1.  Just two more weeks till summer break!  Am I excited?  You bet!   My plans include to continue training for the Chicago Marathon, take one class and work part time.  I know, I know, nothing really exciting.

Last week I got my official teaching assignment for next year.  I will be moving on up to the second floor to teach 2nd grade.  I am very happy about that move.  I’ve taught 1st grade for 5 years and am ready for a change.

2.  On Sunday, May 25, several ZOOMA ambassadors and I met at Waterfall Glen for a fun run.  And it was so much fun!  There will be more opportunities to join us on these runs.  For more information about the race on August 2 and to learn more about upcoming fun/training runs, visit the ZOOMA website.

• Saturday, May 31, 9:30am, Universal Sole, 1333 E. Benton Place, Chicago, IL (Chicago Training Kick off)
• Wednesday, June 4, 6:30pm, Athleta 3415 N. Southport, Chicago, IL
• Thursday, June 5, 6:30pm, Old Plank Trail at Wolf Road and Rt. 30, Frankfort, IL
• Wednesday, June 11, 6:30pm, Athleta 3415 N. Southport, Chicago, IL
• Saturday, July 12, 9:30am, Universal Sole, 1333 E Benton Place, Chicago, IL (10 mile training run)

I ran with my Camelback Marathoner Vest.  Ha, wasn’t so difficult to fill it up with water but I did have a little bit of trouble actually drinking from it.  Luckily one of the girls I ran with told me what I was doing wrong so now I know the correct way to drink from it.  I plan to run a few more times with it before I write a full review about it.

3.  Please check out Kelly the Culinarian’s Vermont City Marathon Recap.  She ran a marathon in March with a 15 minute PR and then ran again this past weekend and got a 25 minute PR.  Her goal is to BQ.  “Next year, I want to come back and Boston Qualify.  When you cut 25 minutes off in two months, shaving off another 14 in a year seems feasible.”  So true and CONGRATULATIONS Kelly!

As you know, to BQ is also one of my goals.  My current marathon PR is 5:16:53.  That means I need to cut a little over 1 1/2 hours.  Yikes!  I am confident that one day I will get there.  It might not be this year and probably neither the following year but I will get there.

1. Join me and several other ambassadors for upcoming ZOOMA runs.  For more information about the race on August 2 and to learn more about upcoming fun/training runs, visit the ZOOMA website.

• Sunday, May 25, 9am, Waterfall Glen, Darien, IL
• Wednesday, May 28, 6:30pm, Athleta 3415 N. Southport, Chicago, IL
• Saturday, May 31, 9:30am, Universal Sole, 1333 E Benton Place, Chicago, IL (Chicago Training Kick off)
• Wednesday, June 4, 6:30pm, Athleta 3415 N. Southport, Chicago, IL
• Thursday, June 5, 6:30pm, Old Plank Trail at Wolf Road and Rt. 30, Frankfort, IL
• Wednesday, June 11, 6:30pm, Athleta 3415 N. Southport, Chicago, IL
• Saturday, July 12, 9:30am, Universal Sole, 1333 E Benton Place, Chicago, IL (10 mile training run)

2. Need some running motivation? Check out “Meet the Blogger: Too Tall Fritz“.  I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Amanda twice: at Disneyworld after the half marathon and before the Chicago Lakefront 50K.  She is a busy woman with a job, two kids, a husband, and a few pets.  She recently completed 3 marathons and an ultra marathon in April to celebrate turning 40.  I ran the same ultra marathon and barely had enough strength to complete a half marathon and yet this lady ran 3 more marathons. Amazing!!

3. I finally got my Camelback Marathoner Vest.  It didn’t come with any instructions (not that I really need any) but it looks like a complicated piece.  I am worried I will break it while filling it up with water. Shouldn’t be that complicated right?  I’ll let you know how I like it.

BONUS:  Don’t forget to enter my Injinji giveaway.  I will announce the winners on Saturday, May 24. Injinji is having a Memorial Day Sale so go to their website to save 30% on selected styles.