1 Mile At a Time

The Finish Line

2011-05-09T12:30:00.000-04:00

Race day has come and gone and I’m proud to say that 13.1 miles is behind us! Eric crossed the finish line and can officially call himself a half-marathoner! No training can prepare you for running that kind of distance with 29,999 other runners (thanks to a really terrible corral at the start, we pretty much dodged people for 13.1 miles) or trying to get your stride back after having to wait 15 minutes for a bathroom 5 miles in, but we made it. We’re both sore, but Eric’s mentioned a couple of times that he’ll take on another half in his future! I have LOVED our weekend long runs together, so that is music to my ears. I know every step after mile 8 was rough, so I am beyond proud of that kid!

Eric's ready to run!

As for me, I learned a couple of things. 1) It was fun to run a race and not worry about my time. I got to enjoy the (sometimes terrible) bands and people watch the whole time. It was fantastic and I wasn’t worried about checking my watch every few minutes. In fact, I forgot to stop my watch at the finish line! 2) I was reminded why I am so hesitant to take on a full marathon again: my stomach sucks! I’m not worried about my legs during 26.2, but I am worried about my stomach. I just don’t think it’s made for that kind of distance. The half marathon is tough enough, but the cramping and worrying about a strict diet before long runs and the race might be too much for me. I’ve never had any probably during either full marathon that I’ve run, but I have had some miserable training runs. I love the challenge, but I’m just not sure it’s worth it – 13.1 might be my distance after all.


My friend Sarah made this fabulous sign

After a weekend of eating non-stop, I’m back on the Weight Watchers train today. I’ve lost 16.2 pounds and my ultimate goal weight is within reach!

Let me leave you with a couple of recipes I’ve tried of the last few days with great success. Three are WW friendly – the other is just delish!

From my girl Gina (whom I’ve never actually met or corresponded with – but she’s my hero) over at skinnytaste.com I tried scones and deviled eggs (both awesome!).

Strawberry Scones: I made 10 scones instead of 8 and they worked out to 3 points apiece.

Deviled Eggs: I love, love, love deviled eggs. Unfortunately, my hard boiling skills really suck and someone needs to teach me how to do them perfectly. They weren’t pretty, but they were tasty.

Two others that were winners…

Turkey Sausage Quiche: I’ve made this a few times, but we made this for Eric’s mom for Mother’s Day yesterday. This is 7 points per slice (cut into 8 slices) and prefect with a side of strawberries! Target grocery had chicken sausage, but not turkey sausage (odd), so I made it with chicken this time around and it was great!

Key Lime Cupcakes: I didn’t calculate the points, nor do I want to! I really don’t want to calculate the points in the extra key lime frosting that we dipped graham crackers in. Whatever…I ran 13.1 miles on Saturday!

It's almost race day!

2011-05-05T17:56:00.000-04:00

In October 2009, I ran the Marine Corp marathon in Washington, D.C. Two months prior to that, I had gone on a date with this guy named Eric and we really hit it off. My marathon training defined our infant relationship. From scheduling dates around training runs to Eric making me the most amazing crab cakes after a 20 miler, our dating life revolved around my 26.2 miles. So much so that Eric couldn't miss the race and he surprised me by flying to D.C. to watch me run! It's easily the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me (he set the bar pretty high for himself).

Somehow, despite our excellent planning, Eric missed me along the ENTIRE race course. The runner tracking was delayed and the D.C. Metro was overwhelmed with people that had the same plan we did. Thanks to a small miracle, I found Eric not long after I crossed the finish line. We were exhilarated and disappointed at the same time, but in the end, it didn't really matter. I made it and I knew I had Eric's support. After the race I remember him telling me, "you know, I feel really inspired to become a runner."

Well, babe, I'm happy to tell you that you ARE a runner and on Saturday, you're going to run 13.1 miles!!

I'm getting very excited for Saturday. Eric's followed our training plan to a T and he's more than ready. His mom will be in town to cheer him on with a big group of our friends. Now, we just need the rain to hold off and we should have a fabulous race day! If you want to follow our progress on Saturday, check out the Twitter account we've set up (you don't have to have a Twitter account to access it) at twitter.com/coles13point1.

A Taste of Summer

2011-04-11T16:51:00.000-04:00

Spring fever has arrived at my house! Over the weekend, the temps got into the 80s and I was in heaven. Today, it's chilly and rainy.

We had two days of amazing weather and I felt like I needed to squeeze as much summer as possible into those two days. I managed to get a sunburn, grill out, there was a little yard work completed (not by me), the dog got a good walk and Eric and I went for a long run (8 miles! I'm beyond proud of that kid.). For a weekend with very little on the agenda, it was perfect. I cannot remember feeling more satisfied with the way I spent my weekend than I did at about 9:00 Sunday evening.

Of course, there is so much more that I love about summer. This little taste made me anxious for patio sitting, going to the pool, catching a baseball game, passing the most beautiful field of wild flowers on Sunday morning going to church (it's breathtaking!), bike rides, cold beer on a hot day, beach vacations. I think this list could go on forever.

No lie

2011-04-05T18:34:00.000-04:00

Today's Skinny Taste post gave a shout out to Better'n Peanut Butter. Since I totally trust Gina and her suggestions (and I happened to polish off the Skippy in the pantry this morning), I picked some up at the store. Let me tell you, that stuff is NO JOKE! No false advertising whatsoever. Seriously, go out and buy it. In fact, you can figure out where to find it near you here.

For you Weight Watcher folks, it's 2 points for 2T - so half the points of reduced fat PB (2 points for 1T)!

Friday Wrap-up

2011-04-01T10:58:00.000-04:00

I have so many different thoughts running through my head today and could easily break this into about 5 posts, but there just isn't time for that. So, here's a Friday wrap-up for you.....

Last night, in my kitchen...
Gina over at skinnytaste.com just might be my new hero. She has the best recipe ideas and lists of all the Weight Watcher Points Plus values for everything she makes. Last night, I made this and it was amazing! It will become a staple at our house (I didn't have mozzarella, so I made it with blue cheese - fantastic!). I'm also obsessed with her recipe for Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili and Cloud Cookies.

(P.S.: I may just need need to start a monthly Cookbook Challenge like the fabulously corny LB over at A Step in the Journey.)

This weekend...
Eric and I are headed to Galesburg, IL to hang out with my mom for a couple of days. Normally these trips revolve around eating at my favorite places from growing up - which includes eating a super cheesy soup, nachos, completely unhealthy spaghetti and so much more. For some reason, I'm really not interested in all of that this trip and I'm looking forward to planning my weekend around our 7 mile long run at the lake instead. There will, however, be a sweet reward. Happy Joe's Taco Pizza! I was beyond excited to find they now post nutritional information on their website and my all-time favorite "food from home" is only 6 points per slice. If you're ever near one of those locations, you need to try it. It's amazing!

And finally....Go Bulldogs!!!

I'm very bummed that we'll be missing all of the basketball excitement in Indy this weekend- but we will definitely be cheering on Butler in the Final Four! Last year, we were fortunate enough to get to go to the NCAA Championship Game, only to watch a heartbreaking loss for the hometown team. There is so much buzz around Indy and Bulter's repeat visit to the Final Four - it's been fun to follow. To share a little of the Butler spirit with you, check on this story from the Indy Star about the city of Connersville, IN rallying support to send forward Matt Howard's family (mom, dad and 8 siblings) to Houston. Also, if you're on Twitter, I highly recommend following Bulter's mascot, ButlerBlue2.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Time to give back

2011-03-28T22:11:00.000-04:00

For the first time that I can remember, I seem to be questioning how I spend my time. I'm finding myself watching terrible TV (I think this feeling was sparked with the return of Real Housewives of Orange County - I feel a little shame admitting that I've watched every season), getting antsy and just needing to fill a void a little bit. I've always had a full plate, but now I'm finding it about 75% full. Don't get me wrong, I love that I'm not stressed out and overloaded, but, well, I've only got one life. I need to make the most of it.

I've also recognized that for the first time in my life I'm not giving back in any way. Sure, I put money in the collection plate at church every week and I volunteer every once in awhile, but I don't feel like I'm really doing that much for the greater good. I didn't realize how much I valued my work with philanthropic events when I lived in Atlanta and how much I feel like that same opportunity hasn't presented itself here in Indy.

So, I need your suggestions. Have you had a regular, on-going volunteer experience that you've loved? I'd love to find something that is 4-5 hours per month and preferably on weeknights.

I feel like that was kind of heavy. I'll work on something less heavy later this week!

Dusting off the old blog

2011-03-21T16:43:00.001-04:00

I'm not really sure what's taken me away from the blog for well over a year, but I've decided to renew my commitment and get back to writing. To be honest, I've become a pretty avid blog reader over the past few months and I realized I'm not giving back. That doesn't seem totally fair, so I'm diving back in.

So, to kick things off, some updates:

Running: I'm officially an inspired runner again! Since my last post, I've had a bit of a love-hate relationship with running. The hip injury = weight gain. Weight gain = harder to run (and, well, running shorts also become a challenge). Harder to run = not really enjoying running. Since January, I've been committed to getting the extra weight off and getting back on track with running. I still have a little ways to go, but with help from Weight Watchers and a month of boot camp, I'm well on my way. Don't get me wrong, I've completed 2 half-marathons and 2 triathlons since last January, but they weren't my best effort and I'm glad to be back on track.

Dezzy Bean

Life: Life is good....better than I could have ever asked for! Eric and I officially became "roomates" last May and we've had an awesome time. Our animals (my sweet Chase, the cat, and his now mama's girl dog, Dezzy) tolerate each other and Eric and I have become a fantastic team. It seems God really knew what He was doing when he pulled me back to Indy! Eric has even committed to running the Indianapolis Mini Marathon (yes, folks, 13.1 miles) with me in May. He's well on his way to making it happen and I could not be more proud.

