A Non Runner Running

Farewell (For Now At Least)

2009-06-24T17:30:00.013-05:00

This blog started out as a place to record my half marathon training and running experiences. When I first decided to run, I looked around on the Internet for any examples of a complete nonrunner succeeding at finishing a half. I found little snippets, but I wanted to know it all---the good, the bad, the ugly. Since I never really found a "start to finish account", I posted it all here--what my

Belated Birthday Post

2009-05-29T07:40:00.002-05:00

Well, this is belated. Hubby turned 32 on Sunday, and I'm just getting around to "publicly" proclaiming the big day. His birthday always falls on Memorial weekend so we usually go out of town for his birthday. I was trying to remember where all we've been for the last 9 birthdays we've been married and came up with a list:2001-Lake Tahoe (first vacation as a married couple, other than our

I'm Back! What I Thought of Twilight~

2009-05-28T11:50:00.003-05:00

Okay, seriously, enough is enough. I have officially closed the last Twilight book. I can't believe I enjoyed them as much as I did! I usually like "snobbier" literature, though I certainly make time for "lighter fare" like the Shopaholic Series when I just need a funny, mindless read. But in general, I like "heavier" reading, particularly books that incorporate other cultures. And I despise

What Is Going On?

2009-05-21T13:53:00.002-05:00

I cannot believe it's been almost a month since I've blogged! I have four reasons for not blogging:1. Twilight2. New Moon3. Eclipse4. Breaking DawnI've only got about 1/5 of Breaking Dawn to go so I should be back to "normal life" after this weekend!

One Year Anniversary

2009-04-28T07:36:00.002-05:00

It was exactly one year ago today that we started the program to learn how to run 30 minutes. Since then, we have:Ran 5 5K'sRan 1 10kRan 1 12kRan 3 half marathonsGuess how long since I last ran though? March 11! Wow. That's a long time. I'd be lying if I said I haven't enjoyed the break. But strangely enough...I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss it. I really have. Weird.I'm getting back

Happy Birthday, Brody Parker!

2009-04-27T20:15:00.004-05:00

Little buddy, you have no chance with a mama and 2 older sisters that adore you like they do (not to mention your Aunt Min!). You have the cutest disposition, will say anything, and you take to me like we've spent more time together than we really have which just thrills me to no end! It was the sweetest thing in the world when I came to stay the night and you cried because you couldn't ride in

Kauai Day 7: Last Day Here

2009-04-26T23:42:00.006-05:00

Well, the sun has finally set on our time in Kauai!What a trip! Thank you, thank you, sweet sister of mine for providing us with such a lovely place to stay!We had to be out of the room by 10am so we got up, had breakfast, and packed up. The resort held our bags for us and had a hospitality suite where we could sign up for an hour window to shower and such before catching our flight at 10:45pm

Kauai Day 6: Finally...Some Down Time!

2009-04-25T23:53:00.006-05:00

Ahhh....finally...a day we can relax...We woke up to a sunny morning so we decided we would stop at the lighthouse, walk along a neat "boardwalk" we saw, and walk into Kapa'a and have breakfast. We got coffee and breakfast at Java Kai then sat at a picnic table by the water and enjoyed the view...Then we went to Hideaway Beach, a secluded beach near our resort and hung out for several hours. We

Kauai Day 5: Kalalau Trail and Ke'e Beach

2009-04-24T17:52:00.001-05:00

We were tuckered out yesterday so we planned to take it easy today. It was supposed to overcast and rainy on the north shore, but we thought we'd just hang around the resort and rest. However, when we woke up, it was sunny! We decided we couldn't waste the good weather so we decided to hike the Kalalau Trail along the Napali Coast. There's a 2 mile hike to a beach, then if you go another 2 miles

Kauai Day 4: Wings Over Kauai & North Shore

2009-04-23T20:23:00.013-05:00

Oh my stars. If you ever come to Kauai, do the Wings Over Kauai flight. I'm too chicken (and frankly too cheap) to go on a helicopter tour. So based on some awesome reviews on Fodor's and Trip Advisor we did a WOK flight. I'm not much for planes or heights so I was skeptical to say the least. I'm happy to report that it was incredible. Bruce and his wife Ellen run the business. They're from

Kauai Day 3: Wimea Canyon

2009-04-22T23:57:00.015-05:00

It was raining again on the north shore so we went to Wimea Canyon on the west side today. Wow. We stopped for lunch, then had a shave ice at Jo Jo's, which is supposedly the best shave ice on the island. It was yum.Then went to the Canyon and stopped at several lookouts before going on the Canyon Hike. It was a 3 mile round trip.Not too long, but it was basically 1.5 miles going down and 1.5

Kauai Day 2: South Side

2009-04-21T23:03:00.005-05:00

If the rest of our days are anything like today, it's going to be a better trip than I expected. We woke up early, drank a cup of coffee on our balcony, then fixed breakfast. It was overcast and expected to rain on the north side so we headed to the south side, which is known as the sunny side.We stopped at a couple of water falls on the east side first. We saw Opaeka'a Falls and Wailua Falls.

