Thanksgiving times two

After the parade, Amanda and I picked up some tulips and a pumpkin pie
to take over to our first Thanksgiving meal of the day. Two friends
from her Bible study had invited her to a dinner at an apartment near
In uptown Manhattan near Harlem. Dinner was awesome, and we hated
having to leave so soon, but we needed to get to the second dinner, at
Amanda's friend Jesse's place in Brooklyn. That's where we are now,
where Jesse and Amanda are working on a rather gourmet meal. I'm on
dish detail. :-). It smells awesome already. I'm just starting to
really drag after only 2 hours of sleep last night...

Amanda's favorite place in NYC

Grand Central Station. It's packed today with the Thanksgiving crowd.

Santa!

The end of the parade, and Christmas officially begins...on
Thanksgiving.

Macy's Parade!

I'm in NYC, visiting my best friend Amanda and taking in the parade!
Fun, but crowded. I know there have been some celebrities in the
parade, but it's hard to tell who anyone is. It's really cool watching
the balloons come across between the buildings--it's always a surprise.

Living Room Complete

We picked up the chaise lounge this morning and finally finished the living room. Now we've just got a couple of accessories to buy and have to get those DVDs out of site.

New furniture!!!

Lauren and I adventured around Mesquite for about 4 hours on Saturday and ended up buying a new coffee table, end table, entertainment console, and a hutch from Rooms to Go. We also ended up buying a chaise lounge from The Room Store (coming this weekend) and another end table from Pier One (not pictured). Crazy thing is... we don't have to make a single payment toward most of it until July 2010.

Now we've got to fill up that empty wall above the TV with a bigger wall mounted TV ;)

Great minds think alike?

David and I both had the same idea for our two year "cotton"
anniversary.

Two years of marriage...And he knows me well!

Gerber daisies were delivered my office this morning, my
favorites!!! :-) How sweet is that?

These were the flowers we had in our wedding, too. My husband is the
best.

Hair cut

I liked this hair cut so much, I'm actually keeping up with it. Got
it cut again today, then got my nails done with Anjali and Ashley.

Halloween!!!

David and I went to our friend J-Rod's house for a fantastic Halloween party! Although I was sick almost all week before, I started feeling better Friday evening and was able to go to the party and have a great time.

David and I went as the Doctor and a sexy nurse:



I was really pleasantly surprised at all the time and effort people put into their costumes! Some of them were really impressive, particularly our friend Erik and his wife Anita, who went as the Joker and Poison Ivy:






We also had a super tall guy, Mario, the Wicked Witch of the East complete with house on top of her, Frye, Sarah Palin and John McCain, a cowboy and and Indian, a mad scientist, and lots of other costumes I either don't have time to name or just didn't get.

More photos are on Flickr, but friends and family access only. Let me know if you need help viewing them!

6 random things

I was asked by Amanda to write six random things, like her post on the subject. Actually, she called for a list from Lauren + David. So, here is our list, as the collective consciousness that married couples seem to become:

1. I discovered recently that not only do David and I talk to each other in our sleep (something that wakes me up from time to time), but David also solves problems in his sleep. I woke up Saturday night to David's mumbling, something that happens on occasion (I once heard him exclaim that the answer was 54...to what, who knows). I was trying to make out the words when he suddenly sat part of the way up and leaned over across me, tapping his fingers on my stomach like it was a keyboard. Then he reached under the blanket and was moving his hand back and forth, which I assume was the mouse. It was all the self control I could muster not to giggle. After just a few moments of this, he decided to lie back down and roll over.
2. We both love horror movies, even the cheesy ones that are more laughable than frightening. Much of the training we do can be justified as preparing for survival in a zombie apocalypse...which I swear is just a coincidence.
3. We could probably eat different kinds of pasta every night for dinner and be perfectly content.
4. Part of the thrill of all the crazy things we do (run marathons, climb mountains, skydive, etc) is having the vast majority of people think we're crazy for doing it. The other part of the thrill is the accomplishment when we succeed. (We each thank the other often for being equally as crazy.)
   
