It's SO CLOSE!!!

Helloooo!!!

I went to bed last night next to this little doggy!

She was dead asleep and snoring laying like this! We were laughing so hard!

And woke up excited for the day!!

The marathon is about 7 hours from our house, but the drive was absolutely beautiful!

We made it to our destination!  Now, Hubs does the 5k tonight and the marathon is TOMORROW!!! Very excited and ready for the expo and to explore a little, and oh yeah.. EAT! 

Tomorrow is the big day and I'm as ready as I'll ever be!  So excited, and pumped to do this with my brother! :)

Be ready for an update tomorrow!!

Rest Day(s)

YAY!!! I've made it to my rest days before the marathon! I never, ever take 2 rest days in a row, so hopefully my legs will be itching to run 26.2 miles Saturday morning :)

I found some shirts for me and my bro!  We are still going to look at the expo and maybe find something better, but for now, this works.  And the most important thing, is we are going to MATCH!

The Hub and I received a letter and picture from our little boy we sponsor in Africa, and he is just the cutest thing!! My hope is to visit him someday.

Tomorrow morning we are getting up bright and early to travel for the race!!  So nervous EXCITED!  I will keep you guys updated :)  Anybody else doing a race this weekend?

Morning Run and Matching Shirts

Good Morn!

I went out for a 4 mile run this morning.  I think my favorite kind of runs are the runs that I go super fast and come back feeling really accomplished, and my other favorite run is the kind that as soon as I start I want to quit SO badly, but I keep on going and finish strong.  That also makes me feel accomplished (in a different way, obviously.) 

Before

After

Today's run was one of the "I want to quit and I can still see my house" type of run, but I pushed through and finished strong, so I felt pretty good.  Sidenote- Does anyone else's hair not stay up while running?  I have pretty thick hair and I don't like it to touch my neck when I run so I put it up high and don't pull the hair all the way through (you can see it in the top pic) but as soon as I start running it falls!  I need to try something else.
 
Just a couple more days until the marathon!  My brother called yesterday (the one who's running the marathon, too) and said he was at the running store and was going to try to find us matching shirts!  I was BEYOND excited!!  I didn't think my brother (who is 7 years older than me) would ever want to match me, but he does.  That warmed this little sister's heart :)  We talked for a long time about our strategy and how our runs have been feeling and that we are both excited to get this thing over with!  I always feel that way about a "big" race and usually when I'm done, I am like "when can I sign up for another?"  But this marathon racing is a big deal and has taken a lot of time and effort.  I am having fun with it but I don't know if I will want to do another, but we'll see.  I'm just excited I get to do this with my brother!

Anyone run a race with family members?

Wedding Weekend and Running on Vacation

Good Morning!!!!

Today is a rest day for me and will be a low mileage week because Saturday is the MARATHON!! I'm nervous, but very excited!!  My goals keep changing, so we will see what happens.

Okay, so this weekend, as you know, my dad and I took a road trip to see my grandpa turn 90 and get married.  My mom went down earlier in the week and we waited to come until Friday.  We had a very good time together!  I feel very blessed that at 27 I can go on a road trip just me and my dad :)

My grandpa turned 90 and doesn't look a day over 65.  Seriously, this man looks so young and acts so young, too!  He still paints, builds, lays flooring, does roofing, everything you can think of.  He cracks me up.  He painted a picture, and I told him that I liked it so he gave it to me.  I guess that's what grandpa's are for, huh?  He said that if I ever want anything to just let him know.  (Good to know!) :)

My mom and dad.  Aren't they precious?

Saturday was the wedding ceremony and I got to cross an item off my bucket list and be the flower girl!  I got up early and got an 8 mile run in just around the hotel.  My dad and mom were walking and I stayed near them because I they tend to get nervous about me being by myself in an unfamiliar area.  So after that, we went and got breakfast and then the wedding festivities began.

I made my own little basket (apparently when you are an "older" flower girl you have to make your own) and I forgot to give myself little petals to throw.  Hm, maybe next time.

