Marathons and Memories...Ciao! Ciao! 2012

So I totally slacked on my blog writing in 2012. It hasn't been for a lack of topics; but with sitting at a computer for close to 10 hours a day, that's the last thing I want to do when I get home. That said, it's been quite a busy, stressful and altogether wonderful few months...well, year.

Anyone who knows me knows that running is a true passion of mine, and 2012 has been quite the year running-wise. I scored a PR running the NYC Half (1:40), came in first place in my age group at two races, second in another, and third in two others. And then came the St. Jude Marathon. I've run the half every year since 2007, but decided to go for the full (my second) this year. I didn't make the decision lightly, but felt I was ready to take on 26.2 again and thought there’s no better race to do it than St. Jude – and certainly no greater cause. Well, it didn't go so well...but I crossed the finish line. And for that, I'm proud. My Dad was right; it was my "best" race yet!

It's been an INCREDIBLE year travel-wise. Brent and I flew across the pond and spent two amazing weeks in Italy last spring. Rome > Siena > Florence > Venice. Trip of a lifetime doesn't come close to describing it! Also for pleasure, I went to New York, then Hartford and Cape Cod for my cousin's wedding, Brent and I went Atlanta for Labor Day, Tampa and Clearwater Beach for a dear friend's wedding and a quick trip to Orlando, since Brent was already there for work. Speaking of which, 2012 took me to Houston, Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, Boston, Asheville, Charlotte, Minneapolis, San Francisco and finally, Nashville. Phew! It's been almost two months since my last flight...starting to get antsy!

Work-wise, I certainly can't complain either. And not just for the travel, though obviously that was a nice treat. This month, I celebrate five wonderful years at Mahaffey. When I started, my position was brand new. I've had the opportunity to mold it into exactly what I want it to be and do more than I ever imagined I could in a "marketing" role. I'm so honored to not only have a job but a true career. 2012 also brought me a FABULOUS new assistant, Kristin. She has ambition, takes initiative and I can count on her to gets things done whether I'm in or out of the office. I love what I do and who I work with, which makes it a little less like work. For all that, I am so very thankful.

Other-wise, life has been pretty great as well. Brent and I both turned 30, we celebrated five years of marriage and 10 years of being together. We took our first (and certainly not last) trip to Europe. I became an aunt again. Got Medallion status back on Delta. Joined the USGBC Memphis Board. Was published in three publications. Got accepted into the 2013 NYC Half (3 years in a row, whoop!)...but unfortunately gave up my spot since I'm going to be there the following week for a conference.

Though I've always been thankful for the many blessings in life, I don't think I've ever quite felt as happy as I do at this very moment. Everything is exactly as it should be. I love my little family, Buster the Boston Terrier especially. ;) I love my job. I love being an aunt. I love my family and friends. I love the new leather pants I wore to ring in the new year (despite my almost Ross moment when they got a bit sticky after the random dance party broke out). I love to run. I love to travel. And I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for all of the above!

2012 St. Jude Marathon

I've run the St. Jude Half Marathon every year since 2007, but decided to go for the full (my second) this year. I didn't make the decision lightly, but felt ready to take on 26.2 again and thought there’s no better race to do it than St. Jude and certainly no greater cause.

Training, at least the first half of it, went very well. This was the first distance race I've trained for completely solo, which was a bit scary. But even with a hectic travel schedule, I still managed to get in all my long runs. I kept up a good weekday training schedule as well, though I didn't focus nearly enough on the speed and tempo workouts. All the runs up to 18 miles were fantastic. I felt good, nothing was hurting and truly enjoyed logging the miles. Then it went downhill. IT band pain combined with two falls thanks to having the grace of a toddler makes for a crappy last month of training.

Fast forward to the week of the marathon, and I was finally feeling better. The first 13.1 went great, and I even got to run it with my fabulous assistant, Kristin. Around mile 14, sh** got bad. My legs started cramping up and it never went away. I collapsed three times and pretty much had to walk the entire second half. I had pumped myself full of potassium, was well hydrated the entire week leading up to the race and even carried Powerade the day of, and didn't drink a sip of alcohol that week (that was probably my big mistake). Anyway, despite sobbing through the last five miles, I managed to run jog hobble across the finish line at 4:41. I wouldn't have been able to make it without the incredible support of my Dad, Brent, Autumn, Michael and Kristin. And the sweet people and even a few runners along the course who stopped to help me. Thank you all SO much!!

Whether it was an electrolyte issue, dehydration, the heat, pushing too hard the first half or just a bad day, I'll never know. What I do know is that I'll do another full. Can't go out like that. ;)

 Feeling good

 Kristin and me

Trying to keep pushing

And, I'm spent...

