The unhealthiest post-race snack. Ever.

Sea level is so over-rated. I went back to TN all cocky, what with my altitude training and my super red blood cells. But I met a bully called humidity. And humidity kicked my big old altitude-trained ass.

Seriously, I struggled to maintain 13 minute miles, I sweated more than I thought humanly possible. When I ran past the local high school in the pre-dawn hours, the display read "6:00AM, 78 degrees." I wish I was kidding. I did 5 miles before the race, rather than splitting up the run with the 5K. And without a doubt, the highlight of my running experience in TN was talking my little brother into running the local 5K that I referred to before I left. The 5K was a part of a big festival (called Depot Days) that the town throws once a year, so as soon as you finish the 5K, you had to walk less than 100yards to buy your own deep-fried twinkie and assorted Tennessee Vols gear. The weather was pretty crummy, so the events later in the day (the cake walk and the street dance, I guess) were likely cancelled.

Anyway, back to my little brother. He's not a runner. In his words: "Three miles? I can't even run from here to my truck and back!" But, my powers of persuasion are second to none, so I had a running partner for the last 5K of my dismal 8miler on Saturday. Here's a couple of pictures:

Here we are at the start...He's sort of smiling in this one.

And, he's definitely smiling as we approached the finish.

Suffice it to say that he was glad to be done. We finished in approximately 41 minutes, which was good enough for my brother to take a 1st place trophy in his age group! This race didn't exactly have a great turnout.

Afterwards I played with my very cute and adorable nephew (the soon-to-be big brother) at the assorted inflatable fun-houses. This was really fun until I saw a 6-year-old child pin him to the ground and shout "SUBMIT!" I wish I were kidding. This child was intense. Here's a picture of the cutie pie:

But the real reason for going to TN at all was to attend a baby shower for my sister-in-law. She's going to have my neice in October, and my mom and my aunt threw a truly beautiful baby shower for her. My aunt carved a baby carriage out of a watermelon. There were two towers of cupcakes. We made chocolate covered strawberries. We played fun games. And there was carrot cake. So it was worth the trip.

And, also while in TN, I started the process of talking my dad into training for a marathon with me. He's 54, and he used to do a lot of running when he was younger (35-40ish), but he hasn't in quite some time. I suggested that we train for and run the Memphis St. Jude Marathon in December 2010 together. He gave the very non-commital response: "I'll give it some thought." Which, in my dad's language, means: "I'm sure she'll forget about this in a couple of days... I hope." But I will not forget. As I mentioned before, my powers of persuasion are second to none.

I got back to the mile-high city with something to prove, after that pathetic 8miler on Saturday. So, today, I did an awesome 2miler from my office. In the rain. And cold. And snow. That's right, snow. I think I just run easier when it's cold out.

That's all I've got for tonight. Tomorrow is a 4miler for me.

Updates scramble

Holy-lot-of-updates-to-mention, Batman!

This is going to be quick and dirty, but it's got to be done because it's long overdue.

1. The 7-miler last weekend was great! It rained Sunday morning, so we had to put the run off until Sunday evening, but it was great. I had to take a few "stop and catch my breath" breaks, but I managed to run the entire thing. I was pleased with that.
2. I skipped a couple of the weeknight runs last week. I wasn't pleased with that.
3. I kicked huge butt on this weekend's 8-miler (in Moab, UT, no less!). We went out to Moab to support our good friends in a cycle century ride (called the Big Nasty due to all the crazy climbing they had to do). I ran out of water near the end (more than 7 miles in), but it was the desert, after all. I was pleased with how it turned out. This was the first long run I've done where SoxFan didn't accompany me.
   

That sort of sums up the running I've been doing. I'm in California this week for training for my j-o-b (that's another story for another time), so I'm going to be doing my running this week. This weekend I have a 10K scheduled back in Denver, and I am looking for a good finish.

Quite honestly, I am getting a little nervous about the half-marathon. Every weekend, I think "oh dear, it's XXX miles this weekend, I don't know if I can do this." But I always do finish. 13 miles just seems like SUCH a long way. And I've told lots of my friends about this race, so I know I'll have loads of support along the way, but that makes my fear of failing all that much bigger! I guess the only thing to do is keep training. Preparation is the only thing that is going to make me feel confident on race day.

In other news, SoxFan and I have picked a date (6/6/2009) and a location! We've mailed in our non-refundable deposit, too, so now we're getting married for sure!

A big announcement...

