half marathon

Last night, I went to a concert with some friends of Paul that were in town at a local dive bar.  I had never heard of this band before, but our friends promised good music and a good time.  They were not wrong.

The headlining band we were there to see what Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, sort of a mix of goth-country, gospel, and alternative, but one hell of a show, just fun music, and a crazy atmosphere.  I was surrounded by ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.  It was a small show, maybe 100 people, but I was overdressed in my khaki shorts, v-neck tee and flip flops.  

I mean, there were people covered in tattoos, dread-locks, mohawks, long beards, no hair, hippie sun dresses, people wearing holy shirts (I mean literally with holes), large people, tall people, short people, just all sizes.  And no one cared!  Everyone was there dancing however they wanted to dance, jumping around, doing there thing.  

It was so refreshing to be in a crowd of people that were all so different from one another not judging and not caring.  I don’t surround myself with judgy people, but being so conscious of my weight all the time, I can’t help but notice people around me.

I tried hard to stay out of my self-conscious head, and just focus on all of these people, out there, dressing how they want to dress, dancing how they want to dance, and making no apologies for any of it.  I loved it.

Tomorrow, I have my next half-marathon.  I am not planning on a PR, but it will be my first all trail race, so it should be fun!

Happy Friday!

And now it’s a good day…

I dare you not to smile at this.

Love this picture so much!

Thanks to an awesome fellow blogger, http://runningdetermined.tumblr.com/, I have discovered this amazing website called the Daily Mile where you can log all of your runs and build a network.  I love the thought of the accountability.  It is great motivation to get my last run in before my half marathon this weekend.

Check it out! http://www.dailymile.com/people/stephaniee18#ref=tophd

30 Day Running Challenge: Day 18

What are your PRs? Time, distance?

My PR during a half was 2:03.. and I am determined to beat that!

My best chipped time during a 5k was 27 minutes, but I clocked in at 21:22 while running 3 miles one night.  I was fueled by rage at something and was just killing it!

I hope to set a PR of under 5 hours in my marathon, so fingers crossed.

Again, I am not a fast runner, but I keep it movin’!

Watch Me

It’s my birthday weekend!

I love birthdays, whether it be my own or someone else’s.  I think everyone’s birthday should be a big deal.  A great day to tell and be told, “I’m glad you were born”. 

I am so blessed because my birthdays have always been days when I am reminded how great my friends are and how loved I am.  This year is no exception.

My best friend is coming in from Chicago tonight to spend the weekend with me.  She has NEVER missed a birthday in the almost decade that I have known her, no matter where she is at in life.  I am so not worthy of her love 🙂

So, this will be me this weekend:

Pinned Image

Fat.  Sassy.  Relaxing…. except for that 10 mile run on Sunday.

Speaking of running, it has only been 2 weeks, so I guess I can update about the half marathon I ran over Memorial Day;  It went much better than I expected it to.  I ran the first half in record time, but slowed down in the last few miles, so my time wasn’t awesome, but it gives me a goal for the next one… which is a week from Sunday.

But, until then, I shall enjoy my time with my amazing friends, and be thinking about my amazing friends who can’t be here.

Have a great weekend everyone!

(Mint chocolate chip ice cream cake…only the best cake in the world)

It has been a while…

Oh the joys of moving and not having Internet.  I am long past due for posting something other than a picture.  I do apologize, for I have been busy adventuring into the lands of cohabitation. 

Yes, the man and I have decided to live in sin full-time and share an address.  Now the party can rage on 24/7!  And by party, I mean catching “Jeopardy” every night at 7:30, me going to bed by 9:30, and adventures in new recipes together.  We are a pretty innocent bunch.

I am happy to report, though, that 3 weeks into it, things are sailing along as well as they ever have.  Granted it is only 3 weeks, but if you can survive a move together, that is a pretty good sign.

 

Another big step for us was surviving our first golf game together! If you are a talented golfer, or date someone who is, then you know how stressful it can be to not have golfed for 7 years and take to the course with one of these people. 

Now, I don’t take criticism well, and the man seems to do everything well, including golf, so I had to send up a warning flare before we even loaded our clubs into the car that the only way to maintain his livelihood through the 9th hole would be to keep tips and pointers to himself.  This message was delivered in a much more charming manner than it reads though, I assure you.

I say all these things like we were moving and golfing while teetering on the edge of nuclear melt-down, but it is quite the opposite actually.  It is great when you are a laid back person to be with a laid back person, and it really takes a lot to shake both of us.  BUT, on the other end of that, I have seen, and been a part of these situations when they do not go so well.  Things from moving to golfing can destroy a couple!  If you can survive the little things like golf games all the way to the major stressors like moving, you’ve got a good partner in crime.  I am very blessed to have mine, especially since he is willing to take me golfing any time I want to go 🙂

Wish me luck!  This weekend I run the Bayshore Half Marathon.  I don’t expect to be PR-ing in this race since my training has been less than consistent, but it should be a good time.  I will update you all on how it goes!

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Yep, I've been there.

Paul and me in another 3 weeks.  😉

Watch Your Step

I have never pretended to be graceful, and I always have the amazing super-power of proving why; I fall all the time.  I walk into walls, I spill things, I will trip on things that aren’t there, I have just been blessed that way.

Today while enjoying a run with one of my dear, dear friends and her 3 little girls, I managed to catch my foot on, and proceed to trip over, a slight crack in the sidewalk.  This happened 2 minutes into our run after I had made the joke that I should borrow one of the girls’ helmets because, back to the first point, I am not graceful. And sure enough I just bit it!  It wasn’t even a clean fall, it was one of those tripping, trying to catch myself for a good 6 feet, but still failing, trip.  Scraped hands and all, I picked myself up and kept going, laughing at myself along with a 12, 10, and 5 year old. 

About a mile later, the best part of my day happened when Bailey, the 5-year-old, called back to me from ahead, “Stephanie, there is a crack in the sidewalk up here, so don’t hurt yourself!”… perfect execution, and straight from the heart.

I am usually against running with people, but lately, I need it.  The option to stop is not as readily available as it is when you are by yourself, and having someone to talk to or just give you a boost, or for you to give them a boost, makes runs go by so much faster.  I didn’t realize how badly I was in need of a training buddy until today, especially one as awesome as this friend, who comes with a cheering section of 3.

Falling aside, it was a great run, and I have found my excitement for training once more!  Running is the most love-hate, turbulent relationship I have in my life.  A great run makes me feel on top of the world.  A bad run can make me feel like my life is falling apart and I can do nothing right.  It almost sounds like an abusive relationship because when it is good it’s great, when it’s bad it is the worst.  You can call me a bipolar runner; my highs are so high and my lows are so low.

But, I have found the magic ingredient that should help: a devoted running partner.  I am lucky in the fact that I love her to death, we laugh together, she is great at giving advice, and we run about the same pace.  She is perfect for me!

So onward my running partner and I shall go, tripping and all, to our half-marathons coming next month.  Hopefully her kids will be there to look out for me along the way.

So True!