Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011 Running stats

2011 GOALS: (previous post)

-Set a new PR for 10K and Half marathon
(CHECK! 10k PR; 55:40--Half PR; 2:01:43--also PR'd in 5K; 25:22)*
-Run at least three half marathons
(CHECK! - Ran 4 Half Marathons)
-reach 1000 miles
(CHECK!)

*Unofficial Half Marathon PR - 1:57:23 - run on December 17 with Trevor Gibson during "Trevathon"

2011 Stats:

Running miles: 1150.09

-ONLY 2 of those were Treadmill miles!!!
(Buffalo Wild Wings Relay for Life Fundraiser-July 27)
-102 were run in races.
-Ran on 178 days
-Total Runs: 179 (1 day with 2 runs - Oct. 30th)

Monthly miles:

Jan-96.77
Feb-89.16
Mar-107.66
Apr-91.24
May-50.16(injuries)
Jun-88.52
Jul-108.35
Aug-100.38
Sept-93.68
Oct-97.33
Nov-83.87
Dec-142.91 (Marathon training!)

Mile 1000 ran on November 29Th, Dedicated to Mahlon C. Smith, Jr.

Longest run of 2011 -- 15 miles (ironically the last run too!) on 12-31

________
Races: 17
5K - 10
10K - 3
Half - 4

Wins: 1 (Holly Arthur CF 5K) BONUS!!
1st in age: 4
2nd in age: 3
3rd in age: 2

Link_____________
2012 GOALS:
-PR in a Marathon (Ultimate goal: under 4:30)
-Run 1000+ miles, ideally more than 2011
-Complete my first Triathlon
-Learn to swim efficiently

Thursday, August 4, 2011

laying low...

Been lying low lately. Sorry. Not much going on. It's way to hot to do much! I did manage to get 108 miles in July though! (No help from the Plantar Fasciitis in my right foot.) Still on track for my 2011 goal. Our running group is blossoming steadily! We have 26 people running Tupelo next month. We just ordered tech tanks and I'm setting up a pre-race dinner. I'm looking forward to a great race with a great group of folks. It's likely gonna be SUPER HOT this year. Not looking forward to that. Last year's weather was excellent. I'm pretty sure that's the reason I had such a good race. Not expecting that this year.



I'm planning my next marathon adventure right now. I'm currently set on the New Orleans marathon on March 4th. It's really flat and close enough to not break the bank. (NY = $$$$!!) I'll do the Blues Half in Jackson as well on Jan. 7th. I also decided after this years Sunfish that I am participating next year!! My first Triathlon! Mom, Dad & Wes volunteered with me this year. They enjoyed it. Here's a picture of Me, Dad, Tim and Mahlon in the water before the race. (Dad wasn't paying attention).
----------------

I'm officially a college student again!!!! :) I've finally decided on what I wanted to do. Exercise Science. I'm taking a few classes at MCC, then heading to UWA next year. Can't wait! With this degree I can do a number of things fitness related, from personal training to coaching. I haven't decided that part yet. We'll see what sparks my interest. I want to remain active and involved and this will help me do that. It'll also help BRC too!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

BRC's newest addiction...

Lately after our weekend long runs, we've been treating ourselves to fresh watermelon. It's quite refreshing! Especially these last few weeks with the humidity being SOOO high! This summer is BRUTAL! I'm completely exhausted after a long run. We run at 5:30 am, the coolest time of the day. But when the coolest is 78 degrees with a high of 99, there's no relief. We've done good staying hydrated and taking it easy.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

State Games Races...

The State Games races are officially over. I placed exactly the same as last year... 2nd in Cross Country and 3rd in the 5K.... The 5K was harder this year. Definitely challenging! I felt great throughout the whole race. I walked a little bit up the hill and ended up loosing the 1st place lead. I was 13 seconds behind the 1st place girl in my age group (Kicking myself for that, but oh well...)

Anyway, I am currently (still) on track for my 1000 mile goal for 2011! I have reached 501 miles! :) There are also about 15 folks from BRC and Meridian that have registered for the Tupelo Marathon/14.2 race in September. Its gonna be fun!!!

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

SHARE THE ROAD

Jan Morgan and her husband David are the owners of Boardtown Bikes in Starkville. They are avid adventurers and lover of all things athletic and outdoors. I don't know them personally. I've never met them actually. But I've gotten to know them a lot over the past three weeks. Three weeks ago, Jan was riding her bike and was struck by a car from behind and thrown from the car's hood. She is in critical condition. David is by her side night and day, holding vigil. Like I said, I don't know this couple, but I can feel the love they have for each other through David's daily blog posts about Jan's recovery. Jan's accident has brought the Share the Road movement into the forefront of area running and cycling clubs.

