Mini Recap

Second marathon in the books!

I don't have all my pictures from various sources yet, but I think between my parents (who videotaped me running to the finish - how cute!) and Ninja's fiance, there will be some really good ones!

Let me say first off that this marathon was night and day different than Dallas. Yesterday was sunny, cool for the most part and way more fun running with people I knew, on streets I knew. Our corral and pace leader was easy to find. There were lots of snacks and spectators throughout the whole thing, and the finish line was SO fun to come to - lots of music, cheering and spectators making a ruckus! I felt like a rockstar, despite not feeling like one at all.

I'm proud of myself that I ran all the way to mile 22 this time without stopping, as opposed to 18 last time. I definitely started feeling the Wall creeping in between 18 and 20 but was able to keep pushing through. After 20, I was straight up ready to be done, and at 22 I finally decided I wanted/needed to walk if I was going to enjoy the rest of the marathon. I alternated walking and running until 25 and then got a huge burst of energy and sprinted (okay, it FELT like a sprint but I'm sure it was actually more like a slow death crawl) to the finish. That finish line, seeing my parents, was one of the most glorious moments of my life. The sun was shining, music was blasting, and I knew this would be my last distance run for quite a while.

My marathon days are officially over (but I hear that's what they all say).

Sorry there are no pictures just yet. I did run behind Mattress Mac for about a mile, and I also ran past George Bush, Sr.! I ate bananas, pretzels and gummy bears on the course, as well as 3 of my 4 Gu's. Le Ninj and I got a couple shout-outs from our matchy shirts, and I saw a handful of friends along the way, which is always, always a HUGE encouragement!

I'm pretty sure I shaved only a couple minutes off my Dallas time, but I'm still so happy with yesterday!

And now, it's off to a celebratory lunch with THE LADIES!

Let's Do It Again!

The Houston marathon is fiiiinally tomorrow, and I am equally nervous and excited!

Already the organization surrounding this marathon blows Dallas out of the water. The French Ninj and I went to the expo and retrieved our bibs today.

All Immodiumed up and READY TO RUN!

We also geeked out and made matching shirts for race day tomorrow, which makes me laugh and also motivates me to keep up with her because people will definitely not get the joke if we're not side by side (specifically with her running to the left of me).

The energy in downtown Houston today was unbelievable - the Olympic time trials added an extra crispness to the already gorgeous day.

Tomorrow is supposed to be 60's and cloudy. Just as long as there's no rain, I am pumped!

I don't want to put the cart before the horse (because I haven't even started let alone finished the dang thing), but I am so jazzed to be running another marathon, and to be running with friends, and to be running in a city I know. Our goal for tomorrow is a sub-5 hour with no walk breaks. I have no doubt in the Ninja, and I'm hopeful for myself. Assuming everything goes well, this will be my last marathon for the time being.

Anyways, God is good! So many things to be thankful for - so, so many things!

Until tomorrow! Wish me luck!

No Excuses!

Against all my better judgment I've gotten involved in the Biggest Loser saga again this season.

Dangit. 

I tuned in to one episode because I wanted to see who replaced Anna Kournikova, who replaced my beloved Jillian. Turns out Bob Harper's trainer-competitor this season is this guy:

Dolvett Quince

Well...who the heck are you?! You can't just show up on the Biggest Loser ranch and expect me to love you more than my second-best-to-Jillian, Bob!

Hello, you gorgeous blonde man (so not my type.)! 

Anyways, the theme this Spring is No Excuses, and I'm hooked already. Sometimes I have so many excuses for every possible issue in my life, I get tired of hearing myself talk. My favorites are hunger and boredom --- they are my quintessential excuses for some of the messes I get myself into.

I got invited to be a +1 to a wedding shower in New Braunfels in early February by someone I spent some time with in Colorado a few years back. Perfect reason to enact my own little Biggest Loser No Excuses ordeal.

If I could get as obsessed with my own healthy living as I do with these strangers, I'd be in great, great shape.