 The ceremony was just a precious little thing.  After the ceremony we celebrated my grandpa's birthday in the church basement.  We had a good time.

 Now, we are back home and my parents are getting ready to leave.  This is how my dad feels about leaving me to go back home.  I feel the same way :(

Have a great day!

90th Birthday

We are in Missouri for my grandpa's 90th birthday!! And, I had a roadtrip with my favorite dad today!!  We started the day off super early.  4:14 to be exact.  My dad stayed the night at our house and texted me when he got up so we could get an early start.  I slept for approximately 7 hours of our 10 hour trip :)  To my credit, I did drive for 45 minutes so my dad could sleep. 

We had such a good time!!  For the time I was awake, we talked and laughed.  I have a good dad. 

We both wanted Chick-fil-A baaad! So we searched and searched for one and found one in a super nice mall!!  I wanted to shop, but we didn't have time (or money).  So, we ate our delicious meals and were back on the road. 

Tomorrow we celebrate my grandpa!  I am pretty excited!  I am also planning on getting an 8 mile run in tomorrow morning.  I am looking for some nice trails, so hopefully I find one.  I'll let you guys know.  (Since I know you cannot wait) hah.  Also, I'm planning on getting up super early since it is SO HOT!!!  But, it should be a good time!  What's on your agenda for the weekend?

Sweaty

Hello there!!

We had a great night last night.  After we ate dinner we went to the beach.  The plan was to sit in the water in our tubes and just relax.  The water was way too cold for my liking, so I sat in the sand in my tube.  It was still nice :)

After we got home, I was watching Extreme Weight Loss, doesn't everyone love that show??? I cry every time!!!  Anyway, Lu came and sat next to me and she STANK!  So a bath definitely needed to happen.  Poor Beag hates baths, but she did okay.  Isn't she just precious?

My morning running has been going well, so today I had to tutor at 8 and thought I would get up at 6:15 and go right away... and guess what?  It happened!!!  I did it!  I didn't want to get up, but I did and then the run was a good one!  Only a 4 miler, but it was fun.  Hub took a picture of me when I got back and I tried to pretend like I was running... Can you tell it was suuper humid today?  I was pretty gross. 

Oh yeah, I did spend a little money shopping yesterday- Target is having awesome sales right now, I got 4 shirts, and the most expensive one was $9.98!! Can't beat that!  I am going shopping again today, too!  Back to School soon :)  It has to be done. Haha.
 
There is a fair in a town a little ways from us, so I want to go tonight, but it's supposed to rain.  Hopefully we can make it.  What are your plans for tonight?

Bad Runs...

Haha, after re-reading the title, I realized that could mean a couple things :)  This bad run I'm talking about today involves actual running... not "the runs."

Anyhow,  today was my last "long" run before the marathon NEXT SATURDAY!  It was 12 miles and I'm all like "psh, 12 miles is nothin!  I've done 18, I've done 15, this will be no big deal!"  Now, I recently (as in last Thursday) have started running on an empty stomach in the mornings, and I L-O-V-E it!  It gets the run out of the way and it's not there staring you in the face all day.  So, being the smart person I am, I decided to go out and run on an empty stomach, and with no coffee.  Not the smartest thing I've ever done.  The run was terrible.  The only good part was when I was stretching in my driveway my friend ran by and waited for me, so we started together.  We ran together for about 1 mile (and it was the only good mile for the entire run.)

This is how I felt about the run, in case you couldn't already tell.

After the one mile I wanted to listen to a sermon on my phone, well I just could not get it to work the way I wanted, so I kept stopping and finally just turned on my music.  I just was not into my run today, I tried everything and it was just bad.  But I kept thinking of my husband saying "It's not about the time at this point, you aren't going to get any faster, it's just about logging the miles."  That man of mine is smart I tell ya!

I got it done.  And it was bad terrible.  But, I did it.  I hope you all don't have any bad runs today, the running kind or the other!  Now, my only other goal of the day is to convince my hubby I need to spend money shopping today :)  I'll let ya know how that goes.  (I am going to link with Run, Eat, Repeat because she just posted some awesome tips on how to survive a long run!)

