This was actually supposed to be a two lane highway. But with the snow it was down to about one and even that was difficult to drive through.
The Cadillac was losing traction but since it's a pretty heavy car it didn't slide off to the 4-6" of snow on the side.
However the main goal was to get through the Mountains of TN and NC and not get stuck there. I made it back to Raleigh at 1am.

Any type of rejection is my now my biggest fear.
So Love Many, Trust Few or None in my Case
and Always Paddle Your Own Canoe.

I would count running as one of the more expensive exercise routines/hobbies. A gym membership would probably be cheaper. For instance in the past 6 weeks I have purchased:

New shoes $130 (every 4 month replacement)

Cold winter tights $70

Cold winter pullover $70

Thermal Socks $15

Battery for heart rate monitor/watch $15

Road Race Fee Nov: $34.20

Road Race Fee Dec: $74.20

Total: $ 408.40 YIKES

And all that is right before Christmas...I tried not running for about two weeks (I was freezing/it was too cold to run in my clothes from last year) but I was loosing my sanity. So I cracked and just bought nice new warm running gear. Now I can run in 15 degree weather ;) Whatever at least this addiction isn't alcohol or heroin or something right?

And Cherith insists' it's still cheaper than the many health conditions/complications that unhealthy Americans face today from Obesity.

Race Eve

So here I am the night before the Race! And I'm a little anxious. It's funny because just last week my running partner and I (her name is Cherith...also the most wonderful person I have ever met in my life) were talking about how we were a bit nervous. And yes we've already been nervous for more than a week or a few days; but we were talking about how we have "Test Anxiety" in college. And 'Test anxiety' is a real disorder that is mentally draining because you study and study but then you get so worked up about the test and worrying you will do poorly that sometimes you actually do poorly.
Well I well worry about everything, and probably have anxiety about anything that I can plan for, it's in my nature. I’m a perfectionist.
So testing aside; Cherith and I trained for months for this race and here we are laughing about how we are a bit anxious.....is there such a term as "RA"...."race anxiety"...probably not but we are making it one!
But just so we are clear my "race anxiety" does not mean that I am not super excited and prepared and ready at the same time!!! I mean yes I am nervous, my stomach is doing little flips, this is a big race-I don't know what to expect or what it will be like or how many spectators I don't know will be watching me...basically there are a lot of 'what if's?'
But you know Cherith and I have trained and run and sweat through the hottest months of the year. We have raised $2,400 for Blood Cancer Research! We have run 500 miles since the start of our training program through different terrain- pavement, gravel, trail, hills, flats, and sand. Umstead State Park has some of the most grueling inclines but the loveliest scenery. And because of that I am in the best shape of my life.
I feel like I'm much stronger physically than I ever used to be. I am stronger mentally too. But that's the key you really have to get through the tough stuff to get to the good stuff. Marathon training is probably a lot like life. You have to look back and think 'wow I stretched myself to limits I never thought possible, like a rubber band, but it never broke', you have to think about where you are now to really appreciate how far you've come, and the biggest reward for never giving up will be crossing the finish line.
p.s. I have also burned about 51, 500 calories during training season, lost several pounds, became much leaner, developed muscles in places in didn't know I would simply by running and anyone who wants to do the same should join TEAM IN TRAINING. I went from being a boring 3-5 mile runner to a long distance runner with their help ;) Become a runner while raising money for cancer??!! Why not!!

I wonder why certain people are such good listeners but the one person who promised me everything is terrible at it.

I want to go back to a time when no one ever burned me.
Nothing ever left me scarred.
And no one would desert me.
I wish it could stay that simple.

Bike Riding and Cross Training

To take time time off from running each week and to give my legs a break I have started to cross train with bike riding. If you ask me bike riding is not really a break on my legs. Bike riding is much harder and makes my leg muscles burn in places that running never does.

Bike riding seems to be easier on my knees in general yet somehow getting up hills while bike riding is exhausting-I'd rather just get off the dang bike and walk or run.

Plus I dislike wearing a helmet.

Well for now I am cross training with bike riding and I am enjoying it somewhat, but I'm think I'm a true runner at heart and now I know triathlete may not be in my future.

I really dislike swimming. I am not totally crazy about biking, I only love to run.

But here is me on my bike with that awesome helmet on.

Don't laugh I was mountain biking so helmet is required ;)

p.s. my dad got me another bike that is much lighter than this one. So now I have a Cannondale and a Greg Fisher. One for trail riding and one for road riding. My dad loves bike riding...gggrreeeaaaatttt.

16 miles and 2 more blisters.

Thankfully the weather is starting to cool off. I ran 16 miles this weekend just to see if I could do it. I did it. It went well and my legs don't feel tired but my body does.

I also realized that higher mileage is much easier when you stretch ;) who would have thought....if you just take that extra 5 minutes to stretch before and after you feel so much less stiff.
I've been a runner for years; it's not like I haven't heard "stretch, you need to stretch", it's just that I'm impatient and stretching takes extra time.
So here I am lunch time on Sunday after my 16 mile weekend and I feel really good because I came home and stretched for 15 minutes.

Hopefully I will feel okay tomorrow morning too. I could probably stand to eat a little more that might help with my body feeling so tired.

Shoes Post!

I have several different pairs of shoes. The two pairs on the right are actually older and I keep for "back up". Meaning days where it's really rainy or the trails are muddy. I don't want to ruin my newest running shoes. And since I have started this marathon training I have already gone through two sets of shoes. Well technically I am on my second pair. I started with the purple saucony (which I really loved) but they already had a lot of miles on them and then I began training, adding many more miles and my shins/knees could really feel it....so I bought some new sneaks. I decided to branch out. I don't typically buy the same name brand or shoe over and over again. I like variety in my running shoes. So this go round I bought the adidas ones (second pair from the left). I haven't worn adidas for running since high school. I am really enjoying them! They are very roomy in the toe box and they are great for pronation and support. However, I kept getting blisters when running gravel trail and many trails in Umstead State Park. After an 8 mile run and 6 blisters on one foot I decided something had to change. So I bought a pair of trail running shoes (on the far left) and actually that seems to really help. I LOVE running Umstead and gravel/rocky paths in trail shoes! Apparently the denser shoe and the grip on the shoes gives me more of a grasp so I'm not sliding my foot all around which was causing all the blisters in my regular running shoe. And my ankles don't roll anywhere on uneven trail and i trust the footing much more in a trail runner on a rainy day. Definitely a good investment.

Running carries me through some of the most beautiful scenery. I have discovered the coolest placest in Raleigh to run. Trails that seem to last forever. And nobody is ever on them. In the middle of the city, it's like my own personal secret refuge. I didn't used to run quite as much as I do now. I have taken to running because I am training for a race but possibly because it's a way to escape my life for just a while.

Pearl in the snow

Robbie (my brother) and his dog Reece