Let's Play Catch UPPP

SOOO CATCH UP.

Yes I have been running but I also have gone somewhere and turned a year older from the last time I post anything. Let's seeee..

The week after the 26 in Cheaha I was so tired. My hip flexor (the right one) was killing me and I’ll be honest I was not enjoying running. In fact I wondered what the F I am doing! My runs were ok nothing great nothing that I was like oh this is awesome and my Thursday Panera run was only 8miles rather than 10 and it hurt. Can you say mini VACATION?? Um yeah… so I packed up and headed to the BIG SLEAZY.. I mean BiG EaSY!

So I did email the NOLA running club to see if they had any group runs that Friday, I was only going for a night.. still no response. Whatever. I made it to NOLA in record timing and the cocktails began to flow. A girlfriend of mine happen to be there for a RN convention so free place to crash and a night to party sounds awesome! I had the best char grilled oysters! I have never in my life seen them this big!!

The night continued and the last message I got was at 430. Over all a very successful night. Did some fist pumping and some damage to my liver but alls well that ends well. I met a doctor that proceeded to tell me I use running as an escape from love, I told him noooooo I use anyone that refers to themselves in 3^rd person as a excuse to drink more and say goodbye! Yep its destiny for me to remain single.

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Baby 1st Birthday!

 The next morning I drove to my bothers house that’s another four hours east. I am so proud of the man he's become. He's such a good husband, dad, man and brother!

 My Sister in Law made us all birthday shirts which I thought was such a cool idea! I wish I had the time/creativity to do something like this!

 How cute is she?! She is the sweetest little 1 Year Old EVER!

I spent the reminder of the weekend hanging out, recovering, eating really bad food, and only running 10 miles that weekend. It was my nieces 1^st birthday so it was all about baby time!

In front of my bros front yard. The street was flooded!!

 I got all of 10 miles in before the rain kicked in again. Fort Polk has a long listing of trails I was blown away with the amount of out of shape people in LA! People you have this safe area, use it!!

oh and the 10 miles I ran def had lots of spots where the water was over flowing!

The 10 hour drive home wasn’t so bad, thank goodness for Netflicks and Pandora radio!!  I made it home and was beyond tired. BUT it was the super bowl so I hung out with some friends and called it a night.

This past week was fine. Got my runs in and actually changed up the Thursday runs to hit the roads with a friend I met at Darkside (see Decembers blogs) she’s awesome. She has her first 50 mile race the weekend after my 50K so she’s trying to train her legs to run slower.. um yeah that’s why she called me. It’s ok though I don’t mind. It was a very enjoyable run, we even were able to talk and I learned some interesting things about her. We also ran through a country club and down town and back which landed us right at 10 miles. Needless to say it was a nice run.

Friday came and went with no excitement. I couldn’t sleep and one glass turned into two glasses of wine.. in turn into a half of a bottle. Ok so I might have been a bit depressed this week. Whatever all things aside the one thing I can depend on is a Saturday long run.

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Saturday Long Run: 15 miles

I met coach and our marine buddy at Pine Mountain at 5am and we set off about 510 ish. I cannot say I have enjoyed a run more than Saturdays. I laughed so much I really thought my stomach was going to explode. We ended up with 15, ok I finally plugged my watch in to look at our pace, VERY RELAXED. Afterwards I thanked them for running slow with me and being my friends. Lol I am really that dumb. Our pace average moving pace was 11:19 and our moving pace was 11:31. I don't really know the difference but I didn't feel like we pushed it hard. I have to say this was the most enjoyable run yet. Maybe it's just nice to run it on the down slope of training. Like the pressure is gone. Of course for over half the run we were in the dark and the head lamp my bro was given and he gave me didn't work. Well it did but it was SO dim. Still need to give him crap for that. Note to self... We did get to pause and take photos. I can't wait for a long run and dive into this spring to cool off!

We went on a new trail and this vew was awesome. I really do feel like God was watching us and was so happy we were outside enjoying what he created. I love being out either half way or a quarter of the way finished with a run at sunrise. So humbling.

I have realized something. I really have confidence issues. I think that’s why I’m such a nut bag. I feel second in the person I invested so much time and love into. I feel second in my running ability. I feel second in my professional life, well more so I’m bored with it as it’s no longer challenging. I wonder how much faster or stronger I would be if I just knew I could do it. I mean I know I can run the distance and complete a run just sometimes I’d like to be first in someone’s life. See told you I have been depressed this week. I’m going to do my best for the next two weeks to just focus on me and what I do well. The hills don’t suck all the time. The mileage doesn’t always hurt. Who cares what my time will be it’s my first 50K, it’s only 4 miles more than a marathon and I like trails a lot more than the road. Just tell myself know matter what the time is I’ll come in first because it’s my first one of that distance. And it’s not that big of a deal I mean other people are running 50 and 100 milers or 24 hour races and run a 8 hour run as a training run. It’s what I want to do and run.