How was your run today?  I hope waaaay better than mine. 

Sundays and Races

Good Morning!! 

We are back from yet another race.  This time it was for my hubby.  He had an alumni 5k for his high school.  There were alumni and all the high school cross country team was there, too.  It was very fun to watch and Hub came in at 20:11!  He wanted to do 19:30, but it was a trail run and we don't do much any trail running.  I still think he did an awesome job!!!

After the race, he doesn't even look winded... he's so speedy!

I got up early before the race and ran 4 miles... all negative splits, Yeah Baby!!!  9:04, 9:02, 8:51, 8:46.  It felt good!


When we got home I went downtown with my neighbor friend, we sat by the beach and just talked.  It was nice. 

When I got home, we were super hungry so Hubby fired up the grill.  We had stuffed burgers, mashed potatoes, and olives.  I didn't want the bun but he already made me one, so I ate cheese bread :)

Just in case you were wondering what beagles do while both parents are busy... looking for squirrels yet again.  And apparently, it's better to squeeze your head through the railings than to go down into the yard.  hah.

This week I have a 12 miler (I was supposed to do it this weekend and it just didn't work out, so I will do it tomorrow.)  Also some short runs.  Friday I am going to see my Grandpa turn 90!  My Dad and I are road tripping down there, so that will be full of fun and good food!

What are your plans for the upcoming week?

Painting and Running

Painting and running.  I've been doing a lot of painting and some running.  I took a rest day from running yesterday, but painted my basement.  I hate painting, but it seemed to go by quickly.  I was halfway through when I forgot I had a doctor's appointment.  Looked at the clock and it was in 15 minutes!  I quick covered up my paint and put the dogs in their cages and took off.  I made it there in time, but they gave me a shot in each hand that made them numb.  Try painting the rest of a basement with numb hands... NOT FUN!  But I did it, and my reward was Olive Garden for dinner :)  I will show a picture of my basement when it's all finished... which should be soon... I know you're on pins and needles waiting.

This is not us on our way to Olive Garden, this is in Guatemala.  But, I didn't take a picture last night, so this is the one you get.

As for running, today I set out to do 5 miles, but decided on 6.  It's so fun to run down the pier.  There were fishermen out so I stopped and asked them what type of bait they use and all the other necessary questions, so the next time my Dad is here we can go fishing!  Splits today were 9:25, 9:19, 9:19, 9:19, 9:31, 9:24.  I have never had that many miles in a row the exact same!  I feel like it's some sort of accomplishment.

Again, not from today.

Now the rest of today's agenda is to get this house immaculate and make peach cobbler with fresh peaches from the Farmer's Market.  You better believe there will be a picture of that tomorrow (it may be half eaten, but there will be a picture)

Hope all of you have an incredible day and an incredible run!! 

Recovery Runs, Family Time, Cakes, and "Remodeling"

Hey there!

Whoa!  We had quite the busy weekend!  Good, but busy!  Friday, as you all know, was the long run.  Friday afternoon I drove to my parents house because Saturday was my Aunt's retirement party and I was the "Cake Maker!"  So I took all my supplies to my parents and baked the cakes there.  My Aunt loves the beach, so this cake just seemed fitting, and it went with the beach theme perfectly!

Saturday morning I had a nice, slow 5 mile recovery run.  It felt slow good.  Saturday after the party I came back home and Hubby and I went grocery shopping.  Yes, we are the crazy people who go grocery shopping at 9:00 at night.  Ya know what?  That is the time to do it, because for once, there were not a million people there!!  It was kind of nice. 

Sunday morning we rode our beach cruisers to church.  The weather was perfect!

When we got home we had some a TON of work to do.  We are getting new carpet in our living room and hallway.  We decided to tear the old carpet out ourselves because you have to pay extra for them to do it.  No thank you, I can do that myself.  My, oh my.  It was rough.  But now, I want to clean and decorate and remodel everything in our house :)  uh oh.

