On the Road Again: Days 2 & 3

So sorry I didn't get to post last night - it was a long day, and we actually go out and had a little fun last night in Oklahoma City. Sunday, or Day 2, as I'm trying to keep my days, dates and time zones straight, was from Memphis to Oklahoma City. Not terrible, but a pretty decent drive.

We made it to OKC just about 6:30, and headed down to the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum - while the museum was closed, we got to walk around the memorial and listen to a park ranger for a bit. While I was young when this bombing happened (5th grade), and I don't think it resonates with me as hard as say, 9/11 or Columbine, walking around the memorial and listening to all the stories and different aspects of the memorial and why it was designed the way it was made it very real. A beautiful memorial; I would love to get back to see the museum at some point.

After that, we headed over to Bricktown to walk around a bit and grab dinner - our first non-fast-foody kinda food finally! We had a great dinner at Bourbon Street Cafe and enjoyed being outside. Bricktown is a seemingly very mini-version of San Antonio's Riverwalk (which I love), and the weather was decent enough to enjoy it. Being a Sunday, it wasn't super alive, but I can certainly tell this is quite the place to be!

And today I write from...

Day 3! I'm tired. Have I said that yet? This morning we left OKC and headed down to Norman, home of the University of Oklahoma. More student affairs nerdiness at its best! While it was almost an extra hour we were on the road, it was a fun trip and another neat campus to see. I'm grateful for Doug putting up with the nerd in me - I think I keep him amused by making sure we stake out each campus' football stadium. Wins for everyone!

After blasting through Oklahoma, we were finally into Texas (Molly's home state!) and got to stop somewhere I've always wanted to go check out: Cadillac Ranch (more)! I was so excited - and truthfully, not disappointed. You really have to be in to such randomness, but the concept is really quite cool. We signed about four cars, so hopefully our names stay for a liiiiiitle while (they say that if you bring spray paint, also bring a camera because your art will be there less than 24 hours).

{ source - since my photos aren't uploading}

Doug drove all day today (he's the best, have I said that?) and we are chillin' here in Albuquerque for the evening where we were greeted with a pretty substantial summer monsoon. Happy Monday, friends! Good night! Tomorrow: to Phoenix!

On the Road Again: Day 1

Hello from ...

Day 1 in the books. Athens to Memphis isn't a terrible drive, goes pretty quickly (we did it in about 8 hours) and thank goodness for how green the south is! I just love it and it certainly makes the southwest part of this drive be more bearable with all the greenery we get to experience prior to that. The desert is dull.

Today started with a fairly early alarm to ensure we got the last bit of furniture (ahem, the mattress) down to the POD and locked up and ready to go when the POD movers arrived. They got to the complex about 12:30, with an estimated time of 1-2 pm. We were just fighting with the mattress when the truck arrived and the super awesome dude helped us finish getting our stuff together.

Just about on the road!

Today's drive was mellow, just over seven hours down to Atlanta, through Alabama, Mississippi, and up to Memphis. While on the way, I made sure we had some fun though. It's mandatory, especially on such a long drive. I've always wanted to visit Ole Miss's campus so I made sure we made a slight detour (but still on the way) to Oxford to check things out. Gorgeous campus! 

After that, it was a quick buzz up to Memphis where we're staying down here near Graceland.We are beat - we fought rain almost all the way through Alabama and that threw Molly for a loop for quite a bit. She spent the last half of Mississippi in my lap, and then from Oxford to Memphis slept in my lap - she was fighting sleep for a while, so hopefully that calmed her down for a bit. She's already passed out here on our hotel floor.

For now, friends.. I am wiped. It's bed time here in Memphis! Tomorrow: to Oklahoma City!

Race Report: Peachtree Road Race 10K

I'm so excited I got to run Peachtree again - because Heather accepted a new job in San Francisco and just got her way out there, she decided to give up her bib and gave me the opportunity to snatch it up. Thanks, lady! Last Georgia run and it's the coveted Georgia runner's race. US/world's largest 10K - and such an incredible experience, both from the runners' and I imagine the spectator's point of view. I swear that all of Atlanta comes out just to watch. It's amazing. After running last year, I just knew I wanted to run it again - so again, thanks HP! Much like last year, this was also the last day of the Runner's World Run Streak challenge - what better way to end it than with a race?

On Wednesday after work, I headed down to Kayla's place - many thanks to her and her hubby, Michael, for hosting me for a night! We headed out to Mellow Mushroom for dinner and the fabulousness that is carb-loading -- and an unexpected game of trivia! And, as every other Atlantan did, we stalked the weather. By the time we went to bed, the rain had been pushed back until 10 am, so we figured, Sweet! We'll be done by then! It was the first time I had gone to bed before midnight all week and it was such a great sleep, it was really hard to get up. Really, really hard. But regardless, race morning gets me pumped like no other and it was go time!

