Thankful | TooTallFritz

This is it, the week leading up to the Chicago Marathon. It’s a tad bittersweet this year. I really LOVE the Chicago Marathon and this will probably be the last year that I’ll run it. When I signed up, 2014 was only a few months old and I had zero idea of what the year would bring for me and my family. I had high hopes for Chicago and planned to make it “my race”. I don’t often race the marathon but I had wanted to really put a lot into my training this year and see what I could do with it. I wanted not only a great race but one to remember. I know the city. I know the route. I know the fan support is off the charts. I know that I love the Chicago Marathon in a very special way. It’s my home town race, or at least it was …..

Now my home is 200 miles away from Chicago. While I love my new hometown, the atmosphere is definitely “Small Town USA” verses a big bustling city. It certainly suits me and my family much better than our stint in IL but I do miss Chicago ~~and the friends I’ve made over the years~~. So as I run the streets of Chicago on Sunday, I will be filled with mixed emotions as I bid farewell to the city and their beloved marathon.

Everyone keeps asking about my “goals”. Well, my goal for this race has changed A LOT over the course of the summer and thru the lengthy moving process. I took “some” time off running to focus on ~~eating ALL THE FOOD and drinking ALL THE BEER~~ relocation. I just started training at the end of August in an effort to salvage some of the fall marathon season. As a result, I am not strong and fast as I had previously hoped ~~and some might consider me to be quite injured with both feet now in severe stages of Plantar Fasciitis~~. So I’ve moved from the “kill it” plan to the “finish it” plan. And there you have it, my goal is to finish.

To be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t even be in “finish it” shape had it not been for a few long time friends who have selfishly helped me thru the long runs. They’ve been there in the dark with me as I’ve muddled along trying to log miles, rebuild fitness and power up for Chicago. I am getting stronger and I owe a ton of thanks to those ladies and also my hubby for getting my treadmill in the house so I can log miles, even if broken into small chunks. My mojo is returning, I can feel it!

So on Sunday, I do plan to #OWNCHICAGO.

And while I’m busy owning the streets of Chicago, I also plan to give thanks. Not only thanks to those I’ve mentioned above but also to those who have supported me and my journey with the Ronald McDonald House Charities for the last 4 years. I’m going to enjoy the race and be thankful. So many thanks to give!! I’m thankful for my stint in Chicagoland where I developed my love of running. I’m thankful for running because that’s how I developed my love of Chicago. I’m thankful for a family that tolerates my running ~~to the best of their ability~~. I’m thankful for the desire to run. I’m thankful for the ability to run. I’m thankful to Dr. Alexis for keeping me healthy for so many years so that I could run, even when my body was rebelling! I’m thankful for a lot of things. The list is endless. And that’s what I’ll be focusing on when things get hard. Because marathons are hard. No matter how many I run or what type of shape I’m in at the time.. They are still hard. I’m pretty sure they will ALWAYS be hard.

So if you see me in Chicago this weekend, smile & wave! I may be running. I may be walking. But one thing is for sure, I’ll be thankful to see a friendly face and you can be sure that I’ll be headed for the finish line!

** Giving Thanks ** Amanda – TooTallFritz

I know many of you have been wondering what I have been up to as of late. I’ve been pretty silent on the blog & in real life. Well, it’s the hour of change for the TooTallFritz family.

And basically Socrates got it right in the above quote. I’ve been very focused on building our new life and what it to come for our family; as well as trying to make this transition as easy as possible for the kiddos.

We have been very fortunate that hubby was offered, and has accepted, a job near my hometown of Ft Wayne, Indiana. We are very fortunate to have the support of family and friends in the crazy time of transition. We are very fortunate that hubby was brave enough to accept this new challenge which will move him way out of his comfort zone of suburbia Illinois to the farm fields of Indiana. We are fortunate that hubby ~~loves me so much~~ is humble enough to live with his Mother-In-Law in this time of transition. We are fortunate that Mom ~~loves me so much~~ is generous enough to offer Hubby a place to live as we search for a house and begin the process of moving the entire family to a new area. I am fortunate to have a Hubby and Mother who are both polite, kind and willing to do whatever is necessary to help the family. Thanks to both of you!!

This transition is not going to be easy with 2 kids, 3 dogs, 1 ~~bitch ass~~ cat, and a 160 miles separating the family each and every week until we fully transition to Indiana. However, I’m a firm believer that when opportunity arises you take note and accept it, while simultaneously bowing your heard to give thanks.

While we are excited about the upcoming changes in our lives, we are also scared. We are scared that we won’t find a house ~~because the housing market is on fire in the Fort Wayne area~~. We are scared I won’t find a good job ~~since I’m giving up a really great one with a lot of flexibility~~. We are scared that we won’t get into a good school district. We are scared that Aby will forever be angry about leaving her friends. ~~We are scared that Dad will actually take Michael hunting with him.~~ We are scared of the unknown.