Chase in one of her favorite spots

I'm also about to wrap up my first year in the Junior League. I never thought I'd join, but I agreed to try it out with a couple of girlfriends. The experience has had its ups and downs, but ultimately I've met some new people and I'm glad to be a part of something that's giving back to Indy.

Of course, I need to give a shout out to my fantastic friends here in Indy. I'm so blessed to have so many lifelong friends from college here in town. We've all sprinkled in friends from other parts of our lives into our social network and there's always something going on. Everyone should be so lucky!

Goals: I have to confess that the marathon bug seems to have bit me. I'm trying very hard to suppress this nasty little urge to take on the big race again, but I'm not sure I'll be successful. I've committed to the half-marathon in May, Warrior Dash in August as also another triathlon in August. All of these things would nicely lead into a full marathon in October. So, we'll see. I'll keep you posted if I make the commitment.

That's the news here. I'm back on the wagon.

Pain free!

2010-01-06T10:58:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

I'm very pleased to report that I'm starting 2010 with a pain free hip! FINALLY! I haven't put in crazy miles yet (I mean, it's FREEZING outside....who would?!), but my couple of miles on the treadmill have been great. Plus, I've been doing the Biggest Loser workouts on the Wii and they're kicking my butt too. I feel so much better already! Sadly, the New Years Day run didn't happen. There was just too much ice and snow on the ground in Illinois to get out on the road. Plus, I think it got up to 3 degrees that day!

Over the holiday I signed up for triathlon #2 for this summer. It sounds like we'll have six people running it this year, so it should be a blast! Mini marathon training starts in two weeks too, so there are some fun goals ahead this year.

Have a fantastic 2010! I feel great about this year!

3 Thanksgivings

2009-11-30T12:50:00.000-05:00

Over the past 8 days, I have chowed down on three Thanksgiving dinners - plus a massive amount of leftovers. Between all the food and not being able to run, this could bse a disaster. If you see me in the next month and I'm a looking a bit "bloated", please don't judge!

Luckily, I can now swim and bike (for 30 minutes), but I'm really, really missing running. Eric and I are planning on a three mile run on New Year's Day. He's been working on building up his mileage and I'm looking forward to getting back on the road, so it will be a great start to 2010!

No miles until January

2009-11-11T17:44:00.000-05:00

Well, my hip/IT band issue just won't go away. After another doctor visit and a trip to the physical therapist, I've been told not to run until probably January. At the moment, they won't let me even swim - just yoga and easy walks. I'm fairly addicted to working out and I love that I can make my end-of-the-day headache go away with a little time on the treadmill - so this could be tough. Hopefully they'll let me start swimming next week, but for now I'm going to be good.

I'll keep you posted - but I strongly advise against getting bursitis! It hurts and it won't go away quickly!

Survived!

2009-10-27T10:14:00.000-04:00

Well, I made it! It wasn't easy, but I managed to survive this weekend's 26.2! I shaved almost an hour off of my time from last year - 52 minutes to be exact! I can only imagine what I could have done if I hadn't been injured. Luckily, it's not nagging at me enough to train for another marathon. I won't say that I'm permanently retired, but another race won't be happening anytime soon. I'm far more sore today than I was last year.

I need to give a special shout out to Eric for being so great this weekend! I really don't know what I would have done without him! The text message alerts for the race were delayed, so it proved impossible to find me on the course on Sunday. In what was nothing short of a miracle, we found each other at the finish. He was so good about taking care of me and tried so hard to find me on the course - I could not appreciate him more. We had a great, great weekend in DC. We were able to meet up with several of my friends - Megan from Galesburg, Rachel from FSU and Maria from Atlanta - so it was a busy one too! It was great seeing everyone!

I'll post pictures soon. I need to get my hands on Eric's camera tonight and then I'll get them posted. Have a great Tuesday!

Could this week be any longer?

2009-10-21T09:47:00.000-04:00

This week is DRAGGING waiting for race day to get here. Yesterday, I got my steroid injection and my leg seems to feel better. I have some pain in the front of my leg that I'll be icing like crazy this week. I'll be breaking out the foam roller repeatedly too. I'd appreciate any and all prayers that I'm able to run on Sunday!

If you're interested in following along on race day, you can receive text message or e-mail updates signing up at: http://live.activeresult.com/msg/MSG-signup.tcl?event_id=32

Just a small warning, during the Chicago Marathon this year, the tracking seemed to work for three of the people I followed, but not two of them. Don't be freaked out if you stop getting updates. I'll try to update the blog before the race and let you guys know what the final decision on running is! Stay tuned!

Six days to go!

2009-10-19T11:00:00.000-04:00

There are six days until race day and I haven't run more than five miles since October 5th. Yikes! I'm really hoping to get in a (painful) five miles today. The meds from the doctor seem to be helping, but don't get rid of the pain completely. I'm pretty determined today, so I'm hoping that will get me through! It's also BEAUTIFUL outside, so that should give me a push too. The doctor is going to do the injections tomorrow, so I won't be able to workout for two days after that.

I'm so ready to get to DC! A couple of weeks ago, my sweet boyfriend, Eric, surprised me and told me he'd be coming along too. That will make the weekend even better! The race website has a suggested spectator map that will help him to hopefully see me at 5 or 6 places along the course. That should keep my mind off my leg a little bit too - I'll be on the lookout for him throughout the race.

The things I do to run....

2009-10-14T16:35:00.000-04:00

So, as I mentioned in my last post, my IT band has not been my friend lately. Monday, I was able to get about 3 miles in on the treadmill and then had to stop. After that, I decided it was time to see a doctor. So I went today and my diagnosis of a strained IT band was confirmed - so that's good. The bad news is that there really isn't anything they can do to fix it. The doctor said I probably won't injure it anymore, it just probably won't be healed for the race. He gave me some serious anti-inflammatory meds and wants to do a steroid injection next Tuesday. I'm not much of a needle fan, but at least this will get me to the race.

I'm retiring after this for quite some time. Half-marathons, fine. Full - no way!

A little breather

2009-10-12T17:08:00.000-04:00

It's been a week since I've run. I can't remember the last time that happened. My IT band was killing me - to the point where it hurt to walk - so I decided I needed a break. Tonight, I'm hoping for 4 good miles on the treadmill. Hopefully there will be 10 miles in my future this weekend. I had the most painful massage of my life today - so I hope it pays off.

I'm having trouble getting anything done and just want to plan my weekend in DC! I'm so distracted!

Bring on the taper

2009-10-05T09:44:00.001-04:00

It's finally here! After 16 weeks of training and killing my poor legs, it's time to taper! This time around, I decided to run two 20 mile long runs. The first one was great. The second one was fairly brutal. My mile splits were right where I wanted them - but my legs were in some serious pain. Even today - two days later - I'm still pretty sore. I'm looking forward to getting in the pool later today and then probably the steam room at the gym to work them out a little bit. The combo of training and then sitting on planes every three or four days is just too much.

Less than three weeks until marathon day! I'm getting very excited for a few days in DC and to visit friends from FSU, Galesburg and Atlanta! Until then - I'm trying to take it easy and get lots of sleep. I have one more trip for work this week, and then I'm sticking close to home for a couple of weeks (in theory anyway).

The best marathon training advice I can give

2009-09-28T00:12:00.002-04:00

Make sure you train north of the Mason-Dixon line. You'll thank me....

The Perfect Marathon Tank

2009-09-22T17:39:00.000-04:00

I've been on the hunt for some time for the perfect running tank. What makes the perfect running tank, you ask? Well, here's my criteria:

1. Pockets: When I run I need to be able to carry my energy gels (sometimes up to 4 of them depending on the distance), Aquaphor (to use as chap stick or if something starts to chafe) and usually my car key.
2. Fitted, but not too fitted: Let's be honest, I'm not the most toned individual out there.
3. Holds its shape: I don't want a shirt that's going to bounce around everywhere - especially if there are things in the pockets.
4. Breathable: I sweat, what can I say?

Over the last year, I've ordered several tanks - and returned several tanks. For the Chicago marathon, I had a tank from Road Runner Sports, but I wrote my name on it for the race, so I look like a dork wearing it while I train. They don't make that tank anymore, so I had to branch out.

Well, I've finally found it. If you're a runner and need the perfect marathon top, look no further. Nike's Distance Long Airborne Tank is the best top I've found! Seriously, buy it. The other reviewers seem to love it too!

Me? Gluten Free?

2009-09-21T09:13:00.004-04:00

I haven't blogged about this little topic much - mostly to spare y'all the details! However, yesterday I had a little breakthrough and I needed to share it.

During this year's training, my stomach has been a NIGHTMARE. It's usually okay for shorter runs, but anything over 10 miles can be bad. I honestly wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish my 18 miler. Well, after several discussions - and quite honestly several months of denial - I'm starting to think gluten may be the issue. I'm fairly certain I don't have celiac disease (and the test is very invasive, so I'm okay with not knowing), but have more of an intolerance.

Well, yesterday I decided to eliminate gluten from my pre-run diet. Eggs didn't sound very appetizing at 6 a.m. and I certainly didn't want to be cooking that ridiculously early, but I thought I'd try it out. Wouldn't you know - I WAS FINE!! It just might be that an english muffin was my enemy.

I'm definitely going to start trying to reduce my gluten from here on out. After yesterday, I think I'm going to feel so much better during training. I think I would feel a lot better in general if I went gluten free completely, but I don't want to throw that at my body before the marathon - so I think I'm going to commit to that in November (pre-Thanksgiving). I can't even tell you how thrilled I was yesterday to not have to make a pit stop or feel like the pain in my stomach was too much to handle during my run.

