|| 4 Things Friday || What We’ve Been Up To!

I know it is supposed to be 5 things Friday, but I wanted to catch people up on what we have been up to and well, there just was not 5 things so you’re getting 4 things friday. We have been pretty busy lately, life has been keeping us on our toes and when I am lucky, in bed by like 9:30……but that does not happen nearly enough. I thought it may be easier to just break down what we have been up to in this format versus a zillion different blog posts – though I know my aunt would love a zillion different blog posts. Sorry!

|| ONE ||
We celebrated our 3 year anniversary back in March and I had no idea what I wanted to get Kyle for his anniversary gift. I didn’t want to get him the normal clothes, video game, books, whatever that I normally did, so I thought I would get him Darius Rucker concert tickets since Kyle always says he misses our date days. WELL…our super babysitters {also known as the grandparents} were traveling so I then had to get creative. Well. I ended up getting us tickets to Tree Top Quest in Buford and let me tell you, it was A LOT of fun. Terrifying at times [there may have been one part where I told kyle, “I am frozen, like cannot move” and I also told kyle multiple times, “we have a baby at home, we cannot die”], but the ziplines were fun and the challenges were challenging at times {for example moving logs} but we had a great time. There was one “course” that was literally just zipline after zipline and that was refreshing after Course #4 where I literally thought I may have a heart attack {it did have one really long and fun zipline though}. We got to just spend time together and have fun together – something that we rarely get to do.  Totally recommended for anyone who wants an out of the box  day in Atlanta and I was shocked we had something like this that wasn’t in the mountains of Georgia.

|| TWO ||
Little Sassy had her first {and last} Saturday Gymboree “session” or play date – whatever you want to call it.  The poor girl was a trooper, she was teething {and got 3 teeth at once} and she had a double ear infection {that we didn’t know about} so she was a little out of it and not so sure what was going on. Honestly, I couldn’t quite figure out what was going on. But… I think this place would be a great idea for a future birthday party or maybe when she is crawling or running or just moving around better – but everything there she has at daycare.  We just do not see the added value since she gets all the same things Monday – Friday …and right now she can’t even crawl to move around on the various “activities” so truthfully, it was kind of a waste – which was a bummer because I had such high hopes and expectations and thought it would be a great addition to what she gets at daycare to keep her learning and busy and it just was not that.  BUT.. she did LOVE their waffle balls and she may have had 3 at one time. I do still want to do Mommy and Me tumbling classes when she is like 2 … so hopefully we have more success then. 

|| THREE ||
We had a little mini vacation in Orange Beach, Alabama for my best friend’s wedding #takenbyclaytonn and we had so much fun.  The grandparents had a long, fun filled weekend with the little one.  We disappeared Thursday morning to meet up with an old college friend and his wife and then stay with his family in Gulf Shores. On Friday we ventured over to Orange Beach and after the Bridesmaid Brunch laid out by the pool, floated the lazy river, drank some beers, and got a little sunburned {sorry dermatologist, I just missed a few spots}. We just had fun catching up and doing nothing and for reals, I need a lazy river in my life full time OR I need a full time job that is just floating a lazy river. It was just relaxing to get away and make it a point FOR ONCE to be on PTO and actually be on PTO.  We had the rehearsal on Friday night, the dinner, and then we all {Kyle, my friend from college, his wife, and me} headed to the FloraBama – which I had never been to before and probably was not missing anything.  But, I can now say I have been there & evidently, I was supposed to drink a Bushwacker or something like that. Whoops. 

Saturday was the wedding day. Kyle and my friends got to spend all day by the pool – with one strict instruction – do not drink too much – while I was with the bride getting her ready and myself ready. It was a fun wedding, a gorgeous wedding, and I could not be happier for Greg and Heather.  T hey are 2 of the nicest people in the world and I wish  them just a zillion years of happiness, good times, great memories, and lots of beautiful babies. And I was honored to be part of their day and to help H-Bomb get ready and to love on her and Greg!  And, I may still be using the sunglasses because well, they were awesome and such a fun touch and I could use some more sweet potato fries. I loved having a reason to escape reality and celebrate 2 amazing people and their families.  We cannot wait to go back and bring McKenna with us because we think she will have the best time on the slides and the lazy river.   CONGRATS TO HEALTHER & GREG!!

|| FOUR ||
We ran our annual 5k together {The Brookhaven Bolt} and I pushed McKenna in the stroller. Kyle ran ahead of us like he normally does and then he came back to get a few more miles and ran to the end with me. Kyle and I were not happy with our 5K times, but Kyle did forget his water bottle with me so he had to start farther back than he likes to so he did lose time weaving in and out of walkers and strollers and slow people. My time, truthfully, wasn’t bad – it was faster than the last 5K we ran where I pushed McKenna by a few seconds, I just thought it would have been faster. Granted, the first half mile or mile I couldn’t find my groove – when I did, I was golden – and this race is pretty hilly so it was harder. but still. I thought it would be faster.  As always, this was a great race. The turn out seems to get bigger and bigger each year, but it is always very well executed and it is a challenging course which is always a plus.  It does benefit an elementary school so I hope McKenna’s school and PTA puts on a similar event. I would LOVE for her to be part of some kiddie run club that preps for a community race like this.

…I think that is a pretty detailed life update… we have some house improvements on the list for this summer that I am looking forward to. and should provide some blog content – maybe. But all in all life is good. we are looking forward to the summer, even though we have no plans.

Wear Sunscreen, Yo.

LIFE.
IT IS JUST THAT. LIFE.

So. Where to begin. Kyle’s sister and boyfriend came into town last weekend. It was fun. Low key and fun. I was glad that McKenna got to meet her Auntie Katie and “Uncle” Joel. And people. SHE WAS SO GOOD. This little baby of ours. Pure Joy.

McKenna is thriving in daycare. She is reaching for toys. and is like a few weeks away from sitting up on her own. and she is just so big now. I adore her and cannot wait to snuggle with her all weekend!

We have our 1st family 5k tomorrow and I am excited to bundle M up and get back to running and racing. I LOVE this 5k and I hope McKenna wins her age group. =D

And McKenna goes to see Santa on November 1. Which I am so excited about. 1st Santa at Phipps experience. We are so excited to start our traditions.  And. Santa at Phipps is one of those traditions.

