Paint Run

Well, today my house got some construction action. In fact, I think it received more action today than it did during its inception. The crew showed up and started tearing into it. Come to find out, I have had a million or more delinquent tenants, termites! As the lead guy said, "If you can get them to pay you a nickel a piece for rent, you'd be a millionaire." So, they rebuilt the entire front of my house.

Fortunately, the sheetrock damage inside is minimal. They will have to rebuild the interior frame around the window which means I have to paint. There are also some nails peeking in from the new stud wall into the living room. That also means paint. [Read: my mother will be making a trip to paint.]

I figured since I don't have a running companion this week until Thursday, I would try to make today's run a little exciting. So, after work I decided to run to Home Depot and pick up paint samples. I was on plan to run 5 and turns out Home Depot was almost 3 miles one way. BONUS! It made the trip there sort of exciting and the trip back even more so partly to beat the sunset and the other part to see what looks best in the house. Now I have paint samples drying from sweat since they had to hitch a ride in my sports bra. I can't wait to see what works. Hopefully, it won't smell...too badly.

Race Report

Well, I have run 2 races in the last 2 weeks.

Last weekend was Valentine's Day, so I participated in the Virginia Is For Lovers 14k. Of course, it was freezing and the wind was pretty brutal in places since it was out in the open and very little wind blockage available on the route. I knew it was going to be a good race when they started the National Anthem and it began to snow. Now, that was magical. We even ended up with a few inches by the end of the race. It was the last weather condition that I felt like I needed to experience to consider myself a real runner. Run in a monsoon - Check! Run in below freezing temperatures - Check! Run in 97% humidity - Check! Run in icy conditions - Check! Run in falling snow - Check! DONE!

This morning was a 30k. This is the last training race prior to the marathon. I did ok with gun time 3:31. This morning, since I had PLENTY of time to think, I made a list of reasons running long distances is not lady-like:

1 - Burp Loud, Burp Often. I always seem to long for water stations during races. So, when I actually get there, I gulp up liquids knowing it is another 3 miles before I see this stuff again. The result? Lots of swallowed air. I find myself burping the next mile or so. Funny thing is, you just don't care. The louder the better.

2 - Litterbug, litterbug, it's ok to litter. I struggle with this one because I'm not one to just throw things on the ground. However, when the trashcan after the water station is about 2 steps from the water table, what's a girl to do? Stand there and drink it? I don't think so! That takes time. Karen assured me today it was ok. The volunteers would pick it up. I still feel guilty.

3 - Let it flow, that's why you wear gloves. Winter running creates a great environment for runny noses. At first, I use to wish I had some tissues. Lately, I just put my gloves back on and start wiping. Besides, where would I put the tissues? I'm already loaded up with GU every where imaginable, my keys, my shuffle, water belt...

4 - Lube up. Some folks use vaseline, but I would think that would be extremely messy. I use Bodyglide. So, before I head out, I cover any part of my body that could possibly chafe from the friction of clothing with Bodyglide. I have found it to prevent blisters on my feet and no more scaring from the crazy raw places that my sports bra creates. TMI?

5 - Spandex...enough said. I would hope a lady wouldn't normally wear spandex clothing out and about. However, it's a must have for the runner. Not because it looks good, believe me. It keeps you warm and creates less friction, see #4.

6 - Port-o-potty stops. In normal circumstances, you cannot pay me to use a public restroom. And when it is absolutely necessary, I take every possible precaution that would keep any part of my body touching anything on the other side of the "Ladies Room" sign. With running, I have been known to stop at many a port-o-potty both before and during a race. What's really bad is when it's out of toilet paper. I won't go there...

Next week is our final long run of 20-22 miles. Then it's tapering until the big day!

An Elevator Kind of Day

I woke up this morning excited to wrap up some loose ends in Suffolk, head to VAB and do the same. Super pumped I had no plans this evening so I could eat well and sleep better to prepare for my 30k tomorrow morning. Oh, how those plans were thwarted.

For over a month, I have been waiting for a new roof and new window to be installed on my home. The new roof is condo covered and I'm footing the bill for the window. If you have watched the news lately, you know that weather has not been exactly made for construction work with all the snow/rain/wintry conditions. They completed the roof this week and called me on my way to work this morning to see if they could put my window in at noon. Hip-hip! After waiting so long, you take what you can get. I told him I would make that work. So, I went to Suffolk, began to wrap things up but had to leave in time for the construction peeps. I was rushed. I arrive at my home early and find the crew packing up. The leader of the pack says to me that he was about to call me and tell me not to come. Turns out the entire wall of the house for the window is rotted. They will have to rebuild it first and that cannot happen today. Good news is I don't have to pay for that. Bad news is I'm praying for good weather on Monday and it looks like rain. Off to VAB I went.

When I arrived at VAB I felt mentally drained from the morning in Suffolk and now trying to come up with plans B and C on the house. I hadn't eaten lunch yet and if you know me, you know I'm not very lovable when I'm hungry. Thankfully, GAs had sub day and willingly shared. I grabbed a sandwich, opened my laptop, and then commenced to putting out fires the rest of the afternoon. I had big plans of getting things done and no chance. I didn't get out of there until much later than normal. Good news is I don't have to make up time next week when I have a dentist appointment. Bad news is no one was in the office this afternoon to help me squelch 3 fires still burning and my dentist appointment is Monday morning.