Finally some down time...

Where do I begin? Thankfully the summer was relatively quiet as far as travel goes, with the exception of my cousin Missy's FABULOUS wedding in Cape Cod in late June! Things were a bit stressful for the Wilsons after we got back from Italy, so it was nice to take it easy for a month or two.

Soon, though, a crazy couple months of travel ensued for both B and me. I definitely can't complain; it's been incredibly rewarding both personally and professionally.

It started with a trip to Boston in mid-August for a marketing conference and business development meeting. What an amazing, productive trip that was! A tour of Harvard, running along the Charles River and through MIT campus, shopping on Newbury Street, people watching...I've been to Boston twice before, but never experienced it like this. That city is so alive, and I can't wait to go back!

The next week I drove to Joplin, Missouri, to visit a few of our customers get some pics and video footage of our products in action, thanks to a handy Flip cam. It’s so sad to see all the devastation there, but also incredible to see how quickly the town has bounced back. I was able to swing through Fayetteville, Arkansas, on my way home and take my handsome cousins to dinner. So much fun! And how did they get this old?!

Asheville, North Carolina, was next. I’m now part of the local USGBC chapter, so they asked me to attend a leadership conference for our region. Not only was it a tremendous opportunity for networking and professional growth, but I got to stay at the Grove Park Inn, which was absolutely stunning! Can't wait to go back with B!

After that, it was off to Atlanta for Labor Day weekend. We stayed with Brent's brother and his wife in their beautiful new home and had an AMAZING three days. Lots of football, bar hopping, shopping (duh), eating, and more. I even got to do my long run on the Silver Comet Trail. If you’re a runner or bike rider, I highly recommend it!

My 30th birthday was September 8. B took me to dinner at Restaurant Iris (my fave!) and invited my Sis and brother-in-law to come with us, which was such a treat! The next day we drove to Nashville for a friend’s engagement party and the Titans game. And Monday I got to have dinner with my entire family. So blessed!

Later the following week was a work conference in Minneapolis. Networking, marketing, great meals, fun conversations and chilly temperatures. So great! I sooo wanted to stop by Mall of America while we were there, but with it only being a two-day trip, there was no time. Boo. On our last day, we had a 3am wake up call to catch a 5am flight. Combine that with a 2+ hour layover in Atlanta, half a day in the office and one of the most fun races (Cooper Young 4-miler) of the year, I was pooped.

Brent's had his fair share of travel as well. Three trips to Phoenix for training, another in Minneapolis and most recently, New York.

This week, I was in Houston for another conference. It was trying to say the least, being the only female in a room full of professional engineers (so out of my league). But being able to overrule an engineering spec and write a section of a published Recommended Practice, I'd say it was a success!

This weekend, we finally get to take a long, much needed deep breath. Saturday is actually our five-year anniversary, and we've got a super fun, low-key few days planned!

Next weekend, we're off to Tampa for one of B’s best friend’s wedding. We are staying at a swanky hotel right on the beach, and I CAN'T WAIT!!

Then things slow down a bit...for me anyway. B will be traveling quite a bit for work in October. Good thing I'm not training for a marathon or anything. ;)

Reflecting on what's important

It's so easy to get wrapped up in everyday life, an ever-expanding workload and what we think should be our priorities. The stress of what's been a roller coaster of the past couple months has really weighed on me these last few weeks, which may or may not have been why I drank heavily came down with a cold. Nevertheless, the downtime gave me time to reflect on what’s really important. And for that, I'm extremely thankful.

Time to reflect on B's new job. I couldn't be more proud of my hubby! While he's going to be traveling about 40% of the year, this is an absolutely incredible opportunity for him...for us. It's going to be an adjustment for sure, but we are partners. And that's what a partnership is about.

Time to reflect on my job. I've been so stressed with work lately, mainly because it's never been so busy. That said, I've also never enjoyed it more. A lot of that has to do with my new assistant, who in less than a month is already making my job easier. I'm getting to do more things, furthering my education and finally feel at a place where I can be productive. It's a good place to be!

Time to reflect on marathon training. Training for marathon #2 started today, whoop! I almost forgot how much dedication and commitment it takes to prepare for 26.2, especially when you're doing it solo. And then I looked at my training plan...whew. Thankfully (in large part to my Dad) I've found a love for swimming, and with 3 days of scheduled rest or cross training, I have a good feeling about the next 4 months.

Time to reflect on family. When it's all said and done, friends come and go. Family is the only constant in this world, and there's truly no greater gift in life. Family is what's important, and those are the people worth making time for.