On another note - my shoes were great! Who knew that this whole time I just needed a wide shoe?! Thank you, Running Company!

Best Running Store in Indy!

2009-09-17T21:55:00.002-04:00

Ok, I can't say I'm expert on the topic, but I'm pretty sure I've become a loyal customer of the best running store in Indianapolis! I actually wrote a Google review today because I was so impressed! If you're a seasoned runner or looking to get started - a trip to The Running Company is totally worth it. Luckily for me, the Broad Ripple location is very close - but there are several locations around town. Let me tell you my story...

Since my long distance running habit kicked back up again in in 2006, I've had this crazy blister that keeps popping up on the arch of my left foot. I've tried EVERYTHING to get rid of it - new socks, shoes, moleskin, bandaids, Body Glide - nothing worked. A little over a year ago, I was introduced to the Brooks Defyance and it was a dream come true! I made it 26.2 miles in Chicago without a single blister. Well, last fall Brooks made "cosmetic changes" to the shoe and now have the Defyance 2. Well, something in these changes has made the blister come back. Gross.

The big problem is that the crazy blister doesn't show up until I'm running 8 or 9+ miles - making it pretty impossible to predict if a shoe is going to be an issue. In comes The Running Company!

They have the most stellar return policy possible - wear them for two weeks and if they don't fit, we'll take them back for a refund or exchange (and you can wear them anywhere - not just on a treadmill like a lot of stores require). If you wear them up to four weeks, they'll still exchange them. How awesome is that??!! Last week, I purchased a new pair of Asics Landreth. Well, the blister popped up around mile 9 last weekend. So, I took them back - a bit worn and not looking perfect - and they honored their policy. I was so impressed! I walked out with another pair of Landreths - but this time we're going with a wide shoe - hoping the issue is that my foot is swelling the further I run and that's why this problem keeps happening. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this works - but if not, I know I can still take them back. It's a great, great feeling.

Half marathon #5!

2009-09-15T09:11:00.004-04:00

This weekend I ran my fifth half marathon - the Chicago Half Marathon. It was a great race, although very warm. I think my days of running in Chicago are over - at least until they get more trees/shade.

I'm excited to report that I shaved almost 18 minutes off of my half marathon time from last March! I was shooting for a 2:10 finish, and was 6 seconds off. I'm not totally convinced the course was a exactly 13.1 miles (I started my GPS watch a little late and it still said 13.16 when I cross the finish), so I'm going to count it as a success!

Wash your hands and don't cough on me

2009-09-09T23:59:00.002-04:00

The swine flu is officially my enemy. If you followed my blog last year during training, you may recall that I got very sick about two weeks before my last marathon. I'm determined to not repeat that fate again this year. Every little tickle in my throat or need to blow my nose has me running for the Vitamin C and Airborne like you would not believe.

Keeping this in mind, this weekend could be interesting. My sweet friend and former roommate, Rachel, has recently come down with h1n1. Unfortunately, there are several of us that are supposed to meet up in Chicago this weekend for a half marathon, Rach included. Well, does anyone know how long swine flu is contagious?! Rachel seems to be feeling better and just might make the trip - but do the immune suppressed long distance runners (exercising more than 90 minutes does a number on ya!) need to stay away? The google jury seems to be out on this one.

Bring on the Purell!

Woah, Indy

2009-08-17T23:59:00.002-04:00

Well kids, it's official, I have a life again. Perhaps too much. For the first time since my move to Indy I double booked myself - for a Tri Delta dinner with my Valpo girls and a State Fair outing. Ooops! Luckily, my Fair buddy did the same thing. Regardless, it's nice to feel like I've found my niche here, even if it's a little overwhelming. Last week was packed, this week's the same and next week I'm on the road for a bit and then in town for a conference with several clients in town.

On the training front, I've hit the point where my body officially hates me. There was an ice bath over the weekend and my hamstrings felt terrible. Is it possible for them to snap? I'm pretty sure they were close. I'm stretching them daily now and hoping for some relief!

A Blog Post That Should Not Be Missed

2009-08-10T14:37:00.002-04:00

I'm a bit of an uninspired blogger these days, but my pal Meghan has a killer post today. Pop on over there.

As a Seminole fans, we probably shouldn't make fun of this. The Noles may not have cheesy pictures like the Hokies, but we're easily the lamest "theme" fans on the planet. The black out games from the last couple of years have been less than stellar. So poor, in fact, that they're attempting a white out this year instead. While cool, FSU folks just can't seem to get it together. It should go better than the black out, however. Why? Because the opponent for the white out game is South Florida - whose colors happen to be white and green and whose fans have purchased an insane amount of tickets to the game. I'm on to you, FSU.

"People who don't smoke are no fun"

2009-07-23T23:43:00.002-04:00

Yes, these were the wise words uttered to me by the large, long-haired man this evening on the Panera Bread patio. What do you say in response to that? "I'm a non-smoker and I think I'm pretty cool"?

Apparently some women had come out to the patio and decided not to sit there because he was smoking. I have to admit that I saw him smoking when I went to the patio, but I camped out so I was not downwind of the smoke. I just smiled and nodded at him. Weird. I did find a fantastic patio to work from though! I love to have new places to take my laptop so I'm not cooped up all day.

In other news, I'm missing my 10-year high school reunion this weekend. I'm a little sad, but it's probably for the best. Most of my close friends aren't going and I feel like I've been out of town a lot, so I'm going to stick a little closer to home. I'll be running 12 miles on Saturday too, which I prefer to do with my running group, and 4 hours in the car after that would be a bit brutal. I am going to pop over to Cincinnati for Saturday evening to visit one of my very favorite people, Stephanie. Steph is quite prego and the doctor recently commented to her that her waterbreaking might be a little "messier" than it is for others. Therefore, wisely, Steph has decided to stay home as much as possible and is a little stir-crazy (I have been this week too). I'm excited to hang out with Steph and her husband Jim. I'm sure there will be lots of laughs, but hopefully no baby! Have fun, Class of '99, I'm sure I'll hear some very fun stories!

Thank you, Indiana

2009-07-19T20:36:00.003-04:00

It's official - I'm LOVING marathon training!! This is not a phrase I would have ever uttered a year ago, but I'm actually looking forward to running every day. I'm pretty sure 85% of this attitude is due to the weather. It's been so nice out and the temperatures haven't been overly brutal like they were in Georgia. Yesterday, it was 58 degrees when I started running. 58 degrees!

The other 15% of liking the training is confidence. I've been able to improve my speed a ton over the last year and just feel so much more prepared than I did before. I'm actually getting excited about this race! Hopefully a little speed and adding some miles this time around won't end up in an injury - but I really feel great.

Yesterday's long run was 10 miles. I've been running with a local running group the last few weeks, which is also a nice change of pace from last year. It's so great to have someone else take care of my water stops, etc. I seem to have found a running partner, Kelly, in the group who's training for Chicago (hopefully my stories about the nasty heat last year won't defeat her!). She keeps me on pace and it's really nice to have someone to chat with along the way.

Worst day to work from home. Ever.

2009-07-07T10:42:00.003-04:00

After 3.5 years of working from home, I have to say that today is shaping up to be the worst. I cannot sit here in silence, so I rely on my friends at CNN to at least provide some background noise. Today it's MJ - all day long. I don't really care to watch/listen to a funeral on a random Tuesday. I need to find a good podcast!

Did anyone watch?

2009-06-28T11:51:00.002-04:00

Yesterday while I was cleaning and trying to unsuccessfully unpack the last few boxes in my new place, I had on the USA Network. The 40-Year-Old Virgin was on and Steve Correll cracks me up more than any other comedian - so I kept it on in the background.

Well, they kept promoting the movie that would follow - Borat. Really? Borat? How do you possibly tone down Borat enough to show it USA? I changed the channel because one (shameful) viewing of that movie was plenty, but I'm really curious. Did anyone see it? Was it like 45 minutes long?

Marathon training started yesterday! I had a GREAT 8 mile run and was on pace for where I wanted to be (and a far faster pace than training last year). The next two weeks I'm balancing the marathon and triathlon training, which will be interesting. Today I'm shooting for a 30 minute swim and a 60 minute bike ride.

Chase takes diva to a new level

2009-06-24T16:49:00.005-04:00

Several of you have had the privilege of meeting my crazy little eight pound cat, Chase. Chase was abandoned in Hurricane Katrina at about four weeks old and she came to live with me about two weeks after that. Her adoption papers are from the Humane Society of the United States, which I think is totally bizarre.

Going through a traumatic experience at such a young age has made Chase feel a little bit entitled. She's never really known boundaries and feels that everything I own (or eat) is hers to explore. Yes, I should have done a better job training her and probably should have pulled the squirt bottle out on her a time or two more, but she's just so darn cute! I'm pretty sure I could never have a puppy if this is how I am with Chase.

Well, today, Chase took things to a whole new level. Chase loves treats and since she doesn't ever seem to put on weight, I don't feel bad about giving them to her in excess. Earlier I put a few of them on the floor for her and she decided she didn't want them (I wondered what was wrong - this is weird). I left them in the kitchen for her until she was ready. Several hours later and she hadn't touched them. I pointed them out to her (she pays attention, I swear) and she still didn't want anything to do with them. So I picked them up to throw them away. Before they went in the trash, I tossed a couple of the floor again just to see what she would do. She devoured them. Seriously? Is my cat snotty enough that she'll only eat treats that she sees are actually thrown to her? Uggggg......

Her other new discovery is clean laundry. It's entirely possible that I've never folded my clothes when they were fresh out of the dryer before (I'm a busy girl), but Monday she decided to sleep all day on the clean clothes I had just folded on my bed. To make matters worse, she invited Teensie, our guest cat (Teensie's mama is currently in Ireland), to join in on the nap. At least they're cute!