I'm off to see this little film tonight:

I lost a bet and he got to choose when, where and what movie we would go see. Otherwise I would NOT be seeing a Cold War movie...on a Wednesday night at 7...in a very cramped theater. ...But I'm also kind of not mad about it. ;)

Run Happy

Today a wonderful thing happened to me...

These babies are luminescent!

I crossed over from the old to the new. Goodbye, Old Brooks. Hello, New! Brought to me courtesy of Zappos. "Run Happy" is the Brooks slogan, and that's exactly what I did tonight in my GTS 11's after a good 30 minute Shred.

Does anyone else kind of dread the new shoe glow? I felt like everyone tonight at the gym was looking at me like, "Oh look, that girl had a New Year's Resolution to work out more, so she bought new shoes. How sweet."

It's not easy saying goodbye to my old GTS 11's. They carried me through quite a hard, sweaty, awesome season of life, but sliding my feet into these new kicks made me feel like a new woman. It's amazing how a shoe changes and kind of collapses throughout its short life. I figured I'd break these in before the Chevron Houston Marathon coming up on Jan. 15, and then I'd let them basically just carry me through 26 and some-odd miles on race day.

Anyways. Fair wwell, old friends. Many thanks, and don't worry, I'll still be pulling you out for random walks and when I can't find the newbies. Y'all are like the Velveteen Rabbit in shoe form now.

Not sure what's dirtier - my post-workout face or these nasty old things. Oh well, we're practically one anyways.

First Friday of the year tomorrow! Holla!

Soups of our Lives

...One Life to Soup?
...As the Soup Turns?

Oh whatever, this is a post about soup.

I am not a food blogger or photographer; I'm the first to admit these pictures do not make this look meal look appetizing, so you just have to trust my impeccable judgment.

This is a little dish I've eaten at least the last four days in a row. It's quasi-healthy, and more importantly, it tastes like a million bucks. This guy recommended it to me.



Ingredients: head of broccoli (chopped), EVOO, garlic (chopped) and salt. [This is how Rachel Ray does her starting lineup for Week in a Day. Respek.]



Add to simmering water. [Yes, I agree that broccoli in water is not appetizing. This picture is no exception.] Only let it go for 3-5 minutes.

Offer Pug the last bit of the carrot you were munching on.

Regret the offer when pandemonium ensues.

Drain brocc.

Add to your favorite brand of tomato soup (mine is organic and comes in a box). Add cheese, scoop with saltines.

 Yum. Lately it's been followed up with Haagen Dazs strawberry and lemon sorbets.

Tonight after much backing and forthing with myself, I shredded and then lifted some weights. I only did it because I made a list and forced myself to work out before I could do any of the subsequent fun things on the list (that means you, bloggy!).

1. Sometimes lists are necessary.
2. Sometimes it's fun just to write your list out so you can cross stuff off of it and have a sense of accomplishment. 

Now I'm going to get my clothes ready for tomorrow (yes, that was another fun thing on the list!), meditate, journal and read. And maybe paint my nails (that was an optional fun thing). Good night!

Beginnings

Ahhh, Beginnings. Remember how I'm working on upping the sappy quality of my post titles? One point for me!

Okay, but...before we get into Beginnings, I think we need to have a word on Endings.

Yesterday was all around the best year ending I've ever had. I ran not a few miles. (Bonus: I think after all my runs this past year, all toenails remaining in tact, yesterday's run is going to claim not one toenail but two. I am that hardcore.) (I also have never chaffed so bad in my entire life. Hard. Core.)

I met up with some friends. Awesome, hilarious girlfriends. And then I went across town and met up with some more friends, who hosted a faboosh party. Then I went back across town and ended the night with that original group of awesome, hilarious girlfriends. And it was all good - very, very good! This was a New Year's Eve without stress, worry, any negative emotions or sadness. It was perfect, and it made me so, so thankful to end the year surrounded by all the best parts of 2011.

