Celebrate!

This weekend we are headed to Vegas to celebrate this girl's 30th birthday!

We are staying at the Aria, which I have never been, and heading to Todd English's Irish Pub, Mon Ami Gabi, the shark tank, carnival court, and going to eat candy until we throw up. We are also throwing her a surprise party {shhhhhh} in her hotel room complete with flowers, candy, room service appetizers, a cake from Jean Philippe Patisserie, and lotsa cocktails. I made her a garland of photos of those she loves to hang up around the room... I hope she is surprised! I have been looking forward to this trip for months!

I have taken a break from running long distances, I have been running about 4-5 miles here and there, enjoying myself. No watch, no time, just running for running's sake. And also to be able to continue to eat like a marathoner, which has not stopped. At all. This weekend I won't think about running once, just how to make Annie's birthday super super special. Just like her.

Marathon Recap.... and some Muddy Danglers.

This weekend was one of the most fun, and most tiring of my life. My husband and I both competed and completed something we were nervous about, and did it with smiles on our faces. On Friday after work, we drove up to Phoenix to pick up my race bib and visit the expo for the P.F. Chang's Marathon on Sunday. We sampled a lot of goodies, talked to the people about the Disney races, and enjoyed all the excitement in the air. We really like expos~ people are always so friendly, and there's something to say about all coming together for one goal, one hobby. Afterwards, we met up with the team of "Muddy Danglers" for the Tough Mudder competition for some carbo-loading and strategics.

The next morning we were up bright and early to head to the Mesa proving grounds to cheer on our men in the Tough Mudder event. It was a 13+ mile race with 25+ obstacles, including ice baths, scaling walls, greased monkey bars, and electric shock. They all did so amazing, worked together, finished as a team, and had a great time. They were so exhausted, sore, bloodied, and cold after wards. And they can't wait to do it again...

After walking around in the dirt for four hours, we stopped for burritos, and went home to relax. We stayed with our friends Ann and Marcel both nights in Phoenix, and I cannot say enough about their amazing hospitality and warmth. Ann cooked us all breakfast both mornings, had gift bags for both of us, and had everything in the house a marathoner or a Mudder could want to eat, drink, or use before a race. Her house is like one of those places you go away to to recover after plastic surgery where they pamper you, but hers is before a crazy athletic competition. She should charge money.

Ann and Marcel hosted a wonderful BBQ for the Mudders and their spouses, with steak, hot dogs, pasta salad, bread, and cookies and ice cream for dessert. We ate, watched the videos from the Mudder, and I went to bed early. Lindsay also brought me a wonderful bag of treats for good luck for my marathon the following day. So sweet, and much appreciated... the bubble bath she gave me was amazing and so needed after my race.

Then- the morning was here. Marathon morning. I awoke at 5 to Ann making me coffee and toasting me a bagel, and packing me a bag with a banana and water. Amazing, right?! I met my friend Erin, her sister (my neighbor) Katie, and her parents at Erin's place, which was right by the finish line. They dropped us with plenty of time to spare, I used the restroom, handed them all my cold weather gear (56*, what!? so nice), and Erin and I huddled in our corral.

The race was so much fun. That is really how it was...fun.  And truly, running 26.2 miles was not as bad as I thought it would be. I had Ann, Marcel, and Rick at miles 9 (and his Mommy, whose work was right on the race course), (just missed them) 13, 19, and 26.2. This totally helped pass the time and give me something to look forward to. I read signs, listened to music, Gu'd, watered, and enjoyed every minute. I kept smiling, soaked it all in, and really tried to be in the moment. I finished my first full marathon in 4:26:08; 10:09 pace. Not too shabby, and my goal being 4:30, I was really pleased.

I told my husband afterwards that I could do the races all the time, it's the training that is the hard part. I think I'll stick to halves to stay in shape. Really so much less time consuming... but nothing compares to a full. And I am even walking almost normal two days later, so another full might not be so bad after all. Maybe..... after baby. Making a baby is my new goal. And I couldn't be more excited.

Here We Go.

So, the time has finally come. This weekend has been planned for months. This Sunday, I will give birth to my marathon baby. After my 20 miler a couple weeks ago, if you would have asked me if I am ready, I would have said "no way". If anyone brought the subject of the marathon up to me, I immediately felt vomit creeping up my esophagus. But- talking to friends, collaborating with my race partner, planning with my spectators and cheerleaders have changed things.

About four or five days ago a wave of calm washed over me, and hasn't faded. I am ready as I will ever be. I am going to try and have as much fun as I possibly can, take it slow, stop to kiss my friends and family at every spot they are waiting for me, and just finish. I will also try to remember that every step I take is one step closer to being done. I can do this- and I will, and I am ready. I will cross that finish line holding hands with a new friend, whom will undoubtedly become a close friend after tackling our first full Marys together, and I will jump into my husband's waiting arms. It is going to be a great day.