AND.
IF I CAN BUG YOU?
CAN I REQUEST SOME PRAYERS?
PLEASE?

Last Friday I went to the dermatologist at the urging of Kyle and I am grateful he asked me to go. He thought some moles were odd. Nope. They were fine. But there were others that were odd. 3 biopsies later, I found out 1 was abnormal, but they think they removed it all {which I hope they did because hi, yeah, it still hurts 1 week later} and 2 came back not good. Melanoma not good. 1 worse than the other.

When you Google melanoma it pretty much tells you that is it dangerous and you will die. And you don’t even have to open a web site to see that – it is just there. BOOM. Thanks Goog for the high five of confidence. ‘Preciate It.  Then you tell people you have melanoma and they act like it ain’t no thing – that it can be removed and  you will be fine.  And then Kyle asks, “B, do you have Cancer” and I have NO IDEA how to answer that question because I don’t know. I guess? Maybe? Yes, but it isn’t a big deal? And then I feel like Cancer & “not a big deal” don’t belong in the same sentence. I don’t know what I have or anything about it. I didn’t think to ask questions. Honestly, I didn’t even know what she was saying until I googled the word “melanoma”. I don’t even know what questions to ask on Tuesday.

I just got a phone call telling me to go get an eye exam to make sure there is nothing wrong with my eyes {begin panic – is that why my vision has been blurry and wonky?!} since it can spread to the eyes. And to get a physical to make sure nothing has spread any where else. And  that the skin cancer surgeon will call me to get me in ASAP for surgery/removal.  And that I have to go to the dermatologist every 3 months for 1 year and then every 6 months for 5 years.  I mean – how can  you not worry when those are your marching orders?!  And then I now panic about any knife to skin since I had freaking MRSA after my C-Section. Y’all. I can’t.

So, Monday I have my eye appointment.  then Tuesday I have my mole removal surgery and then my physical is the following Monday. And I am being immature and petty and worrying about the wrong things, Like I should be worrying about the outcomes and if it spread, but my shallow, vain concerns surrounds me potentially not being able to work out post surgery. My documents say, “no working out for 2 months” because of where the mole is … and that just makes me RAWR.  I am loving my Pure Barre routine and my spin studio just opened in Alpharetta. I am finally getting OK with how I look post pregnancy and I can’t {correction, don’t want to} take 2 months off.

But. Deep Breath. Any prayers you want to lift up or good thoughts you want to give me or whatever you do, I won’t turn them away. And. I will keep you posted on how everything goes.

Until then. Have a rocking weekenddddddd! =D

Oh and Roll Tide, Beat Tennessee!

Brookhaven Bolt 5K - 2014

Yesterday was a big day in the Shanahan house!  Kyle and McKenna participated in their first ever 5k.  Kyle ran his and let me tell you, I am SO SO SO proud of my budding little runner man. McKenna (and momma) walked their 5K and Kyle is SO SO SO proud of me for finishing.  33 weeks pregnant and participating in a 5k – I feel like that is impressive and that this picture should go in little M’s baby book since we have to track things before her birth! ….and I can tell her that she was a running baby before she was even born!

We got up early, typical race morning, and my not so morning person husband was actually pleasant to be around.  I was hoping my Lululemon tank was still long enough to cover my ever growing belly and I wouldn’t have to redneck it up with my stomach partly showing – and thankfully it did.  {Seriously pregnant ladies – well worth the high price, but the Lululemon Cool Racer Back tanks have been a pregnant girls workout life saver since the tanks are so so so long} I did get a bit nervous when my  running shoes were too small due to feet swelling, but since the weather was so cool and not May like, the swelling went down pretty much immediately when we got outside.  We grabbed some breakfast and then trekked from the ‘burbs into Brookhaven for the race and since this was my 3rd time participating I knew the drill which made the morning a lot easier. We ran into my brother and his friend before the race and chatted with them then we all split up at the start.  my brother and his friend went closer to the start, so did Kyle, and I buddied off with my friend Evin who was pushing her oh too adorable son in the stroller.  I was (and still am) so grateful I had Evin to chat with because it made the walk so by so much faster and we were just ticking off miles.  Plus, I think the cooler temps were a big help and helped keep the swelling down since I never really got hot or broke a sweat.

Kyle ended up finishing the race in about 31 minutes and then he turned around and came back to find Evin and me and walked with us a little bit.  Evin’s husband did the same thing – so by the time Evin and I got to the finish line we had her husband and Kyle with us.  They bounced off the course before the finish line to not mess up their chip times and then we all hung out for a bit at the finisher party. I finished in 54 minutes, which is pretty impressive since we (1) walked and (2) I am 33 weeks pregnant!  I thought it would take me well over 1 hour.  ….but the competitor in me and past runner had to beat myself up a little bit for being so low in the age group rankings + overall rankings and kyle keeps reminding me that I  (1) walked, (2) am pregnant, and (3) beat over 200 people who are not pregnant and participated.  Look at him, always being so encouraging. 

Kyle and I bailed out pretty quickly, after not feeling bad for 3.1 miles, my hips and back started hurting and I was having a little bit off discomfort so we headed to brunch {where I had the most depressing hot chocolate} and then back to the house for me to whip out the heating pad for my back and take a nap.

But it was another good run for the Brookhaven Bolt.  And Kyle asked if we could do it every year and he asked when our next 5k will be.  So, I think we have another one tentatively on the books for October and we will push McKenna in the jogging stroller – bundle her up and go for a little jog.  I think I have a little running man for a husband now and that make me excited! ….he was even saying that he thinks he could totally go a 10K.  I told him to pump the brakes and to let me catch back up in the running world before he goes off the deep end.  Do I have a future marathoner?!