We brought along trash bags just in case, and I'm glad we did, even if it was only for a warm up. After hopping on the madness that was MARTA (really, on the way there it wasn't terrible) and getting to Lenox, it started sprinkling a bit, so we were really glad to still have our bags then. Kayla and Michael were in upper corrals, and decided to wait nearby in a parking deck with tons of other folks. I was a little farther back, so decided to head back in that direction and get caught up with Liz, Christina, Heather, Kara and company.

The corrals and roads were so empty - it was almost eerie, compared to the busyness of last year's corral areas! Our corral was empty until practically start time. So bizarre - but it was nice to have room to stretch out! We were still there about an early, as corral P didn't head out until 8:30, but with the rain hardly even spitting at this point, it was nice. Cool, not
miserably wet, and we could at least breathe with the seemingly little humidity.

Last race as a Georgia resident! Lucky #27!

I said all morning I wasn't sure what I was running - being that I was #moonlightingasHP she told me just to get her a PR (1:25:xx) which I knew I could at least guarantee. After this really tough run streak, and moving boxes up and down stairs all week, I wasn't sure what my legs were really capable of - my knees were tired and I felt just meh. I figured I'd see how it went come the actual start time and go from there. This was Christina's first race ever (!) so Liz was going to hang with her and I thought maybe I'd do the same, and just run for fits and giggles. I tried - really - but managed to feel pretty good once I got moving. The first mile was slow, 10:20ish, but I knew I had a little something in me to keep moving and moving faster - so I did. My second mile was somewhere in the 9:20s! Ha!

I ran the whole damn thing. I felt amazing! Clocked almost every mile under 9:30, except for Mile 4 around 9:40, and pushed hard. Cardiac Hill, the last sneaky hill, through the bobbing and the weaving, and sprinted into the finish. Truth be told, I'm not sure how, as I felt so tired just standing around waiting for the start, and voila! Magic happens.

Final chip time was 59:57. The key phrase and common knowledge is that you don't run Peachtree to PR; you run Peachtree to run Peachtree. However, considering my previous standing 10K PR was just 28 seconds faster at 59:29 - I'm calling this a win and essentially a PR, considering all the weaving and bobbing you've gotta do. I won't call it official, but it may as well be! I was alive after that run and seeing that I managed to clock in under an hour. That coveted Peachtree shirt is mine - and with a stellar time to boot. Happy day!

My legs were definitely tired all the rest of the day, so I knew I ran and raced hard, and I feel really good about that. Doug flew in in the afternoon, landing at 5, and after visiting with some friends in north Atlanta for a few hours, we headed to the Braves game - we'd been watching on TV, saw no rain, and so ended up at the stadium somewhere in the sixth inning. Doug's trying to collect all the baseball stadiums, and so we figured we had tickets, we had to at least in get some of the game to make it count. And what better all American Fourth of July festivities than baseball and fireworks? Duh.

We hit the road Saturday - I'm going to try and post each evening along our adventure, so please feel free to follow along our visits in Memphis, OKC, Albuquerque and Phoenix, and... eventually LA!


What did you do for the Fourth? Did you race anywhere - how did it go?

 

Halfway There (Livin' on a Prayer)

Pardon the title. You're welcome for getting it stuck in your head.

Friends, we are just over halfway through year - can you believe it? While I feel that every year goes by faster and faster, it never fails to surprise me or catch me thinking, "Where did the time go?" "Wasn't it just Christmas" because in my head yes, yes it was just December.

With that, I am now down to having half the year to accomplish the things I set out for myself. Admittedly, I'm a to-do lister to a fault - while it certainly helps me stay focused, it also really frustrated me when I leave things unfinished or unattainable. The joy of crossing something off is uncanny to me. Yes, I'm a little OCD with my lists (let's not even talk about how many lists I'm operating on this week thanks to the move).

But I set myself up for some pretty big goals in 2013 - some that I'm en route to, and some that I can't honestly say I'm certain I'll achieve. Part of me really struggles with that and part of me says "It's okay. Do what you can." With that, we're going to re-review some of these 2013 goals and see just which ones I think I can do - six months to go!

