Country Music (Half) Marathon

Once upon a time, when I was still in Iraq, Sam, Flo, and I signed up for the Country Music Marathon. I trained hard for about 2 months and then came the day (around 'bout January) I realized I didn't have the dedication nor the chutzpah to run a marathon. The one running goal I had always had - to run the Army 10 Miler - I had accomplished while deployed (yay!) but I still wanted to participate so I changed my new goal to the half and talked Ash into coming with me.

Training for me - between switching from day shift to night shift, going home to Virginia, and visiting with Sam - was spotty at best. Ash and I showed up on race day having not trained in months much less run up a hill in years BUT decided we were going to make the best of it no matter what. We'd signed up for the 2hr 30min finish and during the run decided to shoot for a 3 hour finish instead. We did it! Finishing in 3:06!

I have to say the race was truly inspiring. It was so awesome to see people whizzing past us or even the people who, like us, walk/ran the entire thing. We started walking after the first 5K and after many apologies to Ashley (a former cross country runner and a much "smaller" girl she probably could have gone faster) I finally got over the pain and regret of not training and just enjoyed the route. The fans were EVERYWHERE...old ladies passing out fruit, kids handing out dixie cups of water, families and college students standing out with signs.

Sam made a game time decision to run the whole 26.2 and did AWESOME! Flo and Sam's roommate also ran the whole time and met their time goals and then some. Sam's other roommate and parents were there along the route to cheer us on.

I was so upset with myself for not training and yet so inspired by the other runners that I decided I will definitely do another 13.1 again! My goal is getting faster and not overwhelming myself thinking about how far and fast other people are going - just to focus on myself. Today I ran a 10:20 mile followed by another 0.5 at the same pace (pretty proud of myself.)

{The starting line 38,000+ people!}

{The first of THREE four leaf clovers I found on the course}

{A picture with one of the spectators and his 'free beer' - you can see all the many people we ran with in the background}

{My Boo after 26 miles...we waited for 1.5 hours to get a picture of him at the finish but somehow missed him!}

{A good one of Flo running - the skyline and the bridge we ran over in the background}

{That night Sam, Ash, Sam's roomies and I went to see Dave Matthews and Jason Mraz}

Point ate.

Nine days and 0.8 lbs. I ran my half marathon four days ago (I'll post about that later) and considered myself "on vacation" so I was definitely not being very "diety." Either way, point eight pounds is not so bad because the "point" is that I "ate" pretty much whatever was my hearts desire for this weekend and a loss is a loss is a loss...right? Right?!?!




In other news - I'm done with my old job! Wooo hooo! I have 5 days off and then I start my Operating Room Course on Monday. Can't wait:-)

Sam, don't read this.

I did something I NEVER EVER EVER thought I'd do - I'm publicly posting my weight and BMI. I have never even told my sister, my mom, or Sam my weight and I just posted it on my blog for all the world to see! Oh crap.




{Stay tuned for a once a week update on rehabbing my rear}

I had to do it though. I really did. I realized if I don't put it out there for myself and everyone else to see - I'm never going to accept the truth and be accountable for it. (It's a hugely added bonus that now I actually have to make changes instead of just talking about them.) So, cheers to 161.2 pounds and a 26.8 BMI! I'm not ashamed anymore to admit either of those numbers out loud because, on my honor (I was a daisy in the Girl Scouts once upon a time!), they won't be around much longer!

Miss Sugar Cookie

I was walking Amber on Saturday morning before meeting Stacey for yoga when I spotted a little puppy sitting on a porch in my neighborhood. I looked around trying to see if perhaps a drunk and/or tired person had just brought their puppy out to use the bathroom but hadn't put them on a leash...but there was no one in sight. The puppy was too scared to come down to me because of Amber (rightly so, Amber is kind of a beotch to dogs she doesn't know) but I could see that she (the puppy is a she) didn't have a collar on. She was whining a little like she wanted to come see me but just looked so skinny and weary.