5. Unlike some couples (it would seem), we actually do prefer to hang out with each other, and haven't yet found the need for time away - we mostly just do it because we know our lives should be well-rounded, and because we have other people we love and want to spend time with. I know it's mushy, but it's true.
6. We've decided that Denver is probably our favorite place in the country, but we're not sure if we'll ever live there, since being closer to family is much higher on our list of priorities.
   

There ya go... Now back to work.

Reimer's Ranch climbing

We went camping and climbing outside Austin today. We spent the day
climbing at Reimer's Ranch with Steve, his two friends Cameron and Emily, and Shaheena and Francisco. David and I each led our first climb on a route called "Roly Poly Coco Kitty" on Dead Cats wall, a 5.7. The entire route was bolted, making it a little easier than the route Eli was leading us on in Estes Park, but it was a great first route.

The rest of the trip was nice, very easygoing, with a great group of people. They're also terrific climbers, so it was nice to watch their techniques - including Steve's crazy lead up a ridiculous climb to set a top rope, and joking about Emily's "sea lion technique" on that same route. We came back from climbing tired and sore and took a dip in the lake to wash off before settling down to bratwurst for dinner.

The pups had an absolute BLAST! They love camping. They were nervous when we were actually climbing and they were tied up, though. They kept whining, which usually isn't something they do for very long, but I think they were just worried about us. They had a long, fun day and even let us sleep in until 7:30!

Halloween costume: complete

One great thing about having the...ummm ... more "alternative
shopping" mall so close to work: easy access to cheap "stripper"
shoes. Hehehe. These beauties officially complete my Halloween costume.

What will I be? It's a secret.

Boo!

It's Halloween at Gap Broadcasting!

What should we be for Halloween?

A giant fluffy bee?

Our run in the morning... wish us luck!

A new week, a new perspective

Well, after the past week's craziness (my new job, David's family visiting, David's birthday, the birthday barbeque, etc) we need to get back on course for our training and weight loss goals. So, starting tomorrow, it's back on track: keeping the WW Points down and tracking them in our spreadsheets, sticking to the FIRST program's marathon training schedule, as well as getting enough nutrition and enough rest to really bounce back from the slump we've been in. I'd say that although we've been getting in our long weekly runs most weeks, we haven't been fully committed to eating and exercising on plan in over a month. So, tomorrow, we're starting back full force.

Also, this week marks the second week of the new job, which is when all the real work is going to start rolling (or deluging) in. So I'm expecting to need a proper schedule to keep me focused and motivated as things start to build up.

If you were wondering, our barbeque for David's birthday went well. It was "Talk like a Pirate Day" themed, with eye patches and paper hats and a stuffed parrot for David to wear that our friend Nick brought. Lots of meat of all kinds and plenty of other food to go around, including my attempt at cake balls which everyone thought was quite yummy. All in all, another great get-together. And, my Tigers won over those other wannabe Tigers, so all is right in the world.

17 Miles... Or Not

The schedule today actually called for 20 miles, but last weekend also
called for 17 miles, but our little Denver trip forced us to miss that
scheduled run. With that in mind we were to run 17 today and 20 next
week.

At least we're both in agreement this time... We're tired. Lauren
started her new job this week and my family has been in town, throwing
our schedule so completely off. So we're taking the morning off to
sleep in an we'll pick up the pieces of our running schedule Monday.

Long bike ride tomorrow?

Super fancy new desk

Complete with yellow chairs!

Happy birthday, David!

David's mom and two of his brothers, Matt and Jon, came to visit to
escape the hurricane damage of Houston and to celebrate David's 25th
birthday. We had hibachi and sushi at Edohana. Of course, David had
to get the odd obligatory witch-like hat, offbeat drumming Happy
Birthday song, and yummy lump of fried ice cream.