Today I had a nice run.  5 Miles 9:26/mile.  I didn't take my sunglasses because it wasn't sunny when I left but then 1 mile in, it got sunny.  I think I have extra wrinkles now for not wearing my shades :( My parents and my nephew are coming over tonight, so I am making breakfast for dinner!  Mmmm!

Hope you guys have an awesome, incredible day!  What are you making for dinner?

Long Run Thoughts

First things first, I DID IT!!! I ran 18 miles this morning!  I took my brother's advice and started off slow and it helped a lot.  Now I taper down until the Marathon in only 3 weeks!!!

I saw on Run, Eat, Repeat after Monica ran her last long run she posted her thoughts she had while running that long.  So I am going to do so, too.

Miles 1-5... Wow, I am running soooo slow.  But I am going to listen to what my brother told me, because obviously what I have done before didn't work out too well.

Miles 6-8...Okay 1/3 of the way through.  I can do this, I'm still going to stay slow and then pick it up at mile 9.  At this point Taylor Swift's Trouble came on Pandora and I thought of this version, which may or may not have had me laughing out loud.  And people may or may not have been around :)

Mile 9-12... Alright, let's pick up the pace now.  Oh wait, I can't :)  That's okay I just need to finish.  Then I totally hit a runner's high, and had glorious visions of finishing the marathon right at the same time as my brother as we hold hands crossing the finish line, and everyone cheers for the brother/sister duo that did a marathon together!  Then I felt like I could run forever.  Spoiler Alert:  (you will see that this feeling quickly changes)

Miles 13-14... Just did a half marathon, cool.  Now only 5 miles more, this will be easy.

Miles 15-17... Oh my goodness, when is this going to end???  My hips hurt, I am sweating down my back, and this is SO not fun anymore!  But, I am so so close, keep going, keep going, keep going.  (I also kept remembering Philippians 4:13 "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.") 

Mile 17-18... I had to circle around my house 5,000 like three times because I wasn't all the way to 18 yet.  My dog was in the backyard so I tried to whistle to her.  Note to self, after running 3 hours it's very hard to whistle.  She didn't even care, she was too busy sitting in our firepit.  Cray.

I thought I would have like this awesome, incredible feeling when I was finished but I didn't.  I just felt sore and very thirsty!

Oh, I took a gu at mile 4.5, 9.5, and 14.  And drank 20 oz. of water by then end.  All in all it was a good run, and I am very proud that I was able to finish it.  Now I'm doing this for the rest of the day! 

Just chillin'

Any big plans for the weekend?

'Twas the Night Before a Long Run

 Helllooo!

Today was a rest day for me and I took it very seriously!  I slept in a bit and then went to a friend's house and had coffee.  I rested a lot, and carb-loaded for my 18 miler scheduled for the morning! 

I have really been struggling through my long runs so I am mentally preparing myself for it.  Tonight Hubby and I walked some of the path I plan to take and it's a different route than I normally run so I think it might help.  The longest I have run is 15 miles and I did very well with that one and since then I have just fallen apart, it's not that I can't do it, it's just I really have to be mentally prepared that this will be a "long run."  And that it's okay if I don't hit every mile at a certain pace, at this point it's just about finishing it.  By the way, the marathon is in 3 weeks!! 

My brother (who is doing the marathon with me)  gave me some great advice today.  Which I so needed.  His wife also gave me some words of wisdom!  So hopefully with the advice, prayers, being mentally prepared, carb-loading, new music, and my legs will get me through the 18 miles tomorrow :)  I will for sure be letting you know!!

Does anyone else struggle through their long runs???  I really hope it's not just me. 

Lisa Frank and a beautiful walk on the beach

Hey there, Bloggers!

So I found a picture of the same exact trapper keeper that I had as a 2nd grader!!  I was super pumped!  Anyone remember Lisa Frank?? 

Apparently unicorns were just as cool then as they are now (where's the sarcasm font?)

Which got me thinking about all the fun stuff I miss about being a kid.  Which led me to take a bike ride with my hub :)  And then I realized I'm pretty much a 7 year old stuck in a 27 year old body. 

