Friday Five

This has been one of the longest weeks I can remember in awhile, with it feeling like the 10k is headed toward us a thousand miles a minute.  But after Sunday's snow, spring really arrived, making everything seem just a little bit calmer.

Downton Abbey marathon = much needed relaxation.

I've loved watching this guy bloom all week

I ran that!

Gorgeous view for an early morning meeting

A new wreath for my door from my crafty mama

I Get [Through 6.2 Miles] With A Little Help From My Friends

I'm sorry I just did that to you.  Here - listen to the song and it will be out of your head.  Promise.

Sidenote: I really can't stand the Beatles.  My dad had a ton of positive influence on my musical tastes and knowledge, but growing up he used to make us watch Help and A Hard Days Night and I think it just killed them for me.  Don't ask me what he did to my opinion of Elvis.

As the 10k creeps up - we're only 16 days away! - I am counting down not only to my favorite event in RVA, but to the arrival of two of my favorite people.

My sidekick Tim is coming back for what I think is his 6th 10k.  Tim keeps me sane and organized each year, never failing to roll into town with bananas and gatorade for the early morning to come.  And hes a master at squeezing every last bit of fun out of 10k day - which will be an even crazier day this year with the run, the Massey Mile, and the COTU after party (which I hope to see all of you at!).

It seems like each year Tim and I are accompanied by someone new.  And this year is no exception, as two weeks from today my little bro will be landing in RVA for the 10k - all the way from Portland, Oregon!

To say I am excited would be an understatement.

I cant wait to spend one of my favorite days with my three favorite guys (yup - Greg will be running too!).  Now hurry up and get to town, Tim and Ty!

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Psst - we crossed the $13K mark last week!  Still need to make your contribution?  Click above - time's awastin!

Running Streak Rehash - Week Nineteen

I'm not going to belabor the point, but lets all take a moment to recognize the asinine fact that I am still running in snow during week 19.

Fortunately, at this moment I was just enjoying watching it during my weekly post-Mass dinner date with Mike

I will admit that while most of RVA was complaining about this late-season snow, I was quite delighted outside of the fact that I really didn't need another frozen run.  This Yankee misses New England winters now and again, and I was pleased as punch to get myself an evening of fat, fluffy flakes like I grew up with.

Notice anything in this run down that might have also had me happy as a clam?

Week Nineteen

Day 127 Wednesday March 20, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 128 Thursday March 21, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 129 Friday March 22, 2013 - 3.00 miles
Day 130 Saturday March 23, 2013 - 7.70 miles
Day 131 Sunday March 24, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 132 Monday March 25, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 133 Tuesday March 26, 2013  - 2.3 miles

Week Total - 17.00

Yes, my friends, I ran 7.7 miles on Saturday.  And there were hills.  Some big, long, hills.  I was totally elated as I realized that the intermediate coach at the Chicahominy YMCA who told me I could do it was right.  What a great way to break in this baby:   

Mantra Monday

This week's mantra comes from my dear friend Stacey, who never fails to make me feel like I am taking life by storm even when I feel more like a wet puddle than a bolt of lightening.  She randomly posted this on my Facebook wall Saturday night - making reference to an event that occurred a little over seven years ago:

You're the only girl I've ever met who let a hibachi guy

try to fling the shrimp into your mouth.

And you caught that mf-er.

 

I'm planning to treat this week like its one of those flying shrimp. 

Friday Five

As things speed along toward April 13, 2013, I'm appreciating more and more the chances to stop and smell the roses.  This week brought some great pauses among some ridiculously stressful times.  Check it:

Selba's Tiffany lamps are just another reason to love the place.

Loved joining Davenport & Co. for Massey Day!

Gotta love St. Patrick's Day

Best thing about my hearing in Cville?  Checking out Stacey's new digs.

I want an invite to the next meeting.

Calling All Team Captains

Join us tonight!

On The Road

Yesterday marked eighteen weeks of running down.  At least one mile per day for more than 125 days.  That is utterly insane to me for lots of reasons.  But from the conversations I have had during that time, it seems that it is utterly insane to lots of other people for one specific reason:

Only two of the miles logged have been on a treadmill.

Thats right.  From gorgeous late-fall days to sloppy Connecticut snow to Arizona mountains, my running streak has been nearly entirely completed in our great outdoors. 

I used to be a gym rat.  630pm rolled around and you could bet you'd find me on an elliptical with my nose in a book, or reading the captions on a Jersey Shore repeat, grumbling about the meatheads dropping weights in the corner.

But when I took but Muay Thai, I found that leaving the machines behind opened lots of other doors.  So I gave up the typical gym membership in favor of runs through the Fan, and yoga classes, and kickboxing. 

And while the lack of a treadmill posed some interesting challenges for this running streak - like that crazy one mile run through my house - I haven't missed the human-hamster-wheel at all.

This running streak has definitely been a new creature for me - finding a way to run each and everyday regardless of whether the trees were painted the gleaming golden yellow of fall:

Or my hometown was blanketed in new-fallen snow:

Or Bellevue was beginning to bloom:

And I'm a little sad to see it reaching its close.

Or is it?  I'll be just 32 days short of half a year . . . . stay tuned!