Weekend Round Up(s)

The last two weekends have been exhausting.  Fun.  But exhausting.  Needless to say, I am very happy to have my house and my husband back and all to myself.  I normally do not mind entertaining and having people in town.  And I didn’t mind it this time either – but when you’re hauling a bowling ball around you just get tired more often and don’t really have the opportunity to just relax and catch up on your DVR.  … but the long month has just begun …

2 weeks ago we had Kyle’s mom and step dad in town from Thursday – Tuesday and if I thought it was hard to entertain before, add work + being pregnant to the mix and it makes it a tad harder.  Truthfully, we did not do a lot.  We went to Stone Mountain on Saturday to sight see, but that is about it.  Kyle and I spent the whole time  talking about how we cannot wait for McKenna to get old enough for us to take her there to ride the Duck boat and play in the bouncy barn and do all those other fun events.  But we rode the tram to the top of the mountain {kyle worried about me falling on the uneven terrain the whole time} and then just walked around the park.  Surprisingly, I lasted a long time before getting the sore feet.  Victory.

This past weekend I had my bestie Heather in town from Tuscaloosa and that weekend was too fun.  I love that our friendship is so good that we can just sit on the couch and catch up and we don’t consider it boring. I got to meet her boyfriend, who I really liked and Heather showered McKenna with so many pieces of clothing it is insane and it is all just too cute.  {Between Heather and my aunt, McKenna has a better closet than I do!!}. 

Saturday we went to the Braves game and that was a long day. We got to the game at 3:30 PM for a tailgate and then left around 10:30/11:00 PM.  There was a rain delay for the game due to the sudden downpour and since I think I have a pinched nerve in my back {per. Dr. Google} and the most comfortable position for me is standing up – my feet were swollen and I was cranky by the time we left.  However, when the rain finally did stop I was never so grateful to get in the stadium and sit my butt down even if my back did hurt from time to time!  The Braves ended up winning {Go Bravos} and Kyle and I talked about how we cannot wait to take McKenna to a game and buy her a foam tomahawk so she can chop and it was overall just a good time.  I know Heather, her boyfriend, and Kyle had a fun time with my friends and some people we tailgated with last summer.  And that is what we were looking for – a fun, good time. And who doesn’t have a good time when they have a built in designated driver! 

Sunday I did not get out of bed {true story} because my feet were so swollen.  I kept them elevated, I took 2 naps, read a bunch of my book, watched some TV, and then passed out at 10:00 PM.  Actually – Kyle and I did go to dinner for Mother’s Day and he got me a shoe organizer {for my nesting} and I organized my shoes – but other than that I did not get out of bed.

This upcoming weekend we have the 5k, which at this point I am 100% playing by ear and may just hang out at the finish line and cheer my brother and husband on.  Game Time Decision. And then I have my friend’s birthday dinner and we are trying to plan a puppy play date with the neighbor dog for Sunday. 

…in baby news….

McKenna is currently 32 weeks old – meaning we have 8 more weeks to go.  However; she is measuring 34 weeks – 2 cm larger than her gestational age … tomorrow I have an appointment and if she is still big they will order a sizing ultrasound to determine why she is so big.  My vote: my husband and I are tall people; therefore, we will have a tall child. But, the doctors are not worried so I am not.  We are going to buy the baby monitor this weekend probably and we need to get our car seat installed.  We ordered the last item of décor for her nursery and I cannot wait the 6-8 weeks for it to come in.  It is amazing and the care that the Etsy seller put into perfecting what we want was amazing!! The car seat and extra base are in our possession, we just now need to get it installed in our car. 

All in all, life is good. cannot complain. we did redo our laundry room so expect a post about that soon.  but life is good!

May. You’re Packed.

this month is going to be NUTS. and I mean NUTS. we have something on the books pretty much every weekend this month. There is one weekend that is 100% free and unscheduled, but I know we will make it busy.   Is it too early to be grateful that it is a 5 weekend month – even though that really will not make a difference.

WEEKEND NUMBER ONE:
Kyle’s Mom and Step Dad are coming to Georgia to visit.  We will have them in town all weekend (+ a few work week days), not sure what all is on the schedule or what we are going to do.  at that point, I will be 31 weeks pregnant – so who knows how I will be feeling, but I am hoping for good! I have been feeling good 90% of the time so far but I am also well aware that my luck can turn whenever.  But we will have to get the grocery shopping and laundry in the mix somehow which is always a challenge when you have people in town.  But. it will be good  to see them and I know kyle will enjoy having them in town and catching up.

WEEKEND NUMBER TWO:
This weekend is going to be oh so fun.  Not that having Kyle’s family in town won’t be fun.  But by bestie Heather is coming in town and we are going to the Braves game with a group of people & we get to meet her mysterious boyfriend.  And… this is her 1st Braves game so of course we have to make a big deal of it.  …and they have a built in DD!  Plus – it will just be fun to hang out and catch up with her.  I adore her and do not see her enough!! 

WEEKEND NUMBER THREE:
We have Kyle’s 1st 5K on the schedule and I am planning on walking it with a good girlfriend of mine.  Granted – it is in the morning and we will have a full afternoon I am pretty sure Kyle and I will need a nap afterwards.  That is after we probably grab brunch.  from there – we need to get the car seat installed in our car (WHAT?!) in case anything happens and we need the car seat before July.  Then that night is my friend Afton’s birthday bash – dinner, drinks, and dancing.  And seeing how I will be 33 week pregnant at that point and exhausted from the 5K, I think I will be excusing myself after dinner.  And this will be the 1st weekend with a free Sunday, so I predict I will be working around the house and Kyle will do yard work on Sunday.

WEEKEND NUMBER FOUR:
We have our first baby class – the baby essentials one that teaches you well, all the baby essentials.  Like bathing, feeding, soothing, diapering, dressing, all that jazz.  it is only a 3 or 4 hour class on Saturday, but I think it starts pretty early.  Sunday is unscheduled so far – which is good.  But it will be used for errands and chores around the house and yard work and baby stuff more than likely.  This is a shorter class so we will have lots more time on Saturday to do other things. 

