Kansas City Marathon

Yeah!! I finished the Kansas City Marathon (half-marathon!) today
and did better than I thought I would. I had entered this event before I had even decided to do the Disney Marathon this coming January. It was definitely good training for that half-marathon. I had hoped to finish in 2:15 or better and finished somewhere between 2:10 and 2:13. I don't know the exact time because I forgot to bring my race chip. Oops.
The race started downtown at Crown Center. From there, the race course went up a steep hill next to Liberty Memorial and then down Main Street to Westport. Then we made our way through the Plaza--down 47th Street, turned at Troost, then through Gillham Park and back downtown. All along the route, there were bands playing which made the run not only fun, but more enjoyable. My left knee always seems to bother me whenever I get to mile 5 on a run, but thankfully, it wasn't so bad today. I didn't like mile 10 because we all ran in silence--no bands and no people cheering us on! At mile 12, I heard someone yelling to the runners "Dig deep and finish strong". Well, I guess it was just what I needed to hear because that's just what I did. I came into the finish line with my left knee throbbing and feeling like I was gonna throw up every ounce of Gatorade, water and shot blocks I'd digested along the route.
Thankfully, that didn't happen. I, along with all the other runners did come to an abrupt halt after the finish line. We were stuck in the barricades like cattle, not able to hardly move but a few inches for about 10 minutes, before they allowed us to move forward and grab water and food. Jeremy caught me inhaling an orange after the long wait! I have to say that the worst part of the race was when people in big baggy sweatpants, sweats shirts and gloves went flying past me saying they had never run more than 2 miles, or discussing the blue book value of their car or what they ate for lunch yesterday. It kind of seemed like a mockery of the hard work I had put into training for the run. Uugghh...so unfair! boo-hoo!

Amber (my sis) came to cheer me on at the finish line. Amber did fundraising for LLS the last 2 years and completed the Disney marathon both years as well. I have to say, witnessing her success at the marathon and fundraising motivated me to take on the same challenge this year.

Here I am with my wonderful friends Kristyn and Jessie. (Taryn, I missed having you in my pictures!--I'll have to get some from Jessie!) We all started out training for the KC Marathon together. It was so encouraging to hear them yelling for me at the finish.

Jeremy managed to snap a picture of me flyin' by!

See me in the middle coasting by to the finish?

Little Z was happy to see momma!

Hello Again Friends!

Well, this is my first post to share with all of you about my running adventures. Yeah, I started my running training for a half marathon in August. Yeah, I'm a little slow with doing blog posts, somewhat like my running pace.
Zion makes a great illustration in the following pictures of
what it has felt like (for me!) at times when I go running.

Most of you know that I am training for the Disney World half-marathon in January 2009.
I have run a half-marathon before, but that doesn't make it any easier. It's still a challenge which is why I want to do more.
I thought I would tack on the extra challenge of fundraising for the leukemia and lymphoma society, for added inspiration. That's not the only reason. LLS is an amazing organization that
has helped a lot of people in their challenge of fighting cancer.

I go on long runs on Saturdays with my "team" which consists of other people who are also fundraising for LLS and training for a marathon or half-marathon. We start running at 6:30 most Saturdays. That is definitely easier to do when I know I won't be running by myself!
When I get home after my runs, Zion usually meets me at the door and says "You go running mommy?" or "I go running wif you mommy!"

This past Saturday, I ran 10 miles. It didn't feel like I ran 10 miles though. It felt like I dragged myself along 10 miles of running trails. I think I started to get comfortable with the run just about the time that I finished the 10th mile. Yeah, not good. I think I was the last person on my team to finish, well, except for one guy who is planning to walk a full marathon. Needless to say, it was not a great running day for me.
When I got home, I threw my running shoes by the door, and plopped on the couch. Little Z picked them up a short time later and announced, "we go running" except he wanted to wear my shoes.

So, I let him try to figure out how that was going to happen.

He got them on with my help, but I think he changed his mind about running.
So, the running wasn't so great this week, but my fundraising is going well. So far, I have raised about $900.
Just $1,000 to go before Nov. 4th!
Then, I will work on raising another $1900 by Dec. 18th!

Anyone is welcome to contribute to my efforts!

Check out my fundraising site at:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/mid/wdw09/tcollinnuv

What Zion has been up to...

Well, he's been up to a lot, but mostly doing lots of new things to make us laugh. This picture is my absolute favorite right now! Yes, he is potty training...sort of.

Going to the potty is a big deal. He thinks it requires stripping down naked, and while he has rarely actually used the potty, he has managed to spend a lot of time clothes-free.

This week, he found another use for the potty: a place to sit and browse catalogs for this year's halloween costume.

It's been a long time since I've posted any pics, so there is a lot more pictures to come, so enjoy!

Zion meets his new cousin!

Zion finally got to meet his new baby cousin today. Judah Colin White was born on Monday, Sept 29th. I thought Zion would completely ignore him. Instead, he was so excited to hold him and wouldn't let us take him away from him!







Zion doesn't look the least bit proud, does he?













Cousin Maya patiently waits her turn to hold baby Judah while Zion happily holds the baby with no intention of taking turns.












"I love my baby cousin!"

"I'm 18 months old today!"

Here is the big boy at 18 months old...

...another one of the 18 month old cheeseball,

and at 6 months

3 months

and 3 weeks!

"Hi,hi, hi!" That is what you would hear this
sweet boy saying if this picture was a movie.
Zion is learning new words and showing off
new expressions and more personality every day.
Below, are just a few of those I managed to capture.
Again, I wish they were on video, but it seems like when the video

camera comes out, he stops performing!

Zion, can you tell us your new words?

"nose"

"eye"

"teeth"

"ear"















"what's that?"















"I'm done"

"Okay, now, let's see, I think this is how ya hold this scooper"

"and, then, I think ya kinda turn it, and point one finger out"

"Hey! No help mom! I can do it myself!"

"See!"

" I think I'm left handed. Yeah, that was the problem."

Zion and I had lots of fun surprises on Sunday!
(thank you Alisha for snapping this picture
of Zion, as well as the rest of the pictures!)

First, our 6 month old friend, Koen came over
to hang out with us while his parents went to a movie.

Then, Alisha and Lori came to our house with April!
I haven't seen April since this summer, so this made it
even more fun to see my girlfriends.

(above picture from left to right: Nikki (who's baby will be arriving any day!), April (20 weeks pregnant), Alisha (not pregnant!), me ( not pregnant!), and Lori (pregnant and due in May).

While me, April, Alisha and Lori were visiting,
Nikki called to say she was stopping by with
Mia and her mom. What perfect timing!

(Pictured below: Mia (2) and Nikki)

Zion actually shared his toys with Mia.
Good boy!