A step up

Our IT director, Joe, got my new laptop and dual monitors set up
yesterday on my card table. The electrician is installing another
outlet today, and my furniture should be here tomorrow or Thursday.
Things are starting to shape up already. :-)

New job, new digs

This is currently my desk at GAP Broadcasting for my first day. Yeah,
there behind the boxes. They picked out some furniture today, and my
laptop and dual monitors should be in today. Yay! I'm about to go
start digging around in the sites....and finish up the paperwork for HR.

Saying goodbye

We drove back over to Lumpy Ridge to take some photos. The peak in the
middle of this pic is the Batman, with the point in front being the
part we climbed.
Now off to the airport!

Downtown Estes Park

As much of a tourist town as Estes Park seems to be, we did find the
back half of downtown and it really is quite picturesque. Now to buy
some Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory chocolate. Yum!

At Bob & Tony's Pizza

Giant pizza!

We earned it.

Back on the ground

We made it!

The view from the top. This was the hardest climb we've ever done.
Lots of cracks and pull-ups and difficult footwork. If that is a
5.6-5.7, I think I'll be there for a while.

First pitch

This is our first pitch. Up high! Almost to the top.

Getting ready for the big one

Taking a little break while Eli sets the top rope for our next climb.

Climbing Location

We're climbing "Batman & Robin"

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=40.405312,+-105.530527

Sent from my iPhone

First climbs

Finished two small routes now. This is David tying in to do the
second route. The rock here is different, granite, so we're getting
used to it.

Getting ready

Our guide Eli setting our top rope.

Just reached the peak

We'll be climbing a place called "the batman" which is a few hundred
feet up from here.

Lumpy Ridge

Getting ready to go climb. We are so pumped.

Italian dinner

At the Dunraven downtown. I was craving some good pasta and we
happened to spot this little place. If the smell is any indication,
this should be pretty tasty. David moved when I took the pic but I
told him I was posting it anyway.

Our cabin

Very cute. Full kitchen, fireplace, living room and king bed. Robes
too. :-) There's also a hot tub nearby that we plan on taking
advantage of later. Right now we're about to go back into town to get
some groceries and take some photos.

Arrival

Our first glimpse of Estes Park

Rainbow

A beautiful rainbow we spotted on the way to Estes Park just past
Boulder.

Driving through the mountains

We are taking the recommended back way to Estes Park from Evergreen,
through the mountains. Beautiful.

Elk sighting!

Right inside Mark and Sherry's fence. Crazy Colorado... They weren't
afraid of us at all.

Food and family

Two of the best burgers in the country at the Country Road Cafe, owned
by David's Uncle Mark and Aunt Sherry.

The Denver Adventure Begins

Lauren and I are currently cruising down the moving sidewalk at DEN after getting off of our 8:30 flight from DFW. We actually checked a bag for once, so we're off to baggage claim. Hope our bag made it. I wonder what the TSA agent when he scanned the harnesses and carabiners in the purple backpack Lauren is dragging.

Leaving for the last time

Last day at TDMN. It's a happy-sad, bittersweet ending.

A great start

I kind of started my new job this week by attending the annual
conference for GAP Broadcasting's southwestern stations. It was held
at Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine. So far, so good. Everyone seems
really nice and down-to-earth. And, the work doesn't sound like
anything I can't do...at least, not yet.
The photo is of our "guest speaker" this morning, Kidd Kraddick,
although you can't really tell who it is in the photo. Vic really
wanted to get a photo of me with Kidd, but he had to leave quickly.
Since the president of the company is good friends with him, though,
the opportunity may come around again.

Defeated by that North Texas sun...

Our run today did not go quite as planned you could say. It started
out great: running down 549 in a crisp 70 degrees with a nice breeze
and plenty of water and tunes.

Things were still going well around mile 10, then the water started
getting low as the sun got higher and brighter and hotter. We stopped
at Cane Middle School, refilled and caught a bit of shade for several
minutes.

