Rockford Half-Marathon Finisher!

I DID it! Training, planning, running and running some more! I ran the FARTHEST I have ever run in my life. I am proud of myself. I have come a long way, baby. Thinking back to no more than one year ago, I: 1. weighed 185 pounds. 2. started losing weight. 3. started running. 4. Did a 1-miler, a 2-miler, a 5K, a 10-miler and now: 5. A Half-Marathon! (13.1 miles) I am a sprinter, no question. I went, what I considered to be, fast. Here are my stats as a "middle-of-the-packer": ================================================================================ FEMALE AGE GROUP 30 - 34 (500) ================================================================================ 1 1396 Leslie Schaeffer 33 F 1:40:24 7:40 2 926 Jennie Bailey 34 F 1:41:56 7:47 3 1600 Colleen Carson 34 F 1:42:39 7:51 4 1529 Kelly Lucente 32 F 1:46:01 8:06 5 968 Sara Brackenrich 31 F 1:51:43 8:32 6 1264 Sheri McWilliams 34 F 1:52:04 8:34 7 1055 Melissa Dunbar 33 F 1:53:56 8:42 8 1555 Maggie Schnoor 31 F 1:55:11 8:48 9 1454 Jessica Svoboda 34 F 1:56:15 8:53 10 1319 Tania Paterick-Sterud 32 F 1:56:38 8:55 11 1524 Jeannette Zilli 34 F 1:56:43 8:55 12 1246 Mary Kate Martinelli 30 F 1:57:20 8:58 13 1206 Reetta Kylakoski 33 F 1:57:55 9:01 14 1472 Tricia Ulferts 34 F 1:58:56 9:05 15 1213 Pernille Lausten 34 F 1:59:08 9:06 16 1536 Kelly Speltz 34 F 1:59:52 9:09 17 1500 Megan Welbourne 31 F 2:01:04 9:15 18 1283 Gina Montano 31 F 2:01:09 9:15 19 1075 Jessica Ferguson 33 F 2:02:17 9:21 20 978 Jessica Buch 31 F 2:04:27 9:30 21 1249 Lorena Martinez 34 F 2:05:24 9:35 22 1043 Betty Dilley 34 F 2:08:13 9:48 23 1430 Juliana Silvestri 31 F 2:09:14 9:52 24 1370 Kelli Rolston 34 F 2:12:57 10:09 25 1260 Heather McLauchlan 33 F 2:14:20 10:16 26 1303 Marty Offutt 30 F 2:16:54 10:27 27 1437 Jennifer Slabaugh 34 F 2:20:02 10:42 28 1181 Cassie Kaltenbrun 31 F 2:22:49 10:55 29 1145 Beth Hild 33 F 2:23:13 10:56 30 1049 Heather Dowd 32 F 2:23:54 11:00 31 1507 Buffy Wicks 30 F 2:24:42 11:03 32 1228 Michele Long 33 F 2:24:48 11:04 33 1556 Becky Krueger 32 F 2:25:08 11:05 34 1135 Amy Hart 33 F 2:26:36 11:12 35 1173 Loren Johnson 30 F 2:27:57 11:18 36 1020 Kimberly Cook 34 F 2:29:08 11:24 37 1433 Mary Simpson 33 F 2:31:16 11:33 38 1048 Mary Lynn Doherty 34 F 2:31:20 11:34 39 1332 Aurelia Pocklington 30 F 2:32:20 11:38 40 1519 Ericka Yancey 34 F 2:32:47 11:40 41 1471 Christy Udell 32 F 2:32:48 11:40 42 939 Rebecca Barton 30 F 2:33:58 11:46 43 971 Anna Brahmstedt Akerlu 31 F 2:34:09 11:47 44 1134 Natasha Harroff 34 F 2:34:10 11:47 45 1359 Dalma Rigaud 30 F 2:34:37 11:49 46 388 Maia Youngbrandt 30 F 2:35:47 11:54 47 1322 Jacqueline Perez 30 F 2:38:31 12:06 48 1210 Imelda Lagunas 30 F 2:38:31 12:06 49 1302 Erin Obrien 32 F 2:44:12 12:33 50 1400 Andrea Schiller 30 F 2:47:42 12:49 51 1244 Tonya Markert 33 F 2:53:21 13:14 8:55 per mile pace! That's pretty good