May 2013
1 post
3 tags
Kentucky Derby - The Greatest Two Minutes in...
This weekend I will be experiencing my very first Kentucky Derby. As a new Louisvillian, I believe it is mandatory to attend this event. I have said this before, and I am reiterating this because I don’t think you all believe me, this town shuts down for this event. Jefferson County (my county and the county that Churchill resides in) has Friday, May 3rd off for “professional...
April 2013
9 posts
4 tags
Marathon Recap (!!!)
Did you know that only .5% of the U.S. population has run a marathon? I so happen to be a part of this statistic now! Woo hoo!!!
Let me tell you about the emotional roller coaster that was my very first marathon. It was good, bad, and ugly. But I finished! My goal time was to get it done before 4 hours 30 minutes. I completed it in 4:29:49!! Here are my official results if you don’t believe...
6 tags
Marathon Training Week 15.1 (fuel plan)
I have semi been avoiding this for a while (mostly because it would force me to think about every mile of those 26.2) but here is my fuel plan.
Pre pre-run - Feet up (in my compression socks, obvi) with my stack of papers to grade, a platter of bread, pasta, and a liter of Smartwater. And a 10pm bedtime.
Pre-run (6am: 2 hours before the race starts) - cup of coffee, slice of multi-grain bread...
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Marathon Training Week 15 (last week!!!)
This is it. Last week until my first full marathon. So. Many. Emotions.
First - Boston. Damn it. Why people, why?! I hope we will be able to get that answer soon enough. In the meantime, my race has become THAT more important to me. I WILL cross that finish line. If not for me, for those in Boston who weren’t able to do it. And for those who lost a part of themselves that dreadful day....
4 tags
Thunder over Louisville
Today is Thunder over Louisville, the nation’s largest annual fireworks event! It is also one of the top five air shows in the country. Thunder is also the kick-off of the Kentucky Derby festivities!! The Derby is pretty much considered a city-wide, if not state-wide holiday. Kids are off school the day before Derby, the University of Louisville schedules the spring semester so we are done with...
4 tags
Joy of moment shattered by Boston Marathon blast →
A marathon is supposed to be a moment of triumph, but instead the 2013 Boston Marathon will forever be remembered for tragedy.
I can’t even put into words the feelings I have right now for the runners in Boston. Beyond anything, these people just wanted to do what they love - running. Because I don’t think any normal human being does something for hours without loving it. And in one...
5 tags
Marathon Training Week 14
I can’t believe there are only 2 weeks left until I run my first full marathon. I am so ready for it to be here!
I realized this weekend how complacent I have been with training. I have been skipping runs, not cross training, and not taking care of my body. In the beginning, I was stretching at least once a day, foam rolling once a day, and cross training once a week. Now I stretch only...
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Marathon Training Week 13
This past week I only ran twice with no cross training. If you have a pulse, you have probably seen that our Louisville Cardinals were going to the Final Four! So what did I do…? Go to Atlanta for the Final Four, obvi. 4 marvelous days of sports and friends and drinking and concerts. I don’t think I ever considered not going.
Funny thing is I almost packed a running outfit just in...
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Louisville ranked on of the top worst cities for... →
So this would explain why my eye balls hurt, I can’t breathe out of one of my nostrils, and I can’t seem to completely clear my throat.
Eff.
5 tags
Marathon Training Week 12
This week I hit a “running wall” of sorts. I felt exhausted and lacked serious motivation…as you will see in my lack of weekday runs last week.
Tuesday
As I eluded to in my previous post, this run was not wanted. Not even a little bit. It had poured snow all morning and I just wasn’t up for running. But I went. And boy did it suck. The snow stopped and the sun was...
March 2013
5 posts
5 tags
Marathon Training Week 11
I had a shorter running week this week because of traveling (again). I went to HOTlanta for a few days for a school trip so I had to rearrange my life a little bit.
Tuesday
I wanted no part of this run. It was cold and early. And I actually aimed to run 7. And that turned to 9. So I guess I should not want part of more runs because it seems that make the best out of it.
Wednesday - cross...
4 tags
So I'm back packing in Europe this summer for 3...
…and I have no idea what to:
Do
Buy
Go/see
Bring
Wear
Etc.
While trying to remain breeeeeezy, I may or may not be freaking out about everything. How will I communicate? Where will I sleep? What will become of my hair!? How will I manage with four three TWO pairs of shoes?! How will I charge my phone? What is the exchange rate? How will I stay hydrated? Do I bring my water bottle?...