I immediately started running for my house and dialed Stacey out of breath. I told her to come outside, we wouldn't be making yoga today, I had found her a puppy. (I'm very lucky that she actually agreed with me because she'd never mentioned wanting a puppy, now that I think about it...but history has shown Stacey and I can talk each other into just about anything. Anyway, she didn't argue she just said, "This better be good.") I dropped Amber in my house and Stacey and I went back to get the puppy. We found her cowaring in front of an apartment and she was COVERED in fleas and immaciated. I don't doubt someone just dropped her in our neighborhood to be found.

Stacey automatically decided she was adorable (phew!) and we scooped her up and took her to Becker Animal Hospital near our house. Dr. Becker was so understanding and didn't push Stacey one way or another in the puppy's treatment (it was VERY pricey because she had a virus and needed plasma and fluids.) They told us no matter what we did there was only a 50% chance she would recover because she was so young and so sick. I (and I'm sure Stacey) worried about that little dog all night and all day Monday. We went to visit her after work and she looked SO MUCH BETTER! She wagged her tail at us and ate 2 whole bowls of food while we watched. The vet tech said her chance of coming home is greatly improved since we'd brought her in and that Stacey can pick her up tomorrow. I'm so glad that we found her and that she has a new, cozy home with someone that will love her!

{Stacey named her "Sugar" - like the cookie - because her cat is named Mr. Oreo Cookie}

{Stace and her new puppy}

New Camera

I have been living without a camera for 'round about 4 months now and FINALLY got a new one! I had serveral things I wanted to blog about in the past month but felt really stupid always searching google images for pictures that weren't mine! In regards to my "old" camera I have an apology to make:

"Thank you, Sweet Samuel for the pink beauty you bought me. I am forever sorry that I took it to Howl and the Moon and left it on the beer soaked table!"

That being said, I'm going to mail my broken pink camera into Fuji and see what they can do for me...best case scenario - I have 2 cameras. Worst case - I have my new one and have to sing taps as I throw the remnants of my pretty pink one in the trash can.

I ended up with this Canon Elph (picture from Best Buy) and it's reeeeeally simple to use and so far has done everything I asked of it. I didn't want anything too expensive (my last camera was beer soaked and the one before it was washed and dried in my pants) or with too many settings and buttons. This Elph is perfect for anyone like me that just likes to snap pictures for memories and simple photo albums.

Now I have to get to something I should have done last week - my award! My sister at "Serenity Now" linked me to the Kreative Blogger Award! These are the rules:
1. Link Back to the person who gave you the award.
2. List 7 Things you LOVE!
3. Link to 7 Blogs and let them know you have an Award Waiting for them on your blog!

I'd like to pass my award on to a few of my favorite Kreative Blogs:

Victoria, Meggan, Blair, and Nicole

And now for 7 things I love:

1. My Sam. I've been practicing writing my "married name" since the fourth grade and as my mom puts it, "I saw you dating other guys in college and I knew, I just knew you were just waiting for your Sam." Love you, Boosky.

2. Flipflops. These are not only my favorite shoe but when I start to see them - I know it's getting to be time for my third favorite thing...

3. Sunshine. Can't get enough. I love warm weather and sunshine!

4. Amber Judith. My lovely redded headed mutt. She's been with me through everything (and only once ate something important of mine.)

5. My family. I'm really jealous of people that get to see their families all the time BUT it makes life sweeter for me when I do go home - I always get to pick what's for dinner. haha:-)

6. My friends. I don't think anyone has funnier, smarter (getting her doctorate!) or more giving friends than me. I may be biased (but I'm right.)

7. My job. In an economy like this I am thankful EVERY SINGLE DAY for the good fortune I've been afforded just by having a job and paycheck. Because I currently despise where I work (not my patients or my coworkers, mind you) I have been trying to stop my pity parties and just be thankful for working at all. (and P.S. I start my new job in 2 weeks!!!!!!)