for never having run 13.1 miles EVER. And, did I mention that I've lost almost 60 pounds? This has been a banner year, full of emotion, discipline and training. Of course, it's no Boston Qualifying pace, but I am happy, because I wasn't trying to make the Boston Marathon. I was trying to finish my first half-marathon and go to bed in the evening without having a full-blown panic attack. Success achieved! I am SO proud of the group that I ran with as well. Each of us (Laura, Reetta and Pernille) ALL managed sub-2:00 hour half-marathons! Success achieved! Laura even placed third in her age group (40-44)! SAY WHAT??? I am so totally proud that I was able to run with these gals. I am inspired by so many of my fellow ladies. Roscoe Roadies, way to go! Want some pictures? Sure. I really like this picture that Erik took. Here I am in my orange shorts, running into the frame. You can see the park (Davis Landing) where all the festivities were held and the bridge and River which we ran over to get to the finish. VERY cool. Here I am waving to my adoring fans! I was WAY excited to see Indigo, River and Daddy cheering me on at the Finish Line! I really was. It makes my day and life to have their support; it really does. There I go! HEY! See my time there? Yup. Under 2 hours! YAYAYAYAYAY! Training was involved. Do not attempt without appropriate training! LOL! This is Laura and me. I am so proud of this Laura gal! She placed 3rd in her age group! WAY TO GO!!! Here is the beautiful and stunning Maegan and myself. So the back story on us? We started in this crazy idea of joining the "Beginning Running Club" at the Y last year with Mary E. We began together running 30 seconds. That was it. 30 seconds. Now? After less than one year? 13.1 miles without stopping. a Half-Marathon finisher. Both of us. And to think we laughed less than a year ago that we couldn't manage to run 4 minutes without stopping. Amazing. Look at this stunning group of wild women! Every single one of us managed to do 13.1 miles and received a medal on this glorious day. Sure, we're tired. Yes, we've trained. And DAMN. We look good! Did I mention we all got medals for finishing? So cool. Unexpected bonus! I had no idea we would be getting finishing medals. I think we look like the best alumni cross country team out there! The final picture, we capture Pernille and Andrea who eluded us for earlier pictures. We are in Davis Park getting massages, goody bags, meeting our husbands and families and connecting to go out to the Stockholm Inn after the run. It was quite a day. Did I mention we ran 13.1 miles? The rest of my day was spent trying to eat, drink, rest and not panic since my body had been through quite an ordeal. It's the next day and the results are in. I'm alive AND I ran 3 miles this morning with the Beginning Run Club at the Y. Full circle, baby. Full circle.

