Oh yes I did

Yesterday I did 2 pretty big things.

1. I ran 8 miles.  One might think that after having run a half marathon, running 8 miles wouldn't feel like that big of a deal. But that person would be wrong. It still feels INSANE to me that I ran 8 miles.  Given that I woke up and it was 26 degrees outside, I started my 8 miles on the treadmill @ my gym at my apartment.  I ran 2 miles on the tread to get warmed up (and for there to be light outside) and then left the gym to continue my remaining 6 miles outside.  I won't lie, it was hard, but I also knew once I got to a certain mileage that I could do it. I walked a couple of hills (shocker, I know...ALL I talk about are hills) and felt really happy when it was done!

2. The second monumental thing I did was treat myself to a new pair of running shorts.  After having run said 8 miles above, I was like, "Uhh, it's about time you treat yo'self!"  I keep a running list on my phone of a "wants" list and one of those things was super nice running shorts.  I knew I wanted to have them for Disney since I've never run a distance race in warm weather.  So...I went to Lululemon. The one thing I said I'd never actually do. But I did. And you know what? My new shorts make me feel like a million bucks.  I have no buyers remorse ;)

My new shorty-shorts. Love them!

Modeling my new shorts (Please ignore my stomach. There's only so much cropping you can do w/ an iPhone)

Obviously had to try them on with the Tutu ;)

Some Wednesday Ramblings.

Here's everything that's going on in my head right now:

1. I'm stressed out.  The pressure of fitting in runs/training for my upcoming half, finishing knitting a baby blanket for one of my oldest friends BEFORE she actually delivers her baby, trying to get back into the habit of actually cooking dinner, trying to finish reading a book so I have actually READ the book in preparation for my first book club in Nashville, and working 10 hour days at work when I barely have time to go to the LGR has me going coo coo bananas.

2. Last night I verbally hazed myself to walk to the gym and run for 30 minutes.  I (of course) felt better after doing it.

3. Silk Pure Almond unsweetened milk is just.not.worth.it.  It's not good. And as someone who loves the taste of milk, I kinda don't care that it's only 30 calories and twice the amount of calcium as regular milk.  

4. I think it's totally fine that I left work "on time" today to make it to yoga, came home and got dressed for yoga & then skipped yoga because an old friend called and I just frankly preferred to catch up with her. Namaste.

5. I cooked with chorizo for the first time today & plan to do it many more times in my future.  Also, the meat counter at The Fresh Market is my dream job. Those are the happiest & friendliest people on the planet.

6. The idea of this race completely freaks me out. Whose idea was that??
     http://cupidsundierun.com/?c=nas&p=r

7. While home for Christmas I brought all of the seasons of ER back to Nashville with me (my mom loved ER) and right now all I want to do is take a personal day tomorrow to finish season 2.  I have two client meetings tomorrow so that's totally not possible but I want to hug & kiss Dr. Ross and John Carter like all day long. Hearts.

Stories from my Trainer

This morning, I was working off of 2.5 hours of sleep. And not for any good or fun reason - I just couldn't sleep. My brain would NOT shut off. I was running late to my trainer but determined to make the best of this session.

Actual conversation with Mary Kay - another client who was coming in after me (she and her husband were there):

Husband: weighs in and announces his weight to Evan, my trainer
I chuckle and cry inwardly
Mary Kay (maybe 5'3") does the same but only mouths the weight to Evan and says: "It's higher than last time!"
Me: I mean, if it makes you feel better, your husband and I weigh roughly the same thing."
MK: "Well you're a big girl."
Awkward pause
MK: "I mean, you're taller than me"

And THAT pretty much sums up everything.

My cross training is going awesome - I work with Evan 3 times a week. My muscles are really showing.

My training for the Disney Princess Half - non existent. Oops.

31 daysssss

AHHHHHHH, 31 days until Disney!!!!!!

After twitter blowing up all weekend long from the Tinkerbell Half Marathon in Disneyland, I'm seriously FLIPPING out excited!

I definitely want to make sure I'm my healthiest going into this half marathon so I'm actually doing something I haven't done before.  I wouldn't say I'm a huge drinker, but I do love wine & Vodka sodas.  Living in the South...I don't know how to describe it, but it's just different here and drinking is a part of pretty much every activity.  That being said, I'm going to cut alcohol out for the next 31 days until the half marathon.  I've read so many blogs & articles about runners who cut out alcohol and it making such a difference for their training, and I feel like this is the perfect time for me.

So, it's a good thing I went out with a bang on Saturday night for a friends' birthday & spent my last day hungover (for a month at least) yesterday.  My weekends are short enough as it is, it will be nice to not spend Sunday eating Wendy's and watching movies ;)

Booze then Run?