5 tags
Marathon Training Weeks 9 & 10
Week 9
It was a busy week with it being right before spring break so I had to get a lot done therefore my runs got cut down from 3 to 2. Plus I think it snowed a few of these days.
Wednesday -
Saturday -
I was heading to Florida for spring break so I HAD to get this done. It was only supposed to be 9 miles but since I skipped a run during the week, I built in a few extra miles. I...
5 tags
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Marathon Training Week 8
I’m so tired of being cold. And hungry all the damn time. That is all.
Tuesday - 10 miles
Since changing my training plan, my weekly mileage increased a good amount. In order to slowly adjust, I am only doing 60-75% of what I should be running during the week. And in this case, it was a good thing because I destroyed those 6 miles! That pace! And it was raining! Happiness!
Thursday - 8...
February 2013
4 posts
5 tags
Marathon Training Week 7
I let my mind get this best of me last week and took a few extra days off because of my Achilles. I don’t know if it was hypochondria or real life but I felt random pangs in my Achilles when I wasn’t doing anything. I am overly sensitive about it just because I don’t want it to rip to shreds. And I don’t think that’s strange.
I also officially changed my training...
5 tags
Marathon Training Week 6
Sorry I’m late with my update but my school work was trying to keep me from living my life this week. Here’s the scoop:
Tuesday
I attempted to get back into interval training. To such a fail. I wasn’t even running as hard as I could and my knees began to hurt in strange new places. And then there was my Achilles. That bitch. So i stopped and finally decided that I will...
5 tags
Marathon Training Week 5
Tuesday - 5 miles (9:00 pace)
First run in a week and a half. Wasn’t terrible. My legs hurt for the first mile or so then I reached my threshold and was good.
Wednesday - cross training: pool workout, 45 minutes
The pool was not so fun this time around. I had to go during peak time because Louisville basketball was playing at 7pm and obviously that was my priority. I ended up having...
5 tags
Marathon Training Week 4
I was feeling great after my 13 mile run last weekend. On top of the world happy because I ran the whole time and at a solid pace. About 5 hours after my run, my knees, calves, and thighs were sore. I iced Sunday and Monday and doped up on NSAIDS hoping I can get back on my game on Tuesday. Tuesday comes and I run a solid 10 feet before I turn my ass right around. Too many things hurt. So I put...
January 2013
4 posts
5 tags
Marathon Training Week 3
Here’s the breakdown of training for this past week!
I did not do any cross training this week…just to give myself a break. But I finally got myself a super cute athletic swimsuit (priorities, people) so I’m going to try to get in a pool soon. And I think I’m going to throw myself back into yoga. I have been very tense because of school and work and training so I think it...
5 tags
Marathon Training Weeks 1 & 2
As I lay here, icing the bottom of my right foot, my left achilles, and BOTH my shins, I figured this be a good place to update the first few weeks of training.
Week 1:
5 miles (regular) run - 9:43 pace
Tempo - 3 miles (thought I was going to die of an asthma attack. and i don’t even have asthma) - 8:41 pace
Long - 9.5 miles (that was supposed to be 10 miles) - 10:19 pace
Week 2:
...
5 tags
Marathon
I am making this facebook official. I am training for my first full marathon.
Eeek.
(and technically it won’t be official until I sign up, which will not be until I am absolutely certain I can run 26 miles without a leg falling off in the mean time. Stand by for the official registration).
The full marathon I have chosen to run is the Derby Marathon held in Louisville on Sunday, April...
5 tags
New Orleans
Why, helllllllllo there!!!
It’s been too long, my friends. And for that, I apologize. I have spent the last 5 months of my life in my first semester of graduate school at the University of Louisville and found myself uninspired to blog/too busy/learning so much my head could explode (which I will try to update you all soon enough). But with the new year, comes a newly inspired me (and those...
June 2012
3 posts
1 tag
Terminix Top 15 Ranking Shows Bedbug Population... →
It’s summer time which means it’s traveling and staying in hotels time which means it’s bed bugs time.
Read below and prepare to arm yourselves with plastic jammies.
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Philadelphia Takes Top Spot in Annual Bedbug-Infested Cities List
MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Philadelphia has won the dubious title of most bedbug-infested U.S. city,...
2 tags
From the archives....Wimbledon
HAPPY FIRST DAY OF WIMBLEDON!
———————————-
Many people don’t know this, but I am a closet tennis fan. I don’t know much about the players and the exact rules, but I can literally sit in front of a TV and watch that little green ball go back and forth allllllllll day long.