Here's a parting thought just because it seems fitting. That Dr. Seuss sure was a wise man!

Expanding my {fitness} horizons

Injury...a word avid runners come to know well. Or at least most of them.

A little over a month ago, I injured my left knee during a race. I had just taken two weeks off while the hubby and I were in Italy, and I had maybe squeezed in a week and a half of decent runs before taking home my FIRST first place finish (whoop!) at Zoom Through the Zoo. I felt great after, but then the next morning my knee had swollen to the size of a grapefruit.

A few days later, after trip to the orthopedic doctor, I was diagnosed with fluid buildup and put on anti-inflammatory meds and a light-intensity workout plan. Needless to say, a mild case of depression set in.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am rather passionate about running. One might call it obsessed. But obviously I've had to transform my training for the time being...and I have LOVED every minute of it!!

For the past month or so, I've been alternating swimming 2-3 times a week and biking at least 2 days. The biking has been somewhat satisfying, but the swimming...I never knew I would enjoy it this much!

A HUGE thank you to my dad, who paid for a month's membership for me at the Y, so I could see if I liked it. Not only is it something we can do together, but it's so much better for my joints, and my body just feels different. Who knows. Maybe there's a tri in my future?! For the time being, though, I think I'll stick with individual workouts. :)

New workout view!

Today was the first Road Race Series race of the year. I promised myself to keep it slow, so as not to injure my knee again. I kept a super slow pace (at least for the first 2 miles), finishing with my worst 5K time to date. But I'm not upset in the least. It was super fun, a new course, and my knee is feeling good.

Anyway, I'd have to say that my fitness horizons have definitely expanded. And regardless of how good the knee (hopefully) continues to feel, I'm going to keep up with the cross training.

Marathon training begins in less than a month!!

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm loving the AMAZING weather today! Makes me want to go outside and run for hours.

I'm loving that I am running with a new group of girls tomorrow morning. Can't wait! Speaking of running, I entered the lottery for the ING NYC Marathon today. Highly doubt I'll get in, but it's an exciting possibility! I also signed up for the Walt Disney World Marathon in January. Sooo pumped!

I'm loving that my hubby's 30th birthday is this Saturday, which just so happens to be the same day as Hot Wing Fest. Hey Oh!

I'm loving that I barely even have a scar from my skin cancer surgery two weeks ago. So thankful they caught it in time, and the fact that my regular dermatologist recommended I go to Levy Dermatology for the actual procedure. Dr. Levy did an incredible job, and his staff is just wonderful!

I'm loving EL James' Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. I don't particularly care for its classification as "mommy porn," and you do have to get past its (way) more-than-mediocre writing and lack of editing, as it was initially a self-published e-book (keep in mind it didn't go through a rigorous editing process like most books, especially a #1 New York Times Bestseller). I read the first book, all 500+ pages of it, in less than 3 days. Crazy fast for me. Beneath the surface, the story – and the message, too, I guess – is quite captivating. It's been a wonderful escape. It's also...well...let's just say that my husband doesn't have much to complain about regarding my choice of reading material. ;) And as Vicky Ward, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, so perfectly puts it, "It's a brilliant psychological thriller – albeit a horribly written one." And here's another fab article from Newsweek, for those so inclined.

Oh yeah...and I'm loving that we leave for Italy in NINE DAYS!!!!

What are you loving today?

For the love of running...

To say that I love running would be a slight understatement. It is truly my passion, and I'm so thankful for everything it's given back to me.

I consider myself extremely lucky to be healthy enough physically to be able to run as much as I do. I've run nine half marathons, one full, more 5ks and 10ks than I can count, racked up 1000+ miles in both 2010 and 2011, and have a plethora of finisher medals to showcase it all.

But aside from the material gains, it also keeps me in shape. I don't have to be training for a specific race, though that always helps of course. Just putting one foot in front of the other, picking up the pace when I feel like it, 4-5 days a week...that's all it takes.

Going a step further, it's provided me with more emotional benefits than I ever imagined. As of late, my stress level has been through the roof. With everything going on in my personal life (and quite possibly most definitely over-analyzing it all, being the type-A that I am), trying to fit in time with my niece, other family members, and friends when I can, working 50+ hours a week (by choice, so that's on me), and the list could go on... Needless to say, running has been my saving grace as far as stress goes. It's my time to de-stress, my time to think (or not), and my time to just zone out.

