I am running to raise money for blood cancer research, and most of all, to help prevent cancer from taking more lives.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Purple Kool Aid Anyone?

Boy do I love some purple Kool-Aid  so much so that I am helping Team in Training with recruiting for the Fall Season. On Tuesday I headed over to the Burke School for an informational session and met some pretty cool folks. One person I met was named Arina. She was a seasoned TNTer and was doing the VA Beach race on Labor Day weekend. She was very nice and loved to run. She even had a fancy TNT hair bow (gotta get one those). Arina and I hit if off because we had physical therapy in common. I am hitting up her old stomping ground at Sport and Spinal. I am visiting that place on Friday so we will see how it goes.

Coach Todd and Matt (Both are Tri Folks)
Awesome TNT staffer-Lyn with wife and husband pair Patti and David (he is a survivor)
 I also got to meet a new recruit by the name of Diana. I am super pumped because we are hoping to get together to do some buddy runs. Diana has run events before so she is seasoned. She wants to do the Marine Corp Marathon. Here's to the next season of Team in Training.

Diana taking the plunge

Monday, April 25, 2011

Update from last week….chit chatting with Andrea


So I have been making a concerted effort to do something every day- going to the gym, walking/running, taking the stairs etc. The weather was absolutely beautiful outside so I decided to hit the pavement in my neighborhood. Much to my surprise so did a few of my neighbors. After several laps around my ‘hood, I ended up striking a conversation with a young lady named Andrea. 

Andrea moved to my neighborhood about 7ish months ago with her fiancĂ© (to be married in November). She too has blonde hair and a similar build to myself. We ended up talking the evening away about life, school and work. She was a definite blessing as I didn’t have my Ipod and I met someone my own age in my neck of the woods. 

The conversation went so well that we ended up meeting each other again about the same time the next night or maybe she forgot that I would be out there. Either way, I am hoping that this becomes a regular adventure.  Weekend update to come later on...sorry there no pictures. The camera died and needs new life.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Caddie's on Cordell=Success


This past Wednesday my past mentor Jenn had a fundraiser at Caddie’s on Cordell in Bethesda. I decided to make the trek up to Bethesda during RUSH HOUR to see the ‘pedaling for a cure’ Jenn. She is currently training to ride 100 miles around Lake Tahoe in June all in memory for her sweet mom Mrs. Judy ZiBerna. Check out her page
  

Haley and Me (Good Luck Haley with the upcoming wedding)


 While I was there, I had a wonderful time catching up with Pat and Cathy. Man, I miss these fine folks (quoting Bill Harrison J). We missed you Robbie Graves. I think we have them in for the Marine Corp and possibly San Fran. Whooohooo to wonderful TNTers.


 
Jenn invited many of her coworkers down for the happy hour. Thank you for coming out.


Wendi with the 'I' and the awesome Jenn Z

One wonderful individual, whom I called Wendi with ‘I’, was very generous and paid for our tab. Ohh Wendi we love you. Thank you so very much. 


Jenn with her biking coach Will








Happy Times with the Lucas


It was an awesome event to show up, eat nachos and watch the CAPS game. A special thank you to Caddies on Cordell for hosting Jenn's event. We are so thankful for your support of Team in Training. 



Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Let the preseason shannigans begin...

I can't complain....7 miles and counting.
Here is the scoop I am preparing myself mentally and physically to run the Nike Women's Half Marathon in October (mentally there are hills; physically there are more hills). Now it might sound like I have a lot of time (its April) to kill but it doesn't quite work that way. Last year around this time I was doing twice a week physical therapy appointments to make work outs more manageable. PT lasted for almost 4 months. Needless to say, I did finish the race along with a few more but not without some hiccups along the way. 

Jessica was super pumped about her random hills bike workout.
 I have decided this year I do not want to see the inside of a PT office unless I absolutely have to. If that means biking, climbing stairs and pumping iron then so be it. Here's to my increase in bicep/tricep routine and long distances with alpine hills. Building my glutes, hips and core one exercise at a time.



Keeping the positive attitude alive in my workout

 I am especially thankful to have an official workout partner this time around-Jessica. Of course, I have my TNT buddies but this is the preseason ya'll. Jessica is a great source of encouragement to go to the gym or take a toning class.  No more couch surfing with the Mister and Old Lady its time for some serious cardio action.

Jessica is my official workout partner.



Toning those hams and glutes



I am done for today. Thank you Jessica for taking action shots of the madness.  

One more note, I was thinking of trying out Barefeet. Any comments from the experts would be lovely.

Moving One Out

I am one lucky gal to have such wonderful people in my life and one of those lovely ladies is Lindsey. She is a Southern Belle who likes sweet tea, fried pickles, college football. She moved on me this past week down to Charlottesville, VA (wine country) for an incredible job opportunity. I am so happy for her and her new chapter in life.  
 
To help a friend out and to spend a few more hours with her,Jessica and I walked up and down stairs to help her move boxes and take apart furniture. It was a great evening of laughter, pizza and wine (and of course snapping a few shots).

Jessica was super pumped about moving boxes up
and down two flights of stairs.




One last picture with Lindsey before she leaves NoVA. I am going to missing Lindsey so much. Girls Night will never be the same. Here's to awesome girlfriends.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

It’s been awhile….


The past year has been a blur for me because so much has been happening in life and in running. Let me catch you up:

I ran the Peachtree Road Race last July Fourth. It had over 55,000 of my favorite friends there. It was a fun race because I had my Dad to keep me company at the start and I had my mom at the finish line waiting for me. Thing to remember if you ever do this race, show up late I mean really late. It took me an hour and half to get to the start line. I could have slept in and still finished before the course closed. I also got to spend Fourth of July with the Shamp Family. 


 
My cutie pie niece turned one-she now chats regularly, eats everything with ketchup, kisses everyone good night including the puppies-Hailey, Jacey and Pooka and loves her Daddy (and Mommy too).




I ran the Virginia Beach Rock-n-Roll Half on Labor Day-my birthday weekend. It was the absolute best. My good ole’ buddy Lindsey and I had backstage concert passes and VIP start line and finish line passes including premium bathrooms and goodies. It was a great weekend to be at the beach.





As part of my dedication to Team in Training and my dear friendship that I have with my mentor-Jenn Z, I put myself up on the block for a date auction. Met an awesome guy and rest is history. He too runs with Team in Training except he is super fast with his ninja socks and I run with the turtles



 

I ventured out west with Wild Crazy Bill and my long time pal Amber in her mode of transportation: Debbie Dangerous, the Ford Taurus. We hit home runs with the Rockies and Tulo , we scaled up the Grand Tentons in record time, camped out with bears and moose, visited the largest potato known to mankind in Idaho, drank coffee with Donald Miller in Portland , saw the Pacific Coast and slept in a YURT, went across the longest bridge of my life,  had more coffee at Pike’s Place in Seattle 


 Wild Crazy Bill met some interesting folks...
 and finally rested in Sand Point, Idaho to meet Lady Liberty herself
Ahhh the memories….