February and 70...we'll take it!

Doo and Fen, ready to go; Amos, not ready.

Little cowboy...

Chasing Amos around the kitchen = Warm-up.

Injury #1 of Running Year: Battle of the cankle.

Post-run happiness.

Elation...

New digs.

Joy...

Britt will be featured on next week's episode of "Cribs."

February Cheers!

Wild mushroom mac n' cheese, stuffed hushpuppies, &
cornbread skillet with pecan butter...

Pat Green fun!

WoFenDoo attack...

The only thing harder than our 5-mile run was convincing
a cowboy to loan his hat out for this picture.
Successes all around!

Wave on Wave

This week has been been a long one between Valentines Day (or in my case, Singles Awareness Day), a stressful work week and fighting off the winter illness that is being passed around my office.  However, the thought of Fenwick's (and Amos') upcoming trip to the Queen City helped me push through this week's runs.  Ok, and I had to burn off some Valentines Day chocolate.

With the highly anticipated redneck run quickly approaching,  this week I mixed a long run with some speed work outs.  And much to my surprise, regardless of my lingering cold, all of the runs went pretty well.   I think we are more than ready to face the booty loop on Saturday.  New favorite songs on repeat?  Chris Brown - Look at Me Now, Miguel - Sure Thing and the new country addition, Lover, Lover - Jerrod Niemann. 

The post run celebration?  Champagne (of course), BBQ at a biker bar (only fitting for a redneck run!) and dragging out the cowboy boots for Pat Green.  Obviously, Pat and some other country favorites will be featured on the playlist for Saturday's run.  Apparently, some of our other law school friends want to add a trip to the Gun Show in as well.  Nothing like a weekend in the South!

Young hearts, be free tonight...

I haven't posted in a while....this is because, up until tonight, I haven't had much good news to report from the running front. Getting up at 5:00 a.m. wasn't happening unless I went to bed at 10:00 p.m. sharp. The alternative of running after work was not going well at all. I tried a couple of times. After 10 hours of office-sitting, my body was shocked into aerobic activity and basically rejected the whole thing entirely...

Not so this evening! Something had to change with the way I was carrying out my work days. So, I made a concerted effort today to (a) drinks lots and lots of water, (2) limit the caffeine intake, and (d) eat a sizeable lunch plus afternoon snack around 3:00ish.

And it worked wonders. Tonight's run felt amazing. I'm back in the game!

New idea: making a new playlist timed for each run. 4 miles, 40 minute playlist. It's like the cool-down song is the finish line. I realize it's head game, but hey - whatever works, right?

Favorites from tonight's playlist:
Black Keys - Howlin' for You
Rod Stewart - Young Turks (what a beat!)
Rooney - When Did Your Heart Go Missing?
Avett Brothers - Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise (highly inspirational lyrics)
Bieber: Baby (that's right. i'm only a little bit embarrassed.)

Upcoming: DooFen Do Charlotte. Race #2 of 2011. Old law school pals, running the Booty Loop, Texas country, the perfect chance to wear my cowboy boots, and honoring our past presidents...

Can't think of a better way to spend the weekend.

Runnin' Down a Dream

First Update:  In addition to our February run featuring a Pat Green concert experience, I have been informed that it is also the weekend of the Gun Show here in Charlotte.  The Redneck theme definitely was the right selection.  I hope Julia is ready for all of this excitement.  New country song added to the playlist in honor of this month's run - Smoke a little Smoke by Eric Church.

So we recently hit the 12 week Nashvegas countdown, as I was reminded by  a number of emails from other Nashville Half participants.  Last fall, I made the mistake of buying new running shoes approximately two weeks before the Thunder Road Half.  Bad idea.  Thus, new shoes are the next big pay date purchase. 

Like most girls, I am easily distracted by pretty things and have selected most of my athletic shoes based on color.  Obviously, not the wisest decision, especially when entering the running world.  After two failed attempts at picking out running shoes on my own, I finally went to a running store to see one of the "experts".  After watching me run (barefoot), a serious question and answer session, measurements and running around in about 12 different pairs of shoes, I ended up leaving with a more expensive version of the same shoe I ran my first half in.  Not that I haven't been happy with the expert's selection, but I might have been secretly wishing for something more flashy (don't worry - I am not on the Vibram edge yet).  Probably because the expert had me try on the shoe below as one of possible selections.

While I was not distracted by the pink shoe last time, I am afraid that it might win me over on my upcoming shopping excursion. 