Since I have 2 offices, I possess what I affectionately call my "office on wheels." It's basically a huge briefcase/roller bag for my laptop and files I have to carry between 23435 and 23462. My office in VAB is on the 3rd floor and I refuse to use an elevator for 3 flights of stairs. I feel like it's just lazy to take an elevator for such a small distance. It's a good way to get exercise. I walked out today and thought "I do not want to carry this huge briefcase down those stairs. I'm worn out!" Turns out, today was an elevator kind of day.

Lazy Saturday

For the last 3 years, I can probably count on 2 hands the number of Saturday mornings that I have spent in my home and not running. Even on many of those mornings that I didn't run, I had family visiting so I wasn't alone. My race from last weekend that was postponed to this morning was cancelled yesterday. (Can you follow that?) So Karen and I decided we would just run on Sunday morning since there were still some weather threats/scares for Saturday morning, mostly in the form of flooding. Now, she and I have recently braved running 18 miles in a monsoon but it definitely wasn't my favorite thing. Cold will be fine if we aren't wet. Tomorrow morning we will get back to our long run routine and hope the park and streets aren't still flooded.

I went to sleep last night rather early and turned off the alarm clock. I'm not sure when it was turned off last. I woke up "naturally" and decided to make some coffee and read. I'm in a book club and our next meeting is coming up. I'm still not finished with the book but had set a goal for the weekend to be sure I can have it read before the meeting. I curled up with a cup of Casi Cielo and Uncle Tom's Cabin and read all morning long. I did feel a little guilty not getting up and doing things immediately and probably wouldn't do well if this was my Saturday morning routine, but I enjoyed it today.

I'm not sure you have ever read Uncle Tom's Cabin, but let me encourage you to pick it up. It takes a few chapters to become involved with the story because there are numerous characters and several storylines that take some time to intersect. I tell you though, this book is very enlightening. Sure it depicts the life of slavery and has been credited for the start of the Civil War, but there are much deeper topics discussed and demonstrated in this book. I've pretty much cried all morning just in awe of the story. If you are a Christian, this book will both challenge your faith and encourage you to love deeper and with purpose.

I should probably shower and get the day started. Not much on the schedule but it was started off with a very relaxing morning.

Fashion Investment

Well, we got the much anticipated snow. It was pretty amazing and I was in shock when I woke up Saturday morning to the glow of the moon on all the white stuff. I felt like the kid in "A Christmas Story" when he wakes up to winter white Christmas morning, except there weren't any presents to open or family nearby.

I have been cooped up in my home alone ever since. At first, it was awesome because I had the opportunity to do some things I always neglect because of a busy schedule. I was fine until about 6 last night. Cabin fever sunk in and I had been watching Food Network, Man v. Food, and other food shows all day. I WAS STARVING. Sure I had all of this food from the store to satisfy an Army's appetite. What I didn't have were hamburgers, pizza, and fried chicken. Those were things I was craving. Those were the featurs on all of the cooking shows. I finally just went to bed hoping for a better Sunday. After realizing I wasn't going to be driving anywhere again today, I decided to walk over to the Harris Teeter for 3 reasons: 1) to get out of the house, 2) to have some sort of people interaction, and 3) for milk. The last reason was the least important.

As I walked over I realized something. The most valuable pair of footwear I own was purchased in 1995.

Reflect back to the era of grunge music, flannel shirts, and Timberland boots. The Christmas of my junior year in high school I had to have these boots. I grew up in the South, so these Gore-Tex boots from L.L.Bean weren't intended for weather. I was actually wearing them...with outfits. My folks probably shelled out around 100 bucks for these 15 years ago but today they were priceless.

The snow drifts were easily a foot deep in places, so these boots kept my feet not only dry but warm. What was originally intended to look good has turned into an investment for winter weather. Thanks Mom & Dad!

Caught Up!

I grew up in the Valley of Southeast TN. Snow was not common. In fact, the threat of snow was laughable. We just didn't get it there often (unless you recall the blizzard of '93). Moving to VAB didn't change the comedy of snow warnings. Well, this place is all up in arms right now. Rumor on the weather channel is we are expecting 6-12 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow. I had a 25k race scheduled for tomorrow morning, but it was cancelled because of the scare. I figured it might just be worth the fear if the Striders cancelled the race. I don't know if you know many runners, but serious ones don't cancel runs unless it is absolutely necessary. Well, in the midst of all the weather talk, I figured I should probably go to the grocery store. If I lost power, I would starve to death. I made the stop after work today with the rest of Hampton Roads and something that I cannot explain came over me. I started buying soda, crackers, and cereal, items I rarely ever buy. Before I knew it, I was filling my cart with all kinds of foods I never buy. I watched everyone around me stock up and I did the same. Now, I failed to register in my own head that those around me were probably buying for several others. I was just buying for me. What can I say? I just got caught up...

Miracle Product

Whenever I visit my hair stylist (is that what they are called these days?) I always walk away with shiny, soft, and beautiful hair. It's so drastically different than what I'm use to, I often wonder where this hair comes from. How can it be so different than when I go home and wash it myself. I often complain to her how horrible it looks when I'm in charge. This time I decided to at least put some effort into discovering how I can imitate her artistry.



For the last few visits, she has only applied one product to my hair. So, I asked what in the world it was. Perhaps this was the magic?

May I present to you what I believe is straight from the good Lord: Moroccan Oil. This little bottle came home with me and I used it for the first time today. It is an oil, so you have to be careful but it was the trick I needed. My hair looks silky smooth and feels so soft. This stuff is miracle working! Don't walk, run to your nearest hair product buying place and get your own. You will thank me for it.