Tag Archives: ellen

First 10K: Check

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Well friends, I ran my first 10k last Saturday. I was nervous because I had been sick for a few weeks prior, and hadn’t had a chance to run between my 5k on Thanksgiving and my 10k on December 8th, but I just figured I’d do the best I could do, and that was that.

I ended up finishing in 1:22, about a 13:22 pace. Slower than I would have liked, but still, as I crossed the 5k mark, I knew that I was running further than I ever had. And no matter what, every pace past that was a personal best.

Here we are at the finish – how cute are we, despite our tiredness?

We met up with Jen and Aaron, who were about to run the 5k, and color coordinated even though we didn’t realize it!

Ellen’s dad came out and was there close to the finish line, cheering on the runners, and giving me a high-5 when I past, despite the fact that Ellen had finished 17 minutes earlier…his smile and encouragement DEFINITELY got me going for the last .2 miles, indeed! Not to mention running into Jen, Aaron, and Jeff, who jumped in and finished the race with me!

Here we are looking for Ellen’s name, and my name, but more importantly, look at our cute hair ribbon that Ellen made for us!

Overall, I am glad I finished, that I didn’t finish horribly, and that I had such a great support group there to watch us run! I can’t wait to run another race and to work towards another goal, and luckily we have one coming up in February.

Hope you’re getting some goals ready for 2013, friends!

two minutes, fifteen seconds.

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So today Ellen, Jeff, and I completed our 80s-themed 5k.

It was Ellen and Jeff’s first competitive race, and my second, and we all managed personal bests! For me, I ran two minutes, fifteen seconds faster than my race last year with my sister. For that race, I trained for five and a half weeks, taking nearly two weeks off during training for when I was traveling across country with Corelyn.

This year, I trained for eight weeks, missing only one training day, despite making two cross-country trips during those eight weeks. (And, it should be noted, that running and I took a break between the two trainings – I ran maybe five times between the two trainings.)

I think my dedication to racing paid off, and gave me the desire to (gulp! I never thought I’d say this) run another race! Even though it was 85 degrees when we finished and we were all hot, exhausted, and sweaty, we all managed to discuss another race (maybe in the spring?) before heading home.

The race being 80s themed helped – lots of people dressed up, ready to race in tutus and leotards and pink tights. It also helped to have two novice runners with me instead of one experience runner (sorry Nik, but you’re a speed-demon) and it helped that instead of 40 degrees and sleeting, it was 80 degrees, sunny, with a slight breeze. And, there was no looping — one large loop (instead of 2.5 smaller ones at the Ann Arbor race.)

Here we are at the finish of the race!

I had a blast running with Ellen and Jeff, and know they had fun too — and I am proud of myself for running in sub-40, and beating my time from last race AND last weekend when I ran my practice 5k around the course at the Rose Bowl.

Here are the medals we got at the finish!

Next up, maybe we’ll run an 8k or 10k…the sky’s the limit, folks! Until then, I am spending the rest of the day preparing for an amazing long weekend, proud that our team finished strong.

 

Escondido Falls, Malibu.

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Yesterday to curb our sickness (and because it was pre-planned, who are we kidding?) Jeff and I headed out on a couple hour hike in Malibu with Ellen, Melissa, and Cricket. It was a great hike – challenging, but worth it. I’d like to go back in April when I am sure the waterfall is flowing faster, but August’s falls were great, too. Here are some photos.

 

We walked to the trail from the PCH, which was along a beautiful road through Malibu’s mansions.

About a half mile in, we arrive at the trail head!

Not even a mile into the trail we decide to stop and climb a tree.

On our merry way, finally making some time.

Things starting to get steep…

After two waterfalls and using ropes to climb, we finally get to the third waterfall.

Wading in, but not too far, as there were some snakes in the water…

Extra little hike with Jeff. Climbing down when we realized it didn’t go anywhere but a rock overlooking the ocean.

Please note how dirty I am.

