OK…So clearly you see that I am a complete failure. Not only did I have at least 4 bags of Cadbury Mini Eggs, but I did not blog when promised each time I reached for them. Ugh.
So life has been a bit busy! It's crazy to admit- but this stay at home mom has been ridiculously busy! Where did I leave off…..the Boston Marathon. I guess I can begin there.
Look- Anyone who knows me, who really REALLY knows me…knows that my life with my husband has not always been perfect. In fact FAR from it at times. I mean- we grew up together basically! We met at 22!! We went through every single life/relationship challenge…. discovering who we were after less than perfect upbringings, the life as a US Navy deployment/girlfriend 6-9 month widow, break-ups, cheating, reconciling, Masters Degrees, home buying, home selling, home renovating, Jobs, JOB MOVES, Death, Birth, Siblings, loss, fear, insecurity, aging, gaining weight, losing weight, fights, trips, joys….you get the drift. We've been through it ALL. Jason & I are finally at a place where we understand each other, our flaws…an we accept each other. It's a CONSTANT work in progress….but not only do we accept each other, but we realize that we are in love. Wow. It's finally safe to say….we love the hell out of each other. I have always admired his accomplishments. On paper & out loud- he is an amazing guy. Valedictorian of HS, college graduate, Master's Degree, Veteran with honors, numerous promotions & accolades in his corporate job….incredible father & friend….the jokester of the party, he commands a room! But I have to say….in all of our years together, I have never been more proud of him then when I saw him cross the finish line of the Boston Marathon this year.
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At the Great American Pub (Now Rhino Bar) in Newport, RI Where we first Met
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First, I have to say a huge Thank you to my best friend Charlene for making it happen. In 2013, after the tragedy at the finish line of the Marathon….My husband said… I would love to run the Boston Marathon next year as a huge F-U to any asshole that thinks they can pull that crap!! Charlene happens to be married to one of the most well respected boxers of all time- who happens to be from the Boston Area & is well connected with the BAA. The Boston Marathon is something that you have to pre-qualify for unless you are running as part of a charity. Charlene & Micky made it happen for him! We owe this whole amazing experience to them for getting him in the door! The rest was up to him. He never quits! Even in the coldest weather, having moved from Tampa to Greenville & adjusting to snow & below freezing temperatures….He STILL maintained his training! Every day….running…weekends….hours and hours. One week he tripped and fell & his ankle changed to 9 different colors and is STILL swollen to this day! He grabbed a pair of compression socks, iced it & was back running on it a DAY later. His determination to finish this race was incredible.
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| In Boston the day before the race |
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| Here we are with Charlene & Micky |
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| He got his number! |
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| Charlene & I….after many many years….Still Best friends….She took me to my FIRST Fenway Sox Game |
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| Baltimore/Sox….Sox win it |
During the race, Charlene & I joined a group and hung out at a bar while we waited for updates on the race. The BAA would send alerts when Jason crossed certain Milestones… like the 5k, 10k etc. He was doing awesome! His goal was to run a 3:28.00. This is a guy that has never ran a marathon in his life!! This is an awesome & crazy goal! So we were alerted that he was getting near the finish line. We ran out to see him cross. I was too afraid to bring my children with me & he was so sad because we would have really loved for our daughter to be there to hug him at the finish line…but because of what happened the year prior, we decided to leave them at home. So before hand….I had a giant poster printed up of our daughter….(See below)
When I unrolled it….the people around me all said AWEEEE!!!! As I'm standing there….I look around me. I am standing by the flags. At the EXACT SPOT that those boys dropped their homemade bomb. I am in the very location. It was so hard for me to think about. Those people anxiously waiting to see their loved ones cross that spot after dedicating months and months to this grueling race….. Come Hell or High water I was going to see him finish. I muscled my way to those iron railings….The same ones that the crowd from last year clung to….I threw my poster over the railing & cheered as he crossed the finish line. I was so overcome with emotion. I ran the last 50 feet, poster in hand….screaming COME ON BABY!!!!! It just confirmed everything I have ever known about this guy…..I was so glad that my life lead me to him & we sustained through all the bull shit! My children, our legacy will know that with hard work…anything is possible!!!!
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| At the finish line! |
After the Marathon, we spent the rest of the week at my mom's house in NY. I got to see many people…and missed a few…but all in all it was a fantastic week of our lives! I got to go into the City with another best friend of mine…Danielle & see the Broadway Musical Violet. What an incredible show!!! I think it is SO important to make time for the things you love to do in life….or else why the hell are we living!!???? Broadway has always been a passion of mine. When I was a kid I dreamed about being on broadway. (or Saturday night live) I still want to pursue this dream later in life….My kids are my priority right now.
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| Yep! I was brown Baggin' it on the train. Don't judge me. |
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| A cluster of things from our trip |
After our trip….we had time to reflect on the whole thing. I thought about the people I saw crossing the finish line with one leg. The people who were in their 70's…..the group of people that picked up someone who collapsed at the finish line & carried him across. How could I feel this inspired and not do something about it????? I want to be that role model for my kids too. So guess who is running a marathon in October?? Yes….That would be ME. The one that would ditch out on cross country workouts and hide in the woods or behind garbage cans while the rest of the team was running. I was a long jumper & a sprinter!!!!! What business do I have running a marathon??? It's not about me anymore. Every thing I do is to show these kids that life is what you make of it. You choose who you want to be. Bad things happen to everyone but it's how you pull yourself up & rise above it that will define you as a person. Do the unthinkable! Don't just loaf around life…..You only have this ONE and there is no telling when your number is up. Get out….enjoy the fresh air….see things you never saw before….take it in!!!!!!
Jason & I have a birthday 10 days apart. We decided to take a trip to Tennesse, the great Smokey Mountains to celebrate. We rented a cabin with the kids & the dog that had a jacuzzi & porch swing…brought a few bottles of wine & had a blast. My birthday always falls on or near mother's day so we kill 3 important dates with one shot! I loved it!
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Mother's Day
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Finally….I got invisalign on my teeth. So at 39 years old….I got a tooth pulled, braces & am breaking out in pimples because of the mileage I've been putting in. Lovely. Ahhhh…The mileage. Lets blog about this marathon next. June 11th starts the official training. Right now I'm just trying to build a base. I haven't run any kind of distance in so long (Babies, surgeries, hatred for running distance) that I really need get my feet on the ground and work out the kinks. I've been lifting 3x a week with a trainer to help rebuild my core that was destroyed from the 2 c-sections. I'm finally starting to feel and see a difference. Right now I'm training at a 9:30/mile pace….but I'm running a lot faster than that. I have to get out of that sprinter's mentality!!!!! Well…My time is up. I have a kid crying and I'm going to be late picking the other one up from school!
