The Good, The Bad and The Ugly ...

This past weekend I participated in the Wisconsin Marathon Half Marathon. I will start with the good, move to the bad and finish with the ugly ...  

The good - I ran for my friend Tammy, who is currently battling breast cancer. I was so happy that I was able to race in her honor. It is a gift to be able to do these races and happy that I could do this for her to help show cancer who is boss one more time!!!  Tammy has a goal to complete a half marathon this year ... I know it will happen for her as she is one strong Chica!!!!! I have attached a photo before the race :-) 

Another part of the good was that I was ale to see my dear friend Terri before and after the race. She is one wicked fast girly and I love her to bits!  

The third part of the good was that I was able to race and spend time with my good friend Alison. Fun the night before and fun the day of!!!  What more can you ask for!!!

The bad - well, this year is the first time that I have raced at my heaviest ever. 15lbs to be exact. That was not the way to start the season and to do a half marathon. My body hurt, hips hurt and it wasn't as easy to move ... Finishing this gave me the incentive to drop this post ironman/complete hysterectomy/death of my daddy wieight like no other.  I cannot prepare for my marathon this fall with this hanging on. 

Now to the UGLY - the race itself was going pretty well, until I hit about mile 10. I had sent my inspiration for the race, Tammy, a text (yes, I text during races) that I had seen many women that morning that I kept thinking were her ... I was looking for her beautiful smile and her long and lean body running on the course ... At times, people enter your heart more than you know. 

About 15 minutes after I texted her, she replied ... Note to self, do NOT read these while running ... Well, when I read her reply I had to start walking. Such a beautiful soul and person. Her message solidified why I was running for her that day but had to stop running for a little while ... Overcome with emotion, I could not catch my breath ... I thought of her, what she is going thru, what I went thru, my Daddy and so many other things ... The UGLY cry was out there for a good 10 minutes, but I was not ashamed. That is part of what real life is all about. 

As I neared the finish line, I was able to compose myself and was happy that the race was done ... This was an important one in so many ways. 

So, thanks Tammy, thanks Daddy, thanks Alison, thanks Terri and thanks to my hubcap for being with me that day in more ways that you could ever know. 

It's a new week next week and I am looking forward to what lies ahead. I hope you have all enjoyed yours and have been able to spend time in the sunshine!  I'll be back next week, but until then, remember that life is good. Enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another!!  

Under Construction ...

I'll be back next week. Need time to regroup. A lot has happened in the last in the last month and just trying to get my head on straight. 

We did have a great afternoon watching jack and the Milton HS Show Choir perform. Love watching those kids!  

There is a piece of good news I wanted to share if you hadn't already seen it on FB ... My "official" FIVE YEAR CHECKUP was wonderful!  Graduated to once a year and I am DONE with tamoxifen!!  A HUGE thing ... So happy and excited. I love my oncologist and am happy we will just be able to see each other as friends now. Such a smart and great man. 

Enjoy the night, don't blow away ... But always remember that life is good. Enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another. 

A Little R&R, Some Good News and Mojo, Where Have You Gone???

This weekend was wonderful. B, the kiddos and I headed up to the cabin on Friday afternoon for some much needed rest and relaxation. And we did just that. Movies, cards, naps, the candy store, Tribute, the Honey Bear, the dump (yes the dump) and a walk for Ted. It was really nice not having a schedule, sleeping (I ACTUALLY slept both nights) and just enjoying a quiet weekend with some of my favorite people. I just wanted to stay and keep this relaxation trend going. 

Now that we are home, there needs to be some focus on my part to say in this mode.  There are things that will have to get done but the others things are simply choices and I need to make sure that I am making good choices and keeping life relaxed. There is a woman that keeps saying that I am the busiest person she knows. I don't think I am but none the less, it drives me nuts and I don't want anyone to have that impression of me. 