Back to the girls, all rinsed off.

Headed back down.

For more photos, check them out on Jeff’s site. Thanks, Jeff, for documenting!

shower the people.

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I’m feeling love, today, friends.

And so, I shower the people I love. with love.

Mary: Happy Birthday, lady! Happy 25. Happy done with 365. Happy new job where you get paid to do what you love. Happy summer. Happy memorial day. Happy I’m glad you’re alive and we’re friends.

Ellen: I am so proud of you in your new venture. You’re a champion of the world, and I know that getting the opportunity to get paid to write is the start of something big!

Katie: Happy belated b-day, lady. And happy back to the US, been to London, and holy crap! writing mag release is inching closer every second! I miss you every second of every day.

Nikki: Happy almost wedding. I promise to be more organized from here on out ;). Happy race weekend, and happy maybe running in clouds not pouring rain? You are awesome.

Marissa: I was thinking about you last night and sending you love vibes. It was when I was thinking to myself, “Man, I have such successful friends.”

Corelyn: I miss your face. But I have big things planned for GMS. Does that abbreviation work, by the way? I don’t know if it does. Anyways, I am excited. Hug Meg and Mary for me. Twice.

SS: I saw pregnant in heels the other day. It made me want to be rich and pregnant and live in New York. You could be my fabulous (although not uber gay) best friend and we could stroll around bossing people around looking hot. Thoughts? I miss your face and wish, poor and not pregnant, we could hang out more.

Megan, where have you been all my life? Let’s hang out soon. Rebecca, I loved seeing you two nights in a row. Let’s rinse and repeat soon. Melissa, good luck today. Jen, hope you’re feeling so excited as you leave SO SOON for such an adventure! Caitlin, thanks for bringing brie to book club. You rock my socks. Suzanne, welcome to book club and I hope we don’t scare you. Liz, thanks for always understanding that I need you to go with me on my errands because I need a second opinion, always. Courtney, Memorial Day plans worked to our favor, yesssss. Barbra, Fanboy Comics has been stellar lately. You are working so hard, and I hope we can have a girls night soon to celebrate. Traci, Marc Broussard. You, me. So excited. Jessica, can’t wait to see your new place! Cricket, I think you should reconsider joining book club, because we seem to talk about you every book club anyways. I’ll even consider reading another Nora Roberts. C’mon…. Ana, I am excited that you’re not going away this weekend because I’m selfish. There, I said it.

Shower your people with love, guys! Happy Thursday!!

Vegas was…

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Two weekends ago we went to Vegas, and I realized that I never shared with you exactly how it went. Which was excellently.

Vegas was:

In the car, ready to go. Six in, five pm. On the road. Traffic, traffic, traffic. “Hey, you guys want to go to Outback Steakhouse?” A break early on. A cheers to a good trip. Back in the car, “Hey do you guys want to play a game?” Sitting on the dock of the bay, Eminem. On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair…Matt Nathanson pulling at my heartstrings. you wear white, and I’ll wear out the words ‘I love you’ and ‘you’re beautiful’.

Dunkin’ Donuts. Heart shaped donuts. Coffee, coffee, coffee. Two runs. “How could you go to the wrong Dunkin’ Donuts?” and “Just give him the muffins!” Pawn shop, just for the photos, and onwards to Target. Quick trips. Bathing suits, a discussion of clutches, and back into the car home. Make five sandwiches at once. Lettuce, lettuce, lettuce, lettuce, lettuce. Tomato, tomato…In the bag, out the door, onto the strip. Bellagio show, oohs and ahhs and oh, mys.

Sandwiches on the go. On to the Chinese New Year display, the glass flowers, and the terrifying bunny. Screaming on account of said bunny. Pause for a photograph, and camera DOWN. Making plans on the fly, over to Paris to get an Eiffel Tower. Penny slots, bathrooms, a snack, some coffee. Some Eiffel Tower buzz. Back in the car, onto the Beatles Bar. Stop to chat with Kevin, who promises us we’ll get in just fine. Revolution, noituloveR. love. Photographs, photographs galore. Back to the car, to get ready for the evening.