Please read David's posts and be in prayer for her. And SHARE THE ROAD!!!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Running update...

So far this year, I've achieved two of the four running goals I set for myself. I've set new PR's in both 10K and the Half Marathon. I do plan to run a third half this year (there aren't any nearby until the fall), which will complete the third goal. The fourth goal is the one I'm unsure about. I want to run 1000 miles this year. So far I am on track. I have to maintain at least 84 miles each month to achieve this. I did 100+ in January, 90+ in February, 100+ in March, and 89 in April(I can't remember the exact numbers). This left me with a 55 mile surplus going into May. I felt great about this because I was hurting a good bit when training for the Renaissance Half. I felt like I could relax a little in May if I needed to. Well, I needed more than relaxation. I pretty much needed to stop running all together. I've had injury after injury. Once my shin and knee stopped hurting, my Achilles started hurting. Then I got Plantar Fascitis in my right foot. I feel okay today, but because I have ran only 3 miles this week! For the month of May, I will have 35-40 miles, depending on whether or not I can suffer through the pain and gain a few more over the last few days of the month. This month I'll eat almost all of those surplus miles, which means I won't have room to relax anymore this year unless I can get over all these injuries and gain it back. I haven't totally given up on my goal yet. But I've accepted that fact that it may not happen. (If I'm 10 miles shy on New Year's Eve, I'll definitely be out for a run!)

The next race is the State Games... the cross country race on June 4, and the 5K on June 18.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Alcatraz

This is a new JJ Abrams drama coming to FOX next year (2012). It looks great! Finally, good stuff on TV again!!

Youtube video

FireWire Review

Thursday, May 19, 2011

yummy homemade pizza

If you enjoy a homemade pizza for lunch (like I do nearly everyday), you must try these flatbreads I found at Wal-mart. They are $2. The perfect size for a small pizza. Very Yummy!!!!

Monday, May 16, 2011

It only takes a spark....

Then....


And Now!!

This weekend at Camp Meridale was just what I needed. There aren't enough words to describe how much I needed this. It brought me back to what I knew before life got in the way. Simplicity, friendship, compassion, fun. I had forgotten how to have those things in my life. Instead of getting upset because there was no 3G service and I couldn't access my email, I put the phone down and enjoyed nature and the fellowship with old friends I hadn't seen in almost 20 years. I enjoyed the scenery and listening to the other Girl Scouts' stories from their summers spent at Camp Meridale. Stories from the 1940's. Stories from the 1970's. I loved walking through the camp and realizing the "long" walk to the treehouses, really wasn't that long at all. I remember the dinner bell being huge. I remember walking arm-in-arm with fellow campers, shining our flashlights on the path watching for snakes and other critters. I remember the treehouses being really high off the ground. At 10 years old and 4 feet tall, everything seemed larger than life. Now, despite my perspective changing, it was still a magical place. Carla, Brandye and I (girls from my old troop) immediately became best friends again. We walked around the campsites posing for each others pictures and remembering which tents, treehouses and wagons we slept in as kids. We reminisced about campfires, mock suppers, skits and songs, breakfast in the trees and the adventure course. I truly felt like a kid again.


I saw these cups in the cabinet in the old lodge and started remembering how much we used them! These cups were our drinking cups at all our meals. It's little things like this that allow those memories to come back! Carla, Brandye and I wanted to take some home with us!
Troop 16 together again! Mrs. Eloise (back) was our leader. In the middle is LaShundra and Brandye. Sitting is Tabitha, Carla and me.
This is Leslie Lee Priester. She was instrumental in organizing this reunion. She started working with the Girl Scouts in the 80's when I started camping. I remember her and Mrs. Lexie (old B&W photo below) were the camp directors. Ms Leslie Lee lead our campfires and songs this weekend.

Mrs. Lexie Muse passed away earlier this year. She was instrumental in the camp's development during the 70's, 80's and 90's. I remember her always being so strong and held together with a bunch of little girls running around. She lead Grace before meals .She was always involved with the skits and songs we sang. She entertained us with her stories and songs.

During this weekend, we planted a Southern Magnolia tree in her memory. Mrs. Lexie will definitely be missed.


This past weekend at Camp Meridale was amazing! I haven't laughed and cried happy tears this much in a long time. I still get all sentimental, days later. I feel rejuvenated and have a fresh perspective on life.

Since the reunion, I've made many new friends. Together we have come up with the idea of starting a blog to collect all of our camp memories. Here's the link. I added my thoughts already. We hope others who weren't able to make it to the reunion can add to the blog their photos and memories of their fun times in Girl Scouting. I also emailed the current director of the local Girl Scouts about volunteering this summer.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Painting With A Twist

Mom & I had a blast at Painting With a Twist yesterday. Here's a few pics from our painting class. We started out with a blank canvas with a simple outline of the bird and flowers. We had 6 colors (red, white, blue, yellow, green, black) and three brushes. Julie Lee, the instructor (she has a studio downtown and some of her artwork is at Deli on 5Th) showed us what to do in steps. She helped us blend colors and showed us a few techniques. (She helped me with my bird feathers) It was really fun. I plan to go again soon. Even if I go by myself.



