Does this mean I am a real runner?!

With a MASSIVE PR under my belt I felt like I was well on my way...

then there is this

My first black toenail... yay? 

True? I don't know - what I do know is that I shouldn't have paid $$ for that pretty french pedicure... must paint with a dark pink soon...

Yesterday I ran 5 miles to the gym, and then I ran 3 miles at the gym. Pretty awesome! I am LOVING running.

Sunday is the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler! I can't wait!! I will be running it for fun, but I am sure to PR it too! 

I went to the gym and had my first meeting with the personal trainer. I start workouts with her next week. She took my measurements and talked about goals. Then she got all excited and said I looveee working with athletes (p.s. I wouldn't consider myself and athlete, but ok), I am scared. I can't imagine her getting excited about training me will mean anything less that PAIN. Sweet! But not... :-D hopefully I can move next Thursday!!

The time I PRed the crap out of my race!

I knew going into saturday's half marathon that unless I broke my leg on the course, I was going to PR it. My last time was pretty stinky. 2:57:41.

I went in with some goals
1- Have fune
2- PR
3- Sub 2:30
4- Sub 2:15.

I knew goal 4 was a long shot, but I wanted it.

I was running this race with my dad. How cool is that. 52 years old and running his first half!! Sweet!!!

So race day comes, and it is HOT. I didn't know what to wear. I ended up with shorts and a tee shirt and I am glad I went that route, I even with I went with a tank top. It was HOT!

I started out fast and felt good. Then before mile 6 there was a GIANT hill (dramatic? maybe, but it sucked!) I knew that miles 6-8 were pretty much up hill but this was before 6. I knew I was screwed. That hill sucked the life out of me. I got back in the game for 6-9. At 9 I felt tired and spent. I was dogging it. My dad would get ahead of me hoping I would pick up the pace. He knew I wanted 2:15 and I think he was trying to keep me on track for it. But I didn't care. I did the math and I knew I would sub 2:30 it, so I was just trying to survive.

My Garmin had to be sent in for repair so I was running with a stop watch. After 5 miles I stopped knowing my splits because I wasn't trying to do that math. My dad was keeping track on his watch, but I never asked. I was going by feel. Made me a little crazy at the end, but it was good for me :-D

Around mile 11 I realize 2:15 was there if I could just dig deep and find the energy. I kicked it up a little and gave it all I had.
Mile 12 comes, and I am just hanging on for dear life. I kept running, and I hear the chorus of Garmin watching go off signaling that it was 13 miles. But I still didn't see the sign. I was dying for that sign. I finally saw it and pushed what little bit I had to get to the finish. I knew 2:15 was out, but I was HAPPY with my time.

2:17:36. Heck freaking yea! A 40 min PR! So pumped!

If the course wasn't so dang hilly, or the heat wasn't so crazy, I would have hit 2:15 I know it. Both of those things together really got me. I could have overcame one of them. But I met goals 1-3 and that is fine with me!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today is my momma’s birthday!
There are so many words to describe my mom. So many I can’t even list them all.

She would do anything for anyone, and usually does. She works her butt off to make people happy.

(seriously who looks that pretty after having a baby?! I know I won’t!)
She cares about the little things.
My mom will talk to anyone about anything if she thinks it will make a difference in their life.
The woman is on a first name basis with almost (if not all) of the staff at Bob Evans (Since it is her birthday I will refrain from making elderly jokes abut her favorite restaurant) The thing is, she really does care about them. She cares that her waitress has two kids at home, and is going to school and working. She always checks in with them all.
Lets be honest, I never get to know my waitresses.
My mom and I are different in a lot of ways, but I wouldn’t change that for anything. It makes our relationship fun
She is neat and tidy, and well, I am SO NOT.
She talks to anyone, and I am shy.
She is super crafty and I don’t really have a crafty bone
She will bend over backwards to make her kids happy. I hope that one day when I have kids I am JUST LIKE HER in that regard. I know my mom will do anything for me and not think twice, and she has on many occasions.

She will freeze her butt off just to watch you run a 10 mile race, even when she only would see me at one spot!
She will go and talk to every single person in the Verizon center she has to, to get my seats moved because I couldn’t hear New Kids on the Block and I was so very sad and crying, and then show up with AMAZING seats!!!

I am very lucky to have her as my mom.

I love you mom, even though we pick on you, I love you very much. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without out, and I can’t function well without you either! Thanks for always being there for me and teaching me how to love and be loved.

I can’t not give a shout out to Brad on his birthday too! We miss you man! Wish we could celebrate with you! I know everyone is thinking about you today too!

OMG 26.2 miles?!

Seriously am I nuts?!

I am super excited, and honestly a little nervous! But mostly excited!

Last week I played single mom to the girls while their parent's got a much needed and derved trip to ski!

I am not going to lie, I was nervous, but really I was scared they would revolt against me because they missed their parents but they were great! My mom came and played grandma and gave me a little break in the evening!

I only ran one night, the night I registered for MCM. I couldn't wimp out of a run on the day I signed up for a freaking marathon!!