WEEKEND NUMBER FIVE: 
Saturday is an all day event at Northside Hospital.  We have our birthing  class from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.  So Saturday is shot.  The poor pups will have to be locked up all day long – and by locked up I mean have free reign of the upstairs.  Sunday is a free, unscheduled day but well. I think you know how it may be spent.  Yard work. Errands. Baby Stuff.  Plus this is a holiday weekend and we wanted to go see if we can get  a furniture deal to work on turning Kyle’s man cave into our family play room. 

our May is pretty action packed and revolves a lot around the baby.  which is to be expected as we are in the home stretch {which is crazy to me because I feel like we were just announcing the news}.  But. I think we will have time to fit some other things in.  I still want to do the laundry room make over, but I predict that being tabled till June {if done at all} because May is full and I cannot see us fitting in IKEA unless we go on a Sunday.  But… with all this on the schedule, May will just FLY by.

{thirty before thirty}

Earlier this month/late last month at work my friend was telling me about how one of her friends decided to make a list of all the things she wanted to do before she turned 30 {I feel like this is a stolen idea but I am okay with that}.  My friend then thought it was a good idea and decided to do it. And as I sat in traffic on the way home that night I too thought it was a good idea. And…I thought it would be a fun thing to do and then blog about since we all know my life is rather boring.

 

Well. It took me awhile to come up with 30 things I want to do before I turn 30. But ... here is my list.

{my list}

1. Find a charity I am passionate about and donate money each month. It doesn’t have to be a lot of money – just some money. {completed 10.4.12}
2. Rent a cabin for the weekend with Kyle and just get away
3. Accomplish my running goals:
   -Run a half marathon in under 2 hours.
   -Run a marathon under 5 hours.
   -Run a 10k in under 1 hour.
   -Run a 5k in under 30 minutes.
4. Go on a hot air balloon ride!
5. Learn how to fold a fitted sheet!
6. Pick out my most favorite wedding picture and get it printed on canvas. Hang it on the wall.
7. Go to an Alabama Football game in Bryant Denny!  I have not been since graduating college in ‘06! {completed 10.5.13}
8. Paint Pottery.
9. Go horseback riding.
10. Shoot a gun. At a shooting range or whatever they’re called. {completed 10.21.12}
11. Visit a vineyard!  {completed 6.23.13}
12. Go to a brewery.
13. Take a random spontaneous vacation or weekend trip (with Kyle or with the girls).
14. Go to Savannah for St. Patrick's Day!
15. Go on a ghost tour.
16. Take a Zumba class. {completed 3.23.13}
17. Buy a house.  {completed 12.18.12}
18. Climb a rock wall.
19. Go to a braves game {completed 9.1.13}
20. Do a city scavenger hunt.
21. Get my fortune read.
22. Run another half marathon for charity.
23. Take Kyle J to Sanibel Island. {completed 9.13}
24. Go on one fabulous vacation – honeymoon does not count.
25. Spend a weekend in Charleston!
26. See Alabama play in a bowl game – in person.
27. Weigh less than my drivers license says.
28. Learn how to change a tire.
29. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.
30. Spend an afternoon lounging at a swanky hotel pool.

 

And that my friends – is my “to do” list for the next year and a half or so. Wish me luck & if you’re in Atlanta and want to do any of these things with me ... comment away and we will party plan!

three things thursday

1. have you read about how they're thinking about making the new york marathon a 2 day race.  If not... you can get all the details HERE.  I have not run the NYCM but it is on my bucket list and when the lottery opened up for this year I toyed with the idea of trying to enter it {and man am I glad I did not}.  ....but I (may be alone in this thinking) but there is something about this marathon and the excitement and suspense of knowing if you did or did not get in. And I understand that the demand to run this race has and is growing, but I don't think that should change the process of getting in.   But I am not a fan of how they're getting rid of the guaranteed entry... guess I will have to get lucky. ;)

2.  I am still really shocked at how EASY the 5k I ran this weekend was.  Running 2 miles in my 'hood is hard - I blame the hills, but obviously the hills have helped a lot.  Now I am looking for a 5k for November and a 10k for December.  I actually have the Run Georgia web site pulled up and am trying to decide what to run. I am *hoping* to be amping up the miles soon.  I registered for The Mercedes Half Marathon for next February in Birmingham and I WILL RUN THIS RACE.  No more DNS.  

3.  I am so excited for everyone running Savannah this weekend but I am also so bummed that I am not running it.  There is always next year...  I kinda regret cancelling my hotel room and kept thinking I should just go to spectate... but that is a lot of money to just spectate.  But I hope everyone has a lot of fun and has a great race this weekend!!

big pumpkin 5k :: race photos

ohhh pictures are up and ready!  ….one is good the other I look like death.  And yes, yes I am wearing gloves.  It was COLD!

Big Pumpkin 5k :: Race Review

I ran this race 2 years ago in the cold and rain.  Honestly, it was pretty miserable but it taught me a life running lesson: if rain is predicted pack a change of clothes.  But this year I got a tiny bit luckier.  Clear skies make for a great race but holy moly was it cold.  But still great weather once you got moving.

Morning: as usual, I had all my race gear laid out so all I had to do was quickly change, brush my teeth, throw my hair in a pony tail, take out the dogs and feed them and go. (okay, actually, that sounds like a lot.)  BUT  I had shorts and a tee planned so I got to dig for capris and then walked into my closet a few times wondering if I should grab a running jacket and decided no (which may have been a bad idea or may not have, I am still unsure)  ...I was somehow not running late as I got on the road.  Which was good, because I live WAY farther away now than I did a few years back.

Pre-Race: I remembered from 2 years back to get their early because parking can be a pain, which was not the case this year.  I grabbed a parking spot quickly and then headed to get my race number, which a few years back was a cluster but this year was flawless (despite the woman in front of me that wanted turn by turn directions of the course)  Once I got my race number I headed back to my car to stay warm and then 10 minutes before the race started I got out to settle in and people watch.  And oh there were some characters and way too many Auburn fans.