Back on our way I started to feel cramps building up in my calf
muscles. "Uh-oh," I started to think, "that's what happened last
time." 2 miles later I couldn't run any more and even walking hurt. I
tried cooling down and working through it, but to no avail.

I can't say it was my proudest moment, but I got Lauren to run the
rest of the way home to get the car. Ick.

Oh well. Big improvement over last time. We're skipping next week's
run to hang out in Denver and I'm looking forward to that.

Sent from my iPhone

RCP Critic's choice

This is me, dressed up all fancy for the Rockwall Community Playhouse
Critic's Choice banquet at the Hilton Bella Harbor. We had fun seeing
all my Grease castmates, but Grease only won two awards, for People's
Choice best actor (Drew as Danny) and our vocal coach won an award.
Singing in the Rain cleaned up! Just means I have to do another show.
Definitely doing Kiss Me Kate. Mrs Ragsdale is Asst Director for The
Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and was telling David how he'd make
a great Mr Tumnus...hehehe. I'll at least get him up there working on
the set or something this year.

Blast from the past

One of my best friends from college and former roommates, Renee, came
to visit randomly this weekend. She just wrapped up PT school and
hasn't started the job she took in Brookhaven, Miss. yet, so she
decided to come visit us in Dallas. It had been over a year since we
had seen each other and over two years since we got to really talk.
It was great. There is really something to be said for having good
friends like that, with a history. So many things about who you are
and where you came from are just understood, even after years apart.
I was surprised to find that the comfortable, easy friendship was
still there after so much time had passed.

She got to spend time with some other Dallas area friends, too, and
met my new circle of friends here, who were so welcoming and friendly,
it reminded me why I love them so much.

Sad cube

It's hard to believe that after next week, my cube at TDMN will no
longer be where I spend my days. I've actually already packed up a
lot of the stuff that was hanging on the walls. I'm a little sad, but
I'm ready for a new start.

Ready to run

Bring it on, 7 mile tempo run. This is my game face.  No silly cold, or "girl problems" or the fajitas I had for lunch will hinder me.  Raaa!

Sent from my iPhone

Wherever you go, there you are...

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=33.072220,+-96.072113

Sent as an experiment from my iPhone.

This is where I work!

How d'ya like the new look?

Yep, that's our pups in the header, Sadie in front and Jammy in the back with the ball, and David's legs running the Big D Texas Marathon. Yay Photoshop filters!

Key Run #1: Speedy speedy speedwork

Time: 7:45-8:45 PM
Weather: 96°, Sunny/Clear (but near dusk), 6 mph wind, 37% humidity
Course: Cain Middle School track
Workout: Warm-up, 3X1K with 400 meter RI, Cool-down
Total Workout Time: 52:00

Although it may not have actually been cooler for this run, it certainly felt cooler. The 1K speed work was much easier than the last two for a few reasons:

1. The sun was not beating down on our faces, since it was on it's way down.
2. The 1K pace was already slower than the 800s, and we had given ourselves a few extra seconds when we reworked our time goals.
3. Our legs had fully recovered from the beating we gave them last week.

I felt really good during this workout. Hopefully this is a sign that the speed workouts will get more manageable. Also, David tried out a new strategy: wearing a bandana headband full of ice. Seemed to work well, too.

Key Run 3 - 8 Miles

Ack. For the first time since the latter parts of the last marathon training, I didn't make it. We decided that 8 miles would be a great distance to start visiting White Rock, and we got out there around 7:00, 30 minutes after I had planned on us arriving. We were to walk out about half a mile, and walk the last half of the ~9 mile course. Didn't happen that way.

My legs still hurt from Thursday's workout when we started, but all was going well until mile 4. Sometime during that mile, my quads started to hurt. By the start of mile 5, I could feel them fire every time I stepped back with that particular leg. Ack again.

I'll update with times later on. For now, it's Batman time.