Dear Water Aerobics Class,

2009-06-22T19:26:00.003-04:00

I am very respectful of your 6:00 p.m. time slot at the pool at L.A. Fitness. I fully understand that you didn't pick peak gym hours for your class and that you simply show up to get a workout in. I get it. I also understand why the pool is closed to lap swimmers during this time. In fact, on the days you meet, I either rush out of work to get my workout done by 6 or wait until you're done at 7. It's a pain - but I make it work.

In return, I ask that you please wait until your instructor arrives to the pool before you take the lanes out. Besides the fact that you don't work for L.A. Fitness and therefore should not be removing equipment, it's also rude to kick the lap swimmers out any earlier than need be. Chances are, you've never trained for a race of some kind and don't understand that I need to get X number of laps in or swim for X number of minutes to stay on track (I mean, you're taking water aerobics for goodness sake). But let me tell you, I need to finish my workout and I cannot do that if you take over the pool a full 15 minutes before you're supposed to. I'm even okay without the lane lines, but then when you don't stay out of my lane and just hang out there, I can't do what I need to do.

Tonight, I was very polite and asked for just 5 more minutes. You ignored me. Rather than pick a fight, I just got out of the pool. I did speak with the front desk and I highly doubt they'll pass my message on. I'll probably e-mail them as well, just to get my point across. However, next time, I'm fully prepared to ask you stop. I will point at the clock and say, "Hey, you need to wait until at least 5:55."

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Laura

P.S. - And to the very passive-aggressive man looking for a treadmill tonight who yelled, "some people have been on these things forever" - we all heard you and chose to ignore you. Why? Because you were/are an ass. I saw you look at my clock and yeah, that's right, it was only at 20 minutes. Chill out and use the elliptical to warm up, a treadmill will be available shortly.

Hello, Indy!

2009-06-19T11:28:00.003-04:00

Well, it's been 3 weeks since I packed up and left Georgia. It's been a very bittersweet transition - but I really feel good about this! My friends in the ATL are fantastic and I'm trying (desperately) to keep up with everyone there - but it's so good to be back in a part of the country that is just more, well, me. I can't explain it really, but I'm just not a Southern girl (but I love my friends that are!).

Anyway, the last 3 weeks have been a little insane. I left Atlanta on the 30th to drive up to Lexington, KY to hang out with my mom and my aunt for a night. The Prius was PACKED full of stuff with a bike rack on the back - it was quite a site. On the 31st I made it to Indy and immediately went to my friend Melissa's for a welcoming dinner with the girls (perfect!).

Since then, it's been a whirlwind of unpacking, catching up with friends, trying to figure out Indy geography, new carpet (thank the Lord!), turning 28 (yay!), triathlon training (what was I thinking?!) and a trip to Denver. Needless to say, there are plenty of e-mails and phone calls that have remained unattended to - but I'll get there (sorry if you're reading this and you're one of those people - I will call or e-mail back!). My blog has been left unattended to as well, but I'm back on track.

As I mentioned, I'm right in the middle of triathlon training. I've noticed that my friends here like to hang out at about 6 p.m. - which means I really need to work out in the morning. My bedroom here is so dark that it's very, very easy for me to sleep in - so I'm working on getting up early - but with little success. The triathlon is July 12th, so it's right around the corner. I'm also getting ready to gear up for marathon training starting next week, so I'll have my hands full!

On the running front, my very favorite thing about my new place is the FANTASTIC running spots that are right outside my door. I'm in a great, great neighborhood and one mile to the east is the Monon Trail and one mile north is the Canal Path - both popular running destinations in Indy. I could not be more lucky! I just love it!

Anyway, that's where things stand here. I have several other fun posts started, but need to find some time to finish them - stay tuned! The unpacking should all be done this weekend (if I don't drink too many mimosas with the girls in the morning)!

Ok, STOP!!!!!

2009-05-25T23:04:00.001-04:00

Remember this little post? Well, all I can say is that I'm currently getting a play-by-play via Facebook of a certain "friend's" birth experience. If I didn't question this person's sanity, I would easily delete her, but I'm pretty sure she'd notice and take it very personally. And now it's official - I cannot post the link for my blog on my Facebook profile.

Things I WON'T miss about Atlanta: Part I

2009-05-24T14:34:00.003-04:00

Working from home, I'm a Kinkos regular. While having a nice business quality copy machine would be awesome to have, it's just not at all practical, so I have to rely on Kinkos for a lot of things. I love being able to upload projects online and an hour or two later be able to pick it up. I even gave a presentation at a staff retreat about how to effectively use Kinkos online (dorky, I know).

All that being said, the Kinkos up the street from me is THE WORST KINKOS IN AMERICA! Believe, I've been to a lot of Kinkos and this one just sucks. They mess things up all of the time. Yesterday I sent some postcards to them to be printed and cut. I get there this morning and the front and back are in two different directions. Really?! Why would you not notice that?

I'm so ready to not deal with their suckiness. Hopefully my friendly neighborhood Kinkos will be much better in Indy.

Adventures on Craigslist

2009-05-20T22:20:00.005-04:00

The last couple of weeks I've been trying my luck at Craigslist. My first quest to find moving boxes was a HUGE success, so now I'm on to selling things. My new place already has a washer and dryer, so I need to get rid of mine. I also need to get rid of my hardly used golf clubs (really, what was I thinking?!). Well, the washer and dryer will be picked up on Friday and the golf clubs hopefully will be too! I've found two buyers and I think I'll get pretty darn close to my asking price for both. It's a big relief - and believe me, I needed one.

Last week is a bit of a blur. On Tuesday, I got a call my mom that she was about to go into open heart surgery in Kentucky. Uggg. I hopped in the car within an hour and was there for a week - it was crazy! She's recovering nicely and is now home and being taken care of by my sister (bless her). It's definitely going to take her awhile to be back up and running on her own, but we're so glad everything's taken care of (she had a stint travel from her leg to her heart - very bizzare).

Needless to say, this little getaway has put a bit of a damper in the move and saying goodbye to friends. I actually missed a going away party for me last night - oops! I'm trying to see everyone in the next week, but it's going to be tough. I decided to break down and hire packers for the move, but I'd like to get as much of it done on my own as possible. It's going to be a busy week - but a fun one with lots of good things planned!

Three Weeks

2009-05-10T15:26:00.002-04:00

Three weeks from today I'm making the drive up to Indy. It's a scary thought, but I'm getting more excited every day! Dena, whose 2 amazing children I babysat for in college, told me the other day that she thinks it's the friendships that form when you're vulnerable that really are your lifelong friends. I think she's on to something! Don't get me wrong, I've been very blessed in Atlanta and there are certainly people here that I will keep in touch with, but I'm so anxious to get closer to those people that have been there through EVERYTHING over the years. I have some really phenomenal friends in the midwest that I cannot wait to be closer to.

Anyway, I officially have an apartment! I'll be in the Meridian-Kessler area of Indy and have a great neighborhood. I have a two bedroom apartment in a small building with only 12 apartments in it. I think it's going to be a great fit! The movers are hired and I'm now the proud owner of 41 moving boxes thanks to Craigslist ($20 for the boxes and 3 rolls of bubble wrap - can't beat it!). I'm going to wait until Memorial Day Weekend to get packed up. It's really hard for me to live in chaous.

Wow....3 weeks left in Atlanta. It's sad, but it's time too.

Things to keep to yourself

2009-05-06T18:06:00.002-04:00

I know I have some mommies that follow my blog. Believe me, I love you all! :) Your children are precious and my life would be so much better if I could hold at least one of them for about five minutes each day (preferably without poop or barf involved - but I know that's asking for a lot). However, I do have a favor to ask. When the next little one comes around, please refrain from posting super specifics about the process in public places - specifically on Facebook*. When I check Facebook at 8 a.m., I do not need to see the words dilated, effaced or any other weird birthing term that has to do with "your business". I'm perfectly happy thinking your little bundle of joy just arrived on your lap!

*Twitter and possibly your blog fall into this category. I'm also not calling out anyone that reads my blog for such actions. I may be more grossed out by it because it seems to be obscure high school and college people that I shouldn't be "friends" with anyway that post such intimate details.

Things I'll Miss About Atlanta: Part II

2009-05-04T22:13:00.003-04:00

Today I canceled my gym membership. How sad?! I love my gym and it has some of the BEST people watching EVER! It could be the most random crowd I've ever seen. There's the man with the Under Armor spandex shorts (ok, probably underwear) and a polo shirt, the man I saw carrying his little dog in a bag around the gym and there's the terrible trainer who is always showing her clients poor workout moves. Along with these fine folks, a lot of the pro athletes in town work out there in the off season and a lot of the hip hop crowd too (not that I would recognize anyone - but my friend Kyle did talk to Nelly one day). There is a serious cast of characters at my gym, I just love it! Not to mention the great classes and equipment. I'm sure I can replicate that in Indy.

This past weekend was spent in Indy trying to figure out where to live. I cannot wait to get up there finally! I had a great weekend with friends and I know this is the right move for me. I THINK I've found an apartment in a great neighborhood. There's only one 2 bedroom unit left in the building, so hopefully it will be mine by Wednesday. We shall see! Regardless, I have to out of this apartment in 26 days - yikes!

On a totally random note, Fat Tire, my favorite beer, recently made it's way to Indiana! I enjoyed one or two on Saturday with some fabulous friends on a fabulous patio in Broad Ripple. I took a picture of the very cool commemorative label. It's hard to read, but it says, "Happily pedaling into the Hoosier State in 2009." How fitting?!

Am I excited?