Long Time Gone

Here's a recent layout, since I haven't recently updated my blog.

TaniaJPS Designs 30% Off Easter Sale!

It's here and it's ON! My first sale in 7 months! Stop by and check out my newest releases including the terrific: Sk8Urban Kit, Elements and Paper Pack! Note: Advertisement Image is clickable! :) Click HERE to enter the SALE at TaniaJPS Designs Store! Here is a Preview of my latest and greatest designs:

Only 4 Days Until ADSR3!

Check out my new blog for the 1970's Folk Babes! Only 4 days until the start of ADSR3! (The Amazing Digiscrap Race: Season 3). My partner Susan and I will be posting all of our inspirational layouts there. Prepare to be stunned and amazed. AND, if you have never tried digiscrapping before, prepare to START! I'll help you! As to my running and rehabilitation... I threw out my back and now my knee hurts since I've started running and training again for my 1/2 marathon. Also, 2 night ago I slept on my neck funny and now I have a "pain in the neck", literally that has my arms and hands going numb sometimes. I think I'm falling apart. Not to mention that I've gained 4 pounds in one week.UGH. From 128 to 132 pounds. Too many cookies, chocolates, candy bars and sugar. Too many calories, really. Just need to vent.

I "Threw Out My Back" and a New Blog!

Tale of Woe: I threw out my back this past Wednesday. It's bad. It's really bad. Hopefully I'll be able to run and train again for the marathons. I did go to a doctor and am taking prednezone (anti-spasm), flexeral (pain killer) and sodium naproxen ("Aleve"). I don't know if I spelled all those words right, but I don't care. The point is, I can't walk. I can't sit and I can't stand without some degree of pain, discomfort or buckling of my knees. It really sucks. The doctor said, "No running for one week." "No lifting more than 5 pounds for one week". My prayer is that after one week I *will* be able to run. Cuz right now it seems impossible and I am fit to tears about it. HUGE THANKS TO ALL OF MY RUNNING LADIES! They who have been calling me and emailing me and driving me and offering their help...I am honored and blessed to know and run with each and every one of you. You know who you are and you mean a LOT to me. Keep training, though! 5 miles on Monday. 4 miles on Wednesday. Another 9 miler on Friday. You can do it. I know you can, because I've SEEN you do it. OK. Maybe not the 9-miler. But, I HEARD that you did it. How's that? On the bright side, I am getting stuff done on the computer. I have finished a new digital scrapbooking kit for sale at NDISB called "Cherry Chocolate Valentine". I have even found time to scrapbook Indigo's Dance class using this new kit. AND I have had the time to create a blinkie and a new blog for the Amazing Digiscrapping Race, in which I am partaking with SusanS3js, my digital scrapbooking partner! "Cherry Chocolate Valentine" - Page Kit $4.95 Chocolate and cherries, pinks and browns, Valentine's Day and the people we love...what more could you want or ask for? Perhaps a kit that invokes all of this and more? I love chocolate, pinks, creams and brown - I also love my family and friends and designed this kit with all of the sparkle and fun that reminds me of all these things I love. This has turned out to be my favorite kit to date and I hope you will love it as much as I do! Be inspired and thanks for your patronage to TaniaJPS Designs! Included in this kit are: * Five patterned papers * Two coordinating solids * Accents * Glitter * Borders * Gems * Unique and Beautiful Embellishments Click HERE TO SEE CHERRY CHOCOLATE VALENTINE in the NDISB Store. Here is that layout of Indigo dancing that I mentioned earlier. Isn't she cute? I mean, honestly. :) I had a lot of fun using this new kit I made and hopefully you'll pick it up at the store and find enjoyment using it as I do! Did I mention you should purchase this kit at the NDISB store? You should. Go now. :::::*****:::::*****::::: Finally! The Amazing Digiscrapping Race and my partner, SusanS3Js. So exciting. What on earth am I talking about? Do you want to do this too? Maybe you do. First stop? My new blog. Links and directions and further inspiration are there. Go see! 1970's Folk Babes: Amazing Digiscrapping Race Season 3: The Blog

Neva & Tom Paterick Wedding Photos

Could anyone of my relatives please tell me the date of this wedding? Preface to the photos: These photos were sent to me by my maternal grandfather, Thomas Edgar Shelton. Clearly, they had been stored away for quite some time. I have subsequently used various methods to try and correct some of the "coloring" and "aging" problems many of these photos have now some 30+ years later. Thanks to Kim Hill of CGEssentials for her lovely 1970's action. Only some of the photos are shown here on this blog. I am still working on the many other photos I received but thought that I ought to put these photos out there for my family and friends to see. Tom Paterick and Neva (Shelton) Paterick My favorite photo of my mom and dad. My paternal grandmother, Dorothy (Dieck) Paterick, who raised me. Thank you Grandma! I love you! By the way, what a groovy outfit! I spy Jim (James) Paterick in this photo. Example of a "BEFORE" photo that I received. Use this to gauge my success in color correcting these photos! This is a solo photo of my mother, Neva. What a difference, don't you agree?

Miss Me? Merry Christmas!

I'm here! I'm alive! Here's an update and a layout and some pictures! 1. I hover around 129-131 pounds at the present time. Today I weigh 130. Personally, I like to see the number in the 120's. That's just my vanity speaking though. And, the fact that I am a bloated cranky mess doesn't help matters. Bah Humbug. 2. River is fixated on all things Santa, reindeer, elves, gifts and all of the "rules" that go with this Holiday. I mean, "How old is Santa?", "What if I open my eyes in the middle of the night? Will Santa still come?", "Can the elves make a real CARS race track?"... Here's a layout to keep you visually stimulated. Then, back to updates. 3. Indigo is a "BIG girl". No exceptions. 4. If Erik doesn't love all his presents this year then, BAH HUMBUG and I think I'll go off in a corner, sulk a lot, then die a slow miserable (metaphorical) death from the distress of not being able to concoct the perfect present mixture for my husband. Here's another and the ONLY picture in the world of my nuclear family. (Except for a Halloween picture with red eye and wild oily glares - which doesn't count). Actually, it's gonna be four pictures. It turns out that, after having resized these photos for the web, that they are ALL blurry. What a shame. Bah humbug. Me and the Kiddos at River's school after his Christmas Program. Effort 1 for a "Family Photo". Effort 2 for a "Family Photo". Effort 3 for a "Family Photo". So, Merry Christmas to you ALL. To all of my Digital Scrapbooking friends and customers, thank you for your loyalty. To all of my family, I love you. To all of my Running Club friends, I am honored to have met and run with you and I am looking forward to running the MARATHON with you in the next year. 5. Oh yeah, did I mention that I am training for a marathon? HA HA! I am! ark your calendars: May 18, 2008. Me. Marathon. Rockin' it.