I am also looking forward to spending a weekend with great friends, and watching our husbands tackle the Tough Mudder. I admit I have no idea what to expect from his 12 mile obstacle course that was designed to train the special forces in England. I think my hubs is nervous, but I know he will do great, and have fun. I will be there to take photos and hydrate and feed him along the way.

I said this marathon will be my last run for a long time, and I plan on not moving for a long time following. So, how did I already commit myself to another race the following weekend? I must be in to some sick sort of self mutilation I was unaware of. Or- I just like having something to look forward to. That must be it. :) Wish me luck.

Gym Rat.

This past week your gym has undoubtedly been full of people with the oldest New Year's Resolution in the book: get in to shape. You can spot them a mile away: new gym clothes, magazines for the elliptical, big smiles on their faces. If they were old hats at this, and really put themselves through the pain the gym involves, they would NOT be smiling. I am not saying that I am a gym pro. Far from it- but I have been running consistently for 2 years now, and every time I set out for a long run, you had better believe I am not smiling. This is because I am well aware of the pain I am about to endure. Some observations that new gym members should keep in mind when joining or increasing their gym presence are as follows...

1. A gym is not designed to make you feel instantly better about yourself. If a gym wanted to make you feel instantly better about yourself, it would be a bar.

2. Give yourself a goal. Maybe you want to lose 10 pounds. Maybe you want to quarterback the New York Jets into the playoffs. But be warned: Losing 10 pounds is hard.

3. Develop a gym routine. Try to go at least three times a week. Do a mix of strength training and cardiovascular conditioning. After the third week, stop carrying around that satchel of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.

4. No one in the history of gyms has ever lost a pound while reading "The New Yorker" and slowly pedaling a recumbent bicycle. No one.

5. Bring your iPod. Don't borrow the disgusting gym headphones, or use the sad plastic radio attachment on the treadmill, which always sounds like it's playing Kenny Loggins from a sewer.

6. Don't fall for gimmicks. The only tried-and-true method to lose 10 pounds in 48 hours is food poisoning.

7. Yes, every gym has an overenthusiastic spinning instructor who hasn't bought a record since "Walking on Sunshine."

8. There's also the Strange Guy Who is Always at the Gym. Just when you think he isn't here today...there he is, lurking by the barbells.

9. "Great job!" is trainer-speak for "It's not polite for me to laugh at you."

10. Beware a hip gym with a Wilco step class.

11. Gyms have two types of members: Members who wipe down the machines after using them, and the worst people in the universe.

12. Nope, that's not a "recovery energy bar with antioxidant dark chocolate." That's a chocolate bar.

13. Avoid Unsolicited Advice Guy, who, for the small fee of boring you to death, will explain the proper method for any exercise in 45 minutes or longer.

14. You can take 10 Minute Abs, 20 Minute Abs, and 30 Minute Abs. There is also Stop Eating Pizza and Eating Sheet Cake Abs—but that's super tough!

15. If you're motivated to buy an expensive home exercise machine, consider a "wooden coat rack." It costs $40, uses no electricity and does the exact same thing.

16. There's the yoga instructor everyone loves, and the yoga instructor everyone hates. Memorize who they are.

17. If you see an indoor rock climbing wall, you're either in a really cool gym or a romantic comedy starring Kate Hudson.

18. Be cautious about any class with the words "sunrise," "hell," or "Moby."

19. If a gym class is going to be effective, it's hard. If you're relaxed and enjoying yourself, you're at brunch.

20. If you need to bring your children, just let them loose in the silent meditation class. Nobody minds, and kids love candles.

21. Don't buy $150 sneakers, $100 yoga pants, and $4 water. Muscle shirts are for people with muscles, and rhythm guitarists.

22. Fancy gyms can be seductive, but once you get past the modern couches and fresh flowers and the water with lemon slices, you're basically paying for a boutique hotel with B.O.

23. Everyone sees you secretly racing the old people in the pool.

24. If you're at the point where you've bought biking shoes for the spinning class, you may as well go ahead and buy an actual bike. It's way more fun and it doesn't make you listen to C+C Music Factory.

25. Fact: Thinking about going to the gym burns between 0 and 0 calories.

26. A successful gym membership is like a marriage: If it's good, you show up committed and ready for hard work. If it's not good, you show up in sweatpants and watch a lot of bad TV.

27. There is no secret. Exercise and lay off the fries. The end.

Credit: Jason Gay

*** I am off to do my last long run before my marathon next weekend. Even though it is only 8 miles, I am NOT smiling. See what I mean? I think my resolution this year should be to move less, eat more, and take up knitting. Yup- I like it. 

Resolutions.

