20 miles

Less than 3 weeks, people.

I know I haven't updated in a while.  Don't worry, I have excuses.  (I know you were concerned.)

So what I failed to mention in my last post was the stomach bug.  I ran my 18 miles on the 12th and then on the 14th I caught some sort of nasty 24-hour stomach bug. I can't remember the last time I was that sick.  Seriously.  It was horrible.  Just my luck to have to call in sick during my second week of my new job.  And there's probably nothing more humbling than throwing up in your coffee mug while driving home.  (Yup that went straight to the trash.)

Thankfully I have a ton of amazing friends who were willing to help me in my time of need, a fiance who brought my gatorade and comfort, and a saintly sister who stocked me up with soup, crackers, bananas, and applesauce. (BRAT diet anyone?)

So needless to say I missed some running that week.  I did run that Wednesday, Thursday, and I think Friday, but I again didn't do my long run, which was supposed to be 12 miles.  Instead I decided to make up for it by trying to run ~20 miles throughout the next week to prepare for the longest and most important long run.

Sunday the 20th I ran 7 miles, and then I spent some time on the treadmill throughout the week.  (I think I did 4/5/3 miles? But since it was on the treadmill I don't have it recorded.)

And then my shining moment came on Saturday.  I actually did my long run somewhere other than my neighborhood.

Yes, you read that right.  After all my griping I finally headed out to White Rock and did 2 loops plus 2 miles.  20 miles baby. Averaged 10:18/mile... more than I wanted but at least I got 'er done.

My excuses for that include taking a while to get started so I could get to the right place in my audio book, and having to stop to take a rock out of my shoe.  OH!  and stopping to take a look at these:

 

Those are Monk Parakeets!  There was probably 5 or so of them along the trail.  Little cuties!

Also, I'm currently listening to Divergent by Veronica Roth

Buy it on Amazon!

It was recommended to me by my friend Megan, I believe (thanks Megan!!).  It's on the list of books that you're supposed to like if you loved The Hunger Games trilogy... which I DID.  I'm loving this right now!  And it's a trilogy so if I finish it before my marathon I can start on the next one!  Perfect.

Anyway, that's enough over-sharing for today.  :)

Stay away from stomach bugs.  Do your long runs.

Best. Long Run. Ever.

18 miles.

First of all, is anyone getting sick of this yet?? I know I am!! Come on February 17th!!

Anyway.

So long runs are... long.  (Obviously)  I was estimating this one to be around 3 hours.  That's a long time to listen to the same playlist or just music in general.  So this time I decided to download an audio book. 

Best decision ever. 

I was looking through the featured audio books on iTunes and found "The Art of Racing in the Rain," which a friend had raved about and sounded really good, AND it was raining outside... Perfect!  The run-time was around 6 hours so I figured I could divide it up between long runs.

Well, the book ended up being so good that I finished listening to it 2 days later.  SO GOOD.

Seriously, read it!

I averaged a 10:46 pace for my 16 miler, and for this run I averaged 10:21.  I would love for my pace to average out to 10 minutes/mile... and I think it will be more attainable come race day because:

1- I'm teaching myself how to "GU" while I run (instead of walking) and
2- I won't have to wait at any stop lights!!*

Listening to this book made it easier for me to just keep running and not stop to walk as much (minus the 50,000 intersection lights), and it just didn't feel like such a chore!

*Side note: This is exactly why I should quit running in my neighborhood and run around White Rock or the Trinity Trails. 

Back to the book... it's written from the perspective of a dog and it is hilariously entertaining, heartfelt, and exciting.  I cannot recommend this book enough...  Especially if you have a dog!  Of course it has its sad parts, but you know they're coming from the first chapter of the book.  I did tear up while running a few times though, I'm sure that was a sight. ;)

So after my run I rinsed off, changed, and went to try wedding cake.  haha.  What a treat.

8 miler

This wasn't a very significant run, except for the fact that I skipped another long run.  Oopsy.

I did this 8-miler on the Tuesday following the missed run.  (I skipped it because I was out at camp, yet again, and just too busy to fit in 12 miles.)

This run... was fantastic.

Yes, you read that right, I referred to running as fantastic.

My splits were beautiful.

• SPLITS

MILE	TIME	CHANGE	AVG PACE
1	9:25	--	9'25"/mi
2	19:01	+ 0:10 (-2%)	9'36"/mi
3	28:35	- 0:01 (0%)	9'34"/mi
4	39:06	+ 0:56 (-10%)	10'30"/mi
5	48:47	- 0:50 (7%)	9'40"/mi
6	58:20	- 0:07 (1%)	9'33"/mi
7	1:08:59	+ 1:05 (-12%)	10'39"/mi
8 *Fastest	1:18:05	- 1:33 (14%)	9'05"/mi

Look at that!! My fastest mile was my last!! And I have good excuses for long 4th and 7th miles!  4th:  Trying to figure out where I should turn and if I could go up farther before I turned, and 7th because I was busy playing a game called, "It's a dark and stormy night and I can't find the sidewalk."