Furthermore, I've gained a new best friend in my running buddy, Autumn. Though she and I went to high school and college together and were in the same sorority, we were never really close. We were in the same "circle" of friends, but I guess we just never took the time to really get to know each other. We've been running together for over three years now. In that time, we've run more miles than I can count, shared more stories than I can remember, and confided in each other over everything from marriage and work issues to our monthly cycles and bowel movements...yep. While training for the marathon last year, Autumn injured her foot and could barely walk. However, she couldn't stand for me to be out there training alone, especially with this being my first, so she rode her bike along side me...all 18+ miles, on three different occasions. Same with the St. Jude Half this year. She wasn't hurt, but she had taken some time off and wasn't ready to run. So she made her way out to four different mile markers to cheer me on. Now that's a friend. For anyone else who feels like this about their running partner, I HIGHLY suggest you read Mile Markers. You won't be disappointed.

I'm also thankful for all the tools we as runners are given. Whether it's the latest and greatest pair of running shoes (Asics Gel Nimbus are my new fave!), a new flavor of Gu (they should so sponsor me), my super awesome tights or Under Armor gear to stay warm in the 32 and below weather, I'd say we're set!

I wouldn't say I'm obsessed with running, but I do have the utmost appreciation for it. But as Paula Radcliffe would say, "I can't imagine living and not running. " :)

Pure happiness :)

Autumn & me before St. Jude 2010!

Good friends and God's message

Whew, what a weekend!

After work on Friday, I headed to the gym for my weekly fix of Anthony's Extreme Fitness class. It continued with a wonderful night in, with crab-stuffed salmon and veggies, thanks to my hubby's EXCELLENT grilling skills. We watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes (which is a great movie, P.S.), and called it a night around 11:30. It was just what I needed to end such a crazy work week.

Saturday started a little later than usual, as I slept in until almost 9! I made a serving of my new obsession: organic oatmeal, and then got dressed and headed to Sports Authority to pick up some new running gear. Brent got me a fabulous Nike Dry-fit pullover, but I needed something thin to go under it. I also bought a new pair of New Balance compression running tights. Can't wait to run in and post my review of them!

After that, I made my way to the office for a few hours. A little bummed at first, knowing how beautiful it was outside, but I had an 11-mile training run planned, so I knew I'd have plenty of time with nature. As crazy as it sounds, Saturdays might possibly be my favorite day to work. I got more done in the 3 hours I was there by myself than I do in just about any regular 8-10 hour weekday. I was able to get in, get what I needed to do done, and get out. So thankful for that.

By about 2:30 p.m., I was running through Shelby Farms making my way to the Greenline. It was a wonderful run...11 miles at an 8:46 pace. My new PR training plan had me scheduled to stay at 9:02, so I was super happy with the pace. Not so happy about the soreness, though. Feeling like my feet are scraping the pavement + no more arch support + sore knees = new shoes needed pronto...and a trip to Fleet Feet.

Saturday night, we met up with a big group of friends at Blind Bear, a new speakeasy-themed bar in Downtown Memphis. It was fabulous, but of course you can’t really complain being in a super fun place with super fun people (except for the fact that they allow smoking...my only complaint). You have to say the code to get in (LOVE it!), and as you walk through it’s like a normal bar, with the exception of the fabulous prohibition-era décor. The bar area is large and open, which is welcome for a Downtown establishment. We had the "secret" room reserved, which is set up behind the bar. In the dark, hidden room filled with more 20's-style items, we were able to sit comfortably on a couch or ottoman, watch whatever game was playing at the time (Go Grizz!), and see through to the rest of the bar. Gotta love a two-way mirror! After {mostly} good conversation and some great libations, a few of us wandered down to Local Gastropub: ole faithful for a good meal.

Sunday was seriously the most AMAZING day! We woke up relatively early for once and made it to church to hear one of the best sermons I’ve heard in a long time. Do you ever get that feeling that God’s message is completely directed toward you? That’s how I felt yesterday. We're in an "I Quit" series right now, and the topic was Quit Comparing. After the intense struggle of the past few months (more so, the past two years), I don’t think I ever needed to hear what was said more than I did then. "Stop comparing your situation to others and thinking that life is unfair. Be thankful for the many blessings in your life." Our pastor talked about wishing for a better job, more money, and other things we so often take advantage of and envy others for. And then he spent about five minutes covering "everyone around you is getting pregnant and you're not. Be thankful for the life you're living, the blessings in it, and stop comparing your situation to others." Wow...talk about reaching into my soul. I was sobbing, of course, but it was such a wonderful, powerful message. And it couldn't have come at a better time. It's a God thing. SO very thankful!