Cross Train - Wall Ball

We bought a 12# medicine ball after seeing this workout come up, and today's WOD involved some equipment we don't have, so we got to experience the wall ball. A couple of notes... don't hit your face with a 12# ball, and 100 walking lunges still hurts.

For time:
50 Wall Ball
50 Steps Walking Lunge
50 Sit-ups
500 meter row
50 Sit-ups
50 Steps Walking Lunge
50 Wall Ball

David: 16:19
Lauren: 17:50

Key Run #2: Tempo Run

Time: 7:15-8:00 PM
Weather: 90°, Sunny, 1 mph wind, 63% humidity
Course: 4 mile out-and-back through adjoining neighborhood, past the pool and up the giant hill.
Workout: 1 easy, 2 @ PMP, 1 easy

Not a good run for me. I was fine when we set out at our easy pace, but about a mile in when we picked up the pace, my right shoulder began to have sharp pains right beneath the blade. By the time we finished the second mile, it hurt so badly that it hurt all the way through my chest and I had to stop. After a stop, I was able to make it over a mile before it became so painful again that I had to take another walk break. We finished our easy mile, but I was wiped out.

I attribute the shoulder pain to the dips we did yesterday for Crossfit WOD. I think I was just so sore that it really started to hurt when my lungs and chest were forced to expand during the faster pace. Plus, I had a tense day at work, and was having trouble relaxing my shoulders. I'm hoping that the farther we get in our training the easier it will get to push ourselves all week long. I just look forward to that rest day on Friday...

Key Run #1: Kick butt speed work

Time: 7:15 - 8:00 PM
Weather: 90°, Sunny, little wind, 55% humidity
Course: Rubberized track, Cain Middle School
Workout: 4X800 with 2 minute recovery intervals; warm-up with slow run and strides
Goal Pace: 7:12/mile

This run was the closest I have ever come to passing out during a workout. The warm-ups were great; this was the first time to try doing strides before a workout (walking, then speeding up to race pace, then ending with knee-highs and butt-kicks) and I felt so much looser afterward. The 800's were a different story. The first two weren't that bad, although I did feel as though my lungs were about to collapse. It was the third one that got me, and I felt very dizzy and nauseated, so we decided that 3 was enough for today. After all, this is the second workout listed when we start the actual FIRST program in a few weeks, so I'm pretty impressed with how we're doing. I feel much stronger having pushed myself that hard. It's good to know that I can run that fast for a half mile if I put my mind to it.

Key Run 3 - 7 Miles

So this morning's run was probably the hardest run, mentally, of all of the runs I've made, even including the marathon. It must have been a combination of the strength workouts, the humidity, the direct sunlight, and the thai food we had last night, but we made it.

For the first time we're adhering to a strict water stop schedule, and I really think that's going to help pick up our speed. For now, we're going to run some errands and go see Hellboy 2 at 11:00. After that, it's cleaning the house until rock climbing in Frisco at 6:30.


Time: 7:00-8:05 AM
Course: Road & Gravel, SH 549
Weather: 78°, full sun w/ 2mph wind
Totals: 7 miles @ 9:22 average pace - Goal: 9:23 (PMP+30s)

Mile 1 @ 9:39 - Goal: 9:33
Miles 2-3 @ 9:09 - Goal: 9:03
Water Stop for 0:30
Miles 4-5 @ 9:19 - Goal: 9:13
Water Stop for 0:30
Miles 6-7 @ 9:12 - Goal: 9:13

Cross Train 2

Crossfit Rockwall workout of the day:

For time:
500 meter row*
25 Knees to elbows
25 Power snatch, 75 lbs
25 Knees to elbows
25 Power snatch, 75 lbs
500 meter row*

*No rower? Sub 400 meter runs.

