I Quit Sweets Cold Turkey

Miles today: 3.5
Miles this week: 3.5
Miles in 2010: the rest of the year + 3.5

Met Austin this morning at the Greek Church to run a few. Forgot that the path would be snowy, but we ran there anyway. We had some solid snow and solid ice patches, and then some completely clear patches. We were getting tired, though, dodging the crunchy parts, so we didn't run very far. Plus it was cold and windy.

The best part about the past two months...I know you're not going to believe this...but I gave up sweets. On Halloween, after eating as much candy from my niece's stash as possible, I decided that the next day, Monday, November 1st, would be a good day to give up sweets.


Gregg said it wasn't possible and that I shouldn't give up all sweets. It would be too much to quit cold turkey.


I disagreed. I knew I had to do it. I had to give up the sweets...all of them.

So on November 1st, I quit eating candy, cakes, cookies...anything that was sweet. And I made it my goal to get to Thanksgiving without a sweet. Then, if I made it to Thanksgiving, I'd be allowed to have sweets on just Thanksgiving Thursday, and then go back to no sweets.

Guess what?


I did it. I made it all the way to T-giving without a sweet. Then, after the Turkey Trot, I marched right into a little chocolate shop in Greensburg, bought some chocolate covered Oreos, strawberries, raspberries, and chocolate Oreo bark, and started my sweets day off right.

When I got home, I had only eaten some of the Oreo bark, so I shared my confections with the fam, and ate a chocolate covered Oreo (or two) throughout the day. After our big Thanksgiving extravaganza, I ate a piece of apple pie, and then said good-night and good-bye again to the sweets of the world.

Since then, I continued on my no-sweets trend into December, with Christmas Day being the only day I would be allowed sweets. I did have a minor mess-up one night at Mi Patron a few weeks ago (I forgot and bought a York peppermint patty by accident and ate it)...but other than that, haven't eaten any sweets. Pretty good, huh?

I'm proud of myself. It's the first time ever in my life I've been able to do it. And it's really really hard.

Kind of like training for a marathon...maybe I'll do one in 2011?!

snow day

Miles today: 3.04
Miles this week: 17.8
Miles in 2010: a lot


Well, I didn't think it was going to snow. The weathermen (who are never right) kept saying we could get anywhere from an inch to 12...I didn't believe any of it. So when I went to bed last night, my expecations were none for snow.

I woke up at 6 with Gregg getting ready for work, asked if there was snow, heard there wasn't, and went back to sleep. At 7, before he left for work, he mentioned that it had started to snow.

Still thinking nothing more would come of it, I kept sleeping. At 8, when I got up, there was snow on the ground. I figured I'd run later when there was more snow, so I started to work on my blog (from last week) and tried to answer some of my 300-something unanswered emails.

When I looked outside again at 9am, the snow was coming down harder. I gave Jeff a call to see if the store was going to open, and he said that we were going to open, but that I could tell everyone else to stay home and that I just needed to come in when I could...no rush.

So, I got ready, cleaned off my car, still expecting minimal snow on the roads, and ventured off. When I made it out of my neighborhood fairly easy, I knew everything else would be fine. When I got to Wiggington the story was different. Jeff called a little after ten while I was on my way to work and said to go home, the roads were too bad. I quickly saw why. My car kept sliding off the road almost into ditches. I knew I needed to turn around, but my car kept going off the road and there was nowhere to turn around. I thought Gregg was going to have to drag me out of a ditch, but I found a turn-around spot, headed back home, and cuddled up under the covers to get warm.

All day, I tried really hard to meet Stacey for a run. We were going to try to run ten miles (5 to meet each other, then 5 back to my house) but I was just too tired and too much of a bum and hoping that Gregg would come home from work early.

Gregg didn't come home early, and I procrastinated my run until about 4:30. I finally got dressed and headed outside to run and started slipping all over the place. I ran in my Saucony ProGrid Razors (waterproof boot running shoes) and by the time I hit Wiggington, the road was slushy instead of slippery, so I was glad I had those on. My run was a short 3 mile trek, but it was hard on my legs because snow running is always harder than dry running. When I got home, I showered and then begged Gregg to drive me to Mi Patron for dinner (where I'm currently obsessed with the Tampico Special: chicken, rice, and cheese sauce served with tortilla chips...YUMMO!). We headed to dinner, stopped at Bed, Bath, and Beyond for coffee for the Keurig, and then headed home. I wasn't very productive today, but it felt good to have a day to myself.

snow and ice

Miles today: 4.0

Miles this week: 27.6

Miles in 2010: brrrr!

