8 miles in hell

I went into this run with positive thoughts. I stretched out well and thought i would do good. BOY WAS I WRONG. I think my body is just tired and not used to this much running. My calves and ankles have a tight achy feeling in them. And when I would try and slow my pace, it would hurt worse. I felt like I looked like I was hurting. But I plunged on through it and finished it. Now my legs are really weak and I'm ready for bed. I tried to keep good music bumpin' to keep me going which helped a lot. Now as I loaded my workout I noticed that I was supposed to do something a little different. i was supposed to run 2 min. hard with 1 min off. Kind of irritated i didn't do that, but my computer wasn't loading my training page. Oh well, next time i will do it right. Kind of thankful that I have tomorrow off and then its another 4 mile run.

5 miles

Today I was pleasantly surprised with my run. I dropped Jaxon off at school and the temp. was 34 degrees. Needless to say, I was NOT looking forward to my run. I was afraid I would be cold. So I wore 3 layers and wore my gloves and was just right. I probably could have gone without one of the layers. But anyway. I FELT SO GOOD THE WHOLE RUN!!!! I don't know what I did different but i enjoyed the run so much. The first mile or so I keep looking down at my watch and it was telling me I was running a 8 min. 4 sec mile. I had to make myself slow down because i knew I would die out if I keep that pace. I just hope I feel as good tomorrow when I do another 8 mile run. I ran the 5 miles in 42 min and 33 sec with a pace of 8 min 26 sec.

a beautiful sunny day

Today I was NOT motivated to run at all. I was so tired and all I wanted to do was lay on the couch. But I keep telling myself I can't waste this beautiful sunny day inside. So I laced up the ol' shoes and hit the pavement for a 8 mile run. Once again, it took me a good mile and a half to feel "in the groove". It is amazing to me how getting out there and doing some exercise makes you feel so good. I love running on sunny days. And I love long runs on sunny days. Today I tried to keep a slower pace to get used to it when I get into those 20 mile runs. It is really hard for me to run slower though. I think it takes a lot more energy to go slow and my muscles start to tighten up. So in all today was a good run. I completed the 8 miles in an hour and 8 min with a pace of 8 min 37 sec.

I am huge on thinking positive during a run. I always tell people that when I was training for my first half marathon I was so dead after just a couple miles and wanted to just go home. But I told myself that going home wasn't going to help me at all and I would improve if I cheat myself. And then when I finish the amount of miles I am supposed to do it feels good to not give into weakness. I still sometimes think, "oh, I'm to tired to do the full run. I'm not going to do the whole thing." But I very rarely give in. When i feel like I am dying I talk to myself telling me that I am strong and can finish. The weakness is TOTALLY in your head. If you tell yourself you can't do it, then your not going to. Once those thoughts enter you have to start thinking positive. A saying that I like is "pain is weakness leaving the body"

6 miles

I have been a total slacker and haven't logged any of my runs. I am so bad at this stuff. But i will try to be better now. Today I did a 6 mile run. I really didn't want to do it. It was foggy and cold. But once I got out there I felt amazing. Usually it takes me a good 2 miles to get good and warmed up and get moving good. But today I felt good the whole run. Except that I totally fell. I tripped and tried to save myself, but couldn't catch my balance. I landed on my hands but I am pretty sure that my feet were over my head. I am so thankful that I was wearing my gloves and my compression pants or I would have had some major road rash. My hands are kind of sore, but not bad. Anyway, i finished 6 miles in 50 min and 10 seconds. I love getting out there and running when it isn't raining. And I am so glad that I am finally getting back into the groove. I don't feel sluggish anymore. Tomorrow is a short 4 mile run.

Day 1

Today was my first day of training. It was a 4 mile run. I was excited for 4 miles because it was not far. Well it was one of the hardest runs. I have lost so much endurance in the last few months. I went from running a 8:20 mile to doing a 8:45 mile. I was disappointed but I will work my way back up. Looking forward to the runs to come. Tomorrow is a 6 miler. Hoping I feel better than I did today. One of these days i want to get my measurements and see how much my body changes in the next few months.

26.2 miles

Ok, I have ran 3 half marathons so far and loved every minute of each race. The sea of people all running the same race you are, the feeling of accomplishment and and the rush of running 13.1 miles and breaking your previous time overtakes you. The last half marathon I did in Eugene I broke my time by 3 minutes and felt on top of the world. I placed 85th out of a little more than 1500 people. After that race i felt like I could go and run another 13.1 miles.