The Race:  Since I am slow and out of shape I of course lined up near the back semi in the middle, which obviously was not needed.  I remembered that the race had some "great" hills (as the website describes them) so I wanted to start off slow and not burn any and all energy that I had. The start was kinda a cluster since we had to run through his arch that was not big enough for crowds to run through  but once my iPod was on I settled into a slower pace that I felt comfortable with.  I started picking people off, one after the other. We approached our first hill and I thought um that is not bad at all and trucked up it with ease.  Still, picking people off.  As we approached the 1st mile water stop I was still going (say what?!) and took water from a guy my age in a LSU jacket and told him "thank you and Roll Tide" (I just had to!)  What was the best about this race was that it was smaller - still some people who have no idea about racing and race etiquette - but it was good.  The hills were not bad and most were followed by a down hill.  What I am kicking myself for is around mile 2.5 I realized that I wasn't going to PR (thinking my PR was like 31 minutes) so I let myself walk a little more to take my gloves off and have some easy breathing.  SO WRONG.  I totally going have PRed had I not taken that breather.  But oh well.  You win some you lose some. 

Most importantly - I finished strong.  I wasn't winded - I didn't overextend myself at any point during the race.
Overall it was a good race - really well organized - super easy course - the finisher shirt is great - still an ultimate favorite. 
But newbie runners please remember these tips:
1. If you're gonna walk, line up at the back not the front.  Weaving around you isn't a lot of fun.
2. If you're gonna run with your dog, make sure they're leash trained and maybe have run with you in the past.  Nothing is worse than having a dog all over the place).  My dogs  = horrible, they will never run a race with me.
3. If you're looking for your run buddy - don't stop in the middle of the course and look around - pull off to the side to continue your hunt.

Finishing time: 34:13
Pace: 11:02
I was 564 of 970

Can't wait to see race pictures.

just a reminder -- i am always interested in hearing about your races and what you loved and hated - so if you want a guest spotlight on my blog -- email me  (barbara.a.vines@gmail.com) a mini race report about any race you have done and i will share it with my readers.  hey and you may get more blog followers.

Three Things Thursday.

Today is so rainy that I wish I had taken a mental health day and could stay snuggled in bed or on the couch with my two pup pups.  But, no such luck.

1.  I am thinking that once I get married... I am going to merge this blog into this blog (I actually already changed the blog name to "The Shanahan Shenanigans" because I want to make sure it is not gone by the time I am actually a Shanahan) and then merge this one  (which I need to rename as well) into that one as well.  It is kinda hard to keep track of 3 blogs and since the wedding one will turn into a life update one and lets be honest, I am not doing a heck of a lot of running or racing I think these can all be merged together.  HOWEVER... I'd like to somehow keep my past race history tab and my PR area and my race bucket list tab.  So I would need to figure out how to work that all in.  Granted I have 163 days to figure it out.  Any suggestions?!

2.  There is a FREE 5k in Decatur on October 26th that I am doing and excited about.  Because 1. I LOVE Decatur and 2. I love Chocolate.  It starts at the Big Peach in Decatur (114 E. Trinity Place, Decatur 30030) and then runs for 3.1 miles and then get Ghiradelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa and Chocolate Fondue.  No fancy schwag bags or anything - but if I understand right ... The Chocolate Tour is scouting Atlanta as a race location.  But as usual, don't quote me on that.

3.  Still debating Savannah.  No set decision made as of right now.  But I am leaning towards no.  And Kyle also is leaning towards no.  I have never been THIS unprepared for a race ... normally I am pretty unprepared but in shape enough to tough it out.... but this would be too many miles of toughing it out.  You know? 

three things thursday.

Another week done.  I sometimes feel like I am a hamster in a wheel.  But that is okay because Thursday means we're closer to Saturday and Saturday = football.

1.  I am working a 5k this weekend.  My company is the head sponsor for some Children's Healthcare of Atlanta race this weekend and I am snobby and did not want to run since the course is pretty crappy, so I told them I would work the registration table.  Plus, I have always thought about volunteering at a race but never actually have so now I can.  However, having to be there at 6:30 AM is less that amazing in my book.  But I guess that is why someone invented naps and sleeping in on Sunday. ;)

2.  So, the weather is getting gorgeous and we have this golf course by my house and since my neighborhood kinda sucks in the running department (closed off, barely even 1 mile) I have been wanting to run the golf course.  The weather is making me want to run the golf course even more.  But I have no idea how.  Do I ask if I can?  They're gonna say no.  Do I just hop the fence and ask for forgiveness late?  I will take any and all suggestions.  Golf course running is good running because of all the hills and sometimes the course is super shady!!

3.  I was supposed to start traveling at the end of the month and then A LOT for the next 2 months but my work decided to push all the travel back a few months because we want to ensure the new software is 100% amazing and works just the way we want it to.  No need to rush something that needs to work really well.  So that means all my fun fall running spots aren't going to happen.  And with that ... we're trying to condense the roll over into fewer weekends, which means instead of 4 new fun running cities I only get 2.  Sad. 

to do list.

1. I need to find a July race. a 5k preferably to run – near the end of the month would be best since I will be gone the 1st part of the month. if anyone has any suggestions, thrown them my way.

2. put together a schedule that makes sense that also lets me get in miles but lets my body recover. but includes blast and spin and I would love to work pure barre in like once a month at least.

3. stretch more. foam roll more. that is probably why my legs scream at me and hate me.

4. not gorge myself on the weekends and friday nights. monday – thursday i eat so well. friday – sunday I only eat crap and it ruins everything I do earlier in the week.

5. um. start training for atlanta 13.1 and RnR Savannah.

6. get up on saturday mornings and get out to stone mountain and run. or piedmont park. or both alternating weekends.

Three Things Thursday.

1. I feel like my blog has taken a turn away from running and has crossed over into more of a "this is my life" blog.  Which I think it is okay to share somethings, but I think I want to get back to the basics of running & working out/fitness ... which is why I started this to begin with. After all this is Barbie Runs, not Barbie Lives (though, I do live).  I do have a wedding planning blog which in less than a year can be where I keep up with the day to day happenings in our life.  So starting today *hopefully* 97% of this will be related to me and my running.

2. speaking of running - i have been doing very little of it.  i was on a roll and then i got distracted and now it is REALLY hot.  i am going to have to figure something out, because i need to be running.  can someone in Atlanta keep me accountable? please.