So that being said I'm just going to let these pictures speak for themselves and you can infer all the laughter, merriment and 2012 postulating that happened...

So THAT was a great night. And with that, I'm leaving behind 2011.

Today, I've lounged around and eaten a VERY cream cheese-y bagel and journaled and - most awesome thing ever alert - paid my last month's rent at my current apartment. Halleluuuu!

...And now it's time to get out of bed and get stuff done. LOTS to do in 2012, no time to spare! :)

All the best to you in this most wonderful New Beginning, First Day of the Year, Clean Slate, etc. This is our year. :)

Happy New Year!

Yesterday was spent in Austin with my brothers and their wives, and while I normally detest playing games (board games, cards, anything athletic or competitive), I had such a great time!

The only game I tolerate is Apples to Apples, primarily because the only skill involved is out-ridiculous-ing everyone else. That I can usually do pretty well.

Despite my natural talent for losing, we had a great time hanging out and berating each other - you know, bonding.

I had been out for about 20 minutes at this point, but it was still fun watching the mayhem and adrenaline associated with slapping games (this was ERF).

No, I was much more inclinded to be like these guys...

Roger and Benny's cousin, Tanner

Roger and Benny's other cousin, Viggo

Dee lended (lent?) me a couple books, and I'm already loving this one:

Scent of the Missing by Susannah Charleson

Dogs are such amazing creatures. While mine certainly couldn't search and/or rescue a fuzzy toy right in front of their faces, much less a person, I very much relate to this magnet:

Okay, so I got Roger from a breeder as a pup, but I always think of Benny, my rescue puggy, when I see this.

Anyways, yesterday - super fun.

Today - woke up at 4:15 and hit the pavement to end the year on a long, high, sweaty note: 20 miles.

Most of the Houston marathoners are already tapering, but I really felt the need to get in at least one long run before Jan. 15, and today was finally that day. Ninja ran with me for about 11 miles, and that was truly the only thing that kept me going. I have learned I am NOT a solo runner...it's just too boring and all I can think about is either how much pain I'm in or how bored I am.

So with that behind me, all that remains until 2012 are the parties and the champagne...after I take my nap, of course.

Happy New Year! Be safe and enjoy!

The Best of 2011

I don't guess I've ever gotten to the end of a year and thought, "What a crock! That year sucked!" In fact, while the days may sometimes be longer than I'd like, the years are getting quicker and better. A lot quicker, and a lot better.

This year, however...this year has been extra special. Without further ado, here are the highlights (in order of how they come to my memory, which might be in order of importance, or impact...I don't know):

1. My first marathon

2. Going to Alaska

3. Post-Run Brunches

4. Meeting my 323 girls

5. Monthly Book Clubs

6. Going to Canada a couple times (pre-return to blogging)

7. Running with Kenyan Way

8. Having more time for these guys:

9. Going on some dates with a couple really cool guys...and deciding potential relationships aren't what I'm interested in right now.

10. All the fun people I've met by choosing single life

11. Finally getting my windshield fixed after, like, 2 years

12. Returning to the blogosphere

13. Having time for books. Lots and lots of glorious books

14. Getting a juicer

15. Getting into grad school (Oh yeah! I keep forgetting!)

16. Meeting my new therapist, Carole. So, so thankful for her!

17. My kindle

18. Bridesmaids

18. Breaking Bad, American Horror Story, Big Bang Theory and New Girl

19. Learning more and more and more about Houston

20. And last but not least...

                                                                             ....All the froyos in the world!

I hope your year has been everything and more you wished for, and I'll be wishing all the best for you in the new year!

Onward!

After a very lazy day yesterday, I finally exerted myself to Memorial Park and did 8.5 relatively fast-for-me miles. It felt good, but we'll see how tomorrow goes. That 20 miler that was supposed to happen on Monday ended up being only 14, so tomorrow is my last, last, last chance to get in a big distance before I have to be well into my taper for the Houston marathon. Winning!