After LOTS of thinking praying and stressing I have decided to run a FULL MARATHON!!! Yes I am going to run 26.2 miles. Now some of you are thinking why in the world would you want to torture yourself like that. And really I have no good answer for you. I feel that I need to push myself even further. And I know that if the contestants on the "Biggest Loser" can do it then so can I. Looking at my training schedule FREAKS me out. When I see those big mile runs like 16, 18, and 20 my heart races and I get really nervous. I think "how it the world am I going to run that far." And I got thinking. I am going to blog about my adventure in completing a marathon. Then I can look back and see how i felt and what I did. And you guys (if your interested) can follow me. I also hope that this will motivate some of you to step up and challenge yourself in ways you never thought you could. So beginning Tuesday I will have my first post about my first workout.

P.S. The picture above is from the Eugene Marathon, and that is just a small amount of the people in the race.

A wedded afair

Jaxon and I got the honor of being in my best friends wedding a few weeks ago. I was a little nervous at first when Desi asked if Jax would be the ring bearor but he did pretty good. He LOVED his tux. Here are a few pics I was able to get of us at the wedding.

Couponing

A bunch of ladies at my church have started couponing and I was so amazed at what they would get for practically nothing. So recently I have began my couponing adventures. When I first started I would get so frustrated because I would not have all the coupons, or they would be out of what I wanted. But now that I have a good collection of coupons I am getting the hang of it.

Tonight while we were in Salem taking Jay out to dinner for fathers day I decided to go to "Target" because one of the blogs I follow had a few good deals for there. I got 4 old spice body washes and 4 aveeno body washes all for $4. You might be wondering how the heck did she do that, well here is the deal. If you bought 3 old spice body washes you got a $5 "target" gift card. I had 2 BOGO coupons for that so my total was $7.98. I did that in one transaction and in the other I got my 4 Aveeno body washes. I had 2 $2 off 2 coupons and they were on sale for $1. So they were .25 each and I just used my gift card to pay for that.

I always get so excited when I get good deals like that. It is so nice knowing that I saved a TON of money. I must admit, it does get kind of addiction. So if you aren't into couponing and want to... be warned that you will become addicted to it FAST!

99 things

Kind of bored tonight so I thought I would do this

Instructions:

Copy the list, bold the ones you've done (with explanations if needed), share with friends.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (but it didn't get to far before it died)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (it was a half marathon though)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching- my grandpa worked for tradewinds
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy- it was a blanket that my mom took away from me and saved
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle- when I was young my dad had one
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Collage Funds

Recently Jaxon has been obsessed with going to collage. We always give him our change and he puts it in his bank and he knows that it all will go to his college fund. Well this weekend when we went to Bend, Tyler dared Jaxon to run outside in the snow with nothing but his underwear on and he would give him a dollar for "collage." Mr. Jax will do anything for money so he trotted outside and stomped around in the snow for a little bit and then Tyler gave him his dollar. In this picture he is yelling "I'm going to collage" My mom took a picture of him in the snow, once I get that picture I will post it.

Wordless Wednesday

My little stinker

The other day I was singing to Jaxon's 'Psalty The Singing Psalm Book" CD. And I just asked him if it sounded pretty, and he told me "no" so I sang again and asked him if that sounded better and again he said no. So then i asked him "what can I do to make it sound better?" And my whitty little Jaxon said "sign language." I just died laughing. Sometime he comes up with the funniest things.

Kate's Crazy Cool Christmas

I have recently been reading a blog about a 5 year old girl battling brain cancer. Her mom post's updates on her health daily. Every day it brings me to tears. Kate has such and amazing heart. She has started Kate's Crazy Cool Christmas. They are collecting gifts for the kids in the hospital. If everyone could take a look and donate a gift to them that would be awesome.

Each year we take one of our boys' birthday gifts and give it to Toy's for tots beings their birthday is so close to Christmas. But this year we are going to give them to Kate's Crazy Cool Christmas. Just think of the smile you will put on some poor kids face when they see that someone has thought about them. Below is the link to the facebook page where you can find more information. I will also put the link to the blog if you would like to read her story.