After that, Brent and I went to our usual brunch spot, and then my precious niece Bailey came over and we began our afternoon of fun (her words, not mine). First, we went through the car wash. You would've thought I took her to Disney World! :) Next, we met up with my best friend Erika and her two sons at Chuck E. Cheese. I'm not sure if Bailey's been before, but she sure had a blast! Anything with cute animals that moved, she was all about it. Aside from quality time with B, it was so great to finally see my bestie. We don't get to spend nearly enough time together, due to our crazy opposite schedules, so it was very much needed. She has always been there for me, through more experiences than I can even try to remember. And no matter how insane our lives get, we always pick up right where we left off. {Thankful!} After that, B tagged along for my weekly trip to the grocery store. She's becoming one of my favorite shopping partners.

That night, Brent made homemade turkey burgers and chipotle sweet potato fries. Yum!! I'm so spoiled. After the last football game ended, we tuned into the Golden Globes. Perfection (not the show, just the day in general).

This morning, Autumn and I had the chance to run together since she was off work for MLK Day...teachers, ugh. ;) Not only is she my running inspiration, but she has truly become another spiritual mentor. She helps relate so many things to God and what he has in store for us both, and that's not an easy thing to come by where friends are concerned. So thankful for her and our brief but wonderful 5-mile run!

Okay, sorry for the novel that is this post. Happy Monday, everyone!

Another new PR!

I keep hearing "it’s not about the destination...it's about the journey." Though it's quite the cliché, I couldn't agree more, especially when talking about running.

Although I trained for my first full marathon, I really didn't think I would break 1,000 miles for the year. As soon as the marathon was over, I wouldn't say I totally slacked off, but I definitely took a break from distance running.

Thankfully the Memphis Runners Track Club Road Race Series started up in the summer, so I got back on a regular training schedule. My shorter-race times were nothing to be proud of, but my competitive switch must have turned back on, because even my training runs were steadily getting better. Now that could be from the amped up training, or it could've been the fact that I'm ALWAYS running late so I had to pick up the pace...who knows (or more appropriately, who cares).

Regardless, thanks to MapMyRun (and the iMapMyRun app), I've been able to log every single run for the year. And a HUGE thanks to Fleet Feet Sports for putting me in the BEST shoes, to Gu Energy Gels for keeping me alive during those 20+ mile training runs, and to my physical therapist, my friend Autumn, Brent, my parents, and so many friends and family for your support and inspiration. The total for 2011?

1,170 miles!!!!

Did you know that's the distance from Memphis to Cheyenne, Wyoming? You didn't? Me either...I googled it. :)

Cheers to a great year of running!

2011 NYC Half (which I just found out I got into again for 2012!!!)

2011 Country Music Marathon!

Half marathon PR!

I'm famous!

Buster and me heading out for a night run!

Can't wait to see what 2012 has in store!

A new PR and a new train of thought!

Once again, it's been what seems like forever since my last post. I've actually had a lot to say lately, just haven't had the time to type it out. Well, that and the fact that I sit at a computer all day. So when I get home or finally have time to myself on the weekend, I'm anywhere but near a computer. But…I really am going to start making time to write more.

With that said, I am so excited to post about my latest race: the St. Jude Half Marathon! I went into it telling myself it's okay if you don't PR {really, you're not going to PR, so get it out of your mind}, and it's okay if you don't even get below 1:50 {which don't get me wrong is an awesome time...but that's a stretch, so you may as well make it 2:00}. This year has been quite wacky health-wise: overcoming the most excruciating pain ever with a kidney stone episode during the peak of my marathon training, changing the dosage of my PCOS medication THREE times, having two other kidney stone episodes, and then finding out about a spine issue.

Needless to say, my mileage decreased significantly. To my surprise, I have been just fine with that. I've wanted to decrease it anyway, trying to put more focus on getting pregnant now that my PCOS condition is somewhat under control.

But who am I kidding? I'm a competitive person, and though I went in believing trying to tell myself I was okay with a slower than PR time, I knew I wouldn't be in the long run (no pun intended :).

I started with the 3:30 marathon pace group and stayed with them the entire time. Running through St. Jude campus and seeing my dad right when we entered...seeing all those precious kids and their families cheering so loud for the St. Jude Heroes...the encouragement of super awesome and random runners along the way, especially our pacer Kevin...one of my closest friends and running buddy, Autumn, finding me at several spots along the route...and finally crossing that finish line knowing I had beat my PR by 4 minutes with an average pace at sub 8 minutes...that was truly a proud moment for me.

I'm not sure if it was all the shorter-distance races we ran, having trained for a marathon - even if it was 8 months prior, knowing everything I had overcome this year, or just setting a goal and knowing that I could reach it. Whatever it was, I sure was happy with the outcome!

The starting line {that guy in front of me was hilarious!}

Running down Beale Street!

the final .5!

