Slow and steady does not win the race...

As I mentioned here, I definitely found time to relax this weekend. However, relaxing is not all I did. I also struggled my way through a very long and terrible race—and I mean TERRIBLE. On Saturday morning, I woke up at 4 AM and drove to Des Moines where I ran a 12.4 mile race called “Dam to Dam.” I ran this race after zero training. And I mean ZERO (I’ve ran twice in the last two months for a total of 8 miles).

And let me tell you, this race did not go well for me. Can you say “eleven minute miles?” HAHA!! I laugh every time I think about that. I am the runner you see after you’ve finished the race, taken off your shoes, eaten a bagel or two, maybe finished a beer, gotten your things together and are heading back home when you look back at the course and say, “Oh my god! I can’t believe there are people still running!” Yup, I was that runner. 

I was also that runner who was “running” up the hills slower than the people walking the hills. 

And the runner who instantly bent over to gasp for air after crossing the finish line (after running eleven minute miles).

My friend, Sam, however, was not that runner. She “trained” just as little as I did (even less) and still managed to run eight minute miles. 

Good freaking god. 

Anyway, HAPPY MONDAY!!!! :)

As much as it kills me to admit this, I have to...

I am no longer running the Missoula Marathon. 

About three or four weeks into my training, I was struck with some sort of injury. I’m not sure what it was exactly (or even how it happened), but the pain was behind my right knee and shot all the way down my calf. It lasted for about five weeks, and during that time I only ran twice. Talk about a training buzz kill.

After lots of rest and a half dozen ice massages, I think it is officially healed now (although I haven’t ran for two weeks) as it no longer hurts when I walk (it used to) and it no longer hurts when I apply pressure to it (it used to).

My friend, Sam, who was also training for this race was also injured (and still is!).  She got hurt about the same time I did and thinks she has a stress fracture. 

So here’s the deal…nine weeks away from race day, I feel completely out of shape and really don’t want to pack 18 weeks of training into such a dinky little time-frame. Also, let’s not forget that my sister’s wedding is a week away and this weather has been so dang weird lately—no one wants to be stuck training during all of that!

So, it’s official. I’m a quitter. Sam and I both decided this on Monday night and I am working to get each of our $90 registration fees applied to next year’s race when we will *hopefully* be more prepared!

I feel like such a loser.

Wordless Wednesday: a present for sam

While purchasing my adorable new shoes this past weekend, I came across a running log that is being sold as a fundraiser for one of my favorite races (Living History Farms). So, I purchased a log for myself and one for my friend, Sam.

I doctored up the back cover (see below) and sent it to her on Monday.

Before



After (that's me on the left and Sam on the right).

Stupid, I know...but I still can't stop laughing about it!



Marathon Monday / Counting my blessings

My amazing friend, Samantha Ford, qualified for the Boston Marathon when running our last marathon in October (see picture of us after finishing here). Once you qualify for Boston, you have to run it within the next two years. So, Sam had to decide whether she would run it today, April 15th, or in April 2014.

I told Sam I would absolutely be on the sidelines cheering her on whenever she decided to run it.

In February of this year, Sam was studying abroad for school (which would make marathon training very difficult), so she decided to wait until next year to run Boston.

After hearing about today's tragedy, I couldn't help but selfishly think, 'we could've been there...'

What in the hell is wrong with our world? This sickens me.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected today.

I will see you next year, Boston.

M.I.A.

Holy, holy smokes! I have been gone for so long I don't even know where to start! The number one reason for my absence is work. For the past four weeks I had been working on audits where I did not have internet access (or, if I was lucky, I got to share an internet cord with two other people). And, since I usually blog during my lunch break, that really wasn't feasible. Also, for the past four weeks I have been working on audits that suck the life out of me. Literally. It wasn't uncommon for me to be at work at 6 AM and not leave until 7 PM (or later). This, you see, has really planted the "find a new job" seed in my mind--but enough about work--I am soooo sick of it!

This is a typical work space for me and my co-workers. I dream of having an office (or even a cubicle) someday!

This is not exactly a typical binder of ours, but it was so funny looking that I had to take a picture. I am SO GLAD I was not the one who had to go through this ginormous thing.

Last Friday Trent and I spent the evening in the quad cities and stayed at a casino (not sure which one), where I was the star of the blackjack table and won a whole $25! On Saturday we went to my second-cousin, Matthew's, first birthday party in Davenport. It was such a fun day full of lots and lots of babies.

Baby Matthew and his dad, Drew.

Unhappy baby Claire and her great-grandma

Kennedy, me, and Quinn

Quinn and me. I love his cute little smile here :)

Every free minute I had this week was spent creating my sister's bachelorette party invites. And, if I do say so myself, they turned out absolutely ADORABLE. But, just to warn anyone that considers making them, be sure you have enough free time set aside! I made about twenty-five of them and it probably took me a good twenty hours to get them all done.