Facebook">

Amy Radke-Minton is a fan of

Kate's Crazy Cool Christmas

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http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate/journal

Amy Radke-Minton is a fan of

Kate's Crazy Cool Christmas

Create your Fan Badge

A trip to the ER

Monday night we were eating dinner at the table like we do every night. Jay and I were arguing with Jaxon about eating his dinner. I finally decided that I was going to start on the dishes and Jay walked away from the table too and let the boy's finish eating. I had just started to run my dish water and all of a sudden I hear the loudest crash ever. Jace had put his legs up on the table and pushed off. His high chair is a booster straped to the chair so him and the chair came crashing down. I have never had to experiance my babies getting hurt like that. After repeating "OH MY GOSH, OH MY GOSH" a few times, I un strapped him from the high chair and realized he had taken a bite of food right before he crashed. Thank goodness he didn't choke, but I got all the food out of his mouth and tried to check him out. But Jay came over and yelled at me saying "do you even know what to look for?" I was so mad at him and said let me look at my baby. I didn't want to let him go. I then gave in and let Jay look at him, once Jay had him in his lap Jace started to act like he was going to fall asleep and we saw a HUGE bump on the back of his head. I freaked out and said "I'm calling 9-1-1." I know I know I was a little over the top, but my baby was hurt and I wanted help for him. Luckly Jay was calm cool and collected and said "NO we will take him to the ER." So then I knew I had to rush and get Jaxon dressed, call someone to watch him and head out the door. But panic still had the best of me and I couldn't think at all. I don't even know how to explain it. I knew I had to get Jaxon's shoes and pants on, but didn't know where they were or even where to get them. I went into his room and just paced back and forth trying to figure out what to do. I then told Jay " you have to do this, I can't think right now." And he told me to calm down. Easier said than done. So I took a couple breaths and finally found his clothes got him dressed and called Jay's mom and headed out the door. I was to affraid to put Jace in his car seat because I thought he would go to sleep. So I heald him all the way to the ER to try and keep him awake. We got him all checked in and waited and waited and waited. Jace wasn't his spunky little self. He just sat there with us and let us cuddle him. Finally we got our turn to get a room, but we had to sit and wait another long time. That was when he snapped back into the Jace I know. He wanted to get down and play. But I didn't put shoes and socks on him or have anything for him to play with. So he was getting antsy. Then the Dr. came and gave us the ok to go home. Praise the Lord nothing worse happened. I am so glad he didn't have a concussion. That night thought he didn't sleep very good. I think he had a head ache. But after a little Tylenol and water he fell asleep.

Mission Complete

Ever since watching the "Biggest Loser" last season, I have been so motivated to run a half marathon. My sister Megan and I talked to each other and decided that we would train together and run one. I looked online for a race that we would want to do and signed up for it. We decided on the Champoeg 5k/half marathon that was on September 19th. We started out with 2 weeks of just running for 30 min. And then we found a 10 week training program that we followed. The schedule looked like this.

Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
1	3	Rest	3	3	Rest	4	Rest	13
2	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	5	Rest	15
3	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	6	Rest	16
4	3	Rest	5	3	Rest	8	Rest	19
5	3	Rest	5	3	Rest	10	Rest	21
6	4	Rest	5	4	Rest	11	Rest	24
7	4	Rest	6	4	Rest	12	Rest	26
8	4	Rest	5	4	Rest	9	Rest	22
9	3	Rest	4	3	Rest	8	Rest	18
10	3	Rest	3	Walk 2	Rest	13.1	Rest	21.1

There was 3 weeks in there that I couldn't run because I broke my toe, but other than that I stayed on the schedule pretty good. I must say I got a little wore out of running about half way into it, but I knew if I slacked I would regret it down the road.



After months of training it was finally race day. I was so excited and nervous. I just wanted to get it over with and say that I completed 13.1 miles. My friend's Mindy and Desi came over the week before the race and we all tye dyed shirts for everyone to wear. It was so much fun and got me even more pumped for the race. On race day I woke up at 5:30 am, and heard it pouring down rain. I was so mad. I don't mind running in the rain, but not pouring rain. Finally at 6:45 we had the boy's all ready and headed out to Champoeg.

Megan and I had an amazing support system. My friend Desi and Mindy were there with their kids. Our parents were there and so was Megan's in laws. Megan's friend Jenna also surprised her at the finish line.

Our race stared at 8:30. We took off and I felt good. I was going to stay with Megan but needed to go ahead. I was kind of nervous at first because I though am I going to tire out? Maybe I need to slow down. But I couldn't. I keep on going. Once I got to the 2 mile mark I was doing about 8 min. miles. I got to mile 7 and started to feel a pain in my foot. Yep... it was a blister. I didn't have moisture wicking socks on and my soggy foot was rubbing on my shoe. I pushed through the pain and keep on running. After a while it didn't hurt as bad. I keep on chugging my gel packs and finally after 1 hour 56 min. made it to the finish line. Oh man was I so excited to get there. The first thing I did was give my family a hug and get a banana and water. A little later I decided I was going to go find Megan and run in with her. I cheered for her and told her to pick it up. After I cheered her in I finally took off my shoe and discovered how big the blister actually was. It is HUGE! But I didn't care. I was still on my high. I felt so accomplished and proud of myself. People have asked me if I am going to do a full marathon now and my answer is NO!!!! I don't think I could do one. 13.1 miles is a long way and 26.2 is WAY TO FAR! I couldn't imagine how I would feel after that race.