OK. Clearly, I have the most awesome friends in the world. NewMama and DigitalBoy came out to visit and we had a blast! We had a spa day, and we saw a Rockies game, and we went to Casa Bonita! We laughed and laughed and generally had a blast. Here's a picture to prove it!

We don't get to hang out as much as I'd like, but every time we get together, it's like we've seen each other every day. They're pretty awesome that way.

And.... during the course of their visit, NewMama was taking photos of SoxFan and me for her photography portfolio ...and... he proposed!

I know... let's just let that simmer for a while.

..............


That's right, folks. We're going to get married. And here's a picture to prove it!

Please try to ignore my hat hair.

We're very excited about getting married. And Ini the Dogbeast and Tux the hairy snake couldn't be happier that mom and dad are going to get married! We haven't set a date yet, but we're thinking an outdoor June (2009) wedding sounds perfect.

Like I said, SoxFan proposed while we were out posing for NewMama. This wasn't his original plan, however. He'd originally wanted to propose at sunrise on Sunday, right before we went out for a stellar run. That didn't happen, however, because when he woke me up for the sunrise run, I came up with some lame (but apparently quite convincing) excuse for why I couldn't run and/or get up. In the end, though, it's better that his original plan didn't work out because NewMama caught the entire proposal with her (awesome) camera! Obviously, pictures will be posted at some point, either here or on her site (which you should all check out because she's flipping fantastic!).

Obviously, I'll post updates here regarding date/location as soon as I have them. Thanks again to everyone who's sent their congratulations! Again, I have the best friends imaginable.

On the running front, WHAT running? Seriously, SoxFan and I did a 4.5m run on Tuesday, but then I skipped yesterday because I had an evil headache and I skipped today because it was 15 degrees outside and raining. And who wants to run in that? I'm a little worried because I have a 7 miler coming up on Sunday. I'll repeat: a 7 miler. Some of you are undoubtedly saying "what's the big deal?".... but to me.... a 7 miler is also known as.... a "long freaking way."

Brrr, that's Colorado fall on the way.

For the first time this season, on Thursday's run I wished I had my swift Under Armor long sleeve running shirt with thumb holes. And maybe even my running tights. It was for reals cold, y'all!

I hit the Silence of the Lambs trail again on Thursday evening, this time without Ini the dogbeast. Turns out I actually prefer that particular trail when he's with me. I only made through the woods part twice (once on the way out, once on the way back). After that, my fear was bigger than my desire to keep on running, even though I was putting together a pretty fabulous run. I ended up doing 3 miles, and my training schedule only called for 4, so I call it a success!

This run was also my second attempt with PodRunner, and I didn't have very much better luck this time around than I did last Sunday. It seems that I underestimate my cadence. I've downloaded two new episodes for Sunday's 6 miler, one at 144BPM and one at 150BPM. I am determined to run to house music. Oh yes. I will do it. I don't even like house music, but if it's the thing that allows me to turn off that one song... I will embrace the techno. I may even run with glow sticks.

In other news, I am very very excited because NewMama and her hubby, DigitalBoy, are coming to visit me in Colorado! I love it when people come to visit. I've got some fun things planned for us, but mostly it'll just be fun to just laze around and laugh. That's what we do best when we get together. We laugh 'til we pee.

And, in some sort of random (and WAYYYY late) news, I read an article on RunnersWorld.com a few days ago that discussed the men's Olympic Marathon. Now, I watched the women's marathon. Nearly the entire thing, in fact. I believe I picked it up around mile 3, shortly after Deena Kastor dropped out, I understand. And while it was amazing to watch these women--they are strong like Hercules-- it got a little tedious near the end when the lead woman sort of broke away. It sounds like the men's marathon was infinitely more exciting, and the winner (a Kenyan) ran it in 2:06. That's less than 5 minutes per mile for 26.2 miles, folks. Clearly he isn't human. It's just not possible.

Does a bear run in the woods?

Well, it's Day 3 in Montana, and still no running to report. I had planned to get a run in this morning, but after staying up toooo late with SoxFan and his dad last night, I overslept. I hope to rise early enough in the morning to do a quick 3 miles, however. I've scoped out a route from SoxFan's parents' house, and it's effectively a trail run. Except that it's on a road. So the only "trail" part of it is that it's not paved. And it's through the woods. We'll see how it goes.