Time: 7:30-8:00 PM

Weather: 90°, sunny, 5 mph wind

Of course, since we didn't own a rowing macine or a bar, and since we're not yet quite that hardcore, we modified the workout just a bit. We substituted with dumbbell snatches and a 400m run, and some lighter weights.

David: 15:53 w/ 20lb snatches
Lauren: 17:31 w/ 10lb snatches and waist high knees to elbows

After such a hard week, my legs felt like jell-o and my lungs felt like they were about to collapse. But that means it's working, right? ;-)

Key Run 2 - Lactic Threshold Training

So last night the Run Less, Run Faster book came in, so we were able to read into the FIRST program a bit more. It's just the book we've been looking for I think. Scientific method, physiology, psychology, and a solid plan. We're basing this whole shebang on a 5k time of 24:00.

Time: 7:45-8:15 PM
Course: Rubberized Track, Cain Middle School
Weather: 92°, cloudy w/ 2mph wind
Totals: 3 miles @ 8:49 average pace

Mile 1 Easy @ 9:09 - Goal: 9:23
Mile 2 ST @ 8:03 - Goal: 8:00
Mile 3 Easy @ 9:13 - Goal: 9:35

I can see why things were a little tougher than I expected. We've got to slow down on our easy miles.

Cross Train 1

http://www.crossfitrockwall.com

Today we attempted the Crossfit WOD, but because I don't think either of us is ready for it, we did a half Angie.

50 Pull-ups
50 Push-ups
50 Sit-ups
50 Squats

Times (Lauren/David)
Pull-ups: 6:50/6:45
Push-ups: 2:56/2:59
Sit-ups: 2:03/2:06
Squats: 2:10/2:01
Total: 14:00/13:50

We've got a ways to go ;-)

Key Run 1 - First Speed Workout

Tonight was our first speed workout on the FIRST training program, only modified, since we won't actually start the program until 16 weeks before the marathon. 3 x 400 at the track, with a 10 minute warm-up and 10 minute cool down, for a total of around 30 minutes. We maintained an 8:15 for each of the 400 meters, so I was pretty satisfied. We have a lot to do to speed up before the race, but luckily we still have 23 weeks to get ready.

Time: 7:30-8:00 PM
Course: Rubberized Track, Cain Middle School
Weather: 89°, mostly sunny w/ no wind
Totals: 3 miles @ 10:00 average pace

10 Min Warmpup @ 10:00
400 1: 2:06 @ 8:22
400 2: 2:04 @ 8:14
400 3: 2:04 @ 8:14
10 Min Cooldown @ 10:00

We kept speeding up near the end, so although we were both tired from running the day before (and I had a headache), I think that's a good sign that we'll be able to really pick it up next week for our speed work.

6 Miles at Buffalo Creek

Lauren and I were joined by Richard Coulombe for our run today. I got it in our heads that Lauren would be ready to start training at an 8:30/mi as I really think I could do it after maintaining at least 80% of my current endurance level since the marathon.

We started at around 7:30 at Cain Middle School with our route taking us through Buffalo Creek. 3 miles out and back with stops every 2 miles wasthe plan. I think a combination of one last day filled with a moderate amount of junk and the heat/humidity did us in. I'm looking forward to the end of summer. Final breakdown below.

Time: 7:30-8:30 AM
Course: Concrete on rolling hills, Bufallo Creek
Weather: 78°, full sun w/ 8mph wind
Totals: 6 miles @ 9:13 Average Pace

Mile 1: 8:20 @ 8:21
Mile 2: 16:50 @ 8:30
Mile 3: 25:44 @ 8:54
Mile 4: 35:51 @ 10:07
Mile 5: 45:19 @ 9:28
Mile 6: 55:25 @ 10:06

White Rock! Yeah!

I have successfully convinced David to run the White Rock Marathon with me this year. That's right, the whole one. And I managed to convince him within months of running his first 26.2, a feat I wasn't sure I was capable of. But I would really like to run another 26.2, this time with my husband, and I really need the motivation to get back to running long distances after my surgery. So, here we go!