My finished "masterpiece"

Friday, May 6, 2011

Mom's Day with a Twist

This Sunday is Mommy's Day. I love Mommy's day! It's always fun to surprise Mom with something unique and fun. These last few years have been kinda tough because Mom has everything. She doesn't need anything. A few years ago, I took her to the movies to see the new Star Trek. This year we are going to a painting class. Painting with a Twist has chosen a hummingbird painting for its Mother's Day class. I suggested it actually! Last month, I emailed the local studio and asked about their schedule for May. They responded by asking for suggestions. I said my Mom loves Hummingbirds. When the May schedule came out, I was elated! The perfect Mother's Day! I haven't been to Painting with a Twist yet. A friend invited me to a private party a while back. I wasn't able to go because of work (wish work wasn't always getting in the way!). So it'll be a first for both of us. I'm getting excited about it actually. I'm not much of an artist. But I think I can pull this off. :) We'll see how it turns out. I'm looking forward to spending time with Mom though.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Scouts Honor...

Next weekend I will be reliving the good ol' days down at Camp Meridale! I cannot wait! When I was a girl scout, I spent several weeks there each summer. It was like a home away from home. I loved every minute I spent there. So much that (being a tomboy and not caring about my appearance) I often went a few days without washing my hair. Washing, drying and fixing my hair took too much time. They were lucky I even bathed! I was having so much fun, I didn't want to miss anything. I also remember once not telling anyone that I had been stung by a wasp (I'm very allergic) because I knew they would call my Mom. Someone noticed how swollen and red my arm was and I ended up leaving camp. I wasn't happy about that at all.

I hope to not have any issues that would cause them to call my parents this time. I think I can be responsible enough now. :) I'm looking forward to seeing the old place again. Eating in the lodge, the flag ceremony, capers and nature trails and the like. My friend Carla is gonna be there too. Her mother Ms. Eloise was our troop leader. We had some good times together. We are both staying in the treehouses again.


I promise I'll wash my hair this time. Scouts Honor.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Thanking God today...

As I sit at work today, eating my weekly Deli on 5Th Cuban sandwich and Brownie, I break into tears every time ABC news breaks into programming with another death toll update. Yesterday was an emotional day. This picture is of the tornado that ripped through my hometown, taken by Gia Kennedy, someone I don't know, but have been following on Facebook because she lives near the tornado's path and was able to get pictures of it and its aftermath. It came through just south of downtown Enterprise, walking distance from the Elementary and High schools I went to, a mile from my parents house. Thank God they weren't affected. Thank God they weren't home.

I've lived in the south all my life. I've spent many many nights in the family storm shelter praying to God to save our house and our community. For the first time in my 30 years on this earth, I know someone whose home was destroyed. I've seen it on TV so many times that I was immune to it yesterday when we were on the air for almost 7 hours. But when I learned that my friend LaWanda lost everything while I was sitting here yesterday evening wondering what I was gonna have for dinner, I became humbled and eternally grateful that my family was spared once more. LaWanda and her daughter are fine. They escaped the storm without harm. They are grateful to God for their lives.

While LaWanda and Kaitlin are safe, others are not. I've heard horror stories all day today. It's days like today I wish I didn't work in TV. I hear the things we can't broadcast, details no one wants to know. 5 people died in Clarke County yesterday. I didn't know them, but I learned today they are related to friends of mine. It's truly heartbreaking to realize how destructive nature can be, wake up in your own bed after an uneasy nights' sleep and remember that others didn't have a bed to sleep in.

Please remember the Southern states in your prayers. Search and rescue operations are still ongoing in Alabama and other more devastated areas. This event will take a long time to recover from. Many will not recover. We will definitely never forget it.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Week 4 of 5...