Honestly, it was a great week, but I was beat come Friday. I don't know how single parents do it!

I did go out and run 11 miles with my dad and tigger (Aubrey) I wanted to keep my pace around 10:20 min miles, with two stops for knee pain, and complete exhaustion and desire to give up at mile 8 we finished in 1:55:34. 10:30 pace, and that includes the stops, so I bet it was a little faster. I will take it,.

My 2nd half is on Sat! I can't wait!!

Inked

In honor of two special people and as a constant reminder to myself. 

When I found out my Mema had breast cancer it was super scary. I consider myself VERY lucky that I am 27 and have all 4 of my grandparents living. I had never dealt with cancer before in such a personal way. My view of cancer was cancer = death. I know that isn’t true, but it seemed to be true for those I knew. It was my view and it scared the crap out of me.

My Mema decided to fight the cancer and do whatever it took to survive it. And fight she did! She never lost faith. She fought it and never gave up. She was always positive throughout everything, even when the chemo and radiation was literally causing her body extreme pain.

When my Aunt was diagnosed, I got mad. I didn’t understand why my family had to deal with this again. But we did. She was strong and determined not to let this beat her either.

Mema and Susie are both cancer free. 

Breast cancer has touched my life and changed my perspective forever.

Every time I look at my tattoo I will remember my Mema and aunt and how hard they fought and how they never gave up. They kept faith and won.

No matter what I am up against. I know I can fight it. Every time I look at my tattoo I will be reminded to have faith no matter what stands before me and to fight no matter what and never ever give up. This year I have had to do a lot of that personally, but nothing I am up against was as hard as their fight, so I can face it! 

The time I met 2 country singers

First a little back story: I grew up in a dot on the map small town in Georgia until I was in 5th grade. Then we moved to Maryland. I still remember a lot of people from GA, and thanks to Facebook, I even keep in touch with many of them.

Fast forward to September. I am driving home from car hunting with dad in Frederick, and I am sitting in traffic at 10pm because living near Washington DC is a treat. I hear a song, and the DJ says the name Brantley Gilbert. That name sounded so familiar, then it hit me, GA! So I googled him and what do you know, it’s a kid I grew up with in GA. My mom and his mom were friends and we had play dates. We weren’t in the same grade, but I still knew who he was.  I called mom and dad freaking out. Mainly because someone from small town Jefferson GA made it big in country music!

I got the CD right away, and pretty much listened to it for 2-3 months on repeat. I was a fan!

So last Friday, my dad’s super awesome friend got me the HOOK UP. Brantley is currently touring with Eric Church and they were playing in Salisbury, MD. About two and a half hours away. Long drive on a Friday after work, and normally I wouldn’t drive that far for a concert but this was Brantley and we had Meet and Greet passes for both artists. I was so excited, and NERVOUS!

We were first in line for BG and he seemed to remember us (well, Dad and Mom really) I was just trying not to make a fool of myself!  He signed my CD and we took a picture together and then we were sent on our way. Crazy! We went and got right back in line to meet Eric Church, so that we wouldn’t miss BG’s show.

Here we are meeting Eric Church. Apparently he smelled really good. I was super sick so I couldn’t smell him. Bummer! HA!

So on all the papers for the meet and greets it said no cell phones allowed and no cameras. So being a good girl I left them in the car. Then I decided I wanted my phone so I could take pictures of the concert (and lets be honest, I was having anxiety without it lol) But it was in the car, and we were in line, and there were huge No Re-entry signs everywhere. But in true super mommy fashion, mom once again saves the day at the concert (I guess I never did make that blog post – I will, soon actually) she talked someone into letting her run to my car and get our phones so we could take pictures. Everyone else in line had their phone even though it said no cell phones. Thanks mom!

Then it was on to the show! Here are some pictures. They are cell phone quality but look pretty good considering. The ones I zoomed in don’t look as good.

Mom and me during BG.

Lindsay and me waiting for Eric Church to come on.

This was when we stalked the trucks and buses before going into the show. You know because you never know if they might come out of there.. HAHA right ok.

 

I knew some of Eric Church’s songs, but after the concert I downloaded the rest of his other album and have been listening to it on repeat all week. (notice a pattern with me – I am a freak)

SO much fun! Even though I was sick, and lost my voice from the sick/singing/screaming combo, it was 100% worth it. LOVED it.

Thanks again Lee! Seriously! You made my year!

I love my job reason:123456789

I often call the girls baby. I am not calling them a baby, just my little name I call them. 

Today I called Sylvia baby because she was sick and I said "let me get you home baby" She said, I am not a baby. 

I explained that she is right, she isn't a baby. She is a big girl, but baby is a name you call someone you love, like sweetie, honey, darling.  I asked what she would want me to call her. She picked Honey. 

Evelyn piped up with "call me Jelly!!!" 

I died laughing! 

Every am, the girls have a waffle or English muffin with peanut butter and Honey or Jelly (you guess who is who!) 

SO CUTE!!