3.  i am looking for a 5k to do this month and then i want to get back into the 1 race per month grind that i was in last year.  if anyone has any suggestions of good ones or ones they're running, let me know! =)

Brookhaven Bolt 2011–Race Recap

I cannot believe it has taken almost half a year to run a race.  I have been crazy lazy this year and I have a half marathon coming up in November so I thought I would kick off training by running The Brookhaven Bolt (that is how I kicked off training for my 1st half marathon and it worked).  The Brookhaven Bolt was the 1st 5k I ever ran 2 years ago so I feel the urge to run it each year, but last year I told myself  i am never running this race again but there I was Saturday morning at the start line.

I got up Saturday morning after hitting the snooze on my phone 2 times to see that rain was in the forecast so I began to hope that the rain would hold off.  Brushed my teeth. Got dressed. Grabbed my iPod and Garmin and I was out the door.  That parking situation was MUCH better than previous years.  A designated area rather than having to fight for a spot on the neighborhood street .... and the walk to the start was not too bad.  BUT then I noticed people walking back to their cars with their race bags and thought great, they're handing things out pre-race and I was 100% right.

I get to the race number pick up spot and for the 3rd year in the row is was an utter disaster area.  I went to my "designated" line (U-Z) to pick up my number, told them my last name VINES and I got looked at like I had 456 heads.  The woman did not even talk back, just stared. I then asked "am I in the wrong spot to pick up my number" and then I got a "no" just a no.  So again... I said Vines and more stares.  Finally I got my race number and was shuffled to get my shirt and race bag.  Even bigger cluster.  Then I had to walk back to my car.  So between parking to the race start, race start to car, and then car to race start my Garmin said it was a 1 mile walk.  AND.... Me getting their 45 minutes early to warm up and stretch was gone.  I had used it walking and picking up my number.

So, the race started and it was smooth.  For once it appeared that people lined up in the right spot.  The dogs and strollers were in the back (I did get passed by many of them though).  The course was awesome and for the 3rd year in a row it was different – but a good different.  At one point I actually thought, this is the easiest course so far and then BAM we rounded a corner to a huge hill and the hills just kept coming.  BUT!  I made myself run up at least 50% of each hill.  75% if I could.  I think the last mile was the hardest mile – originally I thought it was because of the hills (then I looked at the elevation map) but I think it was more because my legs were tired from pure barre yesterday and then the actual running. The course was fully stocked with water (my guess: they learned their lesson from last year).

I could have PR'd if the last mile was not so hilly and if I had not lost so much time on the 2 water stops ... excuses aside, I am pleased with my finishing time and performance , but I am way past pleased with my 34:47 finishing time.  My 5k PR is 33:39, so I was just about a minute slower than my best ever 5k.  Which means my hilly hilly neighborhood is making me stronger and better.  Now... if I would just run more.

The weather was nice.  Not too hot not to cold not really humid and the rain held off.  The skies actually opened up about 5 minutes after I finished and started to stretch. I will do it next year.  My only complaint was the registration area.  Maybe next year that kink will be worked out.

Likes:

• The course - pretty, not too hard, and the little families on the course were so super cute.
• The post race "festival" ... fully stocked with food and water and super awesome vendors.
• The starting area was clearly marked & the radio guys helped everyone know where they were going.
• The shirt, classy ... but I do hope they move past cotton sometime soon and onto something wicking. 

Dislikes:

• being given my race and race bag before the race.  i lost all my time to stretch and warm up in the walking back and forth.
• the race number pick up area.  for the past 3 years it has been nothing but disorganized.

Highlights:

• Seeing my friend Ty from college and catching up.
• Realizing that I was not going to die and was close to my PR time.
• Being reminded how much I LOVE running & running local races.  Gotta find a June race!! =)

weekly round up.

i survived another week. i hope you did too.

monday: 2.03 mile run.  it was supposed to be 2 miles but what can i say, i am an over achiever.  started training for Rock and Roll Savannah and welcomed the hot summer sun in all in the same day.
tuesday: lazy.
wednesday: lazy.
thursday: lazy.
friday: pure barre at lunch with the office girls.  and taking a week off from that place is not a good idea. just a heads up.
saturday: brookhaven bolt 5k. race recap to come soon. 3.1 miles.  AND I took Mulls on his 30 minute walk! :o)
sunday: 30 minute walk with the dog.

i did figure out (per my garmin) that each 30 minute walk is about 1.5 miles.

total miles ran this week:  5.13  ...now, if i could get to working out more consistently that would be awesome.

random work out thoughts:

• man. nike frees are not good running shoes for me. my legs hurt.
• hello hot summer sun in atlanta.
• must actually follow my training plan to savannah.
• pure barre sucks if you don't go at least 1 time per week
• i actually am not dying (while running the 5k)

AHHHH

I am really freaking stressed right now. What I could go for is a good mind clearing run right now or take a mind numbing nap, but I don't want to step too far away from my phone, so here I am telling you about an upcoming Atlanta race and watching past seasons of ABC Family Channel's Make it or Break It (thanks Wii Netflix).  I am going to leave it at that.  I will blog later about my oh so stressful day.

But since my phone is by my side and I am checking it every time it bings, I wanted to share an email / race notification that I go today.

May 1 - Perimeter Area :: Concourse to be exact :: 5k and 2k fun run/walk -- Lauren's Run -- 8:00 AM.  The 5K race and 2K fun run/walk will be hosted by CURE Childhood Cancer, an organization that supports research and education for pediatric cancer--the number one cause of death in children. Since 2002, Lauren's Run has raised over $2.5 million for pediatric cancer research.

If you're interested in participating you can go here to register.  It is only $20 for pre-race registration and $25 on race day.  I will 100% be there and on May 1 the weather should *hopefully* be gorgeous!!  And this is my 1st real organized race of the year that I have put on the calendar.  Guess I better start training.

Polar Bear 5K Run - I bailed.

So a few weeks back I signed up to run my first 5k (and first organized race of 2011) of the year.  I chose the Polar Bear Run in Marietta for 2 main reasons. (1) I wanted to see how far I had fallen as a runner after pretty much sitting on my butt since October and (2) I really want to work on my 5K this year so I needed a 2011 starting time.


For week I had planned to not set out to set a PR at this race.  I just knew that I wanted to run it in at least 35 minutes (which is 2 minutes slower than my 5K PR) and I wanted to give my nike free running shoes a race trial especially since i was kind of on the fence about them.