I woke up this morning and every muscle in my legs hurt. I couldn't get out of bed without holding on to the wall. I don't think I have ever been this sore after a run. But it is all worth it. As soon as this blister goes away I will be hitting the road again for more running. That was not my last race, I look forward to breaking my time!!

a before shot

Megan stretching

Getting ready to start

Patiently waiting while eating cheerieos

My babies chearing me on

Our fan club minus my mom

Mile 2

I don't remember what mile this is

1 hour 56 min later

Sweet sweet victory

My amazing little family

The rodies

our cool shirts

addiction update

So my plan was to update my blog more often about my journey to quit drinking diet pepsi or anything with artificial sweetener in it, but I have been so busy. I went 1 week without taking a drink of DP. I didn't want or crave it at all. i was very surprised. I thought for sure it would be so hard. It must have been a sign that I needed to quit. But I went to Bend to visit my sister and we had pizza. And you CAN NOT have pizza with out a pop. But I only had a tiny bit. And again to my surprise it didn't taste as good as I thought it was going to. Whenever I want something other than water to drink I will get an iced tea without sweetener in it.

So on my second week I did really good too. The only time I really drank DP was after my half marathon. My dear friend's Desi and Mindy brought me one at the finish line, but I only took a few drink of it and threw it away. And then today I did have a can at lunch. But I am not going to go back onto my 2 32oz cups of it a day. I am going to try and stay away from it. If I am out to dinner or something I MAY have one, but I will try and always get a tea.

ADDICTION!!

For as long as I can remember I have been addicted to Diet Pepsi. I love everything about it. When I was pregnant with Jaxon I quit drinking it, but then once he was born I started up again. I actually had one with my dinner once I could have food after my c-section. I tried to quit when I got pregnant with Jace, but I couldn't do it for the life of me. I think that is when my addiction really started to get bad. I couldn't even quit for the baby growing inside me. Ever since then I have tried to either quit or cut back, and have failed at both of them. It seems like once I tell myself that I am going to quit I want it even more. So last night I decided I am going to quit cold turkey, and I am 100% sticking to it this time. I know I will feel so much better and I could lose the extra pounds I have around my mid section if I just stick to it. So I am going to journal throughout my recovery process. I think it will help me and it will be fun to look back and see how I felt during the whole process.
So today I did really good. I didn't have a single drink of it. But boy did I want one. I am really trying to stay away from the artificial sweetener that is in it. But I did have a couple glasses of iced tea with some sweet n low in it. I just wanted to get it out of my fridge. So now if I make tea I am not going to put the sweetener in it, and I am going to drink a lot more water. I even put a gallon of water in my fridge so it will be nice and cold for me when I need it. I have not had a real craving for it today, but it is only day one. We will see what the rest of the week holds for me.

A Lunch Fit for a Toddler

I am always wanting to try new things for lunch and snacks for the boy's. I know I get tired of the same ol' food, so I know they do too. So today for lunch I made chicken and shells. Jaxon LOVED them, and I thought they were pretty good too. And for Jace, I just ground it all up so I didn't have to make two different lunches. Anyone out there with kids I hope your kids will like this as much as mine did.

jumbo pasta shells
ground chicken or tuna
cheese

I just boiled the noodles, and mixed my chicken with mayo and stuffed the shells, sprinkled cheese on top and baked them just enough to melt the cheese.

Family Matters

I have one of the best families in the whole world. I don't know what I would do without them. Growing up I didn't have the best relationship with them, but through the years I have gotten really close with them. 10 years ago I would have never though I would live 2 min. away from my parents, and talk to them every day. I LOVE being so close to them. And I think they like it too. I just wish that my sister and her little family could live closer to us. Living in Bend is to far away. Sure it is only 3 hours. But when we each have kids 3 hours is a long time. When we do get together we make up for the time away. Just this last Sunday we went over there for the day and had a blast swimming. I just hope that our boy's can grow up and be amazing little pals. I pray every night that Tyler's job will bring him closer to us so we can see them more. But only in Gods time will that happen. Someone I really wish I could see more is Brett. He is living in Seattle right now. We never get to see him. I pray that one day God will put him closer to us too. He needs to see his nephew's more than he does. When our whole family gets together we have so much fun laughing, playing games and just telling stories about "good ol' times." Not everyone is as lucky as I am to have such an amazing family.