I'm heading to Austin in about an hour to spend time with my brothers and SILs. Austin is a great place to have no agenda, and I'm looking forward to whatever we get ourselves into.

Swear I'll start taking pictures again soon. Pinky swear.

Enjoy this second to last day of the old year!

Absences

Hello, friends and family!

Has everyone enjoyed the holidays? I've spent mine doing all my favorite things - hanging out with friends, reading, watching movies, cooking, journaling, napping, running, spending time with Jillian, prepping for 2012 and being with family.

In the spirit of soaking it all in, I haven't taken too many pictures, but I'd like to share with you some of the things I've been up to over the break...

First.

Okay, where to start? I haven't read the books. I don't plan to. I haven't seen the swedish versions. I don't plan to. And I probably won't see any of the sequels, especially not if they're 3 hours long too.

But good heavens, what an intense movie! There were a handful of scenes that I honestly couldn't handle, but in spite of myself I guess I really liked this movie. The hardest part of this franchise for me is knowing that really gruesome, grotesque stuff actually happens to people in real life. It's hard enough to watch in a fictional setting, but it's even harder knowing that that stuff really goes on. It's a little different watching Mission Impossible 4 or The Descendants (at least for me); I guess sexual crimes are just so appalling and on-another-level that I had a really hard time passively watching this film.

Um, and it was 3 hours.

Also, I really liked Rooney Mara's hair. I think I'm just getting way overly antsy for this Locks of Love do-goodery to come to an end. Chop, chop!

I also finished our book club book:

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

A note about book club: I love it. It's been one of my favorite parts of 2011. But we do not read books I enjoy. If they're not about Nazi's, they're about medical minutia; if they're not about military history, they're about adultery (insert Loving Frank). That being said, I read this book like a champ because Ninja reminded me that book club serves as a horizon-expander, a culture-provider, a...reason for us girls to get together and drink wine. So I read through the adultery, through the abandonment of children, through to the ending of the book which astonishingly blew. my. mind. I hate to recommend a book based on the very, very end alone, but the conclusion of Frank Lloyd Wright's affair with Mamah was unusual to say the least. And the fact that it's historical makes it even more compelling. Good stuff, book club. You pull through again.

I've spent a good deal of time running, at the gym, and with this woman:

I love it when you're angry, Jill! Grrrr!

I spent Christmas eve at the San Marcos outlets in New Braunfels, Christmas day in San Antonio, and then we high-tailed it back to Houston. I'm just soaking up these next five days of freedom. I hope you've enjoyed the holidays as well!

Discovery Green

Remember when we were Texan kids and our parents would take us to manmade-snow slopes so we could see what it's like in states that actually experience four seasons?

I do. And the slopes were always majestic and enchanting, dangerous and frigid.

My how times have changed.



What in the world...?

 There are a lot of reasons why I'm glad I grew up in the eighties and not today. Apart from the weaksauce snow slopes these days, I'm glad cars didn't come with built in TVs. Car rides were slow and torturous, just like they should be! PG-rated movies were idealistic and innocent, no curse words allowed! Games like "Hide and Go Seek" and "Tag" were the epitome of afterschool fun. More than anything, I'm really glad cell phones and Facebook weren't around. My kids are going to hate me because I'm going to raise them old-school style. Like, we're gonna play outside and get dirty and use our imaginations, and when they're bad, the spankings will come in abundance!

So the snow slope was embarrasing. My mom and I still had a good time. We took the little gentlmen to the dog park:

All I can say is, my mom really, really wanted the boys to drink out of the doggie water fountain. No luck on that front, but we did confirm that doggie water fountains are very, very strange.

The boys were kind enough to pose with me in their Christmas collars. We had to the take the bells off Roger's collar because the noise scared him.

Tomorrow my parents and I are heading to New Braunfels and then on to San Antonio for Christmas with my brothers. I'm supposed to do a 20 miler tomorrow. Hilarious! Tomorrow and Sunday are for family and eating, and that is ALL!

(20 miler has been postponed til Monday. Groan.)