And of all the tennis matches, Wimbledon is my favorite....
4 tags
Louisville
Well everyone. I am taking a pretty significant life step in the next month and a half. I am leaving Norfolk, my job, and my family and friends to go to grad school in ::drum roll please:: Louisville, Kentucky.
Lawd.
I’ve been accepted into the M.S. in Sports Administration program in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Louisville. It is a 2 year program...
May 2012
15 posts
1 tag
1 tag
1 tag
Camping update
Well. We’ve made it to our camping destination. We got here about 830 pm and checked in and asked about fire wood. Of course the fire wood was located about 6 miles back the way we came in. So we head to the shop to find that it was closed. Low and behold…the fire wood was left outside! So my guy made the executive decision to leave $6 under the door and take what we needed.
...
3 tags
Camping
Well people. Tomorrow is the day. I am going camping for the first time ever in my whole vida.
Welp.
Actually, I am pretty excited (but still half way scared to death). Contrary to popular belief, I do like trying (some) new things. And camping has always been one of those things that people talk about having SOOO much fun at… so now it’s my turn to see what the big deal is.
And by...
April 2012
3 posts
7 tags
How do you get your beer?
A few weeks ago, I went to the Naro in Ghent to check out a documentary about the business of beer called “Beer Wars” which has in turn led to this post….mostly because it blew my mind!
The movie essentially breaks down the business of beer and how the big wigs (Budweiser, Coors, Miller) have controlled the industry forever but now craft local and regional beers (Dogfish Head,...
4 tags
Communion & First Confirmation follow up post
I have been officially confirmed as a Catholic! The mass was lovely (and very long) but I feel so life accomplished now. I was confirmed as well as received my first communion. The bread was stale (and I said “thank you” to the priest instead of “amen”) and the wine was stronger than I thought it would be.
I want to thank everyone who helped me through this journey. It...
4 tags
First Communion & Confirmation
This Easter weekend, I will be able to scratch off a few things on my “to do before I die” list - I’m getting my first communion and confirmation!
As stated before in my post about Confession, I have been in the process of getting my first communion and confirmation for about 7 months now. Communion (also known as Eucharist) and Confirmation are two of the sacraments in the...
March 2012
3 posts
2 tags
Tattoos
I am not tattoo junkie, by any means. I have my fair share of ink though…I will admit. And as of about a month ago, I count seven tattoos on my person.
It’s always funny to me when people make a big deal about putting something permanent on their body. I am not so sentimental. I have everything from a tramp stamp to a tattoo for my bff. It doesn’t take much for me to commit to...
3 tags
Reconciliation
Reconciliation is a fancy word for confession…as in the thing i HAVE to do in a few days.
Welp.
Since last September, I have been taking a class at my church called RCIA - Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. I was baptized Catholic as a baby but never received my first communion. This class caters to adults who either were never baptized or who are looking to become Catholic (who are...
1 tag
Daylight Savings Time →
Why?
Q: When does daylight saving time begin?
A: On Sunday, March 11, 2012, at 2 a.m., you should move your clocks ahead one hour (“Spring forward, fall back!”). That is, unless you live in Hawaii, Arizona and the Midway Islands and Wake Island, which do not observe daylight saving time.
Q: Don’t you mean daylight savings time, plural?
A: Nope. Not according to the Oxford English Dictionary,...
February 2012
1 post
6 tags
Red Meat
This year for Lent, I am giving up red meat. It is also something I have been considering giving up for the rest of my life.
I’ve actually been thinking a lot about changing my diet in general. Although I am a runner and I try to eat healthy when I can, I drink like a fish and eat uncontrollably when I’m out. I have some health issues in my family history that I’d like to...
January 2012
4 posts
4 tags
Key West
A few months back my very good friend SMacko mentioned the existence of the Key West half marathon…to which I responded “where the hell do I sign up?” A week later, we were signed up and flights were booked (flights were dirt cheap via Air Tran - although there was 2 layovers). We were even able to convince our fellow co-worker and runner extraordinaire Chase to join in on the...
4 tags
How to dress for an interview →
I just spent a great part of my afternoon convincing Brandi that she needs to wear heels and a suit/blazer to an upcoming interview she has. And she spent most of the afternoon trying to convince me otherwise.
No ma’am.
I’m no HR professional, but I understand the importance of first impressions.
So I googled and found a good post from Virginia Tech’s Career Services about...
