:: Florida Running ::

melboure beach. gorgeous.

Do I have to go back to  Atlanta and back to reality??  Please say no!  I have spent the past few days in sunny Florida for work and man, it was hard work.  (Actually, it kinda was at times).  When I landed in Florida on Sunday I was WAY overdressed in my cardigan and scarf combo.  Fashionable in Atlanta... hot in Florida.  I got my rental car, checked into the hotel, and made my normal, "I am here" calls and caught up with Kyle.  With the beach just steps from my hotel room (and knowing this) I was kicking myself for not packing my bathing suit.  I thought about going to buy one, but instead I opted for a run along the surf.  The weather was gorgeous, there was a breeze and you cannot beat scenery and sounds like the beach.  So, I laced up and hit the beach.  And let me tell you, it is much harder to run on sand than pavement and dodging the waves and keeping your balance on the slight stance, I worked muscles that I have not worked in a while.  But it was such a nice run.  My legs were still tired from the 3.1 the day before and all the Pure Barre so I cut it short at just 1.61 miles and then I let myself just stand in the water (and again kicked myself for no bathing suit ... the cold water would have been marvelous for my aching muscles).  For a quick moment, I lost my shoes and thought they had been washed away - but no.  but seriously, how pretty is that beach!! can i move here?!

daytona beach - from my balcony!

I spent Monday night in Daytona Beach - kinda a sketchy gross little touristy town, but whatever.  when i checked in, I noticed the fitness center and knew that I needed to/had to get in some miles.  But when I got into my {way too big for 1 person} room, I did notice outside my window a nice little brick boardwalk and I told myself that I had to had to had to run it.  I only got in a little under 2 miles, but the sun started setting pretty fast and I didn't want to be out on a boardwalk with sketchy people alone night so I headed back to the hotel.  It was a good little run and it made me wish Atlanta was pancake flat - my legs and body felt good for the most part {I am trying to REALLY listen to my body more} - i ran some stairs which HELLO worked my thighs and tired me out faster than it should have, but honestly, I just really enjoyed the cool breezy beach air.  I mean, I really could get used to living by the beach and running with the breeze off the water and smelling the ocean water air.  Something about it is just peaceful and makes for a good mind clearing run -- which was much needed after the day I had.

I did not get a run in today, since I was way too exhausted from the past two days and I may have stayed up way past my bedtime watching the National Championship {ROLL TIDE} and plus when I got back to Melbourne, it was dark.  But all in all, I got in 2 really good short runs while in Florida and I am happy with it.

I will leave you with this gorgeous sunrise from this morning in Daytona ....

three things thursday.

This week has flown by. And I have been SO busy at work that it is not even remotely funny. My work out at lunch deal is not working... I have packed my work out clothes but the meetings that I have been in over our new software system have made it unable to work out. umph.

1. My friend Afton wants me to teach her how to run and wants me to give her tips and secrets and pointers but I feel like such a sham. I feel like I am the farthest thing from a runner and with all the advice she asks I give her my suggestions, but then I remind myself that I am no pro and barely even a runner this year. Other than telling her to get professionally fitted for shoes and that she does not need to go out and buy a Garmin yet and that she really shouldn't increase her miles by too much each week (10% is what I told her) and that cotton sucks I really have nothing else to tell her. I feel like I am right there with her, trying to learn to run again. Oi. What advice do you give new runners? What hints do you recommend I give her?

2. I am REALLY excited to travel for work. Partially because I enjoy training people, but I am really looking forward to it because I get to run in new places and new cities. I am really excited to run by the arch in St. Louis and then at Salem Lake in Winston-Salem and on the beach in Florida. I even picked one of my hotels because there was a "jog path" 3 miles away. And since I am going to be alone for 2 nights I am going to need things to do so why not run? Right?! :)

3. I still cannot stop thinking about that Garmin 610 - REI has them in stock by my house but I don't want to buy it. I am thinking I am going to settle for a *cheaper* heart rate monitor that I can use for pure barre, blast, spin, and whatever else. I will own that 610 at some point but just not now. Right now I cannot see a REAL purpose for it and if I am going to spend that much money I need a purpose.

Work Travel

Total dork alert.  I get to travel for work starting soon.  And by soon I mean October, which really isn't soon... but soon enough.  My company is switching software programs/applicant tracking systems and in addition to training out of our home office we're sending people out to be on site with a branch starts their week off with a whole new software.  It is going to be hell.  Happy Monday you have no idea what you're doing.

But... my cities are... Winston-Salem NC, St. Louis MO, Melbourne FL, and Charlotte NC.

I am excited to travel for work and run in new locations and explore new cities... but I am really excited about running in random spots.  :o)  Like I can't wait to run by the Arch in St. Louis (or under it if I can...) and run on the beach in Melbourne and near the beach and take lots of pictures and make fun little running recap blogs.  We are going to be in our designated city from Sunday - Tuesday so I should get in some running. 

See, I told you, I am a dork.