August Recap/Stats

Miles Ran: 100 M - HUNDO CLUB FTW!!!

Miles Biked: 0± M - Massive Fail. 

Miles Elliptical'd: 2± M - It was a very busy month.

Rest Days: 15 - See previous entry note.

Races: Melon Run 5k

Favorite Run: Bayshore 10 Miler (+2) with my Boo 

Guns & Abbo Update: I completed 22/30 days this month, but at least I can hold a plank for longer than most people and did I mention it was a very busy month?

Paintings Completed:

Heff and Honey

I've been working on these ones for awhile and finally completed them in time for my trip to Florida for my friend Linds' very belated birthday present. No more white dogs. They are TOO hard.

Current Reads: (Reading) Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin: There just isn't enough time in the day to read this thing! I keep staying up way too late!!!

(Finished) Nada. Again with that whole busy thing.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: The Weddingbee forums, I just can't look away!

Current Obsession: Still making smoothies with the Ninja Blender 'erday!

Current Song: "Pound the Alarm" - Nicki Minaj

Current Wish-List: A shopping spree so I can get some styling outfits for the honeymoon.

Current Need: A person assistant, more time.

Current Triumph: Fitting in all my long runs this month despite being unbelievably busy.

Current Bane of my Existence: I'm going to abide by that whole, "If you can't say anything nice you shouldn't say anything at all..." motto for this one.

Current Goal: To PR the crap out of CCRR next month.

Current Indulgence: Mixed Fruit Parfait from Whole Foods. I need to be stopped.

Current Blessings: Have you seen how crazy my life has been lately? Thank god for my family, friends, and Spike!

Current Excitement:  We leave for "Hacienda Holiday" tonight for the long holiday weekend and I can't wait! Besides that, I am stoked for Spike's big race next weekend and then CCRR for me the weekend after that. Bring on the racing!

How'd your August shape up?!?!

Running is what you make of it, make it an Adventure!™

3 Things Thursday

1. Lunch Date... Guess who gets to have lunch with one of her favorite NYC bloggers this afternoon?!?! This girl! Yes, Celia is in town to visit her fam, which just so happens to be where I work. Woo! We last saw each other in NYC in April when I was in town for a business trip; I'm looking forward to eating some more yummy food together and catching up.
   
   
2. Missing Mojo... Alright peeps, I don't know what my deal is, but I cannot seem to get in to the groove this week. Am I burnt out, or am I just slacking? I've managed one run all week and here I am two weeks out from my goal race. Has anybody seen my mojo?!?!
   
   
3. WWYD... Speaking of running, I'm stuck on how far to run this weekend; it's my final long run before CCRR (next week being a shorter-taper longish run). I had originally planned to go 14 miles this weekend, but after thinking on it, a part of me kinda wants to hit that 13.1 for the first time race morning. So do I run 12 miles again? 13? Or just stick to the plan and do the 14? What would you do?

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A Florida Bachelorette Party

When we last left off, I was super-duper excited to head to Florida for part two of my bachelorette party festivities... and it did not disappoint!

As promised I flew in to Tampa and B.o.B picked me up amid the madness that was the Republican National Convention rolling in to town. The best part about that? Upgraded, cold water fountains were installed on Bayshore! But I get ahead... That night we carb-loaded with a delicious sushi dinner with Rixy, and afterwards, B.o.B gave us a tour of her new 'hood. I wish it had been an eating tour though, because her new hood has all kinds of deliciousness!!!

Saturday morning we got to the meet up spot early so B.o.B and I could get in a little extra before everyone arrived for the 10 miler and I was sweating buckets almost instantly. Oh Florida and your evil humidity! Despite it, this 12 miler went SOO much better and easier then my last one had gone. I had a great time running with old friends and making new ones, by the end I was realizing how much I missed the BRA and the sense of community that comes with running with a running group. Here's a few shots of us afterwards, happy as clams at all we had accomplished that morning, it being the longest most had gone in quite some time.

Gasparilla marathon training partners reunion!!! 
With Hollster & P-Funk

With everyone's favorite Cuban, Jess

After the run on Bayshore we all headed to brunch and refueled with copious amounts of delicious breakfast food. It was glorious. Best of all? My beloved Lazy Runner made a special appearance, on his birthday no less, to give me a hug! Oh how I miss my FL running peeps!!!