Sundays are traditionally 7:30am runs from the parking lot next to Isabella's in Boonsboro Shopping Center. I've grown accustomed to getting up early on Sunday mornings with Gregg and heading down to Boonsboro for a run. Most of the time, I run alone. Gregg meets up with Jonathan, JC, and sometimes others and we all run the first mile together, and then they speed up and go on for another 7 (all the way down to Riverside Park) and I chug along at my slower pace.

Today, though, we ran into trouble from last night's grumpy snow storm. Although it was beautiful during the day and fun at night during the Lynchburg Christmas parade (that's my niece Ella and her buddy Lance at the parade), we ran into a little trouble when we arose this morning and found the roads to be quite slick from the thaw and re-freeze of the wet snow/ice. So, as we ran along in that first mile, we quickly found that running fast wouldn't be very smart (to the tune of Jonathan yelping everytime he got close to falling) and we just ran along at a much slower (and safer) pace.

We only ended up running 4 miles because our normal running stride turned into a slippery/icy shuffle and we all were complaining of tired stabilizing quads and ankles by the end.

Altogether, though, it was enjoyable to see the first snow run of the 2010 winter season. It may be chilly, but it's so fun to see the weather change!

Peaks of Otter Christmas Classic

Miles today: 3.1 + 2.97 = 6.1

Miles this week: 23.6

Miles this year: !)(@$*)!

Three years ago on the first Saturday in December, Gregg picked me up for our first date. He and I had finally crossed paths enough for him to ask me to go on a date and earlier that week we had talked on the phone. He asked if I was running the Bedford Christmas Classic, which I was, and then offered to pick me up the morning of the race. So that Saturday, promptly at 6:45am, Gregg showed up at my apartment in his silver BMW Z4 with a Starbucks vanilla latte in hand. I was pumped to be getting a ride in his fancy car, but felt bad telling him that I didn't drink coffee and didn't like lattes.

So, I tried to drink some of the latte on our drive to Bedford. For some reason, we had really connected over running (being that we did meet on the 10 Miler course and all) and going to this race together was kind of special. Gregg was running on a team with some pals from Brook Food Group, Jesse Pratt and a few others, so we met in a parking lot to get everyone together. Then we all went to the middle school and picked up our packets.

When the race was over, Gregg and I waited in the gym for the results, but funny thing--the results were messed up because the race director had accidentally used duplicate numbers. So it took what seemed like hours and hours for results to be processed. I wanted to wait because Gregg had won 4th place overall and I really wanted to know if I placed in my age group. While we waited, Gregg and I talked and talked while sitting on the floor of the Bedford Middle School gymnasium. We had so much to talk about that I think we both knew something was happening between us. When the results were finally finished, Gregg won 4th place and my name was never posted. To this day, my name still isn't in those results. Gregg sent me a picture the following week:

We still laugh about those darn results. I'm pretty sure my time in that race was somewhere around 26:30.

Three years later, Gregg and I have tied the knot and are still running the Christmas Classic every year. I kind of wanted to tell the race director my story and have him design the race t-shirt in honor of our 2010 marriage, but I was a wuss about it and thought it might be conceited to think that anyone would want us on their t-shirt.

In 2008, I ran 26:35 and last year my time was 26:06. My goal this year was to beat last year's time. I ran 24:40 at the race today! I was pretty psyched to have knocked almost 1:30 off my best time on that course. Gregg was pumped for me too. We had a team lined up this year for the race. Riverside Runners was made up of me, Gregg, Ricky Flynn, Darrell Wargo, and Jordan Whitlock. Unfortunately for us, our 1st, 2nd, 11th, and 20th places weren't enough for the win (my 98th place brought our team score down), but everyone on the team placed except for me. Ricky was 1st overall, breaking the course record, winning the "top of the hill" prize, and a turkey (he won $110!), Jordan was 2nd overall, winning some prize money as well. Gregg was first in his age group and Darrell was 2nd in his age group. Here are the guys with all their winnings:

And here's Ricky's turkey:

I was proud of everyone's efforts.

After the race, Gregg and I ran the course in reverse to get in a few extra miles. It felt good to go down the Bedford Hospital hill rather than up it.

To top it all off, Lynchburg's first snow of the winter came today as well. I was pretty psyched when I got home to see snow on the mailbox. I guess that means winter is officially here.

Lynchburg Mt. Everest

Miles today: 3.3

Miles this week: 27.7

Miles in 2010: 146.5

I know, I know, there is no Mt. Everest in Lynchburg...but after the record snowstorms in the past few weeks, it does kind of look like we have snow mountains when you drive through shopping center parking lots around here.

Gregg and I went to early mass and then stopped by the grocery store so I could get stuff for baked potato soup for the Super Bowl tonight. We had a noon appointment with Captain Snow Crunch for an afternoon run.

We met in the Food Lion parking lot in Boonsboro and did about 3 miles behind the shopping center on Burnt Bridge, Indian Hill, and Mimosa.

