Howdy! My name is Shannon (friends call me Shan). I am a 41 yr. old homeschooling mom of one (ah...the teen years...YIKES!). I am watching my weight because my Mom died at 52 and my Grandma at 55 from complications of morbid obesity and Type II Diabetes. Being overweight might be hereditary, but that doesn't mean you get to give up and run for the Doritos! I am a runner. Not a fast one at 10 min/mile, but my heart is in it 100%. I have run 3 marathons (2004 & two in 2009). I have run 5 half marathons and quite a few 5K & 10K races over the years. My biggest achievement so far was to run the 39.3 miles for the Walt Disney World Goofy Races in 01/09. That was a half marathon on Saturday, and a full marathon on Sunday. Man! Were my legs tired!!! Running & completing those races were an early 40th birthday present to myself. I will be running the 5K, Half, and Full Goofy races in January 2012. That's 43.4 miles in 3 days. Woohoo! If I can do it, ANYONE CAN! My ultimate goal? I would like to run 5 marathons & 15-20 half marathons before I turn 50. I turned 40 in 2009. Having 10 yrs. to complete my goal is doable, right? I will be training for the following races starting in August 2011: Decker Half Marathon-December WDW 5k, 13.1, and 26.2 races -January 2012 AT&T Marathon-February 2012 I am just watching what I eat and rotating calories (low one day, high the next, etc.) to keep my body guessing. I really admire the "You on a Diet" program as well as Spark. My goal is to lose 40lbs. and be able to put on my "skinny jeans" that are collecting dust in my closet. I am trying to incorporate more strength training into my week. I also enjoy doing speed walking, Wii Gold's Gym Dance, Turbo Jam, ChaLEAN, and Zumba. I am blessed to be married to my best friend, Tony, for 20+ yrs. I have a silly personality (can't you tell by the picture to the left?) and am always making jokes and trying to make others smile. My husband travels 3 out of 4 weeks a month around the country, so I try to find ways to keep myself busy. I love scrapbooking, painting (murals), drawing, crocheting, reading, watching movies (especially romantic oldies), light baking, and gardening. I am teaching myself watercolor. When our son goes off to college, I would love to write/illustrate children's books. I also throw out daily challenges on the Spark 1 Day Challenge Team (5000+ members and growing). All are welcome on the team: http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_individual.asp?gid=2107 I would love you to read my personal webpage at: www.slimyfish.net GOALS FOR 2011: 1) Treat myself as I treat my friends/family. I am a giver and there are times when I forget to "give back to me". 2) Exercise 5 days a week 3) Stop looking to the scale. Become more comfortable with ME and how I fit in my clothing. Some of us just aren't meant to be a size 2! 4) Learn to relax more and stress less (Why do I stress over the little things? How silly is that?!) 5) Run more! 6) Scrapbook more (Ok, so my child is almost a teen and I stopped scrapbooking when he was 2. Do I have lots of photos to scrapbook? You should see my closet!) 7) BE MORE ASSERTIVE! We "people-pleasers" have a hard time with this one. 8) Write more on my webpage www.slimyfish.net 9) Draw and paint more. Get back into art and doing murals. 10) Read at least 30 books (5 have to be classics) "This may be the most important moment of your life. Commit to it." -V for Vendetta

GW 140 & to fit into my favorite size 6 Abercrombie jeans (right now the gap between one side of the zipper and the other looks as wide as the Grand Canyon!)

Calorie counting and TONS of exercise. Trying to exercise every day with either running, speed walking, or Turbo Jam. I REALLY need to get more strength training. Trying to remember to drink every ounce of my water! Going for 12-16 glasses each day.

Shannon - a 41 yr. old Homeschool Mom from Austin TX. Happily married to my high school sweetie for 20+ wonderful years. I am the weird Team Leader behind the Spark 1 Day Challenge board at: http://tinyurl.com/esgn8 Shan's Favorite Things Trivia: *My faith *Running *Doctor Who & BBC shows *Twilight Series & Vampire Books *Harry Potter *Nightmare Before Christmas *Teen Literature *Jane Austen *Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong *Muse *Anime *Embroidered clothing (especially Indian, Asian, or Mexican) *Painting/drawing *Crocheting *Americana decorating *Running, Speed Walking, Turbo Jam *Watching movies (I own over 600 DVD movies-it's an addiction) *Shopping Thrift Stores for super finds *Glass & rock jewellery (gotta love Ebay!)

Races I have run: Motorola marathon 2/15/04 (5:13:24) at 11:58 per mi. IBM Uptown Classic 10K on 10/1/06 (1:00:41) at 9.68 per mi. 3M Half marathon on 1/28/07 (2:05:03) at 9.54 per mi. 3M Half marathon on 2/27/08 (2:09:51) at 9.92 per mi. IBM Uptown Classic 10K 10/19/08 (58:13) at 9.53 per mi. Decker Half marathon on 12/7/08 (2:07:39) at 9.69 per mi. WDW Half Marathon on 0/10/09 (2:06:03) WDW Marathon on 01/11/09 (5:00:47) 3M Half Marathon 01/25/09 (2:04:54-PB!) AT&T Marathon 02/15/09 (4:48:09-PB!) “Do you have any idea how important you are to me? Any concept at all of how much I love you?” “I know how much I love you.” “You compare one small tree to an entire forest.” “Impossible.” Edward and Bella, Eclipse, Twilight

Add a Link "Good things come slow - especially in distance running." - Bill Dellinger, Oregon coach Races currently training for: Decker 13.1-12/11 2012 WDW Goofy Races Shan's Webpage <link>www.slimyfish.net</link>
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