Life is good.

I love the feeling after a great run where you exceeded your own expectations. As you've seen I've been dealing with some pain in my IT band and in my right shin. Couple that with some seriously hot runs and I was beginning to doubt myself and my half marathon ventures. Well, today run took away all of my doubts.

If you are new to my blog, I am having a preventative bi-lateral mastectomy on November 28th. I am not a worrier by nature, but there are some thoughts that creep into the back of my mind from time to time. What better way to push those worries aside by focusing on something else....my half marathon race on Nov. 10. So, there I said it. I am doing the half marathon on Nov. 10. (if I keep saying it over and over it'll come true, right?!)

This summer has been great and I am sad to see it come to a close and go back to work full time. I love being home with my family and I love having so much time to train. Training will be more dificult in one way but so much nicer in another because cooler temps are on their way.

I even got back on my bike a few weeks ago and had a great ride with a long time training buddy, Lindsey, and great friend. It reminded me how much I love to ride and I hope to get back into again. Not sure how many rides I can squeeze in with the running schedule as it is...but I am open to it. I did 18 miles on my first ride and I felt great, like I hadn't ever stopped riding.

Today was a 5 mile longer run and really the first "official" training run for Lindsey and I. I would say it was a success. 5 miles at 49:24. I am always happy with a less than 10 minute pace. Plus, I didn't have any pain and we both felt good the entire time. Oh, and bonus...I got a super cool new water belt (Thanks Linds for picking out one just perfect for me!). Linds and I have have come full circle. Training buddies before kids and now that neither of us are pregnant at the same time (which was a few years of that!) we are back. I truly enjoy that time each week with her to talk and catch up.

I love it!

My mom is doing a lot better and has finished chemo, my training is right where it needs to be, I have a wonderful family, went on 3 awesome vacations, I love my husband now more than ever, have a huge support system from family and friends, and I have two of the cutest kids on the planet. I'd say, life is good.