This Saturday's race (however small) will be the 4Th race in 4 weeks... With one more to go... 5 races in 5 weeks. I've never done that before. Maybe there's a reason.
I think my IT band knows the reason.
The Bridge Run was Race #1 of 5, setting a 10K PR and getting under an hour for the 1st time. YEAH!! Then came the Anderson Cup, which I did okay on, placing 4th in my age group. (That hill at the end sucks!). Last Saturday I ran the Lamar 10K, improving my 10K time by 2 1/2 minutes! (55:40) I ran 12 miles on the trails Sunday without much pain. Monday my IT was pretty sore and Tuesday when I tried to run with DeeDee, but it was hurting really bad. Tim made me a homemade foam roller and I've been doing some new stretches. Today I ran an easy 4 with Mindy and it felt stiff but no pain. So we'll hope for a good pain-free race this weekend (Camp Eagle Ridge 5K at Okatibbee) and take it easy next week for the Renaissance Half Marathon in Ridgeland on April 30Th.... Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky, set a new PR, and win a new Honda! :)

Last week, Pete ran the Krispy Kreme 5K . The company hosts these races all over the place. You run to the turnaround point, eat 1 DOZEN donuts (!!!), and then run back! Pete came in the top 10! WOW! I'm more proud of him for not vomiting!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Bridge Run Weekend!!

Our Charleston venture was awesome and very much needed! As you can see, we rented a nice spacious minivan, a Toyota Sienna, which was the perfect size. Everyone had leg room and enough space to crash once we got on the road at 5am Friday morning...



King & Queen of the middle row...


King of the road... We loved the sunroof!
Once we got settled in the hotel, we drove around the old base. (Ken just couldn't wait). This is the townhouse where Papaw, Mamaw, and the kids lived. Mom remembered what they looked like when she visited us, but Ken knew exactly which building and apartment. They are renumbered and now an apartment complex of questionable safety, but back then these were base housing.
the one on the right.
Mom has a picture of her on this porch as a toddler.


Later we met Pete, Kelly and some friends of there's at Andollini's Pizza on Rivers Avenue. We failed to realize that it was April Fool's Day. We were met with a funny surprise....

Thrift Store Masters!! Pete & Kelly with their friends, Noah and Robin Reed.


Saturday morning, we woke up super early to head to the starting line for the Bridge Run. Pete, Kelly & Josh were a little late, so we weren't able to get a photo of all of us. Josh didn't register for the race, but decided to try to sneak in. He was successful. He walked the race Bandit style....

On the Bus to Mt. P



Waiting to Run...







From my corral, I could see the start line.





Mile 1.5... heading to the bridge
Mile 2.5. On top!




Mile 4.5... turning onto King Street
Pete and I were gonna start together, but he was late. He passed me somewhere on the bridge and then I ended up catching up with him near mile 3. I saw his bright white chicken legs and then NAVY on his sweatshirt and knew that was him... We ran together for a mile or so, then I slowed down and he took off, finishing at 52:14. Noah was right behind him at 53:56. I ended up finishing at 58:02!! My goal was under an hour! It was the first time I ever got under an hour in a 10K. Pete and Noah bought girlie pink running shorts at the expo. They both wore them with NAVY shirts.... When he finished, he said he was pretty cold, among other things...



We hung out on the King Street side of Marion Square to wait for Mom, Kelly, Wes and Josh. I tried to get pictures of all of them, but only got Wes and Josh. Kelly finished in 1:28:38. Mom came running by us like an Olympian! I was so proud of her! She said she jogged off and on during the race and cut off a good bit of her time, finishing at 1:41:20. Josh hung with Wes and they finished in 1:57:21.

My Friend Sandy from high school found me on Facebook and said that her Husband was running the race too. We met up in Marion Square for a quick visit.
After we caught up with everyone, we all walked to the Market for a little while and then headed back to the hotel to shower and change. Part of King Street has pavers and Deb found this one.....
Gullah Sweetgrass Basket maker
Later we came back downtown and walked around the Battery and up East Bay to Rainbow Row and through the neighborhoods to St. Phillips' and St. Michaels' churches.

Rainbow Row

When Ken was a kid, he "took" a cobblestone from one of the streets. There are only a few cobblestone streets left.



Such a beautiful day!

Taking a break behind City Hall.

These folks had the right idea.





Sullivan's Island.






On Saturday night, we went to Gilligan's, a "must eat there" when visiting Charleston.







On Sunday, Wes, myself, Ken, Deb and Josh went to Mt. Pleasant. We had a little while before our Fort Sumter boat left, so we decided to visit the new park that was starting to be built when we left. Mt. Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park. I so wish it was there when we lived there. It's places like this that make me wish we never left!
The memorial for Mt. Pleasant soldiers


scene from out boat ride to Fort Sumter. USS Yorktown on the left.

After Fort Sumter, we went to see the Hunley. The Hunley was the first submarine to sink a ship in the civil war. It was lost at sea for 100+ years. The 8 guys were MIA. The sub was foun din 1995. They wouldn't let us take pictures of the Hunley. Its being kept in a water tank to prevent it from drying out. It's a really interesting story behind it. (Click the link for more info.)
On the way back to Pete & Kelly's for dinner, we passed by the Hump Bar. Mom went nuts... It's not real by the way. There's a duratran in the window.



Cooking out at Pete's apartment... no alligators in site.