Nerves...100 days...

If anyone knows me…they know I always panic to be prepared, prepare more, and overly prepared for about anything I do.  (That’s probably why in cross country dad got us team bags big enough to fit clothes for a month in, however my argument is you NEVER know what to expect at a cross country meet!)  I realized today we have snuck upon the 100 days till the marathon and I won’t lie, it makes me nervous!  I mean 100 days seems like a lot to some…but I have 26.2 miles to run here!  Fast isn’t my concern at this point J  (Fast was a goal 10 years ago…)  I’m as motivational as can me, but I’m a nervous mess when it comes to myself!

You’ve heard me tell the stories about hives before races and basketball games, while dad had to convince me of everything I can do at the moment before I’d have a nervous breakdown.  When giving a speech at the West Virginia Awards banquet I remember Jim Butta teasing me about the speech notes I had prepared and had organized throughout the page.   When I started my insurance agency in OH, they wanted a 1 page business plan (I didn’t realize at the time they meant 1 page)…so 12 pages later I submitted my analysis of the market and my plan.  So I suppose this process is normal …but….100 days! Ahhhh

Me probably wanting to throw up before the state meet in this picture...dad being side tracked talking (of course) to the Scott High School Coach I believe :) 

We are in the midst of planning a fundraiser for Team Spangler at the Ritchie County Fair…it’s definitely going to be a fun tent so be sure to come out and look for us! We’ll be decorated out with Team Fox colors, mardi gras beads, prizes, while hosting a game! 

We also will have a big poster for everyone to sign for us to take back to dad!

I suppose your wandering about my running….

Monday evening I ran about 30 minutes on the road then came back home to run another 10 with the dog.  He’s been running off lately so we’ve had to keep him tied up more, so I was hoping I’d wear him out a little bit more by running him around.  I think the only person who got tired was me.

Tuesday evening I had enough guilt to consume me as I didn’t have time in the schedule to run….  I did get to see dad however and visit for a short bit while going to meet mom to work on a rental house project o(f course)

Last night I went out for about a 40 minute run…which I had to finish in the dark because the evening somehow snuck away from me by the time I was able to get my run in.

So I suppose I better get off here and realize my triple digit days are gone and tomorrow begins 99 days till the big day J 

100 days     16h     10m     30s

TILL RACE TIME

Parkinson's Support Group

Last night my sisters and I attended a Parkinson's Support Group in Parkersburg that dad attended when he could with mom. Mom had called the gentleman Larry Ice and discussed with him what we are working on for Team Fox. Larry was quick to jump in on inviting us to come and speak and we talked on the phone several times prior to this meeting. I have to say; his positive spirit about beating Parkinson's and doing something about it is contagious. I always felt better just in general whenever I would hang up the phone from him.

When arriving at the library I quickly reminded myself I didn't even know who I was looking for. This man who I felt was a friend already I'd never even seen in person yet. I suppose we were a giveaway because I promised to bring some of the "Cupcake for a Cure" Silver color themed (Parkinson’s Awareness color) cupcakes with me from my friend's shop. So I'm assuming he knew who I was. It was such an inviting group and in a way you felt better just by being there. The meeting was a mix between humor and truth, and it was the perfect balance for an approach to this battle. We all shared many laughs and stories and embraced each other's experiences of the disease. They all were eager to jump in and help in our quest with the NYC marathon and by no means was I expecting to leave with $170.34 they have been progressively saving through events they do throughout the year. I have sent it off to the foundation to be added to our efforts. If any of you are reading this, thank you for the invitation to join and welcoming us in.

After we left the meeting the 3 of us (sisters) went out to dinner. Upon discussing ideas of fundraising and maintaining the positive vibes we felt lifted by with the meeting we couldn't help but realize; that was the first time we'd been in a room full of people all going through the same things we have been. Maybe, for a lack of better explanation, it was therapeutic. We were in a room full of people that understand the hardships, the tremors, the speech impairment, eating struggles, the frustration...but as Larry said, "Stay on the Sunny Side, always on the Sunny Side" (insert a little tune there)   And Larry is right, it’s too easy to be negative, the challenges of the disease may be of mobility but the other challenge is also a fight against frustration.   

Upon my new found determinedness to do even more….this video hit Facebook today distributed by Team Fox, and was seems to be a recurring theme of good timing….the timing for this was perfect. 

I just had to share this video....it brings me tears, goosebumps, and a hope for so much of why we wanted to be apart of Team Fox .  If you have a few minutes, I reccomend you to watch as it explains so much of this journey we look to take to honor our dad.

Team Fox Video

Donate Online Here For Team Spangler:
http://www2.michaeljfox.org/site/TR/Sponsored/TeamFox?px=1007327&pg=personal&fr_id=1210