Winning Over a Crowd In One Easy Step

My husband will be the first to admit I'm crazy. And he'll admit he's crazy. But tonight, I actually got called crazy in public.

Scene: Urban Flats, cute little restaurant, with a Jacksonville Zoo "Wild Things" fundraiser attended by the UVa Club of Jacksonville.

Random Girl: "I'm bummed my friends can't make it but Tuesday's not good for any of them."
Me: "Tuesday's like the only day that's good for me."
Random Girl: "Oh yeah? What do you do?"
Me: "I'm training for a marathon. Monday and Wednesday are my running days."
Random Girl: "A marathon? That's just crazy!"
Random Girl's Husband: "How far is a marathon?"
Me: "Twenty-six point two miles."
Random Girl: "Wow."

So after I explain length of training, Vegas terrain and weather, weekly mileage, how far I actually run before I run 26.2 miles, etc, I adjourn back to the bar to get another glass of wine and tell Billy about what happened. We talk to a few more random folks (I tell the "War Eagle" story to a girl who wasn't sure what Auburn's official mascot is - Tigers, people, tigers) and we say our goodnights. I stop by the table where Random Girl, Random Girl's Husband, and three other girls were sitting. As we were saying bye and we'll see them at the next event, the whole "crazy runner" thing starts up again. We talked about the Gate River Run (one of the girls was a volunteer), and the lone (novice) runner at the table talked about how good it felt to run. This made me think:

Sanity is so overrated. And with that, I give you my new header quote (see above. Way above.)

There She Goes Again...

I am always coming and going, as my friend Mike likes to point out.

The cruise was AWESOME! I'll take any excuse to be in Key West, even for a little while, and it was so worth it (see the pineapple pancake and the stretchy cat below - I wanna be that cat!) Of course, all it did was make me want to go back for a few more days. And I did get Michael McCloud to play "She Gotta Butt" for the low low price of 2 cds and a $10 tip.

Cozumel was super fun, too - I actually did an adventure park! Climbing, rappelling, bridges, ziplining... and, okay, my butt hanging out in a Bridget Jones kind of way (If you've seen it, you get that) so I'll spare you the pics and link you to Flickr when they're ready - you can check them at your own risk! We also finally found the coolest, non-touristy bar in Cozumel - appropriately named, No Name Bar. It sure beat watching the 50-something year old ladies embarass themselves at Carlos'N'Charlies.

On the boat, I didn't eat too badly (not TOO TOO badly) or drink too much, but still somehow managed to gain about 6 pounds. So, since I feel "heavy in my running shoes" (read: sluggish and huge), I tried a detox cleanse I found at the natural foods store. It's not the nightmare people always tell you it is, and when you're coming off a massive food binge it might not be a bad idea. Just do your homework and know what your body can handle.

Enough with the overshare. (Sorry, I come from a genetic line of oversharers. My mother and brother are the worst!) ((Blogger's note: Sorry, Mom, but you know it's true.))

Oh... did I mention I got a PR? Oh yes I did! In fact, Billy, Mike, and I *all* got PR's at the Corporate Run! I was beginning to wonder how well they measured the course, but my mom seems to think we all PR'd because we're so good! (See? Momma said Nikes were my magic shoes...) I realize 37:11 isn't most people's idea of a great 5K, and that the guys came in a full 10 minutes ahead of me, but you know what? PR's make me happy, and y'all I am happy about this one! A full two minutes and change ahead of my time from the Race for the Cure in October. (Billy has a great write up on his blog about the run - and even though this is a running blog, he's a better blogging runner).

So, on to two more running-related topics: The Minnie Marathon and the Vegas Marathon.

I don't know why they call it a Minnie Marathon - it's a 15K, folks. But this is the last year they are doing it, and the last chance for a Minnie medal. Someday I want to have all of the Big 4 Disney World Running medals - I already have Donald, and I need Mickey and Goofy. Maybe in, say, 2010. Leana has all 4 now and is getting her second Minnie this year - and I hope I run into her at Disney! If not - GOOD LUCK, GIRL!!! (And good luck to Billy, who is running the Go Red For Women 5K - supporting the fight against heart disease in women!)

And when I come back from the Happiest Place on Earth, it's time to start training for Vegas. Oh boy! (say that in a Mickey Mouse voice). I have slacked off a little lately, I confess - the week of the cruise, I lifted weights once in the gym, once on the cruise, and ran and took a spin class on the boat (see? I did good on my vacation! Else I would have gained like 10 lbs...) But even with that, a PR, a 7 mile run this weekend, and a 1.5 rain-out run last night, I still feel like I need to REALLY get myself in gear for training. It's going to be a little more difficult than training was last year with the Galloway group - it was great to be surrounded by motivated people, even a few experienced marathon runners, at an organized place and time, with a map, water stops, and all the encouragement. Instead, I have B, Mike (who has been kidnapped into training for the Jax Bank Marathon and just doesn't know it yet), and Darcey and Rhonda by remote. However, I like challenges, you get to show just how tough you really are. Am I tough enough for 26.2 miles of potentially boring, dry-heat running through the desert? Can I turn down In-N-Out burger the first two days I am in Vegas? Can I run 20 miles in Auburn on my birthday when I'd rather start the tailgating at the crack of dawn?

Abso-freaking-lutely.

Here's my Galloway-inspired training plan, complete with my "extra curricular runs" I'm doing this summer:


This shouldn't be so hard after all...

You have new Picture Mail!

You have new Picture Mail!
Originally uploaded by holo wahini

I should have counted his toes.

You have new Picture Mail!

You have new Picture Mail!
Originally uploaded by holo wahini

Blue Heaven Pineapple pancake. What God eats for breakfast.

Point A to Point B

So I am kind of jealous that Leana can ride her bike to work, so I mapped out what my route to work would be on a bike.



I am not so sure I would really want to ride this route, but between the price of gas, saving wear and tear on my car, getting more exercise and riding experience, and validating my wanting a new bike, it's worth thinking about.

Of course, I could always chicken out and take JTA if I got too tired/hot/intimidated by traffic.

Snake #2

Snake #2
Originally uploaded by holo wahini

I tried sending this last week but it never went

Yahoo News - Blood and water fuel Maasai warriors' marathon

In honor of this weekend's London Marathon, here is an interesting article about some not-so-typical marathoners. This makes me appreciate my Nike's.

Their website is maasaimarathon.org.