Well, my alarm went off at 6:30 AM on Saturday and I hit snooze. And then I hit snooze again and again and again.  I did not get out of bed and I did not run.  My body was just too tired from this past week and bowling on Friday night that it kept saying "do not do it" --- normally I can just muster through, get up, wake up, and go, but Saturday morning it was SO different.

BUT! I told myself that I was going to not let sleeping in and being a lazy bum hold me back from running 3.1 and today I ran my own little 5k on the treadmill so I could figure out how far I had fallen and figure out my 5k time and my nike frees.

Well.  I ran 3.1 in 35:25 (average pace of 11:25) which is 2 minutes slower than my PR so I guess I did not do too bad.  I felt pretty good the whole run (minus the treadmill shocking me every time I touched it) but I definitely could not go much farther than 3.1 which means I have a lot of work to do over the next few months for Ragnar in June.  But I did remember how much I miss just running and listening to the music.

The nike frees -- I just cannot decide.  I can feel my legs getting stronger but I just do not think they give my feet the support they need (or are used to). 

…starting over… rebuilding it all …

it is time to get back on the running wagon.  i have taken over a month now to do basically anything and everything but work out and run {i have loved the dinners and drinks and hours of lifetime movies}.  i have noticed that my endurance and ability to do things like long dog walks is not where it was this time 2 months ago….

everyone is creating their 2011 race calendars. i have 3 things on mine. a 10k, ragnar, and rock and roll savannah. holla if you're a slacker. HOLLA!

so. to start my 2011 off i am going to run the polar bear run (how fitting with my foto friday lazy polar bears) on jan 22. that is 7 weeks till my next race. it is just a 5k and last year i was getting over the 5k distance… but i think it is the perfect way to ease myself back into running.

i plugged into runners world smart coach and plugged in my “want” 5k time of 30 minutes. made a training plan for 7 weeks and came up with this:

 

week	date	mon.	tues.	wed.	thurs.	fri.	sat.	sun.
1	12/6 - 12/12	rest/ xt	easy 2 miles	rest/ xt	easy run 2	XT	easy run 2	blast 900
2	12/13- 12/19	rest/ xt	easy 2 miles	rest/ xt	easy run 2	XT	easy run 3	blast 900
3	12/20- 12/26	rest/ xt	easy 2 miles	rest/ xt	east run 3	XT	easy run 4	blast 900
4	12/27- 1/2	rest/ xt	easy 2 miles	rest/ xt	easy run 3	XT	easy run 5	blast 900
5	1/3 - 1/9	rest/ xt	easy 2 miles	rest/ xt	easy run 2	XT	easy run 2	blast 900
6	1/10- 1/16	rest/ xt	easy 2 miles	rest/ xt	easy run 2	XT	easy run 3	blast 900
7	1/17- 1/23	rest/ xt	easy 2 miles	rest/ xt	easy run 3	XT	RACE DAY	blast 900

so here is my training plan… which this month will be hard with heading to Charlottesville VA for Kyle's best friend’s wedding and then going home to DC for Christmas… but I am bound and determined to get in work outs on both trips. ….plus i am going to start making blast 900 a weekly occurrence in my life.

it is kinda weird to see such low miles, but i think it is going to be more fun than anything because there will be no pressure and it will let me ease back into this running thing….  ….now i just have to remember to work out on my designated kyle/barbie gym days.

brookhaven bolt 2010 & my runiversary

I guess you can call this my runiversary. this time last year, i laced up for my first run in over a year to begin training for the Nike women’s half marathon with team in training. yes, you read that right. i went into a 5k to start training. i went into a 5k 100% unprepared but because i just wanted to do it. i remember thinking ehh how hard can 3.1 miles be?! Well, I remember it not being easy, the hills kicking my butt, and being thankful that I ran into friends that I could walk with …i cannot fully remember how long my first ever Brookhaven Bolt and first ever 5k took me, but I feel like it was pushing 40 minutes.

I decided to celebrate the event/day with running the Brookhaven Bolt again this year and had many hopes that I would have a better showing. Well… I kinda did, I was no where near happy with my performance as I hope to be, but the day started off a bit rough.  I overslept.  My alarm went of at 6:30 am – M-F Alarm – and I hit dismiss thinking I could rely on Kyle’s alarm… the one he never turns off until this weekend!  Yikes.  I woke up at 7:18 for a 8:00 start.  Thank god I slept in my running shorts & sports bra.  Threw on a shirt, popped in the contacts, brushed my teeth, threw my hair in a pony tail, grabbed my shoes, and ran out the door. A sign that this was going to be a mess of a race was when I parked my car, got out, passed a volunteer on her cell phone, and then was chased down to say I couldn’t park there.  Why wasn’t I told when I got out of my car, oh oh because she was too busy chatting it up with a girlfriend. As I got up to the packet pickup table the disorganization really started.  I waited in line and as I moved up and got to the front the table workers greeted a group of 5 who just walked up and cut the line. Whatever. Fine. But then another volunteer walked up and approached the person BEHIND ME! With a hello flip of my hands the table finally noticed the 5’9” runner in hot pink.  I grabbed my number, put it on my shorts and went to warm up… a little irritated and thinking to myself “I knew I should have pulled into Big Peach on my way home to get my number”.   As I am warming up I see a car of volunteers driving the wrong way down the road into a mass of runners and another volunteer running to the car screaming YOU CANNOT GO THAT WAY!! I shake my head and I slink to the start line and realized that my Garmin, which I pulled in last night did not charge.  so with 34% life left, I prayed that it would make it through the race.

