The train is moving full speed ahead!

Ah, March Madness has begun. Literally. Yes, everyone is watching their TV's and perhaps keeping an eye on a non-competitive bracket or two and cheering on their favorite teams. Yes, March brings us NCAA March Madness but it also brings CHKM March Madness.

For the last 7 years, March has been a full of madness. In the first year, Altman and I were just volunteers but we took our work seriously and worked hard for the event. For the last 6 years, Altman has been the Race Director (RD) for the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon and he puts in a ton of hours planning, organizing, and executing the events.

Race day is April 1 but don't be fooled. Being the RD is a year round job. When everyone leaves on race day afternoon, there are still hours, weeks, and months of work to be done to finalize the event. Preparation for the following year starts before the current year's race day. That could be a whole other blog topic sometime.

March is madness. I've always regarded this month by saying that "the train" is moving and it isn't stopping. Currently, we are in full speed and there is no chance of jumping off the train or slowing it down. This race is gonna happen whether everyone is ready or not.

When the basketball tourney begins, you can find the Altman's in front of laptops late into the night....calculating numbers, working on Expo layouts, writing scripts for events, replying to emails from 5 accounts (between KTC and CHKM), making plans for spring KTC races, updating KTC and CHKM Facebook and Twitter accounts, researching other events...the list goes on and on.

In two weeks from now, we'll have wrapped up the Health & Fitness Expo and we'll be doing a final check of the stadium before we head to Thompson Boling to make sure everything is set and ready there. Two weeks from tomorrow, the gun will be shot and thousands of folks will take to the streets of K-town for an amazing experience.

Ready or not, the train is moving full speed ahead. This time of year is so fun yet so stressful. KTC operations are in full swing and I am really busy. This year in particular, KTC launched RunKNOX and KnoxWalks in March so we've had extra planning and preparation to get those events up and running. The CHKM Train is going at full speed and race weekend is going to be a blast.

Two weeks. Typing that gives me a chill. This train is moving full speed ahead and I am pumped to roll into the station on April 1 and see Knoxville come alive with runners, spectators, and volunteers cross the start line and then cross the 50 yard line.

March Madness is the best.

February Strikes Again

On February 1, I posted on Facebook that I would take a deep breath and hope to make it out on the other side. I hate February.

In high school, a friend passed away in a car accident and then just two weeks later, my aunt died in a house fire. A few years later while I was in college, another friend died in this month. In 2009 when I was very pregnant, I had two trips to the hospital and Jason was there once.

Last year, Jackson had pneumonia in mid-February after having pink eye, RSV, and a severe ear infection.

Every year on February 1, I take a deep breath and pray for the best.

Unfortunately today, the last day of the month, I have just found out that one of our friends has passed away unexpectedly.

Tomorrow is March. Thank goodness.

Turn that frown upside down

I should be happy. I want to be happy. I hate being negative. Even a little bit negative. I like being happy even during tough times.

My husband loves me. My kid loves me. My family loves me. I should be so very happy.

I had a great weekend with the fam and spent time in the mountains. I didn't answer the phone (couldn't anyway because there was no service) or check email. I should be so very happy.

I have a job that I love and I have the most amazing opportunities to meet people. I should be so very happy.

I am healthy and the sun was out today so I should be so very happy.

No one is sick, the cars start everyday, and there is food in the fridge. I should be so very happy.

I have been seeking and reading and posting inspirational and motivational quotes trying to keep my positive outlook but today, I would like to just punch something or someone. Yep, it is true. How's that for honesty?

Am I mad at anyone or anything in particular? Not really. I am frustrated with circumstances and people. I am frustrated with things and people and situations that I cannot control.

I feel selfish when my mood is bad. I feel ungrateful when I am not finding the positive in everything. I have a four or five blogs that I have written and not posted because I feel like someone might judge me for being in a bad mood. I feel like complaining is just wrong.

Tomorrow will be fine. I will wake up and run and the sun might shine again and hopefully my bad mood will be gone. If not, well tough. Life goes on. I will go to Jackson's parent/teacher conference (yes, in pre-school) and I will give my presentation about health and wellness to a room filled with restaurant managers. I will finish an article I am writing for a regional magazine and I will write at least two media releases. Life will go on and I will get out of this funk.

I am probably allowed to be in a bad mood once in awhile but I would prefer to just be very happy.