#nash2012

[bizzyinindy]

Am I the only one who hasn't gotten an email about Nashville Race photos?

I just need to see the posed pics.

[thehealthytexan-blog]

On being a marathoner...

I still don't consider myself a marathoner. Yes, I ran a marathon on Saturday but whenever people congratulate me and ask me if I feel accomplished, I don't really know what to say. Maybe because it hasn't hit me yet.

Hmmmph.

[bizzyinindy]

NashVegas...

It was the best of times, it was the, well, best of times.

It was a time that you can read about after the cut.

My trip started out with my cabbie hitting something on the highway which resulted in a flat tire about 5 blocks from where some of the internet were eating dinner.  I opted to get out of the cab and walk, because we were crawling at a snails pace in the middle of a busy road (seriously, this crap only happens to me).  I thought for sure I had brought the NOLA curse with me to Nashville.  All I could think of was the curse was going to cause GI issues in everyone and dehydration would set in.  In my mind, the world was ending.  In reality, it was a frakin' flat tire, and I probably could have changed it...but I was on vacation.  Not a good samaritan 

I met some of the internet at a place as they were finishing up desert.  Never mind I ate scarfed down pretzels for lunch (too lazy to pack a lunch, FTL) and that was the only thing I ate all day (oops).  I decided to have some beers (1 1/2) to bring up my calorie and carb intake for the day.  Proper fueling, right? Rightish.  After introductions (I got to meet Jason!), Jammy Pack showcasing, and [Michael]asking if we could chuggle at our table, we got froyo, or everyone else did and did some minor mooching. (Now that I think about it, that was double desert for some.  WAY TO GO!)  Thanks, Smit! Once again...few calories for tomorrow.

Anna let me sleep on her couch.  Claire made me a almond butter and banana sandwich in the morning. I could say I had a crap race time because I was under fueled, but that would lying to the internet face, and I gave up lying for May.  Race day was here and I was woefully undertrained. More like inappropriately undertrained (hell, most things are inappropriate about me). We met people in the corral, Tory and Tridad and began the run.  I started with Chris, Danielle and Jonathan, but after a mile I knew I was in for something I wasn't ready to handle.  Jonathan stayed back with me as the others took off.

Here is the part where I tell the world how great of a person Jonathan is.  Not only did he take part in beers, mimosas, bacon, Krispy Kemes, bananas, Jammy Pack Epicness, and all around fun, he did it with enthusiasm.  He didn't leave me.  I know at one point I was saying "leave me, man"  "I'm dying, just go".  But, he didn't.  He stayed with me, chatted, laughed, and was positive. And aside from the pain and the sunburn, I had a blast running ::cough:: walking/eating/drinking the race with him, even when mimosas were a bad choice.  We ran the last 1/2 mile in (that distance was a bit generous...) and finished together.  Thank you, Jonathan.

As for the rest of the weekend, I was so happy to see old friends and meet new ones. I finally ate at Waffle House.  I got a chicken sandwich and made friends with the truck drivers. I ate more dairy in two days than I have in 5 years.  I found out that I would like my last meal to be Golden Grahams soaked in melted cake batter froyo - A big weekend for self discovery.

That's all I have.  I'm sick of working on this thing.

There are no pictures because most were posted and I am, well, lazy.

[fitterisbetter]

I have to stop feeling like a failure and focus on the accomplishment of completing a half marathon in the hottest sweatiest hilliest town that I heart so damn much.

"Let go and get going" - The man juggling during the entire half marathon on Saturday. 

[eatclean-livefit-blog]

Nashville Race Recap

The afternoon/evening before the race was horrible. From my lost registration, to the hotel debacle, I was wondering if I should even attempt the run on Saturday. 

I got to Centenial Park shortly after 6 a.m. and meandered around for a few moments and stretched. Then I  waited in line for the port-a-potty and met a legally blind woman who is running her first marathon. She trained with her dog, but due to the heat he was not running with her on Saturday.