Kauai Day 1: We're Here!

2009-04-20T23:48:00.001-05:00

We arrived in Kauai on time with no problems at 2:00pm local time (Kauai is 5 hours behind CST). It was raining when we got here and continued to be rainy and overcast most of the day. We went to a local farmers market and had fun buying local vegetables and fruits to try while we're here. Then we went to Wally World in Lihue to get other goods for the room--namely things to cook for breakfast

Heading for Vacation!

2009-04-18T13:36:00.002-05:00

I am never more productive than the week before I leave for vacation. I worked like a dog this week, but I can't complain because it was all so I could spend a week in Kauai! Hopefully I get a chance to blog while I'm away. If not, I'll post pics upon my return!

Easter Weekend

2009-04-16T10:00:00.003-05:00

We had a fun filled weekend! We got to go to dinner and hang out with our friends, David and Christine on Friday night. Then Saturday we went to Lubbock for the Easter weekend. Just happened to be Blaze's birthday so we were able to enjoy his party. He wasn't too sure about the whole thing until he was presented with an unfettered opportunity to consume a ton of sugar!We went bowling with the

Happy Birthday, Bailey Hope!

2009-04-15T22:29:00.005-05:00

Sweet Bailey Hope's birthday is today! She's my brother's oldest, has the gentlest disposition, yet is rough and tough at the same time! Everyone says she looks just like her Aunt Min and while I don't really see it, I think it's about the highest compliment I could receive because she is A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E! Love you sweet girl!

Happy Birthday, Blaze!

2009-04-11T08:29:00.002-05:00

If it wouldn't be so obvious it was me, I would kidnap this little feller! I love/adore/cannot get over the miracle of all of my nieces and nephews, but there's just something about Blaze-r (love calling him that b/c we've always called my little brother Heath-er). Maybe it's because he's my little brother's, and I admire how my little brother beats to his own drum (even when others don't like

Easter

2009-04-10T07:20:00.003-05:00

Easter was never a particularly religious holiday growing up. While symbolically it's celebrated as the resurrection, our church never really got into the symbolism on that day. The idea was to celebrate His resurrection every Sunday. I get the point of that (i.e. don't just focus on His resurrection one Sunday; celebrate it every Sunday), but as I've gotten older, it rather resembles my

Redeemed

2009-04-09T07:45:00.003-05:00

I have no idea why my posts are "heavy" this week. Maybe it's because I'm deep in my Esther study. Maybe it's being reflective about the 10 year anniversary of my Mammaw's death. I don't really know.I keep running into the word "redeemed". I heard it in the sermon on Sunday, read it in my Esther study, and saw it on Angie's blog. I looked it up, and a couple of the definitions on the Free

Ten Years

2009-04-08T07:45:00.003-05:00

10 years. 3,650 days. Some days it feels like just a moment ago. I was in college. It was a Thursday. I was planning on ditching class on Friday and coming after my Thursday classes. I planned on relieving Mom and her sisters. I already knew what I’d do first—rub lotion on your back. You asked me to do that when I saw you for the last time, and I still remember you saying, “That feels

It's Tough Being a Woman

2009-04-07T07:21:00.002-05:00

My sis bought me Beth Moore's new study, Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman for my birthday back in January. I just now finally started it...and I cannot put it down! If you're looking for a study to do in your quiet time, I highly recommend it.

Weight Watchers Report: Weeks 5 and 6 of 8

2009-04-06T12:00:00.004-05:00

Weight Watchers? What Weight Watchers? I am officially off plan, with no desire to go back on. That's $65 I will never get back.This is the second time I've done this. Second. It took about 3 weeks last time for me to permanently fall of the wagon, too.This is what I do. I get all fired up for a weight loss plan. I do really well for a week or 2, I wane the third week, and by the fourth

Happy First Birthday!

