I have not been too busy to blog, but I have been too busy to haul two small children to a camera/battery store across town, try to listen to a salesman while the girls pull various and sundry expensive items off the shelves, pay the money for something that may or may not work, and try to fix my camera so that I can blog. SO, I have missed y’all. That picture is our mileage and time from our long run on Saturday morning. Almost a half marathon. This week I felt tons better than last week. I think this was mostly because I wasn’t afraid to slow the entire group down and be at the tail end of the line while we ran. I gave them one run to get to know me before I became the leech that’s not afraid to slow down everybody else. I’ve decided they can leave me, they can kick me out, or they can do like they did this week and run back to me over and over again in the run so that we finish at the same time 🙂 I am exaggerating a little…but not much.
Several of you asked about how I got the pictures, and so this week I asked Tom Riser if he would hand the camera to another group member so that we could snap him in a shot for the blog. Here’s what we got. He’s the one in the front, double fisting it with the power drinks, but you see he’s blurry as all get out. Maybe next week. Apparently Dr. Riser (and his wife Margaret, far left, also Dr. Riser) loves gadgets, and this is some new runners camera or something…that he is trying out on us. He is almost always at the front of the group, but he’ll sprint a little farther ahead, and then turn around and snap us.

Everyone in the group is medical but me. On the first run, they each sort of ran beside me (huffing away) for a while to talk. Me: So What do you do? Them: I am a [insert specialty here] doctor. What about you? Me: I am a stay-at-home Mom (that sounds sort of lazy)…and I like to write (so do a lot of people)…and I have a blog (they probably have no idea what that is)…and I have a small business where I embroider for people sometimes (that’s sort of a lie. would you really qualify the Flossy Finch as a business)…but I went to school to be a chemical engineer! (ok, now you sound like one of those people who put their high school presidency of the French Club on their grown-up resume). I am going to stop now. Mainly, I am just a Mom (and they would have been perfectly happy with that answer you insecure fool).

In the meantime, I have done some other things besides run. I have spent an entire day getting a sewing lesson from Riley’s (Caroline, my sister’s, boyfriend) Mom while Caroline watched my girls. I learned a lot, but to spend an entire day and have only the TOP of a dress made was a bit discouraging…Discouraging enough that the lesson was Tuesday (a week ago) and I still have not even had the heart to take my sewing machine out of the back of my car.

Let me try to end on something positive… … … … Mary Aplin has started talking more. We’ve moved past single grunts, to grunts that sort of sound like words 🙂 I’ll try to be back sooner, but I am still dreading that trip to the camera shop!

17 Responses to “Still Alive and Running”

  1. Stephanie says:

    Dr. Riser (female) is my doctor! I'm so dropping your name next time I see her. 🙂

  2. Konie says:

    Abby…I giggled all through this blog! And glad you got your camera fixed so you can blog again….I was missing them. Bill knew the Riser's also!! Bonatz and the Riser's….whose next in our small world! : ) Have fun and glad you are enjoying this marathon experience! Also, it was great seeing you and the girls Sat : )

  3. melissa richie says:

    I was thinking about you on Saturday morning (probably long after you actually ran, but it's the thought that counts, right?!) Anyway, I am so glad that it went well! I continue to be very proud of you, Abby!

  4. Darby says:

    Abby, I think you are hilarious and I hope you keep running so I can keep laughing with you. I'm just soooo glad it's you and not me. But if it were me it would be a good thing they're all "medical" because they would have to run back to resuscitate me rather than catch up with me.

  5. Kendall Clark says:

    Abby, after my puny attempt to run 3 miles today, I have an immense appreciation for you running 12! I laughed with you in your description of "what you do", that is exactly how I am.
    I love you,
    KeKe

  6. Kellie says:

    Awesome girl! Keep it up – I'll continue happily with my 4-5 miles each day while you edge on up to 26!!!!! I've always been in awe of marathoners, but never quite had the desire to do one myself – maybe you'll motivate me!

  7. Farris says:

    Way to go, Abby! You're doing great! As for your profession, there's no way most people who work outside of the home could hang with you and the girls…be proud of it!

  8. Stewart says:

    Hey Abby! Caroline and Riley came and picked up my loveseat Saturday. It was so great to meet them. Caroline is so adorable! I was so glad she bought the loveseat…I hope she'll enjoy it! Way to go on your running progress!!

  9. Gail says:

    You do it all! And, with grace! Don't give up any of it! Run Forest, Run….

  10. Elaine says:

    Abby
    I am new to your blog as of a few months! It's so cute! You look SO familiar to me! Where are you from or where do you live now? I think I know you either through Anne and Jay Johnson or Jessica Bryant…. weird feeling! Keep up the running though! I trained for a 1/2 marathon after my first babe but over trained and really messed up my knee and it's never been the same. Hope you are better off than me.

  11. Ekkehard says:

    Well, Abby, now you have done it! We all are pleased to have you in our group on Saturdays (and some other days), you give us inspiration and a common goal: to have you on the starting line on October 25, 2009, with hundreds of like-minded, insane people… If we just could get Jeremiah to deal with his knee issue. He will need lots of support in the next few weeks as your training ramps up and consumes more of your physical, spiritual, and mental resources. Do you happen to know a good orthopaedic surgeon? 😉

  12. Hillary @ The Other Mama says:

    So proud of you and your almost half marathon!! That's wonderful! And I think we all suffer that insecurity of telling people WHAT we do instead of just depending on them learning WHO we are. I know I do!!

  13. Kendall Boggs says:

    Why don't you and Darby and Jordan come up here to the lake for a weekend (have someone watch the kids so we will have total time) and I will do a sewing/crash course. Wouldn't that be fun???? I'm serious about this Abbs! In the meantime, hope you'll enter my latest painting give-a-way called "Blessings".
    http://www.kendallboggsfineart.blogspot.com
    hugs,
    Kendall

  14. Taylor says:

    abby – you have been alive and running for weeks now-
    when are you going to blog again??
    yo sis

  15. Gail says:

    Abby…Say…IT ain't so…ONE month off! NO way! I know you are busy, but goodness…this is not right! It will feel so strange to read about y'all! I will miss you! Have a good vacation from the blog life, but hurry back…PLEASE!

  16. Mandy says:

    This is great, Abby! I have mostly been doing crossfit, with anywhere from 1 to 5 small children in tow. (Several moms have joined me from time to time–we like to call ourselves the "Baby Mama Club.") I have been trying to run some too, though, and I just got up to 5K! I NEVER thought I would be a runner (couldn't even run a mile in high school), but I'm starting to kind of enjoy it! Good luck!! Call us when you are in town, ok?

  17. Lindsey says:

    Thanks so much for the adorable onesie you stitched for Ashley to give to Grant. I actually saw it on your post, and was so pleased to find out that it was for my Grant! Very impressed with your new running commitment. Ash was over here last night and mentioned something about running at 5 am today! Enjoy your blogging hiatus.

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