Ability is what you’re capable of doing.
Motivation determines what you do.
Attitude determines how well you do it.
-Lou Holtz
Races
- (Current PR) 2014 Chicago Marathon-Chicago, IL 4:43:14
- (Current PR) 2014 Rock n Sole 1/2 marathon-Milwaukee, WI 2:03:54
- 2014 Women Rock Chicago 1/2 marathon-Chicago, IL 2:10:33
- 2014 Get Lucky 1/2 marathon-Chicago, IL 2:18:03
- 2013 Chicago Marathon-Chicago, IL 5:07:41
- 2013 Zooma Women’s Race Series 1/2 marathon-Chicago, IL 2:10:00
- 2013 Summerfest Quarter Marathon-Milwaukee, WI. 1:03:17
- 2012 Hot Chocolate 5K-Chicago, IL. 34:46. My first race back from having Madelyn.
- 2011 Lake Country 1/2 Marathon– Oconomowoc, WI. 2:25:37. Another 1/2 marathon ran on a whim. You thought I would’ve learned the first time. I was over at my best friend’s house one day and she told me that she was training for her first 1/2 marathon and talked me into running it with her. I had already missed out on a few weeks of training and I was still feeling the effects of an ankle sprain that I had suffered from 4 months prior. I probably should’ve sat this one out, but I wanted to keep myself in shape after our wedding, so I ran it anyway. I was not prepared, not mentally or physically. I remember laying in bed the morning of and hearing the thunderstorm outside. I prayed that they would cancel the race so that I wouldn’t have to run it. That was a first for me and from that day on I promised myself that I would never run that long of a distance without being prepared first. I woke up and ran it and did better than I thought I would. Still…the itch is there: I know I can do better. I can run faster.
- 2010 Haunted Hustle 1/2 Marathon– Middleton, WI. 2:25:26. The race to redeem myself. I knew that after running my first 1/2 marathon that I could do better. I could run faster. I decided to run with a friend of mine who was running a 1/2 for the first time. This time I followed a training program and I improved my time drastically. It was a tough course. I wasn’t used to the hills (Chicago is very flat for running) and I was used to having lots of scenery. This was my first time running in rural Wisconsin and I realize that I like having things to distract me when I’m running. There’s nothing like the energy that comes from the crowd cheering you on in a big city race.
- 2010 Chicago Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon – 3:12:02. My first ever 1/2 marathon. The 2nd race I ran with my sister. I underestimated the importance of following a training plan-I can tell by my time and the fact that my whole body felt like it was hit by a truck the next day. The heat was pretty bad and volunteers were passing out ice cold sponges toward the end of the race. Melissa and I kept pace with each until about mile 6 and then she urged me to go ahead without her. I ran by myself for a few miles and at the mile 10 marker I decided to wait and run the rest with her. I waited and waited. Finally, when I didn’t see her, I went ahead without her. Just as I was crossing the finish line, I saw the back of a very familiar head: it was Melissa, just steps in front of me! We high-fived and hugs each other as we both finished our first 1/2 marathon.
- 2010 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k (PR) – 53:42. The race I bought my Garmin for. I trained for this when I was stationed in Biloxi MS for tech school training. I persuaded my sister to sign up with me and together we completed our first race together. We woke up that morning to sleet & snow, looked at each other, shrugged and went ahead and did it anyway. Afterward, we treated ourselves to brunch at Orange.
- 2009 Turkey Trot 8K – 55:34. LC and I ran this race in Lincoln Park, one of my favorite spots to run in Chicago. It was the first race that we’ve ever done together and it was right before I spent my first Thanksgiving ever with his family. This was by far one of my favorite races.
- 2008 Nike Human Race 10k – 1:08:22. My first race ever. I had just moved to Chicago the a few months before. LC was being shipped off to Afghanistan and I was all alone in a new city, 2 hours away from my family and friends. I signed up for this race as a distraction and something to do in my free time. It ended up being a wondering distraction and the beginning of a hobby that I love.
