Long Time No See and Winners Announcement!!!

I'm back!!

I took a 3 wk hiatus from running and blogging, but my surgery was a success and I have never been so ready to start running again in my life!  In fact... I have decided to not only focus on running, but fitness and healthy eating/cooking as well. I would like to say it is because I am just that kind of Martha Stewart/Rachel Ray type person, but let's be honest here . . . I do not cook and I never have nor have I ever been one to hit the gym. (Running has always been my preferance.) So this will be an adventure for sure! I have hired a trainer and have pulled out the cookbooks!
I am pretty sure that the main reason I am driven to take up this new healthy lifestyle is because I am FED UP with the immobile lifestyle I have had for the past 3 wks. I have felt like a SLUG! I am sure many of you can relate... when you have to take some time off from running due to injury, health-related issues, etc. there is definitely a drive in you when you come back that is stronger than ever... So I am back and have never been so motivated :)
BTW: There are so many things I wish to share with you regarding things that I have discovered about myself in the past three weeks as well as all of the happenings that have occured that I intend to tell you all about in future posts - this week...... Stay tuned!

I want to thank all my blogging buddies who have lifted me up throughout my hiatus. You have meant the world to me!
And last but not least, I have saved the best for last..... I know you are all wondering who won my giveaway forever long ago..... Sooo......

I also want to announce my waaayyyy overdue winners of my FITNESS MAGAZINE GIVEAWAY!!!! I used random.org to help me out with this giveaway because I wanted to be completely fair, and the lucky numbers were 8 and 27

Drumroll please........................... Ladies and Gentlemen, give it up for:

Lauren from Reading and Running

and

Tara from Colorado Runner

Yes, both of these fabulous running women have each won a year long subscription to Fitness Magazine!! Yay!! Congratulations!!!

I have missed you all and can't wait to catch up with each and every one of you :) MMMUUUAAAHHH!

Marvelous Miles to You All!

Houston, We Have A Problem...

A couple of weeks ago, we found a cyst in my stomach that had become infected. It quickly began to cause a lot of problems for me. Went to the doctor, and he told me something horrific...

I have to have surgery.


The profoundness of that statement is echoing and deafening in my ear every time I have to say it. Reason being? For one, I have the Livestrong 5K in Austin scheduled the day after surgery that I will have to miss. But the biggest reason I am so bummed about this is because I have been training for a half marathon for months. This surgery and the break I am going to have to take due ot recovery, unfortunately, is going to squash my chances for being able to finish the marathon at a decent time. I know it is acceptable to walk a bit during a race, but for some reason... (pride? competitive spirit? stupidity?) ... Walking is just unacceptable. 
(FINE PRINT DISCLAIMER: Unacceptable for me, personally. NOTHING against anyone out there who does take a walking break during a half every now and then. TOTALLY FINE.... Walk on my sisters and brothers.... I'll be running.)
With this being my first half, I want to make it a success and run the whole entire time. I am not going to set a finish-time goal, per say, but I do want to be able to at least run a 10 min pace the whole way through. But that goal of finishing my first half in November is not going to happen. (*as I wipe away a tear*) So time to move on. I know I am not the only one out there that is having injury issues lately and having to miss races because of them. I have been reading your posts... there must be something in the air?? Chin up... Move on.
I have been searching for other races on Runners World website, etc. that fall in December/January that I could possibly do instead, but have not had much luck. I don't exactly want to travel far far away, but the possibility is not completely out of the question.
I will absolutely be running the Oklahoma City Memorial Half Marathon in April. (This is in memory of the OKC Bombing.) Will that be my first half? I don't know... the answer is yet to come... we shall see.

Anybody know of any good races in December or January or even February?

Marvelous Miles to you all!!