Yes, I beat her!! :)

Such a great race!

Can't wait for my next 13.1...or 26.2. Who knows! :) Regardless, I'm going to stop obsessing about getting in X miles before a race. Training is still important obviously, but as long as I'm running and pushing myself, that's what really matters.

It's Marathon Time!

The husband and I are off to Nashville!! I thought I'd have a harder time with this, knowing I'd be running by myself...but I have to say, it's kinda awesome to know that I'm fulfilling a dream - all on my own and just for me. It's also pretty cool that it's just Brent and me going together. He's been so supportive throughout my training, and I'm so thankful we get to experience this together (well, sort of). :)

I'm ready to run!!

And here's the sign I'm putting on my back (thanks for the idea, George!):

Three Days until the Marathon!

Getting so excited for Saturday!! Even with all the tornado watch and warning madness, I made the executive decision to head to the gym after work. My gym is underground, so I figured that would be the safest place for me anyway. :) It was an awesome spin class, and I'm so glad I went!

Today is a 5-mile run day. Really hoping the rain stops like it's supposed to this afternoon so I can get that in. Otherwise, it's back to the gym and on the treadmill I go...anyone who knows me knows I HATE the treadmill. I'd rather run for three hours outside than even three minutes indoors. I've really tried to bite my tongue about complaining about the weather, though, because Saturday is still looking gorgeous for 26.2! As I knock on wood...

To keep things positive, I wanted to share some of my favorite quotes:

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."
-Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
and
"Every day gives you an opportunity to improve. With every run, you can try to be better. Not just a better runner, but a better person."
-John Bingham

"I don't think you can become an outstanding runner unless you get a certain amount of enjoyment out of the suffering. You have to enjoy absorbing it, controlling it, and - ultimately - overcoming it."
-Derek Clayton in The Masters of the Marathon

"The more you frame the marathon as a stressful experience, the more negative messages you'll receive. But it's just as easy to frame it as a positively challenging journey."
-Jeff Galloway in an excerpt from Runner's World Magazine

"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about."
-PattiSue Plumer, U.S. Olympian

"I can't imagine living and not running."
-Paula Radcliffe

"Do the work. Do the analysis. But feel your run. Feel your race. Feel the joy that is running."
-Kara Goucher (my HERO!)

Time to Cross Train Tuesday!

Four full days 'til the marathon!! Woop! Today and Thursday are my cross-training days, so I'm heading to spin class after work...providing I'm not swept away by yet another tornado outbreak.

Haha! This isn't me, obviously, but I thought it was an appropriate pic. :)

While I believe this marks the 20th day in a row (or something ridiculous like that) that we've been under a tornado watch, I have to say I'd much rather it be like this now than over the weekend. The forecast is calling for sunny skies and mid-70s for Nashvegas this Saturday. Praying it stays that way! :)

It's Marathon Week!

I promise to cool it on the running talk after this week...until then, I apologize for the daily pre-marathon posts. :) Though this post is more about my awesome weekend.

First of all, I hope everyone had as wonderful a weekend as I did! There's nothing better than spending time with family and friends - the people you love most - especially on the holiest of weekends.

Good Friday was spent mostly at work, though I can't complain too much, as I got so much done and it was a super positive day. That night, I went out with my BEST friend in the world, Erika. It was such a fun, low-key night...very much needed for both of us. We saw Water for Elephants, which I just finished reading (a must-read for those who like the fantasy genre). I'm quite enamored with Robert Pattinson, I love Reese Witherspoon, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book, so needless to say, I really enjoyed the movie. After that, we went to Fox & Hound for dinner, a couple drinks, and some great conversation. Love you, Erika!!

Fun pic from Erika's bday last month!

Saturday, I did an easy 8.5 miles with Autumn. It was bittersweet when we parted ways at our "corner," as it's been a fun (and not-so-fun at times) few months getting to train with her. I know she's still upset not being able to run this one just for fun. But her foot is healing, and that's the most important thing. I made it through those long runs because of her training regimen and encouragement, and I am so thankful for her!

That afternoon, I ran a few errands and picked out my fabulous outfit for the marathon (pics to come this week). Then Brent and I headed to my favorite Downtown Memphis spot Local Gastropub to grab a few drinks and some great food before the AWESOME Grizzlies playoff game. We had such a blast...THANKS AGAIN to George for the sweet tickets! We had a blast!! After the game, we made our way to Silly Goose...and got pretty silly.

Andrea and me at Local!

Good times!

Go Grizz!!

Kellie and me at Silly Goose!