Onto some great news ... Always love good news. As I picked up Jack from school in Friday, he shared that he made Choralation (Milton's HS Show Choir) for next year!!!  So excited for him and so happy he is able to be a part of such an awesome group of kids again. He can be a man of few words, but the ear to ear grin said more than any words could ever express :-). 

Last but not least ... My lost mojo.  I am really hoping that it finds it's way to me at some point soon. The tight pants are extremely frustrating and the lack of desire to do anything about it is more than frustrating. I know it'll happen and know that life has definitely thrown a few curveballs my way in the past 6 months, but I would prefer to find my mojo sooner than later.  So if you see it, please steer it back towards me ;-) because this Chica is frustrated. 

I hope you all enjoy this Sunday evening, are able spend it with those you love and embrace that cold front that is coming our way. It really will get nice out. We had a taste of it last week :-). 

I'll be back next Sunday but in the meantime,  remember that life is good. Enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another. 

I'm attaching a photo of Wilderness Trail (the road that our cabin is on) - so peaceful. 

Lost ...

This is going to be a long road and I am a little lost right now. There are things I still find happiness in: My husband, my family, quiet nights with friends and quality time with girlfriends.  Not sure what I would do without them. 

The celebrations of my Daddy's life (he will always be my Daddy ... I don't care how old I am) was incredible. So proud to be his daughter and so fortunate to have so many come out to support me, my mom, my brother and my family on Thursday. We laughed and cried with everyone. There are so many people that I want to express my gratitude to, but don't want to leave anyone out but know that being there, sending messages and phone calls of support have meant the world to me (us). 

Yes, my father is in a better place, but selfishly, I still want him here and I miss him terribly. Day by day is how I am living. Trying to focus on the good and smile the best I can so please be patient with me. 

I have found that being active has helped me. Whether it's a Bootcamp class, spin class, strength class, TRX, an a$$ kicking by Emily or going out for a run with friends makes me happier and gets those good endorphins going. The focus is to keep doing that. So happy that I am able to do what I can do and that I have fun people to do it with :-) 

I have made the decision to defer the Rev3 half ironman to next year. Best choice right now and love Rev3 for having the one time deferral policy with no charge. They are an incredible organization. I look forward to racing Rev3 Dells in 2015. I will still do my half marathon in May and and my full marathon in November. That is much more manageable.  I'll also get in the pool and ride but that will be just for fun. 

What I am really looking forward to is going up north this summer and having quiet time with family and friends.  I think we determined we will be up north 35 days over summer break :-).  Thinking it will be great for the healing and grieving process. 

Hope you have all had a wonderful day and have been able to get out and enjoy the sping weather!!  I'll be back next Sunday. In the meantime remember that life is good. Enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another.  💗

Upside down ...

My world and my family's world has even turned upside down in the last 7 days with the passing of my Dad. 

I have said this many times. I am just so sad right now and my heart has broken into a million little pieces. I loved him so very, very much. Yes, he is at peace and I am so happy for that, but I still wish he were still here to hold his hand, kiss his cheek and just be able to tell him that I love him. 

Yes, he was sick. Parkinson's and dementia (Alzheimer's) took his life but will not take his spirit that will always live on inside my heart.  I just really miss my Dad ... but will forever cherish the gift of being able to have him in my life for the past 45 years. 

Hoping the days, months and years ahead will get a little easier ... Just not really seeming possible at this point, but I have been told they will. 

I have included his obituary (it is hard for me to even type that word) so you can get a little glimmer of who my Daddy was:  

http://www.cressfuneralservice.com/obituary/123503/E-Arthur-Prieve/#Obituary 

And another little glimpse:

http://everythingandaracehorse.com/2014/03/20/there-are-people-we-remember/

That's about all I have in me now. This is going to be an extremely tough week, but I am so very fortunate to have an incredible family by my side and have some pretty fantastic friends that are in my life. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!!  

