the end

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If you are visiting from Runners’ Lounge, just check out the training segment (video number three). This is a quick (and funny) what not to do when training for your distance races. If you are preparing for your first long race and want a little knowledge about what it’s like (if you are slow and under trained), you can check out my other videos on this post and this post.

For the rest of you, just a warning before watching. All of these are kind of offensive. I sing in two of them (and it’s awful, out of breath, out of tune singing) and swear in one, and there’s a crazy old guy dancing in another. If you don’t want to watch them, that’s okay. They give even me nightmares. Although, the “training” video is pretty funny.

My personal favorite…the training segment. (Not for young ears…don’t tell my dad). My other favorite thing is the lame-o behind us at the end, hoping for 10 seconds of fame. Where? I don’t know. It’s not like my blog is going to make her famous. I have never understood people like that.

This is just some nut dancing at the end of the race. It’s kind of long and, at first, you can’t see him. But I still wanted to share.

Here we all are, the morning after; exhausted from both the race and our crazy hike after it (yes…we thought hiking to Delicate Arch would be a good idea).

Anne’s parents are my favorite. Seriously. They were fabulous for the marathon (the full in St. George) and it was so fun to drive up to Anne’s house and see this sign in the window! Thank you! Thank you!

And with that, I end my half-marathon posts (I still have some Moab stuff). I hope you have enjoyed the video journey of an under trained runner. If this has not convinced you to train before attempting distance races, I’m not sure what would. Although, hopefully, you can tell that I was enjoying myself.

the race begins

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First, for a basic run down of the weekend, feel free to visit Jen’s blog to read her post. She’s included a few things that I will probably not post about, since she already did, but that are funny and note worthy (at least to me).

And now, on to more videos.

First, the start was not the white thing you see easily…that was just a banner where the DJ was. Second, can you hear what’s playing in the background? More importantly, can you name that song? I love the music they play at races.

So, a little race education. In races, they put the slower people at the back. Generally, there is some sort of chip timing (in the bigger races) so it doesn’t really matter because your time starts when you cross the starting mats, but this way, you don’t feel lame when a gazillion people fly past you. And, you really must know I love you, my readers, because this video is kind of gross (not content, but the angle of my face), but I still felt like sharing. Um…how much are you loving my headband over my hat? A lot, right?

This is the beginning of the race…and me singing a little Dixie Chicks. I sing a lot when I run distance races. A LOT. Anne could have vouched for me, but now you will have digital video proof (there’s more to come). Don’t you love technology? I know I do. Also notice the wardrobe. Still with the headband, still with a long sleeve shirt.

So, in case you were wondering, there are several schools of thought on how to run a marathon (or half) and my favorite one is the one that includes walking breaks. Not to mention the fact that the one video I did shoot while actually running makes me a little sea sick every time I watch it. Can anyone name the Eiffel 65 song?

Yes…there’s more, but I have to get to bed. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s final video journal (and some awesome training tips).

the half marathon of death

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Okay, not really. Nobody died (at least, not that I know of). I thought I was going to a few times, but I didn’t. In an effort to document what it’s like to struggle through a half marathon having done a horrible job training, here is (after the pictures) the first in a series of videos (they take forever to upload and use lots of memory, so I’ll post a couple at a time). This is the beginning of the race, where I introduce “the band” and the buses. I hope all of all of you readers realize how much I love you, because these videos are not a good look for me (early morning, no makeup, sweating buckets, etc.), but I decided to post them anyway.
This is me, showing off my cute “frozen” look. The gloves are a new addition to the running wardrobe, and a welcomed addition they were. It was freezing!

Our fabulous feet! Can you name them?

And the band (clockwise from top left), Christy, Anne, me, and Jen . For a spoken intro, watch the videos.

I just wish that you could hear the guys behind me. They talked the entire way about what time they were hoping for on the race, how cool they were, etc. It was fantastic!
You know I love you when I publish a video where the frame that shows looks like this.

My favorite video moment is still to come, where I give advice on how to train for your next half marathon. Good times. Good, good times.

decide

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decide Look up decide at Dictionary.com
c.1380, from O.Fr. decider, from L. decidere “to decide,” lit. “to cut off,” from de- “off” + cædere “to cut” (see cement). Sense is of resolving difficulties “at a stroke.” Originally “to settle a dispute;” meaning “to make up one’s mind” is attested from 1830. Decided in the adj. sense of “resolute” is from 1790.

I think it’s interesting that one of the Latin roots of the word decide is the same root as part of homicide and suicide; cædere “to cut”.

That’s how I’m feeling about my choices for grad school. It has come down to the university where I currently work (and where I did my undergrad) and a beautiful school in Nashville, TN. I thought I had made my decision. I had prayed about it and really felt the decision was up to me, so I thought I made it. I was set. I was moving to Nashville.

But something happened yesterday, and now everything is up in the air. It wasn’t anything major. I just got an email from someone currently in the program here, and the email made me think.

So, now I’m at a 50/50 split. I really don’t know what I’m going to do. Really. I still feel like, in terms of spiritual things, God is putting the decision completely in my hands (yes, I do pray about things occasionally). I know what I thought I wanted to do, but sometimes, when I think I know what I want to do, I fail to compare the way I should. Let the comparing begin.

take it and run thursday – gear, gadgets, and equipment

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I have done a lot of writing about running. It is what consumed the better part of my summer and fall last year. So, with a post about gear, gadgets, and equipment, I decided to search my archives, and what did I find? This post, which is surprisingly appropriate, given the fact that it’s about running 13.1 miles, which is what I’ll be doing Saturday morning in Moab, UT, with three of my favorite runners; Anne, Christy, and Jen (who I’ll meet IRL tomorrow when I pick her up at the airport…I’m so excited!!!).

There’s also this post which has a picture of some of my favorite items, and yours truly after a nine mile run in June (oh how I miss the summer).

And just because I think music is necessary “equipment”, here’s a post with lots of downloadable goodness.

For more exciting info on other runners’ favorite gear, gadgets, and equipment, visit Take It and Run Thursday over at the Runners’ Lounge blog. Great stuff!