My Race Bucket List

Since I'm under doctor's orders not to run until Tuesday, I thought today would be a good chance for me to share my race bucket list with everyone!

runDisney races

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I would like to do every runDisney race at least once, including the Coast to Coast Challenge.  I'll get my first taste of it next year at the Disney Princess half marathon and I am so excited about it!!

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I've read about these races, and what an amazing weekend it would be - cocktail party, a half marathon, and getting pampered at some of the most beautiful resorts in the country.

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Maybe not necessarily next year as we already have a few trips planned, but I would love to participate in one of the Nike half marathons.

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This is THE race to do in Atlanta.  Held every year on July 4th, over 60,000 participants gather in Buckhead to run the 10k and receive the coveted Peachtree Road race shirt.  It can be difficult to get into the race as it's done by a lottery system, so I've made sure to run some Peachtree qualifiers this year!

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I have always wanted to go to wine country in California...wouldn't it be amazing to RUN through it??  

I'm sure my list will continue to grow, but that's all I've got for now.

J, my brother, my dad, and I are all headed to Columbia tomorrow for the UGA/South Carolina game.  Go Dawgs!!!  Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Until next time,

Jen

Done with Doctors (for the time being)

This week has been full of something no one enjoys doing....going to the doctor.

Tuesday I went to get my blood pressure checked out - it's been a little high and since heart disease runs in my family, I wanted to make sure everything was okay...don't really want to keel over during a race or something.  So it's official - I do have hypertension, and I have meds to help get it down.  He doesn't want me running until next Tuesday as the meds can make my blood pressure drop and make me feel bad, so he wants me to give my body a chance to get used to it.

But honestly -

Yesterday, I drove back to my orthopedist for a follow up on my knee.  I ended up seeing his PA as my doctor was out sick.  He said that as long as I felt my knee was not getting any worse, I was good to go.  If I feel that it does get worse I can call and make an appointment for an MRI and then surgery is the next option.  We talked about how much surgery would set me back, and while it would only be about a month or so, it's not something I want to do at this time.  It does hurt every now and then, but I've had knee pain for over 10 years.  As long as it doesn't keep me from running, I'll just wear the brace and take Aleve :)

Until next time,

Jen

Catch up!

Sorry I've been absent! My brother came and spent the weekend with me, so we hung out, watched football (our Dawgs won!!) and I even took him out on a short two mile run.

So tomorrow I begin my official half marathon training!  I'm going to start off with the program that Jeff Galloway developed for the Disney Princess half marathon and modify it to best suit me and my goals.  After hearing about my friend's experience with the Tower of Terror 10 miler this past weekend, I absolutely cannot wait until February.  I've already started thinking costumes.

In case you guys are interested, Girls Gone Sporty is hosting a challenge for the month of October. It's called the #WickedWallies Challenge. It involves a cash giveaway as well as a grant fund.  Check it out and sign up!

I have a follow up with my doctor Wednesday about my knee.  It's still kind of bothering me and the knee brace he gave me is a little big (it keeps sliding down when I run) so hopefully he won't recommend surgery and he can give me a different brace.  Fingers crossed!!

Until next time,

Jen

Wordless Wednesday

Seven Days Is Long Enough

It's been seven days since my 15k, and seven days since I last ran.  That was the farthest I've ever run and my body was very sore for a few days.  I had plans to run this weekend but it didn't happen, so I'm determined to get back out there and do a few short runs this week.

I do not have another long run race scheduled as of now before I run my first half marathon, so I want to focus on some speed training to help shave some time off my runs.  I've been doing a little research on different workouts I could use, but if you have any that you recommend I'm definitely open to them!

Short and sweet post today, so I'll leave you with a bit of inspiration-

Until next time,

Jen

Getting a Head Start

Christmas is less than 100 days away!  It's probably one of my most favorite times of the year...I love shopping and finding the perfect gift for my loved ones.  I've already purchased a small gift for J as well as his birthday gift (it's in October), and last night I started on my mom and grandmother's Christmas gifts.