Health | Fitness
- 1,000 miles: Last year I ran 664 of those with a goal of 800. From where I stand now (351 as of June 30), I'll need 100-mile months for the rest of the year, something I've only achieved once. While I intend on being on a marathon training plan beginning in October, I am not 100% that this is do-able. B goal: 850. 
- Sub-2 hour half marathon: We all know how my dream sub-2 race turned out for me. And while it still stings a little, I can't lie, I also know now just how achievable this is. I can make this happen. The only race I'm signed up for in the fall is the Las Vegas RnR, and with moving throwing my life budget out of whack, I am not sure what else is in store. But I'm still determined to make 2013 my sub-2 year. B goal: there isn't one. Bam.
- Sub-26 5K: Current 5K PR is 27:10, on legs that ran after 11 hours after Disneyland. This is sooo do-able. B goal: not allowed.
- Sub 1-hour 10K: Completed!
- Finish that marathon standing upright:  Completed!
- 13 in 2013: 10 races down, number 11 is tomorrrow, 12 is Vegas, and number 13 will fall in there somewhere. B goal: will just be more than 13!
- VOLUNTEER with at least 2 races: 1 done, Georgia Publix Marathon. 2, I actually just signed up for volunteering at the Long Beach Marathon finish line! Excited to be at the end of a race and see all the folks meeting their goals. B goal: volunteering at more than 1 more and giving back to an amazing community!

Personal
- Student loan paid off: Pending life and living situations that are still TBD as of today, despite the fact that I'm Cali-bound in three days, this could be achieved. It would be an amazing accomplish to have this done in just five years instead of the default (and still fast) ten years. B goal: March 2014, still only three months later.
- Increase savings: That's been rocky at best, and moving certainly it won't help. But much like the above, pending life situations, this can happen. B goal: just an increase. Period.
- Make time for those I love: I was a little better at making regular calls to my grandparents, which I am okay with, but knew I could be better. Now that I get to live close to them again, this will be easier and I am really looking forward to that (as I know they are). B goal: Lunch/dinner with just me and the grandparents at least once a month.
- Journal: Major fail area. I've journaled maybe once since January. B goal: once per month, minimum.

And now... as promised... our Power Ice pack winner! Congratulations  Danielle - I've emailed you with the information I need to send your prize off. Please respond no later than Friday, July 5, at 10 am EST or I will pick a new winner.

Where do you stand with your goals for 2013? Have you had to make adjustments to any of them? 

An Adventure Awaits

Campus sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Hello. <3

Well, friends, after lots of vague comments about traveling lately, I can finally share some exciting news...

I'm moving back to California!

I know Sandy's been waiting for this, but now it's finally true! I am really excited to get back to the left coast and to my home state.

So... whatcha doing over there?

I've accepted a new position at a college in the LA area. Fancy pants, right? So I'll be working with their student government, intramural programs, student organization, leadership development programs, and some parts of alternative spring break trips and orientation programs. A random mix of a lot of really awesome programs that you couldn't find into a combination position like this anywhere else! I am so stinking excited, it's not even funny! Being that the school is so close to downtown LA (25 miles or so), I'm in primo racing place - can you say finding a race in LA every weekend? Yeahhhh, me too. :) 

So when does this adventure start?
Ha! There's the fun part of this whole story. So my last day here at UGA is on Friday - yes, as in this Friday! And then we depart Saturday morning. Seriously. So Doug arrives on Thursday afternoon, after I'm done with Peachtree, and we'll be going to the Braves game to celebrate the Fourth and check out the firework spectacular (because you can't miss fireworks on the Fourth!). On Saturday morning, my POD gets picked up, and we hit the road for a four-and-a-half day across the country through ten states (unfortunately no new states) in the middle of summer. Woo!

First Georgia 5K and race!

Half that fun adds to the fact that while I get back to the LA area on July 10 or so, I'll be moving into a temporary apartment in their housing they're able to provide me for a few weeks on July 15. On July 17, I have first aid/CPR training all day and HR paperwork, and at midnight I hop on a flight to Pittsburgh for my sorority convention from July 18-21. I get home late in the day on the 21st, gave myself the 22nd to recuperate from, well, everything, and then start the new job officially on July 23! Can you say whirlwind month?

I am sad to be leaving Georgia in some regards - it's been a whole new place to live, that has definitely given me loads of new experiences. I really became a runner in Georgia - my first half marathon was here, as were the majority of races I've done in my life now. It's helped me become a little more confident in who I am and what I want out of my career and my life. And now it's time to move on to that!

I'll have some posts next week once we hit the road and share the I-40/former Route 66 adventure. Here comes the fun! 

Who wants to visit!? 

PS. Don't forget! Power Ice giveaway ends Wednesday, July 3, at midnight!