I got to my corral shortly before 8 a.m. and my corral left the start line shortly after 8:15 a.m. The first few miles were not too bad. As usual, my body hates me for the first mile but then it goes along with the program and goes into autopilot. 

Then I hit Music Row and the heat finally caught up with me. I absolutely thought I was going to die several times throughout the run. My body was freezing, but I was dripping sweat. My side started cramping and someone said to take salt to prevent cramps. Today, this sounds crazy but on Saturday I thought absolutely nothing of opening up two salt packets, dumping one on my tongue and the other in a cup of water at the aid station. It was a matter of survival. 

I know I saw several great signs, lots of enthusiastic cheerleaders, but for the most part the route was a blur. I remember bits and pieces of it like it was my own episode of The Hangover. 

When I got to the split around the Farmer's Market I saw the temperature was already 80 Degrees. I knew I had to finish somehow. My walk periods got longer and my runs were much shorter. One lady beside me took her shoes off and walked in her sock feet the rest of the way at that point. 

By the time we started winding through downtown, most of the people had slowed to a walk. But once I hit the bridge, I started running because I wanted to run across the finish line AND finish in less than 3 hours. I did both! Unfortunately, my husband who was waiting just across the finish line did not see me come across. I was too focused on finishing to send him an update. My last update was at mile 11. I could barely type the numbers at that point and cell service was crappy at best.

My official time is 2:57:30. I really wanted to run in 2:30-2:35, but I will take it. 

On Saturday evening, I was finally able to meet some of the Internet IRL. I really wish I could have met more of you guys and gals. Hopefully, running or life will bring us together again soon! 

[danielleruns]

Un-fucking-believable.

That's how my weekend was. There's no other way to put it.

I miss you all already.

Weekend re-cap to come when these severe emotional withdraws subside.

YOLO, bitches.

[bizzyinindy]

After a trip, I am grateful for:

A clean room

A non-chatty roommate

[A friend's] Parents who buy your cab home

WATER

Race Recap coming up.

[inasoutherlydirection]

Nashville recap

It's funny - I had an idea of what I thought the weekend would be and it ended up being completely different. In the best way. Without further ado, bullet style:

Flight drama turned out to be okay

Super excited to randomly meet up with the internet at the expo

Claire is just as outgoing and loud and awesome as you think

Awesome and HUGE expo

Cheering with Claire was awesome. She truly is a one-woman cheering machine. Seriously - you have a race? She should be there.

Met almost everyone I planned on meeting. Cough smitty & michael cough. What the crap, guys? ;)

Cheering for the race was amazing. You could see on runner's faces when you made them smile and forgot about what they were doing.

Also, seeing so many tumblr's out there was awesome

Chris gets the award for sweatiest high five

I love that I see Holly (who I hadn't met in person yet) running and she runs up and stops to hug me and then introduces herself to Claire. In the middle of the race. Love it. Meanwhile, I'm yelling - you're racing - keep running!

Also, in the middle of the race. Jonathan and J-Bizzle run up to Claire so they can run to Jose and Jonathan introduces himself. In the middle of the race.

I seriously love the priority of tumblr's. Have fun and meet new people. Oh and run too. Love, love, love.

I love Nashville. The people are great and the city is amazing.

The people I ended up hanging out with weren't the people I ever planned on meeting - in fact, didn't even follow most (95%) of them. Now, I can't imagine not knowing them.

Danielle runs and I basically started a friendship out of sarcasm and texts.

Learned a lot about country music from the hall of fame.

Kristen loses it is even sweeter in person than you could think

Chris had me laughing from the moment I met him - you just want to keep him in your pocket for when you're feeling down

I made the right decision in not ignoring doctor's orders (though I told Erica at least 10 times that I wanted to and pinned on my number more than once). It was so hot out there, I got light headed just cheering and couldn't even do the finish. This just means, I have another half in my future when I get things cleared up

I definitely left Nashville deliriously exhauted, in the best way possible. Meeting some of the internet was great. If you ever have the chance to meet up with the internet and/or do a race - DO IT.