Capitol Hill Week

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This was my fourth year going to Washington DC to lobby for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex research funding and was by far the most amazing! This year my entourage included Chris Hawkey, Sarah Hoey, Janie Frost, Todd Kronebusch and Judy Shoulak. Because of scheduling we were not all together at one time. We covered the legislators from Minnesota, Mississippi, North and South Dakota. In a day and a half we visited 15 offices that included;

• Rep Gregg Harper of Mississippi
• Rep James Oberstar of Minnesota
• Rep Colin Peterson of Minnesota
• Sen Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota
• Sen Tim Johnson of South Dakota
• Sen Roger Wicker of Mississippi
• Sen Al Franken of Minnesota
• Rep John Kline of Minnesota
• Rep Travis Childers of Mississippi
• Rep Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota
• Rep Betty McCollum of Minnesota
• Rep Erik Paulsen of Minnesota
• Rep Tim Walz of Minnesota
• Rep Keith Ellison of Minnesota
• Sen John Thune of South Dakota

When I say that we met with them I mean that we meet with the person from the office that handles health related issues. But this year we were able to get 20 min sit down with Sen Al Franken and it was a great meeting! He had read the materials I sent ahead of time and asked me questions about Alan's personality, sense of humor, school, how he is effected by autism. In the four years I have been going to Washington I have never had this happen, even by offices I knew would sign on!

That night was topped by an amazing event, DC Food and Wine at Morton's Steak House. The food was amazing! I don't think that I have ever seen shrimp that big before!

Thursday morning were great sessions on utilizing the media and programs that our national sponsors, Hat World Lids, Buffalo Wild Wings, Lundbeck and MetLife have or launching for the TS Alliance. There are a lot of great things coming!

Thursday night was a magical night! Every year on the last night of our trip the TS Alliance has a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. This year I was the recipient of a "Franny" Award, which is given to four individuals each years for their work in their TS community and nationally. I was blown away! I wish I could better put into words the rush of joy, gratitude and amazement when I figured out that Jenny Smiley was talking about me. You will just have to take my word for it.

My favorite quote of the week came later when Tommy Linsey of New York was receiving his outgoing board of directors award. In my acceptance speech I said, "I am a Minnesota Vikings fan (to which there quite a few chuckles) and I have faith that I will in my life time see the Vikings in the Superbowl, I also have faith that we will one day we will find a cure for TS, better treatments" Tommy during his acceptance speech said,"We're going to kick Tuberous Sclerosis ASS before Missy gets to the Superbowl!" I hope he is right!

Wii Fit=Me Fit!

Happy 2010!
Santa was nice enough to leave me a Wii Fit Plus under the tree this year. Today was first time that I really got a chance to do a "workout" on it and I have to say that I really liked it. If you have not used one there are a lot of different things to do like; running, hula hooping, skiing, strength training, step aerobics, yoga and a whole bunch more.

During the running part of my work out (which you don't actually do on the board) I discovered that you don't have to stand in front of the tv. I ran around my basement and even tried going up stairs and it worked. While I was doing this I thought I wonder if you could train for the 1/2 marathon this way? Has anyone done this?

Hmm...

And so it begins...again

What is it about September that make you want to start afresh every year? Maybe it is the purchase of #2 pencils or the sound of school buses.

To say that I have taken time off from running would be an understatement. I haven't run since June. No excuses, just burnt out and didn't feel like doing it.

Today, while I was at home working on a quilt (aka running with scissors) I watched "The Spirit of the Marathon". It is a fantastic movie that follows a group runners of varying abilities training for the 2005 Chicago marathon. They also do interviews with Dick Beardsly, Deana Kastor, Joan Benoit, Jon Bingham, Hal Higdon. Let's just say it was the inspiration I have been needing to get my butt moving again. As I was watching the runners get ready the day of the marathon I got the butterflies that I always do the day of a race. I cried right along with the finishers. I don't know what other sport has such a gamut of emotions that you feel on such a regular basis.

New shoes and the first mile of many are in my future!

All FORE Cross Training!

I haven't written on my blog for a while, because I haven't been running. I think all of my penguin friends are enjoying the unseasonably cool weather to do other things; golfing, biking, walking, sewing, ect.

I picked up my golf clubs a couple of weeks ago and realized how many different muscles golf requires that I somehow never use. After a tip from Dan that I was completely lining my club up backwards in my stance I started to hit the ball a little better. I will head to the driving range a few more times I have two golf tournaments that I am going to golf in. One is a family tournament and the other is Kylie's Hope at Como. This last weekend I was the photographer at the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin' Tournament. Perfect Day!

I haven't given running up, just taking a vacation.

If you would like to join Dan & I in the Kylie's Hope golf tournament benefitting the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance here is a link

https://ecommunity.tsalliance.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=772

Running with Scissors

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What have I been doing the past few weeks (besides neglecting my blog)

• Helping with the Step Forward to Cure TSC Walk & 5K (Which raised $40,000!)
• Reading a fluffy romance (cotton candy for the brain)
• Cleaning Closets and our guest room (had to be done)
• Painting the guest room
• Finishing a t-shirt quilt I started over a year ago!

The crappy weather this past weekend was perfect for staying indoors and finishing this project that I have been thinking about since I started running. Not long after I finished my first 5k I was reading a running magazine and saw an ad for someone who makes t-shirt quilts. I thought, "I could make one of those." Well, eight plus years later I finished my first one.

The quilt is a conglomeration of shirts scarfs from runs, concerts and favorites from my drawer mixed in with some fabric. Much like me, the pattern is random, the fabric combinations are unconventional and the corners aren't perfect.

A walk with an old friend.

It set off this morning with the best intentions-5K run. The minute I stepped out the door the scent of blooming lilacs, crab apple trees and lily of valleys accompanied by the beautiful voice of Eva Cassidy I decided it was a day to slow down and appreciate my surroundings.

Eva Cassidy if one of my very favorite singers, I think that I love her music so much because sings rock, folk, blues, jazz and gospel. I discovered Eva a quite few years ago and used to listen to her a lot while I ran, but I had not listened to her in a while and her songs made for a perfect soundtrack for a long overdue glorious spring morning. My apologies to any passing squirrels, birds and passing bikers as I belted out "Tennessee Waltz". I am very sorry to say that Eva Cassidy passed away in her early 30's of cancer, but I am so very thankful that she left such beautiful music for generations to enjoy.

Get out and enjoy this weather!

WE DID IT!!!!!

OH MY GOD WE ALL FINISHED!
I am very proud to say that I finished in 3:01 running my poky 4 & 1's. I have to say that I was a little stunned when I got to the end somehow somewhere I found a sprint and I looked good for the end. I still can't believe that I ran 13.1 miles!

Other than a giant blister on my little toe I feel pretty good. I had a really fun experience. Fargo goes out of its way to cheer on the runners, I saw more people lining the entire route than I have ever seen anywhere. It was a cold morning 39 at the beginning of the race, but that didn't seem to phase any of the spectators. The little kids were the best! It seem to make there day to give the runners high-fives and I was happy to oblige!

I thought that I would turn into a puddle at the end of the race (there is a precedent for this), but as I rounded the last corner to enter the Fargo Dome I caught pace with a guy in his early 20's finishing the marathon. I don't know what came over me, but I wanted to sprint the guy to the end. So that saved me from becoming a blubbering mess. Then as I approached the finish line they announced my name, which made me run a little faster. Dan called to me at the finish line, this was the first race he has ever seen me finish.

It was an amazing experience! I don't think I am ready for a marathon, not quite sure I ever will be. Never say never...