Someday, we'll explode. We'll be tiny particles soaring through the air, away from the problems and it'll be fine...

Day No. 2 of Getting Up Early, Week No. 1 of Training Program, Re-do.

There was nothing particularly extraordinary about this run. My legs felt pretty good; gym was nice and empty; I felt fairly hydrated, not too sleepy. Really, I write to you tonight solely in an effort to plug the band that I jammed to for all 3 miles of early morning run...

Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt! [exclamation mark included in band name]

I was first introduced to this quirky, non-conventional group by my good buddy Bob Boilen. I admire Bob for many reasons, but mostly for his illustrious NPR career and impeccable music tastes. So, when Bob says, "check this band out - they're kind of awesome," I usually say, "of course, Bob - whatever you say."

One look at the title of the group's first album says it all, I think.

"I Love You. I Love You. I Love You and I'm In Love With You. Have an Awesome Day! Have the Best Day of Your Life!"

If these guys can't get me pumped up for 5:00 a.m. treadmill fun, nothing can.

Noteworthy tracks include:
Snakebites!
Grouphug!
Iotdwykiyhtbr
Go Directly to Space!
Ride Friendship

Yes, they do more shouting than singing. No, it's not very melodious. Yes, they mix the lyrics to Aladdin's "A Whole New World" into the background of a song called "Snowday!." They also paint themselves blue for live shows and throw out costumes to audience members.

Enough. Check them out if you're looking for something completely new and very, very random. And if you don't enjoy it, blame Bob.

Final thought on today's effort: Post-run, I think I hit a new record for first lunch craving of the day. 9:17. Beat that.

Figuring out this Adult Thing. . .

As Julia pointed out, this running resolution has been a bit challenging to fit around the work schedule.  And while Julia is trying to find the motivation to go to the gym in the morning, I am trying to find the willpower not to drive straight by the gym on my way home from work.  This Monday, it was a perfect skip the gym, put on your PJs and jump under the covers kind of night.  After a 70 degree weekend, it was rainy, cold and just plain yuck.  Plus, my work day hadn't been too enjoyable.  So I promised myself ice cream if I made it through 4 miles.  That was just the trick to get me on the treadmill and my new Redneck Run themed playlist did the rest. . .Highlights:

Gimme that Girl - Joe Nichols
She Won't Be Lonely Long- Clay Walker
Turn on the Radio - Reba McEntire
 Big Green Tractor - Jason Aldean
Put You in a Song - Keith Urban
This - Darius Rucker

Ok, ok... I also threw in some hip -hop to finish out the run . . .Kush by Dr. Dre and Buzzin' by Mann.

Surprisingly, the country music has kept me on track so far this week - however, tomorrow morning I will have to pull a Julia and try the gym early.  My Thunder Road playlist might have to come back for that one.

In good news, it has come to our attention that Pat Green will be performing the same weekend as our Redneck Run.  Perfect Celebration for making it through Friendship Run # 2?  I think so.

New job, new schedule...

Getting up ridiculously early before work to run has its advantages. Example: today, as I was sitting at my desk, one of the only things that did not add to my stress level for the day was the the fact that "Run" already had a big ol' check mark next to it on my Tuesday to-do list.

It does, on the other hand, lead to gigantic amounts of lunch appetite and the inevitable 2:00 p.m. crash. It's a give-and-take, I guess.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it. These first two weeks have been doozies. It's all about getting adjusted to the new schedule. And I think I'm getting there ... slowly.

Due to said doozy-two-week-period, I've decided to restart my 12-week training program (good thing I had it padded so heavily to begin with...). As of this week, there is officially 13 weeks to first big race of the year (CMHM!). As of last night, I am officially registered for first big race of the year. Who's excited?

This morning whilst treadmilling, I really enjoyed listening to some non-traditional work-out music, which I do fairly often (by non-traditional, I mean non-Britney, non-Kayne, etc.) Don't get me wrong, I enjoy hip-hop and rap genres just as much as the next girl when breaking a sweat. But variety is the spice of life. Just a few for your consideration:

Yeasayer: Ambling Alp
Ra Ra Riot: Boy
The National: Abel, Lit Up, Fake Empire, Brainy, Slow Show, Apartment Story, Bloodbuzz Ohio (can you tell they're my favorite band of the moment?)
Cold War Kids: Hang Me Out To Dry
Passion Pit: Sleepyhead
Airborne Toxic Event: Gasoline
Black Keys: Everlasting Light

Give me a driving beat, and I'm good to go.