Happy New Year!

Hi All! Happy New Year! We rang the New Year in from Amsterdam and boy was that exciting. I thought I would take a few moments to post my New Years Resolutions.

1. Survive Amsterdam. (Done!) This was important because New Years is crazy. People are setting fireworks off all over the city so it's a true test of duck and cover. They also will set fireworks off and run away so one may go off right next to you leaving your ears ringing. But I survived!
2. Lose weight (at least 15 lbs). I think just about everyone makes this resolution.
3. Read at least 12 books. I have a Nook and I need to use it more.
4. Run at least 4 more half marathons. I had fun with my last half. Yes it was hard but it was great to see that all my work paid off and I did it!
5. Improve 5k time to under 35 minutes.
6. Improve half marathon time to under 3 hours.
7. Commit to Jillian Michaels DVDs for 90 days (30 Day Shred, Ripped in 30, and Buns and Thighs).
8. Start training for a marathon.
9. Cook at least three meals per week (only one of which can be pasta).
10. Only eat out once per week, unless traveling.

I think all of these are very doable and I will update you with my progress.

I wish you all a very happy 2012!

Merry Christmas

I wanted to take a few minutes and wish all my readers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I'll be back after the new year to post my resolutions!

Froehliche Weihnachten!

Quick Update!

Hey All,

I just wanted to let you know that I'm surviving in Germany! But for right now: GO ARMY BEAT NAVY!

More to come later.

Good Bye from America

This will be my last post in America before we cross the pond and begin our new lives in Germany. To all my friends and family, I will miss you dearly and I hope you will come visit sometime soon. To all my readers, I hope you look forward to reading new adventures as we begin and learn about a new way of life.

Moving!

It has been a busy week. I had movers packing up my house for three days last week, and I just wanted to share some insight with you all. There are three things I've learned not to have the movers send (just for peace of mind):

1. Things that are irreplaceable (i.e. race medals). I meant to pull these and stick in my luggage but completely forgot. Let's all hope and pray that the box with my (and my husband's) medals makes it.
2. Items that are replaceable but a pain to replace (i.e. contacts). Yes, you read that right. I sent all but two pairs (one month's supply of contacts). When our household goods won't be arriving until we have a place to live, which may take 2-3 months, I could be without for 1-2 months. So, I've placed an order with 1.800.Contacts to help me get by.
3. Items that you don't need now but will need when you arrive (i.e. my Ugg boots). It's not cold enough yet to need them here. But it will be pretty chilly once we get there and then start to get deeper in to Winter.

As a redeeming factor, I did remember to pull out my prescription medications.

You live and learn and I hope you all learn something from my experiences.

Life Happens

So, this is the point where my blog takes a massive turn and my running life and real life merge.

I haven't run in a week (since the half) because life happens...

This is a big week for me. Our movers are coming Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. So, it's a busy week and after it's all over, I will pretty much have nothing left in the apartment, except what is going into storage. So, I will basically be left with kitchen appliances.

I will keep you all updated on my travels.

Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon

I ran my first half on Sunday and it honestly wan't as bad as I thought it would be. 

I think I started out way too fast because I was dying at the end. I also didn't run the intervals I trained with. I think I really would have done well if I stuck with the intervals from the beginning. But that's neither here nor there.

On to the race itself! It started off with a performance by some knights from Medieval Times (which we missed because we were too busy chatting with ROTErs.) I think chatting helped easy some of the nerves because I wasn't standing there thinking about the race. Once the show was over, it was time for the race to start. The gun went off and Emma and I were moving! It took a bit to get to the starting line but we crossed the timing mats and were on our way. We passed a line of the knights and the king and queen right after the start and made our way around the mall, that took us through mile 1. Mile 2 we ran through an office park and saw Laura on the other side of the loop. Miles 3, 4 and 5 were just along the road. There were some bands playing along the route which was really nice to have that support. Some where around here, we were playing leap frog with Cath and eventually lost her. We thought we were done with the ROTErs at that point...but we were wrong! Miles 6 and 7 had us running a large loop around Broadway at the Beach. Mile 7 is where it all changed! Katie caught us. We thought she started the race ahead of us and we were on our own. We ran with Katie from miles 7-9. Around mile 9, I started to feel icky and dehydrated (even though I stopped at almost every stop and had Gatorade with me). I told Katie I was taking an extra break and to go ahead. She caught up with Emma and I was never able to catch up with them. Miles 9 and 10 I was running around Myrtle Beach High School and then some residential areas. Between mile 10 and 11 I hit Ocean Blvd and ran past the hotel. But I was almost there and at this point I was almost solidly walking as I had a blister forming around mile 5. I ran past a huge ROTE crew between miles 11 and 12 and even though I had my iPod turned up I could still hear them cheering. I felt like a rock star at that moment! After leaving them it was on to Mile 12 and then a turn around to hit the path to the finish!

I knew I had to kick it to the finish and leave everything out on the course. So, I replayed a song on my iPod and then when the next song came on (Knee Deep by Zac Brown Band), I gave it all I had. 

I finished in 3 hours 8 minutes and 57 seconds. My goal was just to finish as this race would be an automatic PR for me. But now, I have a time to beat!

I did go home with a heavier bag. Look at the size of thing...

...that can also be said for my blister. This was taken two days after the race too!