If you've never run Burnt Bridge Road, you wouldn't realize how going up and down the hills there is pretty tough. On the way out toward Indian Hill Road, I didn't notice the hill as much, but on the way back, as you pass Peakland Pool, I was determined not to be lazy as I ran up the hill.

I pulled ahead of Gregg and Jeff (not because I'm faster than them, but just because they weren't pushing hard at that point) and pushed out the hill with consistent strides and awesome breathing. It felt so good.

Jeff said that I put my hands on my hips when I got to the top of the hill in a "look at me go" fashion...but what I really was doing was putting my hands on my hips because I was tired from the hill and needed a place to rest them. Haha.

Anyway, when we got back to the Food Lion parking lot, Jeff suggested climbing on the snow mountains, so I got out my camera and clicked a few shots...here are a few:

Jeff and Gregg pondering the sky...

pretending to be tough

I don't know what they were doing...

me and Jeff at the top of the mountain.

after the run, went home to make baked potato soup and then went to yoga at the Jamerson Y...haven't been in a long while, so it was great to get that stretching in, and Christy, the teacher, was excellent. Saw a few fellow runners in class...(hi Lloyd!) and had a great workout.

Got home just in time to pack up the soup and head out to watch the game...can't help but say that I'm proud of the Saints for dominating after the first quarter and I kind of enjoyed seeing Peyton lose. Is that mean? who cares!?

I will also admit (like Patterson) that my favorite commercial during the game was the Google.com ad about falling in love in Paris. so romantic. I think Gregg and Jeff gagged like 100 times during it. Watch it below.

great day, great run, great yoga, great game. :)

Do You Really Need Snowshoes in Lynchburg?

Miles today: 4.8

Miles this week: 18.5

Miles in 2010: 137.3

I still can't believe that we've had 15 + 14 + 4 inches of snow in Lynchburg in the past two months!

Right now it's raining ice outside and I'm just glad that I had someone to run with this afternoon.

We closed the store a little early because of the roads, and just before Chris was getting ready to leave, I asked if he needed a ride home (he ran to work). He said no, that he was going to run back, and I suggested that I run with him, being that I hadn't run yet today. He was all for it...and initially we were just going to run a mile to his house and then I would have come back alone...but then we got to talking and decided to run all the way to the end of Peakland.

I was pumped. Why?

A. I never ran with Chris before.
B. It was snowing and I love running in the snow.
C. We closed the store early, so my run would be in daylight.

I kept warning Chris how slow I would be and that he needed to be ready for it, but he said he didn't mind, so we went on our way.

Basically, the roads were covered with slush and the sidewalks were covered with snow, so anywhere we tried to run was messy.

It was fun to run with Chris because we got to talk about things we don't normally...just about running in general.

I was hoping to stop by his house after the run to have some hot chocolate with Lori, his wife, and Noah, Kristen, and Ben, his three kids, but his road wasn't very plowed, so I dropped him at the corner and made my way home...

Thanks for running, Chris! It was splendid.

have you surveyed?

only a day left to vote...don't forget to check out the poll on the sidebar!

I. Am. Tired.

Miles today: 2.4

Miles this week: 13.7

Miles in 2010: 132.5

Today's run was just a quick one...I'm tired. My. Ankles. Are. Exhausted. That means that I ran 2 miles...up and back down Rivermont.

Part of the problem is that it's much harder work to run in the snow/slush than it is to run on the regular road/sidewalk.

I am not complaining because I actually love snow running, etc...but I just feel like it's harder on my body--a more difficult workout...

I guess I should be thankful because even though I haven't worn pants this week, just shorts and capris, I haven't fallen on my bad gruesome knee, so that's a good thing. Jeff told me to keep it moist under a band-aid, and so did my sis, so I suppose for it to heal properly, I should listen...

But here we are at Friday, and here's the snowcast:

wish me luck on tomorrow and Saturday and probably Sunday's runs!

Captain (Snow) Crunch

Miles today: 4.9

Miles this week: 8.1

Miles in 2010: 126.9

I kind of think of Jeff, my boss, as the Captain of the ship at Riverside Runners. He's been at the helm since the store started nine years ago and he is so good at his job. He knows so much about running a business, selling shoes, and taking care of customers. He's really good with words and always explains himself really well. He spends lots of time meeting and talking with people who want to make a difference by putting on races in their communities. He works with lots of different venues in Lynchburg to help promote wellness and fitness in the community. He sponsors and puts on a bunch of different running events for many great causes. He's dedicated and confident. I really enjoy working for him...and even more than that, I love, love, LOVE that he supports my running project. It makes me feel like I actually have credibility. When he put the link to Project 365 on the Riverside Runners website, I was pumped.