It really is about the journey. I laugh because my first trail run (real trail run) was with these two guys the weekend after my big marathon failure, and three months later running 15 was just whatever. OK granted it wasn’t a hard 15 and we really were just enjoying ourselves, but it’s amazing that 15/20 really doesn’t freak me out like it once did. I just pray the hard work pays off. Well we will know in 12 days!

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Birthday Celebration!

So Saturday night I went out with some friends. It ended up being fun but some confrontations kept it from being epic. It’s ok though I was with some really good friends and had a memorable time. My girlfriend did wings and we had my fav shots before we headed out (pineapple upside down) SO good. Bob had hooked me up with some cash flow to go shopping and get my hair and wax on. Apparently my hair dresser got fired for drugs or something SO I went to someone new.. Won't go back to her... oh well I felt pretty and warm for the time being. Bob also wrote me the kindest letter I have ever received. I'm sorry I can't share it but I have never in my life received something so thoughtful and from the heart. He def scored huge points with that.. Like the saying goes, just when you're ready to give up you remember why you've held on so long.. just hope it's not for nothing..

Sunday, I officially turned 26, was spent mostly in bed. I’m def not used to bad food and sweet shots lol my wine does not prepare me for that! I needed to get my car but in order to do that I had to run a mile to my girlfriends house. THE HARDEST MILE OF MY LIFE. 2 pairs of glasses on (sun glasses and normal vision glasses) yeah I was hurting. I ended up canceling my bday dinner and my kind Marine Amish folk wasn’t having it so I mustered up the courage to shower and head to the Mexican restaurant. They are two of the craftiest and kindest people I know. ANNNDD big plus their kid is SUPER sweet and well behaved.

OH and she's like four months prego and smaller then me!!!

 My Birthday night ended with me enjoying the bloodshed of the Walking Dead on AMC, LOVE IT, and passing out. But I think the most thoughtful gift came from my kinda Amish folk (ok they're not Amish but I kid with them because they make so much stuff, like by hand!! The wifey can even sew and made an entire ball gown from scratch! The Marine made his own gaiters (when coach and I ordered ours)! Yeah I'm blown away by their talents!

"Gnarly wine (IE from the blog and it so happens Bob and I used to drink it lol), Home made power chewy bars (my fav and totally had two of them for bfast this morning) three Picky bars (my favs on our long run, and yes they make their own and they're just as good if not better), Cerasport, wine running socks (I think some type of beer mile needs to be ran in them) Salt and Pepper grinder things (because once I told them I just use the sea salt out of the container it comes in LMAO, and the coolest thing, I know it gets better, home made/hand sent picked out essential oil. The scent is awesome and the labels and ingredients were also home made!!! I have never received a more thoughtful gift in my life. I only got wifey a mani pedi I suck. Note to self get creative! I'm going to have to make some type of AWESOME thank you card.. brain storming right now.

My roomie had a competition thing she had to go to this weekend and wanted me to open her gift before she took off. I have to say I used every part of this gift! The Picky bars are my fav, I couldn't find my one pair of trail running socks (at the bottom of my hamper I realized tonight) so YAY just in time had real socks to wear AND a new beanie! We had a cold fornt come in so this all came in so handy!! I have to say I think the people I hand with know me very well hahah.

The hat and the socks were perfect!

Tonight is dinner with Dribs at a new eatery  Zoe’s Kitchen. I would really like a BIG fresh salad. I need to go to the market but surprisingly I have dinner plans every night this week. Some weeks are packed others not so much. One thing is for sure: DETOX for the next 12 days. HELLZZZZ YESSS TO H2O!!

Dinner was nice, I had half of a Greek salad and some soup (it's cold out so it was perfect). Dribs had a salad as well and a mini pizza, which looked so good. wasn't overly expensive so I was happy with it and will be going back. We talked about a lot, jobs, boys, life, and Cheaha. To my surprise she even has some doubts and not sure what to expect. We are both going to just run our race and see what happens. The biggest thing I have learned from Bob (other than I can't stand having stuff roll around in my back seat) is that you can train together, laugh, cry, fall, sweat and pour blood together. Run the same event but you don't need to "run" together to have done something together.

12 days!!!!!!