Easter Sunday was spent with my hubby and amazing family. What a beautiful day it was to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. And what better way to do it than with those you love. :)

Happy Easter!!

Here's to a great week and just a few more days of running before 26.2!!

10 Days Until the Marathon!

Only 10 days until the marathon!! Just wanted to share a fun link for those who want to track my progress: https://www.competitorwireless.com/web/events/trackathlete.

Looking forward to an easy 8-miler this Saturday...and picking up my custom shirt! :)

A Festivus Weekend!

What started out as a laid back weekend quickly turned into two days of "I think I'm still in college" madness. It was super fun, don't get me wrong...but as I like to say, I'm never drinking again. :) I sure hope I don't look as bad as I feel today!

Friday was a very much needed chill night, as last week was packed with 10-hour work days and one event after the other. Plus, Brent was out of town most of the week for work, so he was happy to stay in.

Saturday was quite the different story. Autumn and I met up at 7:30 and headed over to the Greenline for a fun 12 miles (so cool that I can say fun about 12 miles now!). We finished in about 1:45, then recovered with a hearty breakfast at Republic Coffee. After that, I ran by Mrs. Post Stationery to pick up my sis' wedding invitations (which are absolutely GORGEOUS and I can't wait to blog about them!) before heading home to get ready.

Saturday was also the annual Southern Hot Wing Festival, which Brent of course is on a team for. He had to be out there at 7 am, which wouldn't have been bad except the weather did a complete 180 on us. While running, it was a brisk 58 degrees, and I was happy in shorts and a thin long sleeve shorts. However, by about noon, the temperature had dropped at least 10 degrees and it looked like the bottom of the sky was going to fall out. Needless to say, it wasn't the best day for a festival. Luckily I came prepared and dressed for the cold temps. After saying a brief hello to the hubby, I met up with my friends and co-workers Angela and Victoria. We proceeded to make our way throughout the fest, stopping by the Celebrity Eating Contest (which Angela was coordinating), and mingling with just about everyone (I have come to the realization that Angela knows every single person in Memphis). :) Despite the cold and dreary weather, alcohol and good company quickly turned our frowns upside down!

After the sun finally made its appearance :)

It was an early evening for us...though by that time, 8 pm felt a lot like 2 am.

After passing out for a few hours, we surprised ourselves by making it to the early service at church on Sunday, went grocery shopping, tried without success to make it to the Farmer's Market (little did we know it's not open on Sundays), then it was back Downtown with Victoria and Angela. The three of us have been wanting to meet up at Local Gastropub for brunch for quite some time, as Angela's husband is the head chef there. Just last week, we held my sister's bridal shower there, and it was amazing...so I was very excited to go back. Almost four hours, a lot of drinks, fabulous conversation, minimal (but amazing) food, and some fun pictures later, here we are:

Friends!!

Beer!

While at Local, I also ran into my friend and former co-worker, Andrea...SO great to see her! I was somehow able to remember that I was supposed to meet up with Brent and composed myself enough to walk around the corner to the annual Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival. A few more drinks and lots of old friends later, here we are:

Brent and I outside The Pier

Gotta love the bromance!

Sunday night, I was very fortunate to have (a) sobered up and (b) the opportunity to go play with my precious niece Bailey. My dad, or "Papa" as Bailey calls him, had her all day, as my little sis Ashley was taken to the hospital for an abscess on her tonsil. How awful! Thankfully she's home now and doing much better. I so enjoyed that time with both my dad and sweet B. We practiced our handstands (girl after my own heart!), ate dinner, sang the Barney theme song, and watched a couple of her favorite shows before bedtime. Love!!

It was a long, eventful weekend, but not long enough as always...I feel so blessed to have such amazing friends and family (one dear friend in particular I wish I had more time with!!). But I have to say I am very much looking forward to a weekend of doing absolutely nothing...with the exception of the Grizzlies playoff game and a fun dinner to celebrate the birth of my husband on Saturday evening! :)

Tapering Before the Marathon

The marathon is three weeks from today...ahh!!

I am so thankful to finally feel good about it. After a great 20.5 miles on April 2, followed by this past Saturday's 14 miles, I can honestly say I am READY!

Originally, my goal was to run up to 24 miles and then start tapering. But that quickly changed after finding comfort in a "less is more" plan. Well...that and not being able to get past the wall that was 18 miles. The new plan was to get through 18-20 miles (thankfully I was strong enough for the latter!), push back to 14-15 miles the next week, 10-12 miles the following week, and then just 8 miles the week before the marathon. I'll of course be mixing in light runs and spin class during the week.

Here's to 10-12 miles this Saturday and two and a half weeks 'til race day!! :)

Take that, 20 miles!

