeling great. Cheryl was discussing our full marathon training while I ran beside her. I think she may have been having some reaction to the Regina water, poor girl.

She told me not to talk, just listen right about this point too. Something about my protesting violently taking up too much energy for the remaining 18k.

What was I to do? She is the veteran.

Things were going great. At 7k we passed Jay waiting to pick up his leg of the relay. I was feeling great!

At 14k, I was starting to slow. The day dawned sunny and they were calling for 30 degree heat. At this point the temp started to climb and I started to slow considerably.

I knew it would happen, and was prepared. I had hoped I could push myself harder during a race than I had during my training runs. I could not.

Jay passed us at about 16.5k then waited for us to go by at his finish point (17.5k into the race). I made a sad face as I went by. I was hurting and I was very happy to see him.

Our plan was for him to leave from there to go pick meet my mom to pick up the boys - a 1.5 hour drive. He didn't. He called mom and said he would be a bit.

He met us at the finish.

When I saw him I yelled, "I love that man more than words can say!"

He came to run into the finish with us. He knew I was hurting and it means so much.

And Cheryl was fabulous. She didn't judge or push, she just ran beside me. Good friends. I got 'em and I know it.

I came in at 2:22:09. Yes, that's right. A whopping 20 seconds faster than my first half. Part of me is happy. I did it in the heat. It was hard but I did it anyway. The other part of me is saying why didn't you just push a little bit harder?

I was reminded by another good friend that given that I felt sick for the rest of the day and the day after that I should stop being ridiculous. I told you I have good friends.

(As an aside, the very next day Fall arrived. Murphy is a complete asshole.)

That friend is on the left - Terry-Lyn. She ran the half too. She was originally going to run with Cheryl and me but the girl is a hare and we decided she should run her own race, not held back by me.

She finished in 2:00:04. This was her first half marathon EVER. That time is killer and I am very proud of her (also green with envy but she knows that and we joke about it).

It was a great weekend and as always, I was sad when Cheryl had to leave. Until the next time, my friend. I look forward to it.

As for the race, I am very happy I did it. I wasn't sure I would attempt another one. I don't regret it. Even though I didn't quite meet my goal. What I did do though is run two more half marathons than I ever thought I would and that is something. Something rather huge.

I do have another goal though.

This time, I am not going to quit distance running altogether. I worked hard and sweated buckets of salt (I have the white stains on my hat to prove it) to get to the point of finishing a 21.1k race.

So this time, with no talk about whether or not I will do another half, I vow I will keep up my distances.

Because that sweat has to be worth at least that.

Summer Recap

Summer. Blink and it's over, just like everything else in life. We fit in some serious fun, as usual.

First stop, Radission, SK, the scene of much of Jay's childhood. Above you will see him showing his boys the living quarters of the hotel his family owned. We were on our way to a wedding and happened by so we stopped and naturally I shot 50 or so photos. See Flickr for more.

While at the wedding, the hotel had a fabulous water slide. I let you be the judge on whether it was a good time or not.

This is serious business, this water sliding stuff.

Candy buffet, at wedding, sign Kamden up. Also of note, the fact that he tossed and turned for 3 hours in the middle of the night unable to sleep. Sugar high, much?

Did I mention that I am also training for a half marathon mid-September? Did I also mention that I have been nursing my usual IT band injury?

Given that I have posted a grand total of twice since June, I guess not eh? What can I say, weekly 2 hour runs take a good chunk out of a person's free time.

A few weeks ago, I wasn't so sure my leg was going to cooperate but now, after my daily regime of stretching, icing, foam rolling and glute exercises coupled with weekly massages, I can now say for sure that I am going to make it to the race. Making it through the race, well, that remains to be seen.

We fit in a couple trips to the lake too, one with Jay's family where I tried water skiing for the second time. This time, I was successful. What a rush that was! Then we headed up to Jan and the cabin my parents co-own for some fishing and tubing.

Kamden caught three fish one night and was all about trying again the next morning. He was pretty cool under pressure, very fun to watch him reel them in.

Naturally, I taught him everything he knows, including the ability to exaggerate just the right amount when re-telling the story of the big catch.

And my boat driving skills have improved a great deal, as you can see in the above noted picture. At one time, I launched my niece right out of there.

Her response?

Do it again Aunty Kami!

So much fun and so many memories, it's been a perfect summer.