2009-04-19T17:19:00.002-04:00

I keep getting asked if I'm excited about the upcoming move. I never know what to say! To my Atlanta friends, I feel like I can't tell them that I'm ready to get out of here. To my Indy friends, I can't really say yes either - because I have no idea where I'm going to be living in 6 weeks. Overall, I think I'm pretty ambivalent about the whole thing right now. I am ready for something new and for a change, but there is always that stress of wondering if it's the right decision, finding a place to live and thinking about actually packing up and moving - and it's getting to me! I've come to realize that I'm someone that can live just about anywhere and create happiness. I've definitely done that in Atlanta, but I'm so ready to be closer to my family and lifelong friends. I keep reminding myself that it's going to be worth it when I finally get to Indy and settle in, but it's very, very daunting at the moment and I'm struggling to muster up some excitement!

On a different front, I seem to have strained my quad and need to take a running break. I'm hoping it doesn't mean a "no working out" break because I need the stress relief. I'm going to see Tony, the crazy massage therapist, tomorrow and hopefully he can work it out a bit and give me some advice. Saving a trip to a physical therapist would be awesome! I'm planning on some extra time in the pool and maybe the elliptical will help out too. We'll see - but running is out of the question for the next week or so.

I'll shoot for a more optimistic post in the next couple of days!

Happy Easter (a little early)

2009-04-11T17:25:00.002-04:00

I'm blogging today to wish you a very Happy Easter! I know I'm a day early, but tomorrow I plan to Facebook pretty much all day. Why? Because I haven't checked Facebook since Ash Wednesday! Yes, 6 weeks of no FB. Yikes! It's been really, really good though. I still get e-mails notifying me of any pictures or messages meant for me, so I haven't been totally cut off. I do feel like there are several people I need to catch up with and get updated on though. I'm anxious to get pictures posted and delete some too (i.e. - a certain relationship I'd rather forget about....uggg).

I'll be celebrating Easter with some fab friends at church and then out to brunch. The weather is supposed to be awesome, so I'm hoping we'll end up with an outside table! I'd also love to get a bike ride in (I'm officially sprint triathon-ing in July by the way!). My Easter will end with an outting to the Drag Races - and not that kind of drag racing, the other kind. Yes, drag queens participating in various olympic events!! Reagan's boss, Tony (a.k.a. Wild Cherry Sucret) coordinates this highly creative event every year and I'm pumped to go! I realize it's an interesting way to celebrate Jesus rising from the dead - but it should be fun regardless.

So, Happy Easter! My Easter should be a great one!

You know you watch too much TV when.....

2009-04-05T22:02:00.004-04:00

...your roommate turns on Intervention and it's an episode you've already seen! I had a slow summer my first year in Atlanta and watched A LOT of OnDemand - Intervention was a favorite. I like to think my life has evolved since then.

As for watching TV, I can't pull myself away from Mean Girls on ABC Family tonight. Sunday night is my "glued to the TV" night normally with Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters, but they're reruns tonight. Why did Miss Lohan have to go off the deep end and not give us any more stellar flicks like this one?

Things I'll Miss About Atlanta: Part I

2009-03-31T22:24:00.002-04:00

I have no idea how many parts this particular topic will have, but I was struck today by quite the perk I have here in the ATL and felt compelled to share. What is so great about Atlanta?! PARKING DECKS! Yes, it's true, I will miss miss miss my dry hair on rainy days.

In my current living situation, it's possible for me to get pretty much anywhere I need to go without actually stepping foot into uncovered space. In the gross rainy weather we've been having the last couple of weeks, it's been very nice to not always have to deal with umbrellas and wet hair (although I have been rocking my cute new rainboots regardless). Most of the staple locations I go to have a parking deck attached to them - and I have a parking deck attached to my building. I can get in my car and go to Target, the grocery store, mall, gym and even church without having to carry an umbrella. I'm pretty sure I cannot recreate this little bubble I live in up north. Sad....

Half Marathon #4!

2009-03-30T09:52:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I ran half marathon #4! I really do love half marathons! It's long enough that you have to train to a certain degree (although I didn't train nearly enough), but not so much that you have to give up your life. This race was the ING Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon and I've run it since it started three years ago.

I THINK yesterday's time was a few minutes faster than last year. No one received time updates on me while I ran, so I'm a little worried that my timing chip didn't work. Hopefully when they post the results later today I'll be listed. My longest training run was 8 miles, so I'm definitely paying for that today. I'm pretty sore, but hope to get in the pool later today at the gym and work that out a little bit. I worked some of it out at yoga yesterday afternoon too.

Registration for the Marine Corps Marathon is Wednesday! I'm still reminding myself that this is a good idea....

Apartment hunting

2009-03-22T13:31:00.002-04:00

Well, my first crack at apartment hunting was a total failure. Mostly this failure was due to only having about an hour to look - but still! A friend used to live in a building right in Broad Ripple in Indy. The price and location could not be more perfect for me. However, the actual building was not on my side. Working from home, having a great space is really important to me. The building was just very cold and dated and I can't do it. I think the plan now is to find a townhouse or some kind of rental property in Indy. There just aren't a lot of great apartments in the area I want to live in. Hopefully a cute rental space will show up. I'm planning to make a trip early May to find something. If you have any leads - let me know!

I'm pretty sure June 1st will be here way too soon!

2009-03-16T22:34:00.002-04:00

Well, the moving chaos has officially started. While I don't have a place to live in Indy yet (I'm headed there Wednesday and Thursday and hope the place I think will work will work), I've been working on movers. Since I'm moving the last weekend in May, things are already booking up and prices will go up soon for movers. Talk about the biggest pain ever! I've had more phone calls and e-mails about this than anything and people can be so shady. I thought on Saturday I was going to have to report a shady mover to authorities - but I now think they're just flaky. Regardless, I will not be hiring them. Hopefully this will be cleared up soon!

As I said, I'm headed for Indy on Wednesday and Thursday. I'm so excited to be up there for a 24 hours! I have 1 - maybe 2 - place to look at on Thursday morning and then I'm in meetings the rest of the time for work. Thursday night I fly back to Atlanta with my friend Melissa who is coming for a quick visit. Saturday-Monday I'm headed to Orlando for my former roomate's, Dayna, wedding. It should be a fun weekend with my FSU girls! All of this is making me realize that time is FLYING by and June 1st will be here before I know. So much to do!

Blogging?! What's that?!

2009-03-08T19:10:00.003-04:00

Ok, so it's been so long since I blogged that when I started to type in the URL, it didn't even pop up in my internet history. That is oh so sad. I love to blog - why do I not do this more?

So there's lots and lots going on. I finally have a little direction in my life - but you'll have to deal with no direction on my blog. I've decided that "1 Mile at a Time" can really apply to oh so many things in my little corner of the world.

Here's the big news: I'M MOVING TO INDY!!! I'm so thrilled and I cannot wait to be back in the Midwest! I can drive home for holidays, go to Valpo Homecoming, see the leaves change colors, be close to my friends that I miss dearly and so many other glorious things. Of course there are some fabulous things I'll miss about Atlanta (friends, CHURCH, weather), but this change has been on my heart for a really long time and the stars are aligned for me to take the plunge. I'm going to be able to stay with Omega and hopefully work to strengthen some of our relationships with fraternity and sorority foundations in Indy. There are a TON of greek headquarters there, so it will be nice to be so close. It'll also be a great opportunity for me attend lots of fundraising seminars, workshops. etc. because so much research in my field is done at IU and IUPUI.

I plan to be a Hoosier around June 1!

As if a new city weren't enough excitement for one summer, I've also decided to train for the Marine Corps marathon in DC in October! My friend Maria really wants to do it and I love DC, so it will be perfect. I've been searching for apartments near the Monon Trail in Indy so I'll be able to train pretty easily. There's a running group in Indy that starts training in June for all fall marathons, so I'm sure I'll find people that will be training for DC too. Right now I'm running and lifting a lot to hopefully drop some pounds and get stronger before I start training in June.

Well, the countdown to Indiana is on. I have 3 big sites to see in Atlanta before I move: visit the MLK Center, take in the Stone Mountain Laser Show and go to the Cyclorama. I'm putting these things on my calendar now so I'll actually get them done! I PROMISE to blog more with all of the fun changes. I really, really like doing this - I need to remind myself! :)

I made it!!!

2008-10-13T22:58:00.005-04:00

Well, I crossed the finish line! What a day! I'm back from Chicago and ready to sleep in my own bed. The photos are upload! Here are the details...

It was so hot! That's the biggest news of the day. Supposedly it was much better than last year's race, but the heat was terrible. When I crossed the finish line, it was 85 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. Luckily, many of the fine residents of Chicago had their garden hoses out and the fire department set up misters from the fire hydrants, so there were several ways to cool off...but it was just hot.

In order to avoid passing out, I pulled way back on my pace (I finished about an hour slower than I had planned on) and walked through all of the water stops (some of them were pretty slick anyway, so I had to walk) to be safe. I was drinking water and gatorade at every aid station (normally I alternate the two). According to the news, 76 people went to the hospital - but that might be low. I saw a lot of people laid out in medic tents and several ambulances. It was a bit scary.

It went by faster than I thought it would. I thought the race would go really slow, but mile to mile seemed to go by rather quickly. There were so many people cheering and lots of entertaining things around me that I was always preoccupied. It was probably the fastest 5 hours and 45 minutes that I've ever had in my life!