 Anyway, the bike ride was fun.  We went downtown and rode down to the pier and then stuck our feet in the beautiful lake.  It was so clear tonight, and the weather was perfect!  Not too hot and not too cold.  There were also tons of runners, bikers, and dogs out tonight.

Aaand, most people can't have a blog post without a picture of their kids, I can't have a post without a picture of the beagle!

What did you do tonight?

Humid Run

Happy Wednesday!!

Today I will be linking up with Skinny Meg to do a Workout Wednesday post!

Today on the agenda was a five mile run, I tutor in the summer so it was after that and after lunch.  I got home around 12:30 and cleaned up, did some laundry, and watched Extreme Weight Loss- did anyone notice that they are almost always in Michigan??  Weird.

Anyway, on to the run.  For some reason, I think the humidity (I know, I know I shouldn't complain... I used to live in Memphis and that humidity is no joke!) but the humidity and the fact that this is my fourth running day in a row made this run hard.  It was only 5 miles, but by mile 2 I wanted to be done, but I pushed through and made it.  I was sweaty, sweaty, sweaty!!

Hope you guys had an awesome, incredible workout today!!!

Short Run and Dinner

My run today went well.  In the summer I usually try to go out first thing in the morning... and by first thing, I mean after I eat my oats and drink my coffee and then let it settle in my belly.  Buuut, today I didn't because we had a plumber coming.  I don't know what happened, but all I know is that our floor around our washer had water all over it!  So the plumber came and fixed it, and bonus, he was very nice!

So my run didn't happen until about 2 in the afternoon.  I had a 5 miler planned and all went well.  Nothing spectacular, nothing terrible.  Just a good run.  My splits were 9:08, 9:02, 9:06, 9:19, and 9:00.  Why is it that I always feel so good after a run?  Even just a regular one! 

Dinner was very easy!- a frozen Barefoot Contessa Meal.  It was tasty- Pasta Carbonara with Pancetta and Peas.

After dinner, we took the beagle for a walk down the pier.  My hair looks like a lion.

We met two other beagles along the way!!

Tomorrow is another 5 miler, Thursday- rest day, Friday- 18 miles!!

Hope you all had an awesome, incredible day!  How many miles are you running tomorrow?

First Post

Hellooo blogworld!!

This is my very first post, and I'm sure all thousands one person reading this, will find everything I say to be very amusing and inspiring!!  :)  Just kidding, but seriously...  Anyhow, a little bit about me.  I am married and have been for 6 years. 

After I got married I slowly gained 40 pounds.  Ick. 

Not the best picture, but I can't find the one I was looking for- Apparently I deleted it. haha.

 So, about a year and a half ago I set off on a journey to lose some weight.  I started out just eating less-  I love to eat.  So I lost a couple pounds here and there and then started logging everything into www.myfitnesspal.com and using their app on my phone and was only eating 1200 calories a day.  It worked for me, was extremely hard, but I did it.  My goal was to lose 30 pounds.  I got to 25 and thought to myself "I wonder what would happen if I started running?"

So I started, sloooooowly, but surely.  I signed up for a 5k and knew the only way I would keep running would be to buy myself a cute armband for my phone (I'm so easy to please.)  I ran my first 5k in 38:05 and was ECSTATIC!!!  

I hit my goal of running a 5k and my goal of 30 pounds lost.  I continued to run and count my calories... let me tell you right now, if you are running, don't count your calories!  Eat healthy and occasionally eat what you want, but I ended up losing 10 more pounds for a total weight loss of 40 pounds.  And I'm extremely happy with where I'm at. 

Since my first 5k I've done a few more.  I have a PR of 24:30.  I have competed in two Triathlons, and I've done one half marathon 2:06... 

in a few short weeks I am doing a FULL MARATHON with my brother!  I am very nervous about this as my training has not been going super awesomely wonderful but I thought maybe my thousands one reader could keep me accountable for my last long run I need to do before the big day!

Oh yeah, and I love beagles... especially this one!