Try to remember that life is good. Enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another.  💗

Here is a photo of my Dad and me at the opening of Grainger Hall. Such a fun night with him!  

Woot woot!!!!

Well, it feels SO good to truly be back at it. Had a great training week with some of my faves doing what I love most. TRX with, T, Sarah and Jess, run with Scott, 2 runs with the running buds, Lisa, Lesley, Sherri and Kathi, 2 power pump classes and 2 yoga classes :-). My heart is happy and full ... And HOLY BUCKETS, I am sore!!!!   I have truly missed that feeling!!  

This upcoming week, I will be adding biking into the mix, then swimming the following week. Rev3 Wisconsin Dells half ironman training is now underway :-). 

Apparently the Rev3 Dells bike course is CRAZY hilly ... Look out for the turtle donning the pink cape and the Effcansah gear on 6/22!!!  

Thinking about the upcoming season also makes me really excited for my Triathlon 101 class that starts in just 9 days. I absolutely love that class and truly love helping people teach their goal of completing a sprint triathlon!!!  Look out Lake Mills, here we come!!!  

Sidebar, but I have been talking and working on this ...SELF CARE.  It has actually been going pretty well. I have been good about keeping the stress in check, saying no, practicing yoga (I was sad that I missed my friend Christi's class, but the weather was craptastic and didn't want to make the trip to Madison that day) and taking a day to regroup at home was really nice. 

I was able to enjoy a night out to dinner with Brendon and Sparky and yesterday, I went with my girlfriend Lisa to watch our kiddos at their last show choir performance of the season. Just incredible!!!!  I, of course, cried watching Jack and all of the other kids out there!  So proud of them all. 

That's all she wrote for this week :-).  Enjoy the night and I'll be back next weekend, but in the meantime, remember ... Life is good. Enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another. 

Working My Way Back ...

After finally being released from all restrictions and really being able to get back to exercise this week, I have made this determination ... I have a LONG way to go. Making sure I fit training, yoga and time to just BE  into my schedule is going to be a HUGE priority. With being off for about 7 weeks and being really busy at work, it has taken a toll on my fitness, my body and my mind.  

So, I am putting it out there ... Operation "Back to Healthy" is under way. I am not looking for a quick fix and it'll take hard work and dedication to get where I would like to be.  There are LB's and fat loss to get rid of, not to lose as I don't want to "find" them again.  There is yoga to be done.  There are fears to overcome within yoga ... I DO want to teach someday and need lose the fear that I won't be "good" at it. I will find my own style and will embrace that style. Hopefully others will to :-). I need to "practice" my practice more ... And have been really been missing it.  There are priorities that need changing and also there is that ever so evasive balance to find ... I am getting closer and look forward to what this transformation will bring. It won't all happen at once and I am good with it all taking time as I am willing to commit to making my life, the best for me and my family as those are the most important people to me. 

As a friend of mine just said to me yesterday, when you are ready, it will happen. I am ready and truly need this.  I would like my clothes to fit well and to feel confident in them, I would like to be more at peace with me, my life and how I live it ... Someone also said to me the other day that I was the busiest person she knew.  I don't want to be the busiest person that ANYONE knows. I really took that to heart and it hurt my soul. Changes NEED to be made. I do have to say that I have gotten better at saying "no" again, so that is definitely step in the right direction. 

I have a plan in place and in writing that includes mind, body and soul. Not just arbitrary goals but solid goals with plans to implement them. This weekend away has been great to put it all together, take the time and to really figure out what I am looking to accomplish and how I would like to live. As, I said before, there is no quick fix.  Whether it is mind, body and/or spirit, it is a process. If we look for the quick fix, it won't truly ever happen. 

We have enjoyed the weekend away. Fun and most of all relaxing. So blessed to have this retreat and happy to be able to spend it with those I love. I hope you have all had an incredible weekend, enjoy the night and remember ... Life is good. Enjoy it, love it and be kind to one another.