A corset or a martini glass...depending on how you look at it.

This past Thursday, Trent and I took half a day off from work and headed to Omaha to see, drum roll please....TAYLOR SWIFT in concert! HOLY CRAPALONI she was soooo good! Seriously, I don't even understand how she can be so good. She even sang my favorite song of hers, "All Too Well." Click this link to hear it:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzJlpnBaJyw

This is the best picture we took of ourselves as we waited for Taylor to come out.

This is the best picture I got of her that wasn't on the big screen. We really did have great seats, but my stupid phone wasn't taking the greatest pictures.

I spent this weekend at my cousin Amanda's house dog-sitting while her and her family went to Chicago. I gave her fair warning that her dogs would be getting absolutely no attention from me, and that is exactly how it went. All I did for them was fill up their dog bowls and open up the door so they could go outside to do their business. This weekend confirmed my previous decision that I would never own a dog--not because they misbehaved or anything while I "watched" them, but because they are pointless--they sit around and sleep all day long, they stare at me very annoyingly, and their tails whack me in the leg whenever they are within a foot of me. And, I discovered this weekend, that the smell of dog food makes me want to gag.

Along with dog-sitting this weekend, I worked on more bridal shower projects, went shopping with my sister and her soon-to-be stepdaughters for their junior bridesmaids dresses (we found the perfect one!), and tried to give my miserably sore legs some rest. If you recall from this post, I was supposed to start my pre-training a month ago. Welp, that didn't happen, so this week I suffered through my training and now feel quite miserable and out of shape.

This week *should* be a bit better for me at work so hopefully I will not be M.I.A. from the blogging world anymore.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all and to all a good night!

Excuses, Schmexcuses

It is officially one month until my training for the Missoula Marathon starts. So **giant sigh**, it is now time for this lazy hiatus of mine to come to end. This is true not only because I have to be in good enough shape to run nineteen miles the very first week, but also because those ugly dimples on my legs (that I worked so hard to get rid of last summer) are slowly starting to make an appearance again. Luckily, I will not be wearing shorts for at least another month.

But seriously, it is so hard to be motivated when it is SO STINKING COLD outside! Although I will not be running outside, I will be running from my car to the gym door, and that two second run is so miserable--it's the worst! To all of you warm winter weather people in the world, you don't even know how lucky you are. And you have no excuse for being lazy.

Since I, however, am blessed with this really good excuse, I will continue to use it for at least four more days.

Cellulite, you're safe for now.

Montana

I am pretty sure that New Years Day is the busiest day in most gyms around the world as 95% of the population is starting the first day of their annual resolution. I too have that same resolution for Twenty-Thirteen. However, despite my membership to Anytime Fitness, my yesterday was spent eating, watching whatever I could find on the tele, and making only minimal muscle movemements while sprawled out on the couch. I felt very much entitled to really enjoy my last day of holiday vacation.

Of course, when 8:00 PM rolled around, I started feeling guilty (and lord knows I wasnt't about to go to anytime fitness at 8 PM). So, in an effort to increase my future motivation and the likelihood of accomplishing resolution number 4, I decided to research my next marathon. And it's official. On July 14, 2013, I will be running a marathon in Missoula, Montana.

Montana...never been there in my life. The first thing that comes to my mind is the ridiculosly good (but very depressing) movie, 'My Sister's Keeper.' The main character was obsessed with Montana.

Missoula, MT

...and if this is what Montana looks like when I get there, I might become obsessed too.

The next several months will be spent planning this 19+ hour (one way) road trip. I am already so excited for this mini little adventure of mine!

Anyway, my training starts on March 10th (that's two more months of procrastination).

Number Six?

About a month and a half ago, I finished my fifth marathon. About two months ago, I swore I would never run a sixth.

Welp...

I have already changed my mind. Somehow, I have forgotten how utterly miserable I was after week fourteen of training (with another four to go), and how I had no time for anything but lacing up my worn out shoes and running the same stinking road I did the night before, and how much I hated the inconsiderate drivers who enjoyed playing such unfair games of Chicken, and how raw my poor skin would get if I failed to lather on a healthy dose of Body Glide.

The fact is, I am so bored! With no kids, no hubby, and no friends within seventy-five miles (excluding my wonderful family), my nights have recently consisted of reality TV, a large variety of unhealthy snacks, and of course, a large glass of wine and/or a delicious beer or two. And, since I cannot think of any other (productive) hobby (staring at pinterest for hours on end does not count as productive) to occupy my time, I am reverting back to the--Lord, have mercy--marathon training.

So the search begins....which one should I run next?! I found this AMAZING website which lists tons of marathons all around the world and it allows you to filter by country, state, month, etc. Check this sucker out:

http://marathons.ahotu.com/calendar/marathon/usa

I haven't narrowed it down yet, but I am quite sure my lazy days are limited.