With the long run and breakfast out of the way it was now time to get cleaned up and head to O-town, along the way B.o.B and I cracked each other and ourselves up with all kinds of random conversation, made a mostly unnecessary stop at Target, and died laughing over all the hilarious pics everyone was posting to Facebook to show they were ready for the evening:

Looks like everyone is ready to party like it's 1999!

The highlights of the rest of day featured a whole lot of this:

• Arriving at the pimped out double room suite at Westgate Palace Resort
• Hitting the pool, drinking adult beverages, and enjoy catching up with everyone
• Playing hilarious games and taking pictures holding inappropriate signs

LOL!

Pool time was over far too soon, but at least we were having more fun
then the other bachelorette party that was there!

• At 5pm we headed back to the suite to start prepping for the night out
• Decided to stuff as many people into the tub as possible for shiggles

I can't tell you why this was so fun, it just was. 

• Eat delicious catered Moe's while playing hair dresser for the other girls
• Receive more gifts of lacy, racy unmentionables; totally set for the honeymoon! ;)
• Ride in my friends daughter's car seat over to City Walk because I was the only one that fit
• Arrive at Pat O'Briens for our reservation at the Piano Bar, only to find out they don't have it; after a slight panic, all is rectified and we even get a free round of hurricane's!
• Take 5,657,932 pics throughout the night with each other and of me doing ridiculous things off "the list"

My beautiful bridesmaids

I love all these girls so freaking much!

• Singing the loudest, worst rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" ever
• Got serenaded to "867-5309" Appropriate no?
• After completing most of "The List" I caught a hunky piggy back ride over to Red Coconut so we could get our dance on
• Lots of dancing
• Lots of giggling
• Lots of dancing



Dancing queens!

• Calling it a night before the club closed. I was a tired bachelorette.
• Trying NOT to topple on each other while taking this pic:

We were seconds away from disaster...

• Making Velveeta Shells & Cheese at 2am back at the hotel before bed, 4th meal of champions!

I love the crap out of my Florida girls and everytime I visit them it just makes me miss them so much more. The weekend flew by way too fast and looking back I wish we had made it a whole weekend affair so I could've had more one on one time with everyone. (Kinda hard to do in a loud bar/club) After planning these party weekend's for months and months, I can't believe that the next time I see these ladies I'm going to be a bride!!! Eeek!!!

3 Things Thursday

1. Friday... Tomorrow I leave for Florida!!! I am so ridiculously excited I can hardly stand it. The Florida Bachelorette party weekend kicks off when my flight touches down in Tampa and my Boo picks me up from the airport! From there we'll grab dinner with my beloved Rixy and then spend the rest of the evening chillaxing with the ragamuffin, Lloyd. Do you think it's too much to hope that the Hallmark channel is showing Golden Girl reruns?!?!
   
   
   
   
2. Saturday... Is par-tay day! B.o.B and I have a long run on deck bright and early with some of the B.R.A. gang, after which we'll grab brunch just like old times. Then we'll hose our sweaty selves off and head to O-town where all my girls will be waiting on us. From there the itinerary is mostly a secret. While I do have a general idea of the plan (soak up sun poolside, consume adult beverages, go out to dinner, end the night dancing), I have asked that all the details remain a surprise. I CANNOT WAIT!!! I MISS MY GIRLS SOOO MUCH!!! 
   

   

   Can't wait to see all these beautiful faces, and then some!

3. Sunday... Is recovery day. I will also probably attempt to eat at all my favorite restaurants in the area, if humanely possible. The end. :)
   
   
   What do y'all have on deck this weekend?!?!

A Michigan Bachelorette Party

Because I am a masochist, Saturday morning, after having raced the Melon Run not 12 hours before, I was up and at Kensington ready to start my long run at 7:30 am. The thought had crossed my mind to put it off until Sunday but I knew that getting it out of the way would leave me all of Sunday to recover from the bachelorette party extravaganza. In hindsight, I made the right decision.

You know those runs where even a speed bump feels like work? Yeah, it was one of those runs, my legs were just exhausted from the 5k effort. Around mile six I could see the parking lot with my car across the lake and contemplating swimming for it, but then I remembered I'm not a great swimmer and proceeded on. I managed to finish the ten miles right around my long run pace, so I was happy and ready to chillax until party time. 