Curling irons, straighteners, two bathrooms, seven girls, seven dresses. Tights, jackets, earrings, gold, silver, teal, red, ruffles, hair ties, makeup, cover up, foundation, mascara. Wait for it, wait for it….ready. Boys have been ready. Out the door, into the car, two in the back, to the strip! Dinner oh là là! C’est parfait! “Guys, I’m having a great time.” Cheers to our trip. A gluten free menu, delicious bread, surrounded by friends. Cheers to a birthday. A happy birthday dessert. “If you paired up everyone on earth with someone of the opposite sex…” and the argument that persists into the main course. Math to pay, out the door…

dance floor. Let’s get it started (in here). Dancing, dancing, dancing, “Have you met my friend?” and introductions as our own matchmaker scourges the club for suitors. But the club can’t even handle me right now/just dance (gonna be O.K.)/and tonight I’m ****ing you/don’t get fancy, just get dancey….and the DJ’s got us fallin’ in love/bottoms up/throw your hands up…and we’re IN the subwoofer…move to the front of the club, side of the club, find a friend, lose a friend, find another, chaos/go shorty, it’s your birthday/I’ve gotta feelin’…

four hours later, dance floor bumpin’ and it’s time to go. Lost wallet? Quick scan of the floor, nowhere to be seen, gotta go…3 am, in the car, consoling, because tonight’s gonna be a good night…to the hot tub. Lost some numbers, still four strong, and four a.m. comes, and time for bed.

wake. check out time, 20 minutes. Clean up, rally troops. Remember bits and pieces of last night. Move into other room. Leave four girls behind, head into bed with M and C. Snuggle. Boyfriend invasion, asking for coffee orders. God, I love this man. C orders two, but it’s her bday, so she can. Living room to hang out and watch basketball, and chat, and remember more bits and pieces…make some calls, find the city’s building, eat some donuts. Head to the police station, six in tow. Photogenic moment at the Council Chambers, misplaced green parking meter. a few minutes here, then onwards to the Mirage, for a lost card…looks like R isn’t the only one missing things…walking with the slowest security guard ever, into the secret hallways of the Mirage…card back, car full of laughter. “Who the **** is that?” on the radio, and an explanation of street vendors’ gossip.

Lions (no tigers or bears, oh my.) Meet at the lion. Lions, sleeping (18 hours a day!) and onto lunch. A hot dog, some ice cream, a bit of pizza, it sure is vacation. Back to the lion, meet at the lion, back to the hotel. Meet up with the pool crew, pack it up, head out. Twilight, dusk, and jumping photos are.a.must. “…and when i’m with you I feel like I could die and that would be all right” crank up the radio. Loading the cars, and S is on top of the SUV, and B is leaping gracefully through the photo, and everyone else is jumpin’ jumpin. If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe… Checking out, and in the car. Gas up the car, off to The Sign. Newly paved, new parking lot, they’re getting smart, walkie-talkie our locale, and it’s time for more jumpin’ jumpin’. We all smile. Dark now, ready for home, but not before one….or two….last pictures.

Hugs all around. Walkie-talkies passed out, and ready to go. Cars loaded, “Hey guys, do you want to play a game?” Chit-chatter, chit-chatter. “Hey guys, we’re going to stop at Outback Steakhouse in a few minutes, here.” Giggles, that won’t stop. Deliberation, change of plans, and…Chipotle. Eating quickly, still laughing, seemingly influenced, but completely not. Laughing, giggling, “Guys I’m having a great time.” Back in the car.

Chit, chat, chatter all. the. way. home. Squished, smeared kiss. One last photo opportunity. Laughs, and cleaning the car, and some hugs. Driving J home. One last hug. Back to bed, smiling. “I saw you spinning back in time…”

Best weekend ever.

Vegas was bliss.