In case you missed it last week, I ran marathon. Again. For the fourth time. But I digress; what I really wanted to talk about is how stopping running marathons is harder than actually RUNNING one. Training for it is such a process; it takes months of dedication and hard work. It is literally like having a part time job - there is training six days a week and one of those days is dedicated entirely to RUNNING. All day. It is addictive and as I'm getting older it's a challenge to see if I still have it in me.
Things I have learned: destination marathons are fun, but for heaven's sake - plan your fun AFTER the race. I learned that the hard way after touring Washington, D.C. for an entire day (in high heeled boots) and then tried to run the Marine Corp Marathon the next morning. Taking that into account, the next marathon I ran away from home was at Disney World, and I scheduled our arrival the evening before the race. I did NOT taken into account the fact that I'd like to visit with my fellow runner, Rachel Landry, and we barely slept the night before (that and there were four adults and one child all sharing a standard hotel room - who the heck was snoring so loud?) So this time, I decided to keep it low-key and re-run the Knoxville Marathon. This is an ideally timed marathon for a couple of reasons: local=huge cheering section and training=icky cold months when nothing is going on forcing me to get my butt outside and get in gear.
Believe you me. The definition of willpower is forcing yourself out of a warm bed on a snowy morning to go run anywhere from 10 - 20 miles.
I do enjoy running though, and thought I'd share some pics I took over the course of training (December - March 2011).
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| one morning was so cold that water got on my car and froze during the time i was actually out running. it dripped to the ground and froze solid from the car to the ground. |
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| but apparently i don't mind. this is one day after my long run. |
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| energy gel, a necessary evil. think slightly flavored goo the consistency of snot in your mouth. |
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| me at the top of a hill at the end of 12 miles |
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| mr. smith's contribution to my training: on my way home i'd call and by the time i arrived he'd have hot soup and a hot sandwich ready for me to eat. thanks, pal! |
Those photos were all taken on different days - I have only one set of cold weather running gear and buddy, it sure saw some action this winter. But don't worry! Spring came after all, and things started warming up.
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| turtles sunning themselves one afternoon |
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| spring at last, spring at last; thank godalmighty, spring at last... |
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| i also developed a severe diet root beer habit during this process. don't really get the connection - but the smith fridge is currently stocked. i started craving it madly after long runs for some reason... |
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| i did most of my long runs at ijams - this creepy lichen covered log always got my attention. |
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| and again - i am turning into my mother; i really like this rock and look for it every time i pass it |
Next up, Amanda gets sent on a business trip!
To Croatia. Whoa. Having girlfriends travel overseas is a big deal so we schedule some one-on-one time in separated-by-an-ocean anticipation.
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| we ended up sitting like this for some reason |
Hamburgers were on the menu and I was in charge of dessert! I planned on s'mores post burger grilling and on my way out the door spied some Peeps left over from an Easter dinner with my folks and thought...
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| an experiment was in order |
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| i did feel a little morbid doing this... |
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| but all's well that ends well. down the hatch! was actually very yummy; the sugar caramelized really nicely! |
And I have received word that Amanda made it to Croatia safe and sound - I anxiously await her return so I can live vicariously through her!
Next up, Nix wedding time! Second cousin Joanna Nix tied the know with Rhett Lankford (I KNOW, right? Her husband's name is RHETT!!!)
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| clay, mr. smith and me |
There was, of course:
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| no swimming at the wedding OR reception |
I went to go powder my nose and discovered:
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| the pinkest powder room in the history of powder rooms |
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| i also straightened my hair for the occasion and am a little obsessed when i do this. i look crazy! but that may be merely pink powder room euphoria.... |
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| and these pretty flowers were lining the aisle during the ceremony - they smelled so good i took a bouquet home! (they were on the favor table mama, i DIDN'T steal them! I didn't! MAMA!) |
Lastly, I have to confess I was a bit burned out on sewing after designing and making Amanda's wedding dress last spring I WAS. But on Saturday I got hankering again and:
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| made this mad men-esque little baby. i had actually started it soon after the wedding but put it down after setting the collar and one arm facing. it hadn't turned out exactly how i wanted, so i put it down for ten months. last saturday i pulled it out and discovered it was cuter than i remembered so i finished it out. betty draper's got nuttin' on me... |
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| sunday i polished off this little baby - play skirt! |
Well, I guess that's it for now. Have a great week!
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