The Big 1-0...pt. 2

This picture was taken of my twin sister (far left), my cousin (center) and me (far right) after a 4th of July 5k run (hence the flags) in 2005. My sister won in her age group, while I struggled to complete the race. Her dedication and success with running 5ks, 10ks, and marathons has really inspired my over the past few years to get my butt in gear. This past January, I decided to get started on my goal of completing a marathon. Tomorrow, I will compete in my first event since beginning my training. It is a 10 mile event in Louisville, and I am so excited! While it is only a third of the distance of a marathon, I feel like I will be accomplishing a small goal that is within myself to complete a race at this distance. I am also excited for the boost of confidence it will give me in training for the half-marathon next month. It makes me proud to look at this picture and see where I was two years ago - barely able to finish a 3 mile run - and then to look at my training log and see that I can knock out a 3 mile run in no time as an "easy run."

I did break the cardinal rule of running by purchasing a new pair of shorts the day before an event. To justify it - I woke up in a cold sweat last night after realizing that my shorts and/or singlets don't have a place to put a key. Since I am going by myself, I thought that this could be bad news. So, I went to a running shop down the street from my office and treated myself to a new pair of shorts, complete with Velcro enclosures. I also picked up some 'cola' flavored Clif Shot Bloks - these are gummy chews packed with electrolytes. Since I have not used them in training, I know better than to use them in the race tomorrow. I guess I will stick with my trusty Sportz Beanz.

Tonight, Chad is taking me to Fazoli's so that I can do some carbo-loading. Afterwards, we are heading over to some friends house for a bbq. I tell you - our friends in Wilmore are some barbecuing fools! And we are going to jump in the fray tomorrow by purchasing our very own grill. Needless to say, Chad is very excited!

I'll post soon to let everyone know (i.e. my faithful readers: mom, Megan, Michelle) how the race went and how life with a grill is treating us.

The Big 1-0

This was the weekend for long runs and good food. With the running group from Wilmore, I attempted a 10 mile run Saturday morning. After two hours of staggering around under the hot sun in the countryside of Jessamine County, I stumbled across the finish line. While I am proud to say that I completed the 10 miles in a respectable time - I am ashamed of all of the walking I did. I was not prepared for how much the sun would affect me, and how quickly I could get de-hydrated. This run was really good prep for my 10 mile race next weekend in Louisville, I'm hoping to shave a few minutes off of my time between now and Saturday.

It's probably a good thing that I ran so much on Saturday due to all of the amazing food I had this weekend. On Friday, we had a fiesta in Wilmore at the casa de Caldwell's with beef fajitas, jalapeno/bacon/cream cheese poppers, and some four-alarm salsa. On Saturday, Chad made me the best cream-cheese chicken enchiladas you will ever eat. On Sunday, we had a picnic in the park with our good friends and what seemed like 10 pounds of bbq chicken, sausage, and corn. I was very excited because I was able to debut our dachshund corn-on-the-cob holders.

Tonight, Chad and I are going to a "blogging party" at Asbury - an event he has been preparing for and coordinating. I keep asking him if it will be like a LAN party, but he assures me it won't. It does seem like it will be neat - a chance for an on-line community to get together and meet one another.

More updates to come about running, life in Kentucky, and crazy lil Emma.

New Nickname

Well, I've acquired a new nickname. Hot Dog Lady. Yes, Hot Dog Lady. This is what the children in our neighborhood yell out each evening as I walk Emma past their house. Little kids and elderly woman seem to love dachshunds, and I am always happy to let them pet Emma. I'm not sure how happy I am about the nickname, though.

Tomorrow, Chad and I (and hopefully some friends) are going to a fish fry at the Catholic church across the street from our house. I don't know that this is the best meal to eat before a 10 mile run Saturday morning, but I'm sure it will be tasty!

TeleFund 2007 is slowly drawing to a close. Soon, long days in the office and even longer nights in the studio will be over. While these past two weeks have been grueling, I think a part of me will miss this crazy schedule once it is over on Sunday. Monday morning it will be back to the gym, and back to work from 8:30-5:00. But the fun thing about my job is that there is always an event or a party just around the corner, not enough to be overwhelming, but just enough to keep things interesting.

Life is going to be busy over the next few months. In April, Chad's family is coming to visit us over a long weekend. I am so excited for them to come see our life in Kentucky. And I'm also secretly happy that their visit will give me an excuse to do some intense Spring cleaning around the house. April also holds two 5ks and a mini-marathon for me.

May is going to be out of control. I have a work-related trip to Boston the first weekend, Chad has a wedding in D.C. to attend the second weekend, and I am flying to Dallas for my sister's graduation the third weekend. Who knew that we would turn into such jet-setters? Luckily, we will both be home the fourth weekend in May for our second wedding anniversary!

Trash Days

I always hesitate to take Emma for walks on trash pick-up days. It never fails, there will be a wayward biscuit or fallen peanut butter cracker, and Emma will strike at it like she's a king Cobra. Once she has it, her jaws practically transform into steel traps. Emma is never aggressive with food at home, but once she's out on the streets she can get pretty fierce. Just yesterday, Emma snatched up a piece of a biscuit out of someones yard. On Monday, she found an unidentified piece of meat at a local elementary school. I try to pry it out of her mouth each time, but she always bites me. I think this surprises her as much as it surprises me, because she always looks up with a look of puppy horror on her face. I haven't yet figured out if it is because she's surprised that she bit me, or mad that I'm trying to take her food away.