Julie arrived about 4pm to pick me up, and we were off to A2 (that's Ann Arbor for all you non-locals) to get gussied up at the hotel and head out. Jen B. was already there when we arrived and she had stocked up the room with all the essentials:

Bachelorette Party Survival Kit!

We popped open the bubbly as we got ready and soon enough it was time to head to dinner at Zingerman's Roadhouse to meet up with everyone else. Sun Runner, Spike's sisters, his cousin's wife, and my running coworker, Fabulous, joined us to round out the party. They had special menu's made and lots of yummy sweet potato fries and mac n' cheese was consumed. During dinner I was gifted some lacy, racy unmentionables for the honeymoon and then I was given a scroll that contained my bachelorette photo challenge, which provided lots of entertainment throughout the night! 

The whole beautiful gang

A shout out and delicious goodness!
I heart Zingerman's!

Julie & Jen, the awesome hostesses!

My running bitches, Sun Runner & Fabulous

At the first martini bar we hit up after dinner we played this game where I had to guess how Spike had answered a bunch of questions Julie had asked him about himself and me; the rules were if I guessed right everyone else had to drink but if I guessed wrong I had to drink. I ended up drinking, a lot. Bad fiance! But for what it's worth, I am convinced Spike answered things ridiculous on purpose. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! After bar hopping we ended the night at a dance club, my first visit to one in ages, where we rocked out to some bad 90's music. It was such a fun night! 

Obligatory penis straw and
"Something Borrowed" for the photo challenge.
Someone was actually walking around with this! LOL! 

The next morning we grabbed a late breakfast and then headed home, I was sooooooooo tired, this redhead never stays up past midnight, and was thankful I no miles to run!

What did you do for your bachelor/bachelorette party?! Have any funny stories to share? 

Melon Run 5k Race Recap

Pre-race: Because this was an evening race, I worked the whole day prior and had to race home to get ready. Sun Runner and Nichole were already waiting on me with Spike, so I quickly changed and we headed over to downtown Howell, arriving with plenty of time to spare.

Start: So apparently this race draws all the local track girls and guess who got caught up in the middle of a big pack of them? This girl. Can you guess what happens next? 

The Race: I'll just let my splits tell the story: 

Mile 1: 6:32

Mile 2: 7:06

Mile 3: 7:32

That stoppage right there at mile 2.5?
Horrific side stitch. 

Moral of the story: Don't get caught up at the start in a group of track girls and blow out your first mile. 

Lesson learned. Ouch. Had I not have blown out the first mile and got that wicked side stitch I might of had a shot at a PR, but it's still the second fastest 5k I've ever ran, so I'll take it! 

Final Chip Time: 22:00 

Good for 1st place AG! Woot! Love me some small town races! 

Post Race: After Spike paced me in to the finish we grabbed water and headed out to cheer in Sun Runner and Nichole; it was Nichole's first 5k and she finished strong! After that we mulled around a bit waiting on the results to be posted and then went to grab some grub as the awards ceremony wasn't until 9pm.I walked away with an awesome pint glass for AG'ing and got to meet a reader from the area Darci! So fun! 

Post Race Thoughts: This was the 35th running of the Howell Melon Run which is part of the larger Howell Melon Festival weekend; it features a 1 mile, 5k, and 10k option. The course is scenic, running through the quaint neighborhoods of downtown Howell, through the cemetery alongside the lake, through the local park, and back. It starts with a fast downhill, but that also means a rude uphill finish. They have lots of goodies at the finish, including melon ice cream which I wasn't necessarily a fan of, but still pretty neat. Every racer got their race swag in a little cinch backpack, I love those kinds, and a cotton event shirt. 

3 Things Thursday

1. Bachelorette Party #1... This weekend is my Michigan bachelorette party with all my local ladies; we're hitting up my favorite A2 area restaurant for dinner and then heading downtown for a martini... or two. I found the perfect dress to wear last night and am so excited about it. What did/will you ladies wear for your big night out?
   
