the unexplained and totally random...

I almost forgot...uh...can anyone explain why this was there at the Bataan Memorial Death March? Was somone planning on doing some reps before and after running/walking 26.2 miles. Now I did see a few bodybuilder types but uh...I don't understand and it was totally random. Every time I passed by, no one was around it, it was just sitting there. I had to take a picture.

By far...the TOUGHEST marathon ever...no joke

The day began with the sound of the alarm at 2:50AM. Travis and I got up, got ourselves ready, bags packed, and the woke up the kids to get them changed and dressed. We headed to White Sands Missle Range and we entered the gate at 4:30AM, temperature was about 30'. We headed to the staging area where we found the rest of the team. This marathon is unlike any other. This one was a team of 5, in full military uniform, carrying a 35lb pack.

Here we go again...

It's always interesting when Travis calls me from work and says..."Hey"...hmmm...that usually means something interesting is about to happen...So this time it was, "hey, some people are getting a team together to do the Bataan Death March in March, what do you think?" What do I think? uh, are you asking me to participate because I can tell you right now anything with the word death in the title, hmmm...no so much. He wasn't asking me to participate but more what I do best, being a sherpa. What is a sherpa? By defination it is ...A member of a traditionally Buddhist people of Tibetan descent living on the southern side of the Himalaya Mountains in Nepal and Sikkim. In modern times Sherpas have achieved world renown as expert guides on Himalayan mountaineering expeditions. Basically, they carry all the crap that one would need to climb up Mount Everest. Well, in triathlons or marathons, everyone needs a sherpa and for Travis, it is I. I actually do not mind being a sherpa because it usually means, I'm not participating and sometimes, thats okay. But it does give me the bug to actually participate but thats a whole other story. We are headed to White Sands Missle Range so Travis can be one of the 5 on his team to carry a 35lb pack, 26.2 miles. This isn't your ordinary marathon, this is the replicate the Bataan Death March.

The Bataan Memorial Death March is a challenging march through the high desert terrain of White Sands Missile Range, N.M., conducted in honor of the heroic service members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II, sacrificing their freedom, health and, in many cases, their very lives.

Better get to it...I've now got to pack for myself, Isaiah and Iris. And yea, they are kids they don't need too much but again, they are kids...and well, I'll stop short of taking the kitchen sink but uh, I'll be taking a lot with us...Here we go again...

Makin' it look good...

Once again, I've taken forever to blog. I won't catch up, I'll just start with today. So in my circle of friends and family we have babies due almost every month this year. WHOA!! I'm so excited. For most, it's their first and we all know how exciting that can be and also extremely terrifying. No words can really describe what's in store but maybe that life truly is changed,
F O R E V E R.

I vaguely remember what life was like without children. Maybe, partly, because I drank a lot, hahaha, just kidding. Seriously, though, what did I do with my time then vs. what do I do with my time now? Completely different. Everything is centered around whether or not I can get myself and the two kids ready in time for what the day holds. I'm getting a little better but I still feel like a fish out of water. And just when I think I have it down, something is thrown in the mix to keep me on my toes. I still wonder how my mother had 7 children.

That thought is also a motivator for me...I can do this, my mom had 7 kids and we all turned out okay...YOU CAN DO THIS!! I'm not going to lie, some days, I want to have my own pity party and just do nothing. But most days, I try to put on my big girl panties and get to it. But I can still admire the moms that make it look good...I strive to be that mom some day...but I want people to know that well, at least for me, it's a struggle and challenge every day but the reward is to watch the kiddos do something new every day and I wouldn't trade that for anything.