I'm trying to figure out what Hal Higdon's philosophy would be on boozing before running....never-the-less I tried this combination out tonight for the first time.

Our agency closed early today due to the inclement weather that is scaring the bajeezus out of all Southerners...which for me translates to getting to Happy Hour sooner.  After a few glasses of wine, we all made our ways back home & I hit the treadmill.  3.5 miles later, I was feeling pretty good.

Who would have thought?!?  But good to know ;)

Weather Woes

The weather is having a serious effect on my training.  We all know what happened to me on Sunday....I missed Zumba last night because it was sleeting from about 2pm until, well, now.  Didn't run this morning because said sleet has all of Nashville covered with a sheet of ice. Grrrr.  Or maybe I should say Brrrrrrrrr!

"THERE'S A FLASH FLOOD WARNING!"

That's what my friend, Allison, said to me as she picked me from Star Bagel this morning, soaking wet, looking like a DROWNED rat.

It's true, it has been raining all weekend.  Yesterday I missed my long run with RP because it was calling for and storming off and on all day. The biggest bummer of it all was that in the grand scheme of things it DIDN'T rain that much yesterday and it just felt like I had missed my opportunity.

Throughout the course of last night & this morning I kept getting push notifications from TWC app about flash flooding in Nashville and to stay away from low lying areas so I knew today was going to be a wet one. Based on the hourly forecast I figured if I got out by 10am, I'd hit an hour where I could get 6 miles in without too much rain.  So I went.

4 miles in (feeling GREAT by the way - yay!) the sky literally turned black. Like tornado black. I won't lie, I was scared.  I was on a path by McCabe golf course and noticed a guy running up ahead of me. I sprinted my A off to catch up with him because for some reason I felt a little safer being near someone else. And then the sky FELL.  I've used that analogy before, but until today never really meant it. It was monsoon raining, wind blowing sideways so hard my headphones were blown out of my ear.  I got to a point (keep in mind I'm running at pretty much my max pace) where I could cut out of the golf course park and ran straight into Star bagel for shelter.

I'm lucky to have great people around and my friend Allison came to pick me up.  Thankful I was alright, I got a firm scolding from her...and then another firm scolding from RP over the phone...and then another firm scolding from my mom. 

I considered going to the gym to get in my 2 un-run miles, but decided it was okay (and probably best) to just stay home the rest of the day.

Oh the things we go through to train.....

Dear Natalie, don't ignore these.

The view outside of Star Bagel

The drying out process continues

Yoga is a b*tch

It's possibly I'll be cringing all day today every time I try to sit down.  Gah, I had forgotten how hard Yoga is!!!  

I'd like to tell you this is what I look like when I do Yoga, but I think we all know better.... ;)

My Training Schedule.

With a mere 44 days until Disney Princess all of a sudden yesterday I had an epiphany & felt extremely motivated to hit the ground running.  I've been doing what I would consider "light training" for the past couple of months.  I've been running and working out a little bit but have felt much more motivated for the trip to Disney than the actual race.  I also knew my moment would come and it was yesterday.

Yesterday morning I had a terrible morning. Like, terrrrrrible.  I couldn't find a single thing to wear, my apartment is a mess (which it still is...) I went to work early to get an early start on the day and it took me 30 minutes to get there - it should take 10 - then I got to work to find no computer on my desk.  I was borderline meltdown and it wasn't even 8am yet.  As I was sitting at my desk unfriending people on Facebook via my phone I decided it was the perfect time to make my final training schedule.  Because for the first time, I actually WANTED to. And then I thought about how upset all of the events of yesterday morning made me and realized that without running & working out I haven't be releasing any of that negative energy.  I felt revived, excited, PUMPED!

One thing I want to make sure to focus on is cross training.  Like Hil mentioned when training for the Richmond half, it's so important and something I want to get in at least once a week so I don't get burned out on running.  So here it is:
   Every other Monday, I'll be going to Zumba @ the local community center for $3 a class to shake my booty with all the other money-makahs in Nashville.
   Tuesday mornings will be running.
   Every other Wednesday, I'll be taking Yoga again at the local comm. center to chill myself OUT.
   Thursday mornings will be running.
   Friday I'll be sleeping in (yay!)
   Saturday, long runs (yay???)
   Sunday, I'll be taking advantage of rest on the Sabbath.

So I guess the question of the day is how did I do this morning on Day 1?  Great! I hit the treadmill for a solid 30 minute run, followed by some crucial stretching & a little weights.

Keep me honest, people!