God works in mysterious ways! It seemed like every time I needed a little push, I had it. Around mile 15 (I think), I was starting to struggle a bit and turned the corner to see my friend Annie's mom! Of all of the people I knew that were planning to watch the race, Jackie was the one that I had no idea where she'd be. She gave me a huge hug (sorry, I was really gross), and it was so great to see her. Just after mile 20 I was really starting to feel the heat, but my mom and my aunt were on the course and gave me one more boost. About a mile later, I was able to use my iPod to get me through a couple of miles. THEN (and this was crazy) between mile 23 and 24 I ran up on my friend Michelle and here sister Elizabeth. We had planned to meet at the start, but couldn't find each other. We stayed together until almost the end of the race. It was so nice to have a friendly face at that point and some running buddies! It was perfect. I know there were a lot of people that said a little prayer for me and, well, it worked. Thanks guys!

If you plan to run a marathon in the future, write your name on your shirt! I had heard this tip several times before, but thought it was pretty dorky. Saturday night, my friend Emily finally convinced me to do it - and I'm so glad I listened! Having people cheer for me that didn't even know me was so nice and a great boost.

Beer after 26.2 miles is totally different than beer on a normal day. I'm a lightweight when it comes to drinking, so I don't drink much. However, beer is a bit of a weekness for me - especially on a hot day. My aunt greeted me with a beer when we reunited in the park (I had water and gatorade at the finish). It was the BEST beer I've ever had. I finished it quickly and then had another one before we got back to the hotel - but my body was like a carb-sponge. It was the weirdest thing. I had yet another at the hotel bar and two more a dinner...nothing! So weird, normally I'd be a mess, but I was stone sober (for the record, I only kept drinking because I was fascinated that I could keep drinking beer and not even have a buzz).

The answers to the questions you really want to know about are 'no' and 'no'. Within the first couple of hours of the race I was asked 3 times if I 1) pooped my pants and 2) if I saw anyone that did. I did not do or see anyone in that situation. I did see several clever signs related to that though (thanks, Linds, for the great postcard)!

And finally...I think I'll do it again. I can't say that I'm a marathon addict. It's definitely a huge time committment and I'm excited to have my life back, but I don't think I can leave my marathon career at yesterday's race. It was so hot that I'd like to see what I can do when the temperature is normal and I can keep my pace. I also know what to expect from my body now, so it would be good to put that knowledge to good use.

I think my next physical challenge will be a sprint triathon, but the season is over for this year. I think I'll shoot for one late spring. In the meantime, I'll keep you posted on my recovery and anything else exciting going on!

Taking Chicago by Storm...kind of

2008-10-11T12:31:00.002-04:00

We're here!! My mom and I arrived yesterday, stopped at the race expo, had dinner...and then went to bed! We're so lame, but we were exhausted and asleep by 9 p.m. My mom doesn't drink much and I haven't been drinking with my training - so the one glass of wine we each had did us in. How sad. I now have a lot of sleep under my belt, which is great because I probably won't be able to sleep tonight.

This morning I got up and walked through Grant Park - where the start and finish are. It was sad to see Soldier Field and know that my Bears will be playing in Atlanta tomorrow. Of all weekends!!

Well, I'm off to Valpo to see a few friends at Homecoming. I wish I could stay longer to hang out, but I plan to be back on the road by 7 and back in Chicago around 8. Hopefully I can remember how to get there! It's been awhile since I made the drive from the city to campus, but I'm sure it will come back to me.

This is probably my last post before the big day tomorrow! I can't wait to get to the starting like and start chipping away at 26.2 miles. It's going to be a hot one - but a great race!

Departing soon!

2008-10-10T07:23:00.002-04:00

My bag is (almost) packed and I get to take off for Chicago later today! I cannot wait!! I should be able to get to the expo later and pick up all of my race information. I think it will really hit me then!

I found out this week that my friend from college, Michelle, is looking to run right around the same pace as me, so we're going to try to run together. Hopefully our plan to meet up pans out!

It's going to be a hot one!

2008-10-08T14:50:00.002-04:00

I think having trained in Georgia is going to pay off on Sunday. The high for Sunday is in the mid-70s. That's about 15-20 degrees warmer than most marathoners would prefer. A month ago, I could see my breath during my trip to Chicago and was worried it would be too cold, but that doesn't look to be the case for this weekend.

Luckily, it won't be as hot as it was last year when they had to cancel the race. Last year the temperature pushed 90 degrees. Race officials have put the event warning system at "yellow/moderate", but it wouldn't surprise me if they raised it before Sunday. As long as it doesn't go to black, they'll still let people run.

Regardless, there's lots of SPF 50 sunblock in my future on Sunday and I'll definitely need to wear my hat. I've added a weather gadget to the right so you can see the forecast.

Time?

2008-10-07T18:00:00.002-04:00

I'm trying to convince myself that getting across the finish line is the most important goal and that time doesn't matter. I've always had a little bit of a competitive streak, so that's tough for me. Luckily, the only person I'm competing with is myself - since everyone I know that's running on Sunday is far faster than me. Maria and I are planning to start together, but she'll take off and finish about a half hour before I do (if not more).

So, I've decided that my true goal is to get across the finish line, but I have an "I won't feel like a loser" time in my head and a "that would be awesome" time in my head. I don't want to disappoint, so how about I just let you know which one I beat on Sunday afternoon?

Runner tracking

2008-10-05T14:53:00.003-04:00

If you're interested in following along next weekend, you can receive e-mail and/or text message updates by registering here.

I'm not making any time predictions, so just follow along to make sure I get across the finish line! :)

1 week!

2008-10-05T14:47:00.003-04:00

It's weird to think about, but one week from today I'll be done (God willing) with my first marathon! I'm so glad this week is finally here! I stocked up on some healthy carbs for this week and picked up a box of Gu this afternoon, so I think I'm all set! I savored my last beer for the week last night, but I think beer next Sunday will have never tasted so good!

I ran 7 miles yesterday and felt pretty good. I still have this nagging cough, but it's going away slowly. As soon as that goes away and I can get through these nasty antibiotics (they make my mouth taste awful!), I'll be in good shape.

At a solid 95%

2008-10-03T19:58:00.003-04:00

Finally! I got a good workout in today and am finally feeling human! I still have a little cough, but i can deal with that. I went to abs and kickboxing today and did pretty good. My body hasn't done a kickboxing workout in months, so that was harder than having a little cough. Keith kicks my butt, so if I can make it through 90 minutes with him, I think I'm good for an 8 miler tomorrow! Hooray!

The marathon is 8 days and 12 hours from now (there's a ticker on chicagomarathon.com) and I'm starting to get very excited! The host hotel must have released some rooms today, because my mom and I were able to get in for the whole weekend. We had a pretty good hotel before, but it will be really nice to be across the street. Next weekend I get to spend in my very favorite city, spend some much-needed time with my mom and run the marathon! Is it too much to ask for the White Sox to make it to the next round of the playoffs and then play at home next weekend? I don't want to push my luck!

Just a couple more days...

2008-09-29T18:10:00.001-04:00

I broke down and went to the doctor today. 2-3 more days of rest and drugs and I should be able to get back at it! Say a little prayer!

Still taking a break

2008-09-27T21:07:00.000-04:00

It's official, I have the flu. Hopefully I'm on the upswing, but I'm not sure. I just left my apartment for the first time in two days. I did a little research and apparently marathon training suppresses your immune system. I guess that makes sense - but I was not aware of that. I even read a couple of things that said to stay away from crowds during the tapering phase so you don't get sick. That's not very easy when you're on a plane most weeks for your job. Well, here's hoping this clears up ASAP. Two weeks from tomorrow until marathon day!

I tried and I failed

2008-09-24T15:12:00.001-04:00

No, not at the marathon thing - at the fending off this cold thing. I took yesterday off from running and looks like I need to the same thing again today. Hopefully I can get back at it tomorrow and then run 12 on Saturday. This is no fun, but it's time to listen to my body and not make it any worse.

Ahhhh....the taper

2008-09-23T09:52:00.002-04:00

Saturday's 20 miler went far better than expected! I felt pretty good and never really felt the urge to quit! The weather was perfect, so that helped a ton too. At about mile 15 I decided that maybe I could do this again. Every runner should run NYC, right? We shall see!

Now it's time to taper! Hooray! I'm so excited to pull back my mileage a bit and let my body heal. I'll run 12 miles this weekend, which sounds like such a relief. It wasn't long ago that I thought 12 miles was crazy!

On another note, I'm starting to come down with a little cold. I'm headed to Walgreens to bulk up on Vitamin C and Zinc, but say a little prayer that this thing doesn't knock me out. That's not what I need right now! Give me 3 more weeks, PLEASE!

I don't have "the bug"

2008-09-18T11:11:00.002-04:00

I was asked last night if I had the marathon bug yet. As in, am I addicted to marathon training? I think I can officially say "no". I might feel different after 10/12 - but this is a lot of work! If I wasn't traveling all of the time it could be different, but I'm really struggling to fit all of the running in. Running 4+ miles during the week just isn't easy for me. I could be addicted after the race - but I think the half marathon is my distance!

So much to say...

2008-09-13T13:24:00.003-04:00

...but so much that I shouldn't! Let's just say that marathon training is hard and no one ever tells you specifics about marathon training. I always heard "you'll never believe what your body can do" or "you never know what you body will do". Well, I'm solidly in both camps and will spare you the details. I discovered one more great use for this blog - reminding me the trials of training - not to be overshadowed by the adrenaline of race day.

Anyway, today's 18 miler was great (for running 18 miles)! Maria and I ran together for the 5 miles and then she took off. Thanks to coaching track last spring, Maria's got some speed under her belt. I wonder if I can practice with the Lovett Lions this spring to shave off some time? Our half marathon times are pretty similar, but she should easily break 2 hours now. It was great to have her along for awhile though!

I got home and had my first ice bath. Thank you to my sister who sat on the phone with me for most of it! It was a little miserable, but I think worthwhile. Picture me sitting in the tub with a bathing suit bottom and a sweatshirt - it was quite a site! As proof, I too this picture. If you look really closely, you can see my very dirty legs and feet from running on the trail. This was toward the end - I swear there was more ice when I started!