My frustrations really got high after the race started.  I like to consider myself a mid-packer, not the fastest but also not the slowest so I tend to line up in the middle.  Well, the runners had a 8:00 start and the baby joggers had an 8:05 start at the back.  Imagine my surprise to find baby joggers walking with all the runners and said baby joggers were impossible to pass. (couldn’t race volunteers enforce the baby joggers in back thing!?)  On top of the baby joggers I felt sandwiched in with the moms who wanted to walk for the school & gossip so I had to pick them off one by one and swerve everywhere to get around them. I was trying to find my groove & settle into my run only to have to walk .13 miles in. annoyed.  On top of everything it was really hot and really humid and with water advertised at mile 1 and 2 and I was longing for some water.  Mile 1 comes, no water, mile 1.10 no water, 1.20 no water.  I am at this point thinking ok, note to self, if I do this race again next year it is BYOW (bring your own water).  So I get to mile 1.35 or something and there is the water station with the water cups filled just enough for 1 gulp, no where near enough water to begin to hydrate.  Same thing went for the mile 2 water stop and by 2.34 miles I wanted/needed to vomit since I had sweat everything out… thank god for mile 2.4 something at the Post Properties girls and their water stop.  Midway through the race I was at 15 minutes so I really thought that I had the chance to PR.  Ehh.. not so much.  The start of mile 2 is when I body quit and wanted no more and it became a fight with my brain to just keep moving and run.  I was sweaty, thirsty, felt like I needed to vomit, and just a hot mess.  Mile 2 was spent mainly walking up the hilly back end of the course (per the elevation map thanks to Garmin Connect, the slow up hill climb to Ashford Park started at 1.49 miles and we just went up and up and up, with a few small downhills).  Near the finish, I was stopped by a volunteer to let a car out of their driveway … I do not know why I thought that I had the right away, I was mistaken I guess, but a 30 or so seconds later of standing there, not moving I was okayed to continue on...  The hunt for water at the end was awful too.  Spectators and previous race finisher had taken 3,4 cold iced water bottles leaving everyone else with hot gross Fiji water bottles.  I have never wanted my AC blaring car more than I did this morning.

The disorganization was just too much for me and I honestly do not think I will be adding this 5k to my 2011 calendar.  It made me wonder if the race director was even a runner or had participated in other local races to get a feel for how a race was to run.  Last year I thought it was a great event, but then I became a runner and was able to compare this one to others and yikes.   …or maybe I should just stick to big 5ks, 10ks, and half & full marathons, they are just run so much better.

Race Stats:

Mile 1: 9:56 pace

Mile 2: 11:25 pace

Mile 3: 13:03 pace

.1: 9:28 pace

Finishing Time: 35:23 – not a PR but also not a PW.

Overall Pace: 11:24

i have accomplished SO much in 1 year.  I am getting faster. I have run 2 half marathons and 1 full marathon. I have begun to realize that “just getting out there and running” is not enough. I have started to incorporate cross training. I guess I am able to call myself a runner.

So, happy 1 year to me… I am excited for another year of one foot in front of the other right left right left.

big peach 5k race.ARPRIL is gone

I decided at the last minute (on 4.24) that I wanted to run the Big Peach 5k. My reasoning: I could ride the Marta to the start – run 3.1 and then run myself home. I have been needing to get in the miles in preparation for Marine Corp and with Big Peach being about 3 or so miles from my apartment, I said WHY NOT! Plus. it benefited the Leukemia & Lymphoma society and if a race is attached to that organization 9 times out of 10 I am in. I did not know anything about the race so I checked out the course map and realized that it was roads that I run every now and then while taking breaks from work so other than the hill heading up Roxboro I thought it should be a fairly easy race… then this past Monday I ran the course backwards and realized it may be a little bit harder than I initially thought so I kinda went into the race siked out which is never a good thing. Then for the past 3 or so days I have been all out of sorts, body rejecting food, crazy tired, achy legs even though all I do is climb stairs and look for my lost car in the parking garage ….. On top of all that, Erin and I went out for a much needed happy hour/dinner so after margaritas and tacos I was not quite sure if I was even going to make it to the starting line & I thought that even if I skipped it my race entry went to an amazing cause. Before going to bed I checked the weather and there was like a 30% chance of thunderstorms (with lightening) from 6am – 11 am (prime racing hours) so I turned on “Lovely Bones”, set my alarm, and said lets play this by ear…. and if I do not run I WILL get 6 miles in this weekend at some point – whether is was pavement or treadmill.

SO. Race Day: I flaked out and stayed in bed and slept some much needed zzz’s. I took the dog on 2 long walks to make up for it and Sunday I had this great big plan to hit LA Fitness and knock out 6 miles on the treadmill and call it a day. Well, the treadmills decided to be difficult and 2.42 miles later I was calling it a day. Long story short it is common knowledge that I would rather hit the pavement than step onto a treadmill. But with this heat (84 degrees feels like 95) and the humidity, I had to take it inside. Well I was flying high, I got into a groove on the dreadmill, was rocking and rolling and them bam I read “belt stopping” at .83 miles. WTF?! So I started it back up again… same thing but at .26 miles the belt stopped. So, I moved 1 machine over and could not get back in the groove. I was hot, sweaty, annoyed, and then BAM at 1.33 miles – belt stops. I decided to call it quits and just head home. THAT IS WHY I LIKE RUNNING OUTSIDE THERE IS NOTHING TO STOP ME .83 miles in or .26 or 1.33

April is OVER! Thank God. Where in the world is 2010 going?! April was a fairly unproductive month for me in regards to running, work has been so busy and I fear with my new role it is only going to be busier so it will be a true test of learning to balance life.  I even titled this entry “big peach 5k race.march is over” to start with and started this paragraph saying “march is over” – that is how fried my brain is and has been.  I need a vacation. I ran 26.47 miles which is much less than my 50 some last month and my 50+ goal for the month. Why do I always seem to have low miles the month after a BIG race. I did not hit my 50 mile mark, but for me to get as high as I did, I am surprised. I did a 5k (and PR’d). I got a rocking free sample of Body Glide (remember, you can win a free stick). The pollen was (and still is) outrageous and makes it really hard to breathe. For the most part I slaved in the office, spent a lot of quality time with my dog and kyle, and just tried to enjoy life.

Here is hoping April is full of miles and I am really stoked about a friendship that was so unlikely but is becoming awesome with one of my fellow Nike Team in Training Gals. We’re talking about treking to Nashville together in September to run The Women’s Half as training for Marine Corp for me and her first full at the Nike Women’s Marathon! I love friendships that come out of no where!!!

Don’t forget about my FREE Bodyglide giveaway.