Chopped

A few posts ago (about 2 given my recent notable lack of posting) I noted the next time I went for my regular colour, the hair was due for a change. Well, I followed through on my word. And lucky me, Jay is still speaking to me.

He will not, however, say he likes it. On principle alone, I am sure.

I like it. And the change is just what I needed.

But before the big reveal, because who is shameless enough to have already posted pictures on FB, let's go back and remember the different phases of Kami's hair.

There are some gems in this one.

Oh and this one too(safely falling into the what the hell was I thinking category).

And we CANNOT leave out the blunders of my youth (we all need a laugh or three!).

Perhaps someday this latest look will make it into a post to add to the list above, but for now, I am pretty happy with the change.



And the rear view, you know because I am not shameless enough, I have to!




I would like to thank my long time stylist, Kristy and my trainer of over three years, Ashley - you got my back ladies. Literally.

Seven

Today, Kamden Jaymes turned seven. SEVEN.

He into all things sport, particularly soccer. He would play it all day long every day if only he had someone to play it with.

He is still goofy and falls off his chair at the supper table at least once a week. He also knocks his own teeth out. With his knee of course.

But he still needs his Momma to sing him a song at bedtime. Although lately he has been requesting I go out of my 3 song repertoire and make up a song instead. And then he giggles his little heart out. He is laughing with me, right?

Time is flying but this boy is growing up just as he should, full spunk and vinegar!

The Dad

The only testament required as to how much these two boys love their Daddy is the smiles on their faces.

Jay, when I met you I knew.

You would be a wonderful husband and you are.

But I also knew, that you would be an amazing father.

You have, by far, exceeded my expections.

(Also you are making me look bad, maybe knock it down a knotch or two so my short comings as a mother aren't as obvious?)

The Big One Oh

Dear Jack,

Ten years ago today, you came into this world and made us parents.

And now look at you.

You are growing up, my handsome son. I see it every day. It makes me happy to my core and scares the tar out of me in equal parts.

Have I ever told you that I am winging this mom gig?

I am.

Sometimes I do right by you. Other times I beat myself up because I know I didn't handle a situation with you the way you needed.

I shower you with I love you's and hugs and hope that makes up for it, in some small way.

I also hope that the day you are too old to feel comfortable with that stays away just a little bit longer.

Today, you came running out of school at lunch with so much excitement that it made my heart skip a little. It is the simple things that make you happy. Daddy and I took you out for lunch, just the three of us, and you chatted excitedly about your morning at school. I couldn't help but smile and think about how much you have changed.

You are growing up, my son.

It is exactly as it should be.

Happy 10th Birthday buddy!

Love Mommy

New Do

Yesterday was a day. You know what I am talking about, stress, check, wanting something different (check), ready to throw in the towel (hell to the yes check).

Bad day to have a hair appointment, no?

I have been humming and hawing about a change for months now but when push comes to shove, I have not gone the change route.

Yesterday was no different, I stuck with the same colour and when she started cutting, we discussed going shorter.

FYI, my stylist is also Jay's stylist. She has been our stylist for years (lots of years). She knows Jay. Jay likes my hair long.

You see the issue right?

We decided that we would do it next time, you know to prepare Jay. So instead she trimmed off an extra inch.

I am liking it. That extra inch gave is some gusto. My hair is curly, yes, but also loses it's oommph really easily. It needs to be washed to get back it's mojo and since doing that more than once a day is in the "it will happen when hell freezes over" category, well, this is really something to make my day.

Related: there is a bottle of my Dad's best white wine chilling for later.

These yahoos were home for lunch when I set up the old tripod to take the pictures. They were a big help, can you tell?

This was seconds before I herded them out the door and back to school already for the love of all that is holy and good in the world.

Ah, much better.

So, you know you want to know Jay's response when I broke the news that I was cutting much more of my hair off next time.

It went something like this:

Me: So Kristy and I decided we are chopping it next time.
Jay: *crickets accompanied by dumbfounded look of pure confusion*
Me: I need a change! I have had my hair in this style for years. YEARS!
Jay: If you need a change, why don't you get implants?
Me: That will happen when monkeys fly out of my butt.

Okay so I modified that conversation slightly for the sake of humour but he really did say implants. I think that goes to show you the lengths (snort!) he will go to keep my hair long.

He is just lucky I didn't come home with pink buzz.