ONE MORE LONG RUN!!!! There's a long 20 mile run standing between me and the Chicago marathon! After today, I feel like I can do it!

Ice bath, seriously?

2008-09-02T21:17:00.002-04:00

Today I went to see Tony - my massage therapist that I have a love/hate relationship with. I love him because I feel so much better after a session with him...but it follows the hate I feel for him during the actual session. Sports massage=not fun and super painful! However, it's pretty necessary for me.

Anyway, my IT band has been pretty tight for awhile. The IT band runs from outside of the knee and up to the butt. It's a pretty important muscle and one that really hurts when it's strained. I've been trying to work it out with stretches and a foam roller, but today Tony recommended an ice bath.

Now I've read about ice baths in Runners World and pretty much every serious runner does it. But I have to ask myself, how serious am I? As if running 10+ miles on a Saturday isn't brutal enough, now I have to freeze myself?

For now I'm going to stick with icing my knees and hips - but we'll see if I get to the point of an ice bath. If I didn't totally trust Tony and if he hadn't been recommended by my doctor, I wouldn't consider it...but he's been a lifesaver! I'll keep you posted...

Catching up!

2008-08-31T17:18:00.003-04:00

No post from me last week - sorry! I had a very frustrating run last Saturday (15 miles) and wasn't sure I could keep up! Yes, the thought of quitting crossed my mind, but I'm determined to cross that finish line. Last week, my first 13 miles were good (well, it's relative - I was running 13 miles) and then the last 2 miles I was not sure I'd finish. I ended up walking the last two miles, and I was very frustrated with myself. I changed my route and only had water at the 7 mile mark. Not smart. Lesson learned...time to move on.

This week was so much better! I went back to my 3 mile loop route and that's definitely the way for me to go. I ran 8 miles out and back and then finished up my 16 mile run on the 3 mile loop. I was able to get water or gatorade about every 30 minutes that I stashed at the beginning of the route and there are also drinking fountains on the course (kind of gross, but you do what you have to do). Again, I was hurting, but I didn't need to quit like last week, so I gave myself a little high-5 as I finished up and hit the 16 mile mark! I felt like I was in grade school because I had to call my mom to tell her what I did! :)

So, I seem to be back on track. This week I get to drop down to 12 miles for my long run. It couldn't come at a better time! Next Saturday I'll run, pop over to a baby shower and then get on a plane to Chicago for a few days! It's going to be a very busy Saturday, but I need to get my run in before I leave town. There are simply too many people to see and too much to do that I'm afraid I'll skip my run. I tried to recruit my friend Jim to run with me (my best bet for a running buddy in the Windy City), but his response was "it's not going to happen, Laura". I got the message and I'll knock it out before I arrive.

One last thing for anyone that might be actually reading this to learn a little about marathon training (if you are, I'm so sorry!). I've done two things in my training that many training guides seem to gloss over and I'm so thankful they're part of my plans. 1) Upper body strengthening is key! I started adding this after my second half-marathon and have really seen a huge difference. My shoulders used to hurt after awhile with my running and I haven't had that since I added this piece. Even just getting in 20-30 pushups a couple of times a week is a huge help. 2) Buy shoes that are a little too big. Your toenails will thank you (although, mine are still starting to bruise a little bit). I'm up a whole size from what I wore during my first half marathon, I'm not sure how I made it through that race!

Ok, that's it for now! The marathon is 6 weeks from today! I'll try to be a better blogger as the race gets closer.

The hard work is paying off!

2008-08-18T22:39:00.002-04:00

This weekend was the last of the wedding marathon I seem to have been participating in all summer! I've seen several of my favorite people get hitched and have loved every minute of it - but it's become really exhausting. This one required a two hour plane ride and then 4 hours in the car to get to, so it takes the cake as far as travel is concerned. It also takes the cake as far as great reunions with so many friends! Needless to say, it was quite the weekend and after a flight delay last night, I needed some sleep this morning.

My plan was to run my 14 miles run in two sessions today, but this morning's run just didn't happen. I was exhausted. So tonight I decided to run a 10K and just push my speed a little bit. I'm hoping one week without a long run will be okay. It probably isn't the smartest thing to do - but sometimes life takes over and I'm not going to beat myself up over it.

So, even though I didn't get 14 miles in today - I did get in a pretty stellar 6.2. I ran my first 10K about 18 months ago and have never broken the hour mark (I'm slow, remember?) - UNTIL TONIGHT! For some reason i was just cruising and felt pretty good. It was so nice to know that all of the hard work is paying off and that my speed/endurance seems to be improving. If I had actually been in a race I wonder how I would have done? It was definitely a good feeling.

Lots going on!

2008-08-13T16:07:00.002-04:00

There seems to be a lot going on with my training and the miles are really starting to add up. I ran 13 miles on Sunday - just about a half-marathon (the walk back to my car was probably the last .1 miles). I felt pretty good, but definitely had my ups and downs. A few thoughts....

blisters = new shoes
I've some some pretty killer blisters over the past couple of weeks. I thought I needed new inserts for my shoes, but that didn't seem to help. In fact, I had blisters forming about 2 miles in, so I ditched the inserts completely in my right shoe for the rest of my run on Sunday. I think it's time for some new shoes. I didn't think I had enough miles on my shoes (you're supposed to change shoes about every 300 miles), but when I actually did the math it looks like it's time. I've been pretty loyal to my Brooks, but I think I'm going to go get fitted again and see what other suggestions the running store has. I don't think the Brooks will get me through 26 miles with minimal blisters.

THE WEATHER HERE IS AWESOME!
Somehow, Atlanta has seen some really tame weather the past week. Sunday's run was amazing - I even ran the first three miles with a long sleeved shirt on. Today, the high is 80 degrees. I'm really looking forward to running tonight!

Power songs
I'm finding myself very addicted to my iPod lately. A conversation last week with some friends revealed that several of my friends consider Low by Flo Rida to be their power song of choice! This caught me a little off guard, yet really funny. Anyway, I'm sort of over Low and need some new power songs to download...please let me know if you have any suggestions!

The next couple of days will be crazy with my running. Tomorrow is a massage day, so I get the day off (although my massages hurt really bad, so it doesn't seem like a day off). This weekend I'm headed to northern Michigan for yet another wedding, so I don't think my long run on Sunday will happen. I think I'm looking at a run on Monday. This one will be a milestone - this is the first time I've ever run more than 13 miles! I am really looking forward to a couple of shorter runs though - northern Michigan is just beautiful and I'm sure the weather will be outstanding!

A little motivation and a short break

2008-08-04T22:33:00.002-04:00

Yesterday's run was fantastic! I think I'm golden as long as I have water available on a regular basis - which I did not last week. I ran a 3 mile loop 4 times. I know it sounds boring, but it was great knowing I had a water stop every three miles! Tony, my massage therapist, was also running at the river on Sunday - so we ran together a bit at the end.

I found out tonight that my friend Lindsey will hopefully be in Chicago the weekend of the marathon! Linds has been at the last two Georgia half-marathons I've run and come fully equipped with fun signs! I'm so glad she's working on heading to Chicago! It will be great to have her support.

This week I get a little break from running. I'm kind of bummed, but at the same time two days off will be very nice. I have a few stitches in my shin after the dermatologist found a funky mole, so I need to give it some time to heal. Not the way I recommend getting a break from running - but I'll take it! I tried to get them to put it off until October, but no dice. I'll get back into the swing of things on Thursday.

Lesson Learned

2008-07-30T21:43:00.002-04:00

Note to self: Do not run near the river close to dusk. Remember all of the mosquito bites you now have on your arms and legs. If you do decide to run there again in the evening, there's Off under the sink.

Lovin' Sundays!

2008-07-30T18:19:00.003-04:00

Sunday's run was a little bit rough. After not a lot of sleep on Saturday night (thanks to a lost bag on my way back from Richmond), I was just struggling. Eventually I made it through the 11 miles - but definitely had to stop a couple of times, which I don't enjoy doing. I also rolled into church just in time for the service to begin - after putting my makeup on in the car - oops! I love my new Sunday morning routine though! A nice long run that exhausts me and then a little praise and worship to follow. Church, of course, is followed by lunch with friends and then a very long nap!

This week my schedule added a 2 mile run on Mondays, so no more class with Keith. I love the class, but it definitely doesn't allow me to recover at all. I'm going to try to hit up camp on Thursday mornings at the park, so hopefully I can keep that up with the training schedule.

No travel this week! As much as I love running in new places and racking up the frequent flyer miles, it's definitely good to be sleeping in my own bed for a bit and have a nice schedule. It's also been good to catch up with a few people that I haven't seen all summer.

Off for my 5 mile run!

P.S. - I learned from Tina this week that chocolate milk is a great recovery drink! Who knew?! What a great excuse to feel like I'm 7 again!

Still going...

2008-07-22T22:45:00.003-04:00

Sunday's run was FANTASTIC! When I started running on Sunday morning (in ATL on the Chattahoochee), it was almost cold! I needed a long sleeve when I started. Of course that soon ended, but it was great. On top of the great weather, I recently purchased an iPod shuffle that made my run better too. I love my regular iPod, but I don't like having it on my arm when I run for a long time. The new toy and a new playlist were fantastic! I don't like running races next to people with iPods, but I know it will be really nice to have about 15-20 miles into the race - so the shuffle will be nice to stick in my pocket when I need a little boost in October (although I promise to keep the volume low enough so I can hear people around me!). Sunday's run was probably the easiest 10 miles of my life - it was great!

