This Week

Well, due to the insane gas issue, I did not go to track practice on Tuesday. Instead, I did the practice on my own at our school's track. 7 times around our track equals one mile, so I was running around in a circle many more times! Travis found us gas Wednesday night and he went out twice to fill up both our cars. So, I went to the run this morning. I passed 8-10 gas stations on my way there that were all closed! However, on my way back from the run, the BP near our house had gas. So, I got in line and filled up. Luckily, I didn't have to wait too long. And, we only had to run 5 miles today! Which was great considering my body is trying to get a cold. I was asleep Wednesday night at 7:45 and slept until my alarm went off and I was asleep last night at 8:30! I think I'll be resting again today!

My First Race!

Saturday was busy! It started with my first race, then moved on to my cousin's wedding in Gastonia, and ended by staying with friends that live in Matthews, NC. I woke up Sat. morning NERVOUS! I was going to run my first race! The Autism Society race began at 9:00. Our coaches told us that if we got there early and did a one mile warm-up and ran the 3 miles, then we wouldn't have to make up the extra mileage we missed that day. (We were supposed to run 8 miles with the team. Yeah for races!) So, I meet Claire (a girl on my team) and we did our warm-up. I was thinking it was crazy to run before a race, but there were other avid runners doing the same. I went back to my car to tape on the part of my number bib that I had taken off. I didn't realize I was supposed to keep it on, but luckily I had brought tape just in case! I called my parents only to find out they were at the race looking for me! They had surprised me! They woke up at 4:45 to make it up here in time! They were my cheerleaders and picture takers! I was thinking I would probably run in the race in 35 minutes since I had been running a 12 minute mile. I finished in 30 min. 8 secs.!!! I was happy about the 30 part, but would have loved to have left off that 8 part! However, this is my best race time ever! Of course, it's also my first race time ever!
After the race, we went back to the house. I did a few things, got lunch, showered, and we took off for Gastonia. My cousin Russ was marrying Jessica. It was an interesting wedding. They are both deaf but have had surgeries and therefore hear a little. There was a large crowd of deaf people and several people in the wedding were deaf. They had 3 interpreters and they did dance to a song. I think they had been practicing some moves!!! After the wedding, I drove 40 more minutes to stay with my friends Heather and Rob and their two boys, Nathan and Jack. We had some catching up to do, some playing to do, and some shopping to do for a baby shower we are giving the beginning of November. Whew! I need to recover before the work week starts!

Proud Uncle

Last weekend (a week ago this yesterday), we went down to Georgia to see Travis' family. We helped celebrate Cameron's 2nd birthday and the birth of Zoe. Zion is now a proud big sister and Travis is a proud uncle again! We enjoyed a weekend of birthdays, babies, and football!

Easy Going

Track Practice wasn't so bad this week either! I'm going to attribute this to my ability to perform well in running situations!!! :)
The temperature dropped 20 degrees yesterday, so running in 66-68 degree weather was great! We did our 1 mile warm-up with drills on each lap. Our coaches were not there and our mentor is recovering from knee surgery; so he was there to cheer us on. So, he asked if someone could lead the group around the warm-up; calling out the drills. I was volunteered by the group and stepped up to my job! After the warm-up, we had to do 6 400's. Meaning, run one lap as hard as you can, then half lap recovery. So, we ran for 1.5 miles and walked for .75 miles. This seemed like nothing...when we were finished of course! Much better run than my attempts running down in GA this past weekend! I love the mountains and the mountain weather!!!

Hot Running!

SO, the "devils went down to GA". Wait, let me start again. Travis and I went down to GA for Cameron's 2nd b-day party and to see the newest Young, Zoe! She was born on Thursday, so Zion is a BIG sister! I will post pictures of them later on. I did get some cute ones!

So, Saturday morning before we headed to meet the new baby and then to Anna and Graeme's to watch football; I had to do my 5 mile run. I drove down to the river, parked my car, and took the paved trail back down that rode. As I was on my way there I was thinking, "Piece of cake! This road is flat!" I got ready, took off down the road, got about a mile (maybe) and started thinking "When is this going to end?!" The air is so much thicker down there; it was hard for me to get a good breath. It was like running at the beach except when you finished there was no ocean or pool to jump into! Sweat was dripping down my arms and off my fingertips! I didn't wear my sunglasses for some stupid reason, so sweat was stinging my left eye. I was thinking how good this was going to be for me though. I was going to lose 15 pounds easily with this run! I was starting to get in my groove around mile 2 when my IPod died! I spent the next .5 being upset about it, but then realizing I was almost to the turn around! It was at 2.5 that I turned around, walked to try and catch my breath then took off jogging again. That seemed like the longest job back. About mile 4, I was able to run through some sprinklers thanks to some swanky house that was watering their yard. That was another plus, the houses were big and beautiful to look at. Either way, I finally finished the run.
Sunday was to be my 3 mile recovery run. I decided to save gas and time and just run around the neighborhood. Well, there are hills in this place and it was thick air again. I did make it and am not certain I did 3 miles. I just jogged for 30 minutes. I'm looking forward to being back in the mountains to run...I'll consider that my recovery!!!

Track Tuesday

Our group was quite small last night. Maybe it was the dark clouds looming around or the thunder we kept hearing! I think we all finished just in time. Lucky for me, our coaches just ran this crazy relay that took them through the mountains of VA and into the mountains of NC, and then lots of people are running the Asheville half-marathon this weekend; so track practice was easier.
Our coaches led us around the track for our warm-up, but they never started the drills (high knees, butt kicks, etc.) and we certainly didn't remind them! Afterwards, we ran 4 800's; which is 2 laps around fast, one lap walk. Just like last week, I wanted to get it done; so I ran 2 laps hard and walked half a lap. It seemed much easier this week. Could have been the fact we only did 4 instead of 6 like last week. When I finished the 4 times, for a split second I thought about doing more because I was starting to get in a groove. THEN, I quickly came back to my senses! My mind and muscles must have been somewhere else when that thought crossed my mind!
Either way, another track practice down in the books!

Running

I think I need to catch up from track practice this past Tuesday. We were to run 2 laps hard, walk 1 lap. Repeat this 6 times for a total of 4 1/2 miles; not including the 1 mile warm-up. I did this the first 2 times, then realized this crazy fast running group was on their way to the track. They are usually arriving as we are finishing up (our cool down); however, since we are running farther they are on the track at the end of our running. So, since they are intimidating and probably lap me about 3 times; I decided to run 2 laps hard and walk half a lap. Therefore, I was the first one finished because the really fast runners of the group had to do more times around. I had to reassure everyone that I really did do the right laps! After practice, we had our first team dinner. We were hoping Jake was coming with his family; but no such luck. However, after the dinner one of the coaches handed out goodies for our fund raising. I have raised enough to receive a Team In Training (TNT) mousepad and a TNT hat. (You can see it in the picture which was taken after my run on Saturday.)

Saturday we ran 7 miles!!! Hills and all! Actually, we ran 7.23 miles. I found this out after I found out we really ran 6 miles last Saturday instead of the 5 we thought! No wonder it felt so long! I did do some walking on some of the hills and stopped at the water station. But, I finished 7 miles!!!

Maggie's Shower

This month, my friend Maggie will be having her second baby boy! So, a few of us had dinner together at La Paz in Asheville to celebrate; thanks to Crystal who got it all together. We "showered" her with a few gifts after dinner...mainly diapers to get her ready! Girls Night Out was lots of fun!