For those who don't know, my first 20-mile training run didn't go that well. So needless to say, I was pretty nervous about this go-round. Not only was I running this ridiculous distance alone (again), but I was also concerned about how my knees were going to hold up.

I've been going to physical therapy for a little over a month now, and it's amazing how much it has helped. The stretching and strengthening exercises for my IT bands (the root of my knee issues) have truly worked wonders. I've also been reading up on the Hanson's "less is more" training plan.

I had planned to run 18-20 miles on Saturday, but really just wanted to get through whatever my body would let me. I am SO excited to say that I made it through 20.5 miles, and I actually felt good afterward! I only stopped at mile 8 to take Gu, mile 11 to stretch for 30 seconds, mile 15 to take another packet of Gu, and mile 17 to stretch for 30 seconds. A few months ago, I would've beat myself up for stopping at all. But seeing as how I have been doing the "run a mile walk 30 seconds" plan for so long, yet didn't feel the need to do that this time (my longest run EVER), I was extremely proud of myself!

No music, no running buddy...just me and the open road. Bring it, Country Music Marathon!

20.5 miles courtesy of Casey at OrthoMemphis, a harsh ice bath, and so many people who have encouraged me throughout my training. :)

P.S. I am SO getting a shirt made like this!

Marathon Training: 20 miles...or not

So...Saturday was scheduled to be my longest run to-date: 20 miles.

I started out feeling good, though I had to deal with colder than normal temps and a slightly nagging knee pain. Oh yeah, and I was going to be running all 20 totally alone. I haven't run with music in over three years, so I didn't want to mess with my routine this far in. So off I went...

About six miles in, my left knee started screaming at me. Awesome. It's always been my right knee and/or hip giving me issues, while the left side never justified so much as a thought. I started walking for a few minutes to see if that helped, then tried to run a mile or two. Not so much. I pushed through the pain, knowing how stupid that was (side note: after the 2007 St. Jude Half Marathon, I had to take 8 months off from running due to completely screwing up my knee and IT band) and made it through 12 miles. Granted the last six were mostly a brisk walk, but I still marked it down as a solid 12.

After basically crawling up my driveway in pain, I completely broke down. About 1,000 thoughts ran through my head...how did I get here again? Why did I even sign up for the marathon? Can I really do this? I'm so not enjoying running right now...wait, what did I just say?! Ugh, I hate this!

Then it hit me. I did this to myself!! I got so wrapped up in the amazing "runner's high" that many of us runners experience, and that's all I did. No cross training mixed in, if I stretched at all it was nowhere near enough, and my mindset was totally off.

That was it...that was the day I decided to start singing a different tune. I immediately called OrthoMemphis and set up an appointment for physical therapy. The one good thing about meeting your extremely high insurance deductible? Everything else for the year is FREE!! :) I also started reading Marathoning the Hansons' Way, which follows the less-is-more plan (booya 20-miler!). We'll see how it goes!

Wish me luck...more to come on my training and PT experience!

Marathon Training: 18 miles!

I haven't done a very good job of logging my training, but I promise to start!

Today was 18, and I have to admit I was EXTREMELY nervous! It's been almost three weeks since the kidney stone ordeal, and my longest run has been 16 miles (the day I went to the ER).

14 miles was a breeze. Autumn and I actually started our run/walk plan (run a mile, walk 30 seconds, run a mile, walk 30 seconds, etc.) for this distance, and it worked really well. With this being my longest distance ever, you can imagine the uneasiness. My legs did start feeling a little like lead come mile 12, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I feared. 16 miles was even better. I didn't feel achy at all during the run...though we all know what happened after. :/

But 18...I wasn't sure how this was going to go. Autumn had just informed me that she wouldn't be doing the marathon, as she has a stress fracture in her foot. As much as it bums me that I won't be running with her (my awesome motivator), I know it's eating her alive not to be able to run with me. This was going to be her first "just for fun" marathon, and she won't be able to do it. :(

However, Autumn came up with an awesome plan to keep me on track. I would run the first 9-10 by myself, then she would catch up and ride her bike next to me the rest of the way. It sounds so silly...and I'm quite sure it looked exactly like that. But it worked! She set her gears to the lowest setting and encouraged me the entire 8 miles back to our car! (We have come to LOVE the Shelby Farms Greenline for training, so I left her to get some studying done at Republic Coffee, ran 9 miles one way, turned around, got a mile back, then we finished together.)

While she was itching to get in some exercise as well, Autumn definitely could've gone off and done her own thing on the bike...but she was determined to be there for my longest run. Now that's a friend for you!

More training posts to come!