Where have I been and 200th post (giveaway!)

Okay... this is my 200th post that I have been avoiding... not because I did not want to do the giveaway, but because I have been SWAMPED. My twin sister, Janet, FBed me and said, "Update your blog. You do not have to do the giveaway" and it got me thinking... did my loyal followers think I was avoiding updating my blog because I was pulling together my giveaway. NOT THE CASE. I have been waiting for this giveaway for months... I was going to do it before the marathon. Then right after, but I got carried away with 7 posts about the marathon recap - can you say anal?

So why the delay? Well, as you know, I am in seminary, I work part-time, I sub at my children's elementary school, I try my best to take care of two kids and a husband, and I do try to run... and to top it all off, I was having post marathon depression. I needed something to work towards... my little goal of "completing the marathon" had been accomplished, now what? NO ONE TALKS ABOUT POST RACE BLUES... or if I did read that on your blog I probably felt that it would not happen to me, but it did.

I am still running... in fact, I have a new PR to brag about... if you do not follow me on Facebook, you were not informed (Look me up on Facebook: Jennifer Farren Green):

Nov.  6th: Ran naked with Bob - 6 miles, no Garmin
Nov.  7th: Ran 6.64 with TriGuy - 1:00:25
Nov.  9th: Ran 5.56 with Bob - 56:14
Nov. 10th: 1:15 pm - 4 miles - 34:12 (ran to my exam)
Nov. 10th: 2:30 pm - 4.1 miles - 36:43 (tried to beat my time running to school)
Nov. 13th: Candy Cane City 5k race - 23:55 - PR (my chip did not work)
Nov. 14th: 10.14 miles - 1:27:14
Nov. 17th: 6.33 miles - 49:31

Are you noticing anything about the above runs and times? Yeah, I am getting faster. All because I trained for the marathon. I am bummed and still have not heard back from the race officials about my chip not recording anything on the 5k PR... does it still count? It was an easy, flat, out and back race and I really, really want to claim that PR.

And this Thursday, I am racing the Turkey Chase 10k with Bob. It is a hilly course and I am not trying to PR, but just have fun with Bob. I am going to try and PR with a 10k at the Jingle All the Way 10k in DC on December 12th.

I am feeling great and strong, but overwhelmed with a gazillion essays for my classes and for ordination. I am thankful that I was recertified as a candidate for the Order of the Deacons yesterday... and just need to finish my essays for the Hebrew class by this Saturday at 6pm... life gets in the way of blogging sometimes.

And before I announce the giveaway, I am trying to decide if I should do the National Marathon or Half Marathon. My goal for 2011 is to compete in some Tris... and if I train for a marathon, it may be hard to get in all of the training required for a Sprint and Oly... but so many of you are running the marathon, I would LOVE to do it with you. UGH... why can't I just be a professional runner? How fast do I have to get to have sponsors to pay for race entries? Sometimes life gets in the way of running too, but I manage to get those in instead of blogging.

Okay, the giveaway. I am giving away a:        8G iPod Touch... brand new, in the factory sealed container. (Note: It is not the new one that does video). Would you like to win it? Have one already... think AWESOME Christmas for a loved one.

Here is how you can enter:

1. MANDATORY: Be a follower of mine (leave a comment)
2. MANDATORY: Share the news, blog about it, facebook it, twitter it... shout it - comment for EACH
3. OPTIONAL: share your advice: can I train for a marathon and a Sprint Tri.
4. OPTIONAL: Ask me a question... something you are dying to know!

The winner will be announced on: Turkey Day 2010. Gobble Gobble!