Remainder of 2008 Race Schedule

Here's how I decided to finish off 2008:

-Tupelo, MS 14.2 Race: 31 Aug. This race starts at 5am, which will be a very good thing!!

-Arkansas 20K: 27 Sept in Benton

-Chicago Marathon: 12 Oct

-Memphis Half Marathon: 6 Dec

-Dallas White Rock Marathon: 14 Dec

Think I'll try to get a few 5K's in there, just not sure what/when they'll be.

Start my 16 week Chicago training on Monday, 23 June :) My goal is to post about each training run (or at least every other).

Soaking Wet (I Mean Really Wet)

The title of this post best describes our (Cheryl and I) 14 mile run this past Saturday. I expected some rain, but didn't think it would rain consistently for about 12.5-13 miles of the run!!!! Not to mention the thunder and very close lightening we saw. Not one inch of our bodies was dry, our feet were soaking and making squishy noises w/each step. About 7 miles into the run, we both decided we were miserable and really didn't want to go the entire 14 miles. So, we decided to cut a few roads out of the run and thought we'd get 12 (and trust me-----we were both happy and ok w/getting 12). Oh, and this route was pretty hilly so we were not only dripping wet, but our legs were starting to feel the hills. Well, one thing led to another and we ended up missing a turn and had to make our way up this really steep and long hill. Yep, and we had to stop some guy at a stopsign to ask him which was the right way!!!! All in all, it was a crappy run, but then again really fun because Cheryl and I laughed our butts off and were miserable together! I stopped my garmin at 13.5 and walked the rest of the way to her truck. Honestly, the thought of running for even one more step in my soaggy socks and shoes made me sick to my stomach. So, I turned into a big whiney baby and Cheryl let me sympathy walk to the end :)

Sunday I ran by myself on the base. My feet hurt a little from the craziness of Saturday so I opted for 6 miles. The rest of the day was spent cutting the grass and doing things around the house.

Monday was the start of a new week filled w/sculpting, spinning, water aerobics, and teaching my dance classes. I ran 5 miles yesterday and decided to take today as my rest day. Mainly because today I got my hair colored red and cut into a chin length bob (very cute and easy to manage I might add!!!) and didn't want to mess it up! It's true---why is it the girl who does my hair can make it look awesome and I can never duplicate what she did???? And I even took it a step further: tonight in water aerobics I stood in the 4 ft end so I wouldn't splash and get my hair wet! :) However, not sure if I really got a workout :( Doesn't matter because the important thing to note is my hair stayed dry!

Only 2 weeks left until school starts again. That's a good thing because I'm getting to use to my "lady of leisure" lifestyle.

Monday (23 June) starts my 16 week Chicago marathon training schedule. That's why I'm not too worried about logging a lot of miles this week--I know the hard work is right around the corner.

I have the rest of my half and full marathon schedule for the remainder of the year just about planned out, hopefully I'll post that this week!

Enjoy the week :)

What A Week

My week didn't start off as I had planned, and it's been a lonely one since I dropped Ben off at the airport on Sunday. I didn't get to spend much time w/him last weekend before he left because I had Drill, he had to work at his 2nd job, and our friend from Oklahoma stayed on Saturday night (and I opted to let them talk "guy stuff" into the early hours on Sunday w/out me).

On Monday the Honda broke down while I was in NLR. Thank goodness (and I do really mean that) Cheryl was in town and able to come to my rescue!!! There are many people I could have called, but she's the only one I really wanted to help me (you can relate, right?). Anyway, I had the car towed to the dealership and Cheryl took me home. Which, she doesn't travel the streets of Jacksonville much, so I was even more thankful. Monday was suppose to be my first day teaching aerobics for Andrea---I'm taking a couple of her night classes so it'll free up her time to spend w/her hubby and kids. Cheryl was willing to pick me up and take me there, but we ended up having a terrible storm and Andrea called on our way to her house and told us not to make the trip, she'd teach if anyone showed. So, we turned around, went to Starbucks and then hung out at my house for a little bit. Maxx was very excited to see Cheryl and he even got to show her some of his toys!

I got the car back on Tuesday, so that was a blessing. The electrical portion of the ignition switch had to be replaced. And it didn't even cost me that much!!!!

Rest of my week has been spent going to exercise classes, teaching, getting in my daily runs, walking Maxx (he's graduated to 2 walks a day, each about 2 miles). And worse yet, I've been staying up way too late watching TV. I don't even really like watching TV, but have a hard time falling asleep when Ben isn't here. Oh, and I keep the kitchen lights on too!!!! I know----I turn into a big scaredy cat when left by myself.

Luckily, Ben comes home tonight :) Tomorrow we're going to visit a friend who lives about 3 hrs away. Saturday is my 14 mile run w/Cheryl and I'll probably cut the backyard grass. Sunday I'd like to run 7 or 8 miles and then Ben and I will spend some time planning out the deck we're going to build in the backyard.

Can I Sneak More Hours Into The Day?

I'll never forget the statement my Mom said to me years back: "Honey, once you get out of college and start working, time just flies by." Of course, at that time, I didn't believe her (or have any idea just what exactly she meant by that). But, low and behold, Mom was right!! Just like always...

So, with the blink of an eye it was Monday then Saturday and I've had some low mileage runs (anywhere from 3-7 miles) and then a 14 mile long run. I've been to water aerobics, spinning, sculpting, taken Maxx on walks, cleaned the house, mowed the lawn.....and the list goes on.

Yesterday I took Maxx to the vets, he has a bacterial infection and is on antibiotics. But, let me share the good news!!! When I took Maxx for a routine checkup about 5 weeks ago, the vet wanted Maxx to lose 9 lbs, getting down to his ideal weight of 76 lbs. We cut back his food by 1/2 cup (he was pretty upset in the beginning about this), I walk him 2x daily, and we filled up his pool. When I put him on the scale, his weight was 76 lbs!!!! Happily, he lost the 9 lbs! Now, if only it were that easy for me to do!!!

I have Drill this weekend, which always makes Sat-Sun fly by. When I arrived at 6:30am, I found out I had to shoot the M16 rifle, so I spent from 8-2:30pm on the range. In full uniform, gas mask and it was about 90 degrees (felt like 100+ on the range). Then changed to PT gear and we worked out for 90 minutes. Needless to say, this was a long day and I'm pooped.

Tomorrow I take Ben to the airport as he'll spend the week in Atlanta for a training seminar.

Well, we have company from Oklahoma visiting, so time to stop blogging!

Can You Relate??

At the doctor's office today, I was reading a magazine and came across the funniest blurb a reader had submitted. I started laughing aloud (which I love to do) and maybe you will as well!

The blurb was titled "Snack Attack" and the reader writes:
"On a shopping trip after a workout I was ravenous; thinking my blood sugar was low, I bought what looked like a bag of cotton candy. I raced to the car, tore the bag open, and shoved some puffs into my mouth. When they had no flavor, I returned to the store to complain and demand a refund. The clerk looked at the bag and then at me and said, "Ma'am, you were eating blue cotton balls".

How funny!!!!!!