   
2. Fitting #2... Yesterday was my second dress fitting and once again, I obviously can't talk details, but you guys... I just can't wait to wear it for Spike! *End overly-girlish rant*

   

   Now I get why chicks say,
   "I felt like a princess!"
   via

   
   
3. 3.1... I'm signed up for a 5k tomorrow night which I plan to use as my speedwork for the week.  I'm not really sure if I could shoot for a PR, nor am I sure I want to, so I can't decide if I should run it all out and just see what happens or try to run a set fast pace. Thoughts?

Monday Musings

...and it's Monday, again.

It was another busy weekend around these parts, so let's break it down bullet style: 

• Friday night Spike was out of town so I celebrated by doing all the laundry; a chore I'm forbidden to do on a Friday night because it's been dubbed lame. Am I the only one that gets excited for laundry? Probably. 
  
  
  
• Saturday afternoon Spike's aunt's hosted a bridal shower for his side of the family and they put together the most perfect pink and flamingo-tastic event ever! 
  

Yes, I have a flamingo problem.
Also, please do not look directly at Spike's shirt.
It may cause blindness. 

• The shower went great, I wasn't nearly as nervous this time, made sure to wear a dress that was longer, and only had one name slip-up. We received some very thoughtful and awesome gifts and I just can't say this enough: I am marrying in to such a wonderful family. 
  
  
• Later that night we hit up our favorite sushi restaurant to carb-load for Sunday's long run. Once upon a time I would have never, ever strayed from my standard plain noodles but living with the human garbage disposal will definitely change your ways. Anybody else out there carb-load with sushi?  
  
  
  
  
• Sunday, Sunday, Sunday was the men's Olympic marathon; what. a. race! I'm not going to lie, I teared up for Uganda's runner as he grabbed his flag and ran in to the finish with that huge smile on his face. Truly inspiring! Then of course there was Meb's hard fought fight for fourth place, hell yeah! Way to go Meb!   
  
  
  
• After watching the race we headed out all runspired for my big 12 miler. You know it's been a hot summer when 70* feels amazing, however, getting the later-then-usual start meant a sun smack down by end. The last few miles were tough and reminded me that while it was only two miles further than what I've been used to, it was also the farthest I have run since March of 2011! 
  

12 M run and done! 

• Pit toilets: The most horrific things ever. That's all I'm going to say about that. 
  
• Exactly two months from today, I'm going to be Mrs. Spike. :)

So, that's my weekend, what'd y'all get in to?!?!

CCRR Here I {Officially} Come!

So I finally did it, I registered for Capital City. The looming price hike definitely gave me the kick in the pants I needed to stop being such a chicken sh*t about signing up. Training has been going well, although admittedly this week has been hard, I feel like I just can't catch up on my sleep after our exhausting trip to Minnesooota last weekend. I already came up short on one of my runs this week and yesterday I had 800's on deck but it rained and rained so I bagged it. Today is another day of rain, rain, rain, and I'm thinking that maybe the running gods aren't conspiring against me for once, but are telling me to just skip it already and focus on my long run this weekend. I'll be endeavoring to go 12 miles, my longest run to date since the return to running began. I'm excited to venture beyond the 10 mile mark again and with five weeks until the race I think it's it's time I got over myself and started getting excited about finally running this race! Third times a charm right?

Gratuitous pic of the Fatha and I at the wedding last weekend.
I love him.

3 Things Thursday

1. FATM... Last week was Spike's birthday and to celebrate I took him to see one of his fav bands, Florence & The Machine, Tuesday night. They played at Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit, easily one of the most beautiful venue's I have ever been to in my life. It was SUCH a good show and now I heart Florence even more!
   
   
2. Don't Get Lapped... This morning Spike and I headed to the track together and the goal of the morning quickly became "don't let Spike lap you!" We had different workouts to run, but I held my own pretty well the one time we synced up on an 800; trailing just behind him until he dropped me like a hot potato in the last 200... he never did lap me though! Ha! (Nope, not competitive at all!)
   
   
3. Minnesooota... Today is my Friday as tomorrow we're off to the Land of 10,000 Lakes for a family wedding this weekend. Twelve hours of driving awaits us but at least we arrive in time for dinner and we get to run our long runs Saturday morning on the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail, a 41 mile paved rails to trails that just so happens to run behind where we're staying! Talk about lucking out eh? Do I have any MN readers out there? What do you think of this trail?
   
   

Fox Theatre was built in 1928, restored in 1988;
 just look at those gorgeous ornate ceilings!