Unfortunately, I don't have pictures yet to share, but I can tell you that yesterday we all spent the day at Glacier National Park, which was tons of fun. I took loads of digital pictures and I even spent some time with the ol' 35mm as well (these will obviously be screened by NewMama before they're posted here). It was a very long day, but it was a lot of fun.

Today we went fly fishing at Martin Lake. SoxFan's dad caught one Cutthroat Trout, but SoxFan and I got skunked. It was a really fun day, though, because I got to float in the pontoon boat while the others were in their float-tubes. At first I was terrified, then I sort of got the hang of the whole paddling aspect and it was great fun. Still, it would have been nice to catch one fish.... ah well... maybe tomorrow.

Hope everyone had a pleasant holiday weekend! I'll report back soon with pictures and running splits.

Give Thanks.

I know I haven't been around much lately. I should have written about Saturday's fantastic 4 miler! But, with the holidays and work and... you understand... Anyway, the slow running show is going on the road again. Back to Tennessee, friends, to visit family this time around. I do intend on getting some more running done while I'm there (I have to take advantage of their thick air while I can!)...

I intend to visit with family and friends, and perhaps slip into a food coma at some point. I'll get to visit my very own nephew, who I haven't seen in nearly a year (I am so ashamed) and my brother and sister-in-law. I'll get to spend time with my parents and their pets, in the house where I used to live. I'll get to visit with grandparents and aunts and uncles and the weather will be mild and splendid. It'll be like a trip back to September, for running purposes at least. And, at the end of it all, I have to turn 29. 29 on a Sunday.

29.

Jeesh. I'll have to re-visit this topic later, I can already tell...

So, believe me, I know how easy it is to be cynical at this time of year. It's really easy to complain about how radio stations play Christmas music non-stop and about how your neighbor has had their lights up for 2 months already... It's easy to get angry at how commercial things are... It's easy to be angry about traffic and shopping and anxiety over not knowing what to buy...

But, because I have enough anxiety (did I mention, 29?) already, and because this is actually my very favorite time of year, I am going to try to focus on what I have, rather than what I lack. On who I am, rather than who I want to be.

I wish you all a very pleasant holiday.

Vacation running, new babies, good friends

A funny thing about running in new places is that you don't know what you're in for until you're already in it. In an extraordinarily ambitious move, I woke at 6AM to go for my long run on Vacation Saturday. I had planned my route meticulously on Friday night, even. I picked a route that was a bit short (only 9.25ish miles) for the time I was supposed to run (2:45), but it was HILLS... so I was hoping it would balance out.

The run started out well enough. It was a gorgeous morning with lots of sun and the temperature was perfect. I was enjoying the thick air (running really is a lot easier outside of Denver!) and the views, and even the way my legs were hurting a bit. And I surprised myself by climbing a few hills that I thought looked impossible! All in all, things were great. My amazingly awesome friends even drove out to meet me at the halfway point to bring me a fresh cold bottle of water. They're the BEST!

At some point, I made a wrong turn, however... and things began to get ... interesting. The shoulder got more and more narrow (the word non-existent comes to mind), the cars kept getting faster and faster.... the road kept getting twistier and turnier (ok, those definitely aren't words)...Finally, I met a local and decided to ask a few questions to regain my bearings, but the poor guy I was talking to seemed completely befuddled as to WHY I was out there at all. I tried to explain that I was running, just for exercise, that I wasn't lost, I just needed to make sure the road I was on would eventually connect with the one I was looking for.... no such luck, though. After completely creeping me out ("I don't even leave my driveway without a gun around here..." ?????), I took off again and followed the directions that the guy had given me to get to where I wanted to be. As I turned off the main road and down a less populated one, though.... I got scared thinking about how this creepy guy knew where I was headed, and now here I was on a deserted road all alone...ok, deserted is probably a bit of a stretch....

So, I was 2:20 in, and I called my amazingly awesome friends to just come and pick me up. Long story short, I only made it 8.5ish miles. BUT, it is still a HUGE success because I was on vacation, and everyone else slept in while I was running! I have more willpower than I realized.

I had a great time spending time with my friends, too. We had lots of laughs and good conversation... we played board games and watched stand-up and mostly played with the new baby. It was good times all around. I have some things I'd like to talk about here, but I haven't had a proper chance to really get it all down on paper yet. Soon, though.

And, just because she's adorable, here's a picture of the little angel herself.

Things on the horizon.... recommitment paperwork with TNT, fundraising, long runs that are actually short runs, and my latest thoughts on life as I know it. Oh, and a smooch.