Hopefully, we'll have a whole slew of people participating. David has sent out an invite...let's see what gluttons for punishment sign up. Yay!

Latest and greatest from Grease

Per David's request, we're "switching gears" on this blog, so to speak. Rather than this just being a blog about running and/or other fitness activities we participate in, we're going to use this as a family blog. Since we do a lot of running/biking/rock climbing/etc, there will still be a lot of that, just with other stuff in between.

To kick us off, this post is about Grease. I'm in it. At the Rockwall Community Playhouse. If you haven't heard, I'm playing Patty Simcox, the preppy, pretty, goody-goody, snobby cheerleader who has eyes for Danny. A very fun role, too. Patty may be a supporting character, but she's a little more "over the top" than some of the others, so she's been very fun to play. The cast is FANTASTIC, with ages ranging from 14 to...mid 30's? I'm amazed by their talent, too. It has been an absolute pleasure to work on the show, and when I say work, I mean WORK. It is so worth it, though!

For a sneak peek, here are some photos David took at rehearsal: http://www.flickr.com/photos/allisonkrewe/sets/72157604787596721/

We've had our share of ups and downs, with plenty of drama and angst sprinkled in, but I am positive that by opening night our crowd will be getting a great show.

Day 1... of the rest of my life.

I figured it was time to post again after finishing the marathon. Everything is back up to snuff and if anything I'm faster an ever. I ran a half on Saturday at a faster pace than my fastest race-half (~9:26 pace on this run), and I did it alone. I've never really enjoyed the act of running until now, but damn if I'm not a convert. I feel like the balls when I'm in the latter half of a long run. Booyah world. But, I also feel like I'm not all that I can be. So, a set of goals if you will...

• Goal weight: 175lb - currently at 191lb (9lb heavier than a year ago)
  
• Goal BF %: 12% measured through the feet - currently at ~16.5% (10lb of fat loss)
• Goal Mileage: 20 miles/week - currently at 16 miles/week (25% increase)
  
• Goal 5k: 22 minutes flat at 7:05 pace- current best 25:54 (15% decrease)
  
• Goal Half: 100 minutes flat at 7:38 pace - current best 127 minutes (21% decrease)

This is my starting point. I'll try to update twice a week to see where I manage to get.

Marathoner... made.

WE MADE IT!

Ashley and I finished the 2008 Big D Texas Marathon at 4:52. Not the fastest time in the world, but seeing as we both battled weeks lost due to foot injury, I have to say that we rocked! The run went really well... no upset stomachs, no trips, and no permanent pains or injuries. I don't think we could have asked for more.

Oh, and that wall I hear talk about? It's there... right around 18 miles. First the thoughts of not being able to finish sneak in, then that little pain in your knee starts to worry you. It goes on and on until suddenly you're around mile 21 and you realize you've got less than a mid-week run to go... and that's all it takes.

Round two? Bring it on.

The joy of a straightened knee

I began physical therapy today for my knee and am proud to say that after just one day, I can almost completely straighten and bend! This is a major improvement from Sunday, when my limping caused a pain in my calf so excruciating that I spent most of the day on the couch. The therapist is a jovial, heavier-set Italian guy from New York, and he seems like he'll be fun to work with. He even has a "therapy" dog, Roxy, a sweet golden who hangs out with patients. After 15 minutes on the bike and another 30 minutes of weight-bearing exercises to work my knee, therapist Roger stretched out my knee. The knee stretching consisted of pushing done on my knee when straightened and bending my knee as far as it would go. This was by far the most painful thing I did all morning, but I have to admit, I felt so much better leaving there than I did when I walked in.

Roger also gave me the go-ahead to start dancing this week. He's convinced I'll be fine in no time at all. This, of course, makes me feel ECSTATIC.

I only wish I could join David and Ashley for 26.2 this weekend. Yep, it's THIS WEEKEND. You two had better get to carb loading!