My mom LOVES to bake.  Growing up baking Christmas cookies was always a big deal in my house.  Mom would make the dough and roll it out, and my brother and I would use the cookie cutters and then sprinkle colored sugar on them before they went into the oven.  My mom goes through a lot of vanilla extract, and I found a recipe on Annie's Eats for a DIY vanilla extract recipe.  Perfect!

I bought the bottles at Sur La Table and they were really inexpensive.  If you plan to buy a few, sign up for their email list and they'll send you a coupon for $10 off your purchase.  I ended up spending only $12 for 5 bottles.  Score!

The recipe is super simple - tight sealing bottles, cheap vodka, and vanilla beans.  I bought my vanilla beans off Amazon as it was a LOT cheaper to do it that way than to buy them in a store, and I got more...got 16 beans for $12.  I bought them from the same supplier that Annie buys hers from as well.

No need to clean the bottles as the vodka is strong enough to sterilize them.  Split the vanilla beans and put 3 beans in each 8 ounce jar.

Fill the bottle up with vodka and seal it.  Place them in a dark, cool place for 2 months and shake occasionally.

I *really* hope these turn out.  I'll post some progress pictures as the process goes on.

Got a couple of runs on the books for this weekend...I've been taking some time off after running the 15k, and I'm ready to hit the pavement again.

Are you an early shopper when it comes to Christmas?

Until next time,

Jen

A Little About Me

I found this on one of my fellow Sweat Pink sisters blog, Glenneth over at Let's Talk and Walk and thought it might be a fun read for my new readers.  Here goes nothing!

Question 1: Do you have any pets?
Answer 1: Yes - we have our dog, Guinness, 2 bearded dragons (Chicken and Bizkit), and a leopard gecko 

Question 2: Name three things that are physically close to you:
Answer 2: my iPad, UGA blanket, throw pillow

Question 3: What’s the weather like right now?
Answer 3: Cool and rainy tonight

Questions 4: Do you drive ? If so, have you crashed?
Answer 4: I drive when I'm alone...my husband drives otherwise, and yes, I've had a couple of accidents

Question 5: What time did you wake up this morning?
Answer 5: 6::30 to get ready for work

Question 6: When was the last time you showered?
Answer 6: this morning!

Question 7: What was the last movie that you saw?
Answer 7:  I watched "Sex and the City 2" yesterday

Question 8: What does you last text message say?
Answer 8: I don't know where my phone is at the moment to check :P

Question 9: What is your ringtone?
Answer 9: The standard ring on the iPhone for everyone except my husband..his is "Lucky" by Jason Mraz

Question 10: Have you ever been to a different country?
Answer 10: I've been to Canada as well as some countries down in the Caribbean (Barbados, Antigua, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Grand Cayman, Jamaica)

Question 11: Do you like sushi?
Answer 11: I enjoy some of it

Question 12: Where do you buy your groceries?
Answer 12: Publix or Kroger

Question 13: Have you ever taken any medication to help you fall asleep faster?
Answer 13: I usually have no problem falling asleep :)

Question 14: How many siblings do you have?
Answer 14: 2 younger brothers

Question 15: Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop?
Answer 15: We have a laptop and a Netbook and 2 iPads

Question 16: How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
Answer 16: 31

Question 17: Do you wear contacts or glasses?
Answer 17: Nope!  Although my husband thinks I should

Question 18: Do you color your hair?
Answer 18: I haven't in awhile

Question 19: Tell me something you are planing to do today:
Question 19: Work!

Question 20: When was the last time you cried? 
Answer 20:  Yesterday

Question 21: What is your perfect pizza topping?
Answer 21: peppers, onions, olives, tomatoes, pineapple

Question 22: Which do you prefer, hamburger or cheeseburger?
Answer 22: Cheeseburgers 

Question 23: Have you ever had an all nighter?
Answer 23: Ah, those late nights in college studying for finals

Question 24: What is your eye color?
Answer 24: Brown

Question 25: Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke?
Answer 25: Yes! I'm born and raise in Georgia...Pepsi is a no-no.  Coke is it.

Feel free to copy and use in your own blog!

Until next time,

Jen