Since Forevah & The Running Club

Has is been since forevah that I updated this blog? I think about it often enough but do I actually do it? Nahhhh. Anyway. Progress on the weight front. I started at the hefty zaftig 185 pounds and am presently 133.5 pounds. *curtsy*. I have the running club and my various other Y activities to thank for that. And, on that note...since I know the legions of adoring fans that are following my blog are also, dare I say it, runners from the running club...I thought I'd put a shout out to my fab sistah Mary for running with me 4.5 MILES today all the way AND sprinting uphill the last 200 meters. Amazing. You rocked it, girl. Now. Who wants pictures? Prepare to be alarmed. *************BEFORE**************** *************AFTER***************** And to be fair, I've done my research and in the "after" photo that I have displayed, I actually weighed 136.5, so imagine another 3 pounds off that frame, if you please. IN OTHER NEWS: I really have lost my scrapping and designing mojo. Someone please help me find it.

Update on my Lifestyle and Weight Loss

In response to a forum post at "My Food Diary" (www.myfooddiary.com) about whether or not it is good to set mini weight goal tiers, I wrote this: I know I did and it has thus far worked for me. I started at 185 and set 5 weight tiers for myself. I chose numbers that were significant to me along the way: Start weight: 185 First Tier Goal Weight: 161 ...reason: I told my dad that I would diet and weigh this much for over a year, at times I simply lied to him that I was staying away from custardccinos even though I wasn't. Second Tier Goal Weight: 155 ...:This was the lowest amount I weighed after the natural birth of my second child. Third Tier Goal Weight: 144 ...reason: This was the amount of weight that my grandmother weighed when I was in High School. I told myself I would never weight more than that amount in my lifetime. Fourth Tier Goal Weight: 132 ...reason: Based on MFD criteria and ideal body weight calculators, this is supposedly an "ideal weight" for me. My dad agrees and hopes I'll achieve and maintain around this number. Fifth Tier Goal Weight: 125 ...reason: Purely for reasons of vanity. I weighed this much in college when I was my leanest and fittest. My current weight: 136.5 Setting these goals has worked wonders for me. Obviously, this is anecdotal evidence of success. Nevertheless, try it for yourself! And, good luck! Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that yesterday I just got my first pair of SIZE 4 jeans! (Thanks grandma!) I seriously skipped in the aisle.

Ahem. Hi.

Hi. I haven't blogged in two months. What is wrong with me? I have lost a lot of weight! 1. River has started Kindergarten. 2. River has already been promoted to the Gifted and Talented Program. 3. Erik is the Bruce Samlan Soccer Coach for River's Team. 4. The Eagles (as they have dubbed themselves) are 2-0! 5. First game score was 10-0. 6. Second game score was 6-2. 7. River scored none of those goals. 8. River was spotted holding his hands together behind his back and staring off into space. 9. Did I mention that River was selected for the Gifted and Talented Program? 10. Indigo likes Pepperoni. 11. Indigo eats pepperoni almost every day. 12. Indigo is starting to use the potty! 13. Indigo pooped for the first time in the potty at our local YMCA. 14. Indigo was naked. 15. Indigo was holding the sides of the toilet seat. 16. I was proud and disgusted at the same time. 17. I have lost 45.5 pounds since May 1st. 18. I really enjoy Thai-Style Chicken from Lean Cuisine. 19. Thai-Style Chicken is my favorite Lean Cuisine meal and I have tried a lot of them. 20. Erik is really into coaching soccer. 21. Erik and I just recently started our Fall Volleyball League. 22. We lost our first match 0-3. 23. 23 is my favorite number. 24. Indigo recognizes the color yellow, I think. The End. I am alive!