Looking for that positive challenge

My gf Joy, with the husband that still has a new car smell, sent me a link to a blog that I can totally relate to, though I really wish I couldn't especially with the Key West 100 mile relay in three weeks. But it's nice to know that I'm not the only one in this boat. Thanks Joy!

http://willtrainforcreamcheeseicing.blogspot.com/2010/04/head-games.html Don't you love the link name? Maybe that's my problem, maybe if I ran for cake icing I could go forever...

When I arrived in East TN 1.5 months ago running the woods was a challenge, but a positive challenge. Though the last couple weeks my head has been playing games with me, making my runs a struggle at times. I'm hoping this doesn't have to last. I'm hoping this is just a micro-phase. So.... If you have any advice, suggestions, reading material, Anything.... I would gladly love to hear.

Relay anyone?

One of my co-workers, Jeff, who's a really nice guy, intelligent, easy going and a super fast runner asked me to be part of the women's relay team in the Key West 100 mile relay in mid-May.

When he asked me to be one of six women on the relay team, I went back in forth in my head, thinking "wow so cool, what a great way to meet others and vacation in Key West at the same time"... Though also thinking "what if the other runners aren't as friendly as Jeff and what if I'm SO much slower and let them down". Well, after a mini debate I said YES and met the other team mates this morning at a 5K in Knoxville. (drum roll please) And they were all really nice and genuine, a real pleasure to meet. I feel much more at ease now and eager to train; yes I need to get my act in gear with less than a month till the race.

Ok the relay race, there's six runners on a team, I'm traveling with one men's team and one women's team. The race is 100 miles, therefore each runner does 6 x 5K (approx.) with 2 hours of rest time in between each run. The race should be pretty flat with a big a$$ bridge every once in a while. No doubt it will be hot and sunny, but there should also be a sweet ocean wind.

So, if the weather would cooperate I could get back out there to run, again....

Absolutely Beautiful Week-End In Memphis

This past week-end was absolutely wonderful, for so many reasons.

After three weeks apart I was finally reunited with my long lost husband. And depending on which one of us you ask, we’ve either been married for 7 or 8 years (7 years is correct though) and it is still wonderful to be with him. He’s my best friend and husband all rolled up in one. We've started a new tradition since I’ve been working out east (yes clean fun), I’ve been home three times and each time he’s picked me up at the airport then we go out for a large/big beer and chips & salsa. It’s actually a lot of fun and a great way to catch up and unwind before heading home.

Then of course the week-end was filled with Joy and Jeremy and their wonderful wedding. I don’t have any pics to show you, but I know for sure that both Laura @ http://gilmourgirlgoesmemphis.blogspot.com/ and Damie @ http://damieroberts.blogspot.com/ and more than likely Joy will too….. http://joyjohnson.blogspot.com/. You’ll have to check them out. The wedding was absolutely beautiful, Joy wore an off white long beautiful strapless gown and carried a bouquet of bright wide opened yellow tulips; she looked stunning and could have modeled that gown in a magazine. The bride’s maid’s dresses were periwinkle and we carried bouquets of mixed yellow and green. While the guys wore dark grey pinstriped suits with periwinkle ties with a touch of yellow floral. It just all went so beautifully together. The wedding was held outside in a courtyard with a waterfall and full bloomed pink and white azaleas, a picture perfect setting.

I felt totally honored to be in their wedding, proud as a peacock :) . Joy is a wonderful person and she married a great guy. It makes my heart smile just knowing that they will be so happy together for a very long time...

Mother Nature

Mother Nature has done a fabulous job in the woods..... the lilac and honey suckle florals are wonderful. The beautiful natural smells are gorgeous.

By the way...

Three days till I'm hugging my hubby! If you see him ask him if he has his hug on...

Five days till Joy and Jeremy's beautiful wedding!

No riding?

I've been here for +4 weeks, but have yet to ride my bike. The weather's been great, the roads are sweet, I've read the inviting posts regarding rides, here all the stories of how perfect the it's been for riding, and have seen all the colorful outfits out on the road.......

Gayle was kind enough to lend me her bike case and FedEx was kind enough to ship my bike here, but the bike packers let me down =:-O (Jerry and me).

As you may know, you have to remove both wheels and the handle bars from the frame in order to fit the bike in the shipping container. Done. But where did 3 of the 4 bolts for the stem go? Not in the bike case. No where to be found. And might I add, not an easy pick-up at the local hardware store or bike shop.

Well, after hunting for a few weeks I found bolts at http://www.competitivecyclist.com/, same place I purchased the bike.

Moral of the story, don't enjoy big beers with good friends and then pack the bike.

Turkey hunt

Remember those two plump wild turkeys that flew by my office window? Well, they are clearly not everyone's friend.

I've been enjoying a long week end of beautiful weather by running the fire roads. Though, there's been a glitch. I have to wait till noon to run the trails, because the roads are closed to turkey hunting. Yep, they are hunting my friends. And yes, I checked all three entry ways to the various trails, all of them closed. I've never seen a turkey on my runs, deer yes, but no turkey. I guess they knew...

I was tempted, the first morning I saw the closed signs at the fire road entry, to disregard the ranger's signs and run and actually started up the trail. Then after a couple of minutes of thinking, realizing that you would hunt a wild turkey with guns.... And that I am a visitor to these trails and East Tn. and that I should follow the rules, because that's what responsible people do (did I mention that I am also in the process of being screened for a security clearance) I turned back and ran the neighborhood streets.

Running the streets I noticed the homes on top of the hills were beautiful, big brick homes with a wonderful view of the Smokie mountains. Their manicured lawns were nice, but the view took top seed. You could mountains forever to the east, not quite like Utah or Banff, yet very impressive.

One question though, does it even out, exercise-wise, if you run steady up a hill, a 10 min climb, only to run back down it? Would you burn the same calories as if it was a flat road? You know, it is harder on your body to run down a hill.

Anyway, so here I am, waiting till noon so I can go run the fire roads while keeping my fingers crossed for my little turkey friends.