Today was massage day! During my training for my second half marathon I discovered the amazing world of sports massage. Last October the doctor told me he was 95% sure I had a stress fracture. He was so sure, he put me in a boot before my bone scan. Well, turns out I didn't have a stress fracture, just some crazy muscle stuff going on in my shin. Tony, the massage therapist he recommended, worked wonders! It's extremely painful, but well worth it. Now I go back to him once I get above about 8 mile long runs. Today was my first massage for this race and I'll go about every 3 weeks from now on. It's a huge help.

Tomorrow I need to run 5 miles. I'm dipping into the world of running skirts tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes. I'm headed to Richmond, VA for a couple of days for work and then will be back in town Saturday night and my long run on Sunday. I'm home almost two whole weeks before I hit the road again!

Oh yeah - the wedding this past weekend was beautiful! Holly and Brian didn't leave anything out, it was just perfect! Here's a great pic of Holly and I at the reception.

Why am I training in Georgia?!

2008-07-14T19:56:00.002-04:00

The above title can be taken a few ways - but mostly the heat just sucks! Running in Indiana and Illinois was great and made me realize how much easier this marathon thing would be if I was training there.

Sunday morning I got up and ran at Lake Storey in Galesburg. It brought back many memories of my Cross Country days (I wasn't very fast then either), so that was a little weird - but it was just a beautiful run. It was probably about 65 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. I could not have asked for a better place to run. Unfortunately, my legs are starting get pretty tight, so I could have felt better - but running in a beautiful place make it much easier. Luckily, I have a sports massage appointment for next week, so life should be a bit better after that.

This week's travel is taking me to Maryland! I'm excited for a couple of good runs on the water in Annapolis.

What a week!

2008-07-06T21:02:00.002-04:00

It's been a bit of a crazy week. I had a beautiful few days at Hilton Head Island. I could have stayed there forever. I ran my two-miler on Tuesday at the beach. Wednesday I ran 4 miles throughout Sea Pines Plantation. Thursday I took a break so I could rest for the Peachtree on Friday.

The Peachtree was pretty crazy! At 6:30 on Friday morning, it was 75 degrees. Needless to say, by the time we started pretty close to 8 it was pretty brutal. Somehow I caught a cold on vacation, so I wasn't feeling the best either. I was pretty slow, but I made it through the race and had some amazing people watching in the process.

This morning I got my 9 mile run in. Tina is hosting two elite runners that are in town for the Peachtree (one placed third), so they were running this morning as well. They're very speedy and super impressive. Also running at the river was the winner of the Peachtree. He ran in long sleeves and long pants - apparently heat doesn't bother him.

I'm headed to Indy and Illinois for most of this week, so hopefully I'll have some cooler runs in my future!

I'm a terrible blogger!

2008-06-29T16:38:00.003-04:00

Ok, it's official! I'm not a very good blogger. It's been a CRAZY couple of weeks with the wedding and then trying to catch up from the wedding, so the blog fell to the wayside.

Here's the training update. Last weekend was a mess, so I didn't get my run in on Friday or Sunday. I could have really used it too! My sister had a beautiful wedding - but I think my mom, sister and I are all glad we're done with it! I did pick things back on up Tuesday and have been on track since. This morning, I ran 8 miles throughout Midtown Atlanta. Atlanta is one hilly city, so it was a rough 8 miles, but it was great! Tina and I ran two miles and then met up with a pre-Peachtree Road Race running group for another 6.2. The run was sponsored by Mizuno and local running store, Phiddipidies, so there were water stops throughout the course and snack and beverages (some people were able to drink beer - I'm not that good) at the end. It was a great group to be running with. Despite the hills and falling on some cracked sidewalk (my coordination in general could have been better today), it was a good run.

This morning's run made me a bit nervous for the Peachtree Road Race on Friday though. The Peachtree is my very favorite running event - with lots of people cheering along the way and a lot of crazy people running it. However, this year's finish had to be changed because of the drought here in Georgia. The race normally ends in Piedmont Park, but this year has to end at the Civic Center. Well, the new end has also added some new hills. In addition to "heart attack hill" by Piedmont Hospital, Juniper St. goes straight uphill for the finish. It could be a tough last half mile or so. This morning we ran the new finish in reverse, so at least I got to run it downhill once!

I'm off to the beach in the morning. I will run 2 miles at Hilton Head on Tuesday and 4 on Wednesday. I'll likely take Thursday off to gear up for a stressful 6.2 on Friday. Have a great week!

A few more hours in the day?

2008-06-18T22:43:00.002-04:00

I'm realizing very quickly how busy my life can get! I'm really hoping things will be a little more calm after this weekend and my sister's wedding is behind us. This week's runs have gone well, but I still haven't figured out when I'm going to fit in my 7 mile run. Hopefully Sunday will offer some kind of break. If not, I guess I'll have to push it until Monday (although I'm dying to get to my usual strength training class on Monday, so let's hope Sunday will work).

It's off to Illinois for me tomorrow. I'm shooting for a 2 mile run before I leave and then 4 miles on Friday at home. Luckily, Saturday is my rest day because it's going to be a busy one!

Have a great weekend! There likely won't be another post from me until Sunday or Monday.

Long Run #1

2008-06-15T22:10:00.003-04:00

I was up bright and early this morning for a 6.2 mile run at the Chattahoochee River! It was a great morning run and my first run with Tina, my new running "mentor" as I train for the race. When I ran the Memphis half marathon last fall, I trained with a team that Tina led. It was great to have the accountability and an expert helping me along the way. Not many people are crazy enough to train for a marathon during the summer in Atlanta, so unfortunately there aren't any groups training right now. Tina, who works for the Atlanta Track Club, offered to help me train for Chicago and will be running with me once a week through October. It's so nice to have her guidance and this morning she definitely pushed my speed a bit. We weren't breaking any records, but it was definitely faster than I would have run on my own. It's always nice to have some company too.

Anyway, I felt pretty good along the run. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about 6.2 right now since I've taken a couple of weeks off from running before Tuesday, but I really wasn't struggling. Next weekend I need to get a 7 mile run in at some point around all of the festivities of my sister's wedding. I'm not really sure how that's going to work out, but I'll get there! Luckily, Illinois is a little more runner-friendly than it is here (temperature-wise, at least!).

Tomorrow I need to get some weight training in, but with an overnight trip to Memphis, that could be tough. I think it's going to be an early morning (I think I need to break down and just get used to it) to fit it all in!

Treadmill time

2008-06-13T18:53:00.002-04:00

I max out on the treadmill (from boredom) at about 5 miles, but tonight it my tolerance was even lower. I found myself staring down the the clock and mileage waiting to be done...but I made it. It doesn't help that my iPod died part-way through the workout. I did get my usual 30 minute Friday abs class in and then ran 3 miles.

Tomorrow is a rest day and then Sunday I'll be running at the Chattahoochee trail at 7 a.m. Sunday's run is 6 miles. Have a great weekend!

Trying to become a morning person!

2008-06-12T11:10:00.002-04:00

My goal as of 6 p.m. last night was a 6 a.m. run this morning. At about 10:30, it got shifted to 7 a.m. Well, I'm still not a morning person, so I got out the door around 8. Since it was only a 3 mile run, I still had plenty of time to run, shower and be ready to start my work day at 9. Luckily, it wasn't too hot at 8, but before too long I'm going to have to force myself into bed at 10 and out at 6.

Today's run was good! There's a great 1.3 mile loop across the street from my apartment, so I ran it about 2 and a half times and then walked back through the park. It's a great place to run - up to about 5 miles. Then it's just too repetitive. There are a ton of runners that live around here and with the Peachtree Road Race just around the corner, lots of people are putting the miles.

And I'm off!

2008-06-10T20:57:00.003-04:00

Training has officially started and, I have to say, San Fran is
probably the best place I could have asked for to begin this journey. I had forgotten how beautiful it is here and how cool it can be - perfect for a good run! As you can see from the picture (courtesy of my camera phone - sorry!), today is cloudless and just perfect. I got in a 3 mile run today and decided that instead of running about 1.5 miles out and coming back, I'd run 3 miles out and enjoy the day a little more with a 3 mile walk back. It was amazing and I wish I had more time to run out here. The Atlanta heat on Thursday morning won't be fun. I'm hoping for two more 3 mile runs this week (Thursday and Friday) and then my long run on Sunday - probably 6 or 7 miles.

Anyway, it's back to Atlanta for me tomorrow morning and then a belated birthday dinner with a few friends. Tonight I'm meeting up with my cousin Danielle, so it will be great to catch up with her!

Thanks to everyone that wished me a happy birthday today! It's been a pretty great day! It would be nice to celebrate with everyone in Atlanta today, but it really has been a great one and I feel really good about this year (although I feel really good about every year I think).

Almost Ready!

2008-06-09T23:34:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was supposed to start marathon training, but I seem to have taken on a bit too much. On top of being totally exhausted from some crazy travel (I got back from Orlando -enjoy the picture from Holly's Bachelorette Weekend- on Sunday afternoon and flew to San Francisco this morning), I also had an allergic reaction to the sun over the weekend after only a few hours in the sun . Everything compounded, I'm giving myself a couple of days off and will start the training tomorrow. The good news is that I'm in California, so there should be some great sightseeing during the run! It also happens to be my 27th birthday, so a couple of fun milestones on the same day! My first long run will be on Sunday, but should only be 6 or 7 miles, so I'm in good shape!

Check back June 8th!

2008-05-16T21:54:00.004-04:00

So, I'm not going to hit this up too much until my training starts on June 8th. Between now and then I have a lot of living to do before my life is sacrificed to the marathon. I'm very excited about this new challenge and after three half-marathons, I need to prove to myself that I can do this! My friend Maria will be running with me as well, so you may see her name pop up a time or two as well. Three more weeks until training begins - I think I have a beer or two that need to be consumed in the meantime!