30 New Year’s Resolutions for my 30's.

• Before a status update, Tweet, Tumble, or Instagram, pause and say to myself, “is it entirely necessary that I share this morsel of thought with my entire social network?”and if the answer is not, “yes, I absolutely must,” then step away from the Internet.
• Know which candidate I'm going to vote for in the upcoming presidential election, and know why.
• Enough with the food worry and exercise preoccupation. If I want to lose a little weight quickly, eat less and exercise like crazy. If I want to lose weight slowly, do whatever Jennifer Hudson did.
• Spend money on a flight to see a friend or family member who lives far away.

• Stop watching the Kardashians, all of them. It’s not helping anyone, least of all the Kardashians.
• Spend much less than the money I earn each month. Work harder, save more. I have trips to buy instead.
• Call someone on the phone at least once a week, and speak to him or her for at least ten minutes.
• Wait 30 seconds before I look up a fact I can’t remember on my phone, and try to remember it using my brain. This is what the olden days were like.
• Replace one terrible reality show I'm currently watching with one wonderful scripted show currently available on television. 
• Try that food I think I don’t like but have never actually tried, unless it’s brussels sprouts. They really don’t need any more attention.
• Be prepared.
• Cut one person out of my life who I truly do not like and add one person who I truly do. Note: not on Facebook, on Earth.

• Don't sweat the small stuff. 99% of the things that bother me are not a part of the BIG picture.
• Remember imitation is a form a flattery. This includes blatant replication. Remember this, try really, really hard to remember this. See previous resolution above.
• Take the stairs.
• Volunteer once over the next 90 days.  I'll feel really good about it, and probably end up volunteering again over the next 275.
• Tell someone who I love that I love them on a more regular basis. To their face, not in a text.

• No cell phones at meals, or when I am in the presence of friends.
• Do something that takes me out of my comfort zone. Try something new. May it be a recipe, dance class, or learning something that does not come naturally. Like taking really good photographs.
• Write handwritten letters to people that are important to me. Even just to say hello.
• Do not listen to gossip, participate in gossip, or tolerate gossip.

• Wake up earlier, enjoy a cup of coffee and maybe even breakfast with my husband during the work week.
• Go to bed earlier.
• Read books that inspire passionate conversation.
• Back up my entire online life onto an external hard drive, especially my photos.

• Drink more water.
• Make an effort to do things I want to do, and say no to things that I do not.
• Eat more organic foods and stay away from processed junk. Unless it is a Toblerone, or spicy Cheez-Its.
• Crap or get off the pot. This applies to whatever thing I'm not doing that I should just sack up and do already.
• And in the eternal words of Tom Haverford, “TREAT YO SELF!”

Happy 2012 everyone!

Spelling.

One of my biggest pet peeves is bad spelling. I see it all the time on Facebook, blogs, even news outlets. I cringe every time. Every single time. I think if every person took time to learn these few rules of the English language, the world would be a much better place.

20.

I ran twenty miles yesterday. Well, I ran 10, then stopped for jelly beans at home, and because of the wind practically pushing me backwards I hopped on my treadmill and ran 7 more. Then I hit a wall and wanted to quit, so I went back outside and ran 3 more. So, I ran 20. It was not pretty. It took forever. It was the hardest thing I have done in a long time, and I am still wondering how I will get through those last 6.2. But- my friend Ann will be there cheering me on at mile 13, and again when I come out of the loop at 19+, and I may just pull her along for the last 6.2 with me. We shall see... but until then I am going to enjoy these last two taper weeks, eat really well, drink a ton of water and pray. Please pray for me, too. There is a reason people run half marathons, I have discovered: full marathons are freaking hard.

New Years Eve.

This weekend we celebrated New Years Eve in Tucson with some dear friends. Ann and Marcel came down a day early and we surprised them with a tour down memory lane with the food and beverages we had on our Europe trip this year. We had Guinness and mini meat pies {London}, Kronenburg and macaroons {France}, bruschetta and wood fired pizza {Rome}, and Paulaner beer {Germany}. We also made homemade donuts, and watched the videos Rick took during our trip.

Ann and Rick worked on a puzzle of the Sistine Chapel until the wee hours of the morning. We hit up TTT for breakfast, as usual, before heading up to the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain where we were meeting Travis and Brielle to ring in the New Year.

We checked in to the Ritz, had some cocktails and snacks and got ready. We hung out at the hotel bar and dined on sushi, BBQ sliders, avocado fries, mini hot dog bites, chips and salsa, and a yummy burger with sweet potatoe fries. And lots and lots of cocktails. After dinner we went back to the room to drink more, play some games, and then went down to the lawn for the countdown and fireworks show.

It was another wonderful holiday spent with friends that make every time we hang out special. Rick and I are so blessed to have such close friends that will come all the way to Tucson to celebrate the new year with us. We love each of them so much, and are so excited for what the future holds. The plans keep getting made, the dreams shared, and memories created. Here's to 2012, I know it will be better than ever, and I am sure that we will have these people to thank for it...