It poured down rain at some parts.  And it was glorious.  I powered through.  I might have even pictured myself going at warp speed at one point when the rain coming down, illuminated by the street lights, looked a lot like the set of Star Trek.

(Yes, I just nerded out that much.)


New favorite running items:  the North Face running jacket my dad gave me for Christmas (glorious), and a hat.  Who knew a hat would be such a life saver?? (Answer: A lot of people, but I'm just now catching up!)

And then.  There was THIS:

That, friends, is the most painful toe cramping I have EVER experienced.  It came out of nowhere, and then it wouldn't go away.  (I'm thinking maybe I didn't hydrate enough during my run?  I'm unsure.)  The first time it caught me off guard, but then no matter what I did it wasn't going away.  Hot shower.  Standing up.  Toughing it out.  Pulling my toes back into position temporarily relieved the agony.

Yes, I bit my lip long enough to get a picture mid-cramp before promptly grabbing my foot and pulling the toes back to where they should be.  

Horrible.  At one point it hurt so bad my eyes actually welled up with tears.

DRINK WATER, PEOPLE.  Replace your electrolytes.  And eat your bananas.

NYE Not so Sweet 16

This. Long Run.  Sucked.

I don’t know how else to say it.  There is no other way to say it.  Who wants to run 16 miles on New Year’s Eve?  Not me!  But since I procrastinated my long run, yet again, there I was.  For 2 hours and 52 minutes.  Running.  And running. 

In order to avoid having to come up with a path or getting too far out or not far enough, I just ran on the same sidewalk for 8 miles, then proceeded to turn around, and head back.

Disgusting. 

My first mile was 8:55 and my last was 12:37.

Also disgusting. 

It was cold.  Rainy.  Grueling.  Boring.  And yes, disgusting.

Whatever.  I finished.

And then I went and had a fabulous NYE.  Boom. Shaka. Laka. 

2012 In Review

College retreat 2012!

Olympic marathon trials to watch Matt! 

Roger Creager!

Visited Flat Creek Vineyard. 

Snuggie pub crawl!

About to get an ultrasound of my neck. Weird.

I'm awkward on camera.

Won my age group!

Valentine's Day trip to Houston!

Painted on my wall! :)

Had to drive from Phoenix to Las Vegas.

25th birthday in Vegas!

Stumbled upon a red carpet!

Worked a water station!

Took a flower arrangement class

Designed the Pilot hiring brochure

Packed up my apartment, yet again, in the 'burb!

Got ready for a first date ;)

Got to see a dear friend get married!

Witnessed the 800 reveal!

Prepared for the Hunger Games movie! 

Hiked in Ruidoso

Moved home again 

Worked the ramp in Vegas

Showed this cutie how to use Instagram

Stalked Met one of my favorite bloggers, Elsie!!!

Met this cutie and formed a great relationship with his momma!

Practiced childlike faith!

Got to stand next to my Little at her wedding! 

Shot a lot of gorgeous weddings!

Met Screech! 

Partied in Vegas some more!

Was a part of this couple's special day!

Experienced the craziest hail storm I've ever seen. 

Got to counsel at Senior High!

Went to NOLA for the first time!

Cafe Du Monde!

America

Pat Green!

Road trip to Austin!

Met Pudge!

Sister's wedding!!

First plane ride together!

Florida!

Laureen's bachelorette party!

Hot chicks reunited!

   

Met a sloth!

Played dress up! :)

GARY KELLY!!

Went to San Juan... for 15 minutes!

Took my Aggie to Okie-land!

Visited Pi Beta!

Got "hit by a car" :)

Started training again, and this blog!

Visited Red Velvet!

Visited the center of the universe!

Chinese lantern festival!

Witnessed/shot this proposal!

Frosty Trot!

Mark's first 5K!

Tree lighting in FTW.

Got to go inside Poolie!

Studied Esther!

Realized the greatness of cherry sours.

GOT ENGAGED!!

AHHHH!

Found a new talent after all!

Got my wedding dress! (lolz, this isn't it sillies)

Dressed up my cat!

White Christmas!

So I was looking through all the pictures on my phone and it really hit me what all I did this past year.  So. many. good. things.  And the pictures above are just the tip of the iceberg.  I traveled a lot, grew spiritually, fell in love, and just had an amazing year.

(Also if you're wondering about the ultrasound picture, apparently I have a weird-shaped neck that makes doctors think something's wrong with my thyroid.  Welp, turns out just a weird-shaped neck.)

I got to be a maid of honor for three amazing friends, one of which was my sister, and I'm so glad I got to share their special day right next to them!

Such a great year!!  I'm so pumped for 2013 already.  New job, second full marathon (EEK), more bridesmaid fun, marrying the most amazing man I know, moving to Fort Worth (hopefully), and hopefully traveling and plenty of good times!  Bring on the adventures!!