Tonight, when I was getting ready to leave work to go for my run, Jeff got back to the store and was dressed in his running gear. That meant one thing: he was running with me!

We headed out into the blustery weather, which had picked up since earlier in the afternoon...and big huge wet snowflakes were falling down. The porch, stairs, and sidewalks were all covered and the roads were beginning to cover too...

I haven't run with Jeff since Monday, January 4...when I wrote about the Buddy System and my Cold Weather Gear Debut. Since then, we've been pretty busy at the store and then bombed with snow...so I've been getting my miles in and I haven't had a chance to run with him.

It was really fun to run with him tonight. There are several reasons:

A. Jeff is fun to talk to while running because he always has something interesting to say. (For instance, we talked about barefoot running, my recent falling history, reflective vests, etc...)

B. Jeff knows a lot about running and it makes it interesting.

C. Jeff hasn't been running a lot, so he's not going all out crazy and it feels pretty comfortable to run with him.

D. Jeff always makes me wear a reflective vest when I run with him...even though I oppose it. But then I'm always safe.

Those are just some of the reasons. Anyway, we ran down Rivermont to Oakwood Country Club, through the parking lot, and then decided to head down Peakland, too. I was suprised we would do the whole 5 miles, partially because of the weather and partially because I thought he'd want to go easy, but he pushed through and we made it all the way to the end of Peakland and then turned around and came back.

We talked a little about how some people aren't very good at shovelling their sidewalks, ran some on the road, and just kind of enjoyed the run.

It was fun to be out when the weather was kind of bad because it always feels good to hear fresh snow crunching beneath your sneakers and the feeling of snow flakes in your throat as you inhale them. Jeff's a great running partner. I'm glad I work for him.

The pictures are of us on the porch at Riverside Runners after our run. 

PS: I read somewhere that: "It is not legal for pedestrians to walk or jog in the street if a sidewalk is available." Interesting.

Icicle Eyelashes

Miles today: 5.3

Miles this week: 23.4

Miles in 2010: 114.1

I didn't believe it was going to snow.

I kept looking at the radar and it looked like the precipitation was going to stay right to the south of us.

Gregg didn't think it was going to snow either...but by the time I went to bed last night, it had started to snow. I still was a bit skeptical about how much snow was going to fall, so I went to bed with a very small anticipation of snow in the morning.

When Gregg woke me up around 7:00am, he had already been outside to shovel! I was surprised to look out the window to see 4 inches on the ground already...but I knew I had to run at 7:30, so I dragged myself out of bed, put on a hundred layers, including my magenta Smartwool beanie and Gregg and I drove out to Peakland United Methodist to meet his buddies.

I didn't have a running buddy this morning, so I ran by myself from the church out to Riverside Runners and back. This is what it looked like outside at the start:

As I started running down Peakland, the snow was blowing hard right into my face and pretty quickly the snow that landed on my eyelashes was turning into icicles.

I made it out to Riverside Runners and took another picture:

On the way back down Rivermont Avenue, I ran into a few cars that didn't want to move over for me, which was pretty rude, considering I know they had to see me...I was dressed all in black against a thick, white background. But, I made it back safely, finished about 5 miles, and grabbed my camera so I could get some more shots of the guys and our adventures.

Here's Jeff, Danny (with a snowman beard), Gregg, and Brian:

Gregg and I after we finished:

 And we all stopped at Starbucks to warm up with a hot beverage...here's Gregg and I after we dried off a bit:

 We had a great run and it probably snowed another 3 inches while we were out. Hope ya'll enjoyed the snow day!

+ (plus) one

Miles today: 5.2
Miles in 2010: 36

while running after work today, i had a significant moment of clarity while clearing my head of the days ups and downs.

and i just got to thinking that sometimes, there's just somebody in your life who just makes sense.

when I met Austin this summer, i didn't really think there'd be much more to our friendship than what we did when we worked together...she was 19, i was 27...just didn't think there'd be much between us.

but as i got to know her, i quickly learned that she was kind of like my "plus one" of running. (if you've never seen the "Plus One" episode of Sex and the City, i recommend it) Sometimes God just blesses you with someone you can just glide along with so easily...and that's her.

we started running together this summer and even though she's younger, faster, and way more in shape...we enjoyed our runs together...because it didn't mean we had to talk, it just meant that we could do it and understand each other.

she's a great girl and we logged a good many miles together before she went back to school at Wake Forest...and now when she's home, we always try to squeeze a run in. in fact, you'll remember that the crazy snow we had in lynchburg on December 18th...was just another reason for us to get out and run. here's a few photos we took during our adventures:

so what i was really just saying was that again, tonight, while alone on the Avenue, i just wished i had my plus one with me to enjoy the run. miss you!