2009-04-05T19:09:00.006-05:00

One year ago today, my twin nieces, Kassidy Ann and Kinley Janelle were born. They were early and spent some time in NICU, but they've been thriving ever since. They love to snuggle, smile, and explore. They will no doubt be double the trouble, but right now they are twice the fun! Love you, little ladies. Can't wait until you're old enough to have a sleepover at Aunt Min's!(P.S. The little

Decorators are Worth Every Penny

2009-03-26T19:45:00.002-05:00

I hate decorating. I'm an OCD, linear, non-creative person. I like neutral colors, symmetry, and matching. None of those qualities are conducive to decorating. My boss's wife is a decorator, and she decorated our formal dining, formal living, kitchen and den. We saved for these big projects, and had her finish them as they fit in our budget. Four years after moving in, there are still several

One of the Reasons I Love This Man.

2009-03-25T22:41:00.001-05:00

This past weekend was a big weekend at our house...the first full weekend of March Madness. Thanks to the DVR, we are able to multi-task this MM season. A couple of things my husband did on Saturday (totally unprompted I might add):Mowed the lawn and cleaned out the flower beds.Washed the windows.Suggested we switch out our closets and drawers from fall to spring.No lie.I. Love. This. Man.And he

Girls' Weekend Pictures

2009-03-25T07:38:00.004-05:00

My mom sent me some pictures she took from our girls' weekend, and I just had to share. Love these gals! We are in my husband's aunt's backyard, and it is so gorgeous! Staying the weekend there is like being at a resort!

Happy Birthday, Kamryn Paige!

2009-03-24T14:24:00.004-05:00

Six years ago today, my independent, smart, sassy, and incredibly spirited niece, Kamryn Paige, was born! She makes me laugh with her funny comments, makes me cry with her sweet prayers, and I feel a special kinship with her because we're both "little sisters". Have a happy birthday, love!

Weight Watchers Report: Week 4 of 8

2009-03-24T13:24:00.004-05:00

Week: -.5Total: -3.5Okay, so not a stellar week, but still some loss. I'll take it! I'm a little bit discouraged that I'm supposed to be down 6 pounds by now (goal was to lose 3 pounds every 2 weeks), and I'm obviously off mark, but I know why so I'm not too surprised. Weekend visitors, a weekend girls' trip, and March Madness is usually a recipe for weight gain so I'm trying to look at it

March Madness

2009-03-19T07:35:00.000-05:00

Is it just me, or does March Madness seem like a 3 week Super Bowl party? Just makes me want to eat pizza and wings! Not good. Steady progress on weight loss is not looking good at the moment. I think I'll be focusing on maintenance the next week or 2. Sigh...

Losing in the Championship is Better Than Not Playing in the Championship.

2009-03-18T07:34:00.002-05:00

We had such a fun weekend at the Big 12 Women's Basketball Tournament! There were 11 games over 4 days. Mom and Lori caught 10 of them, and I caught 8 of them. Lots of basketball! We saw so many buzzer beaters, and we got to see the Aggies play 3 times. We watched them beat K State in a close call, upset OU, and then finally fall to the Baylor Bears. The loss in the championship was

Weight Watchers Report: Week 3 of 8

2009-03-17T07:30:00.000-05:00

Week: 0Total: -3No weight loss this week, but no weight gain either so that's a good thing! I did fairly well with eating this week. I tried to strictly adhere to my points during the week because I was going out of town Thursday through Sunday. I tried not to completely over do it this weekend, and mostly succeeded except for a night of Mexican food for Mom's birthday.I'm in town for the

Oh, My. Must Try.

2009-03-16T07:42:00.000-05:00

I picked up some plain, 2% Greek Yogurt at the store last week (I bought the FAGE brand --pronounced fa-yeh--and found it at Natural Grocers, but I know United Supermarkets has it, too).Oh. My. To. Die. For. Seriously.1 cup of it (of the 2% kind) has 150 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, and 19 grams of protein! 19 grams of protein? I've been having it for breakfast (and even had it one night for

Other Sports I Love

2009-03-12T07:55:00.002-05:00

Today I'm going to Oklahoma City for the weekend to watch the Women's Big 12 Basketball tournament with my mom and my sis. I am so excited! I'm certainly there to root for my Aggies, but in general, I just love to watch good basketball.Sports were a huge deal in my family. All 4 of us played sports growing up so not only were we playing a lot of sports, but we were watching each other play a

Does Muscle Weigh More Than Fat?

2009-03-11T07:55:00.000-05:00

Nope. 5 pounds is 5 pounds. But look how much less space 5 pounds of muscle takes up:Isn't that unbelievable? That motivates this gal to keep exercising and step up the strength training!

Weight Watchers Report: Week 2 of 8

2009-03-10T07:45:00.000-05:00

Weigh In -1Total -3I lost my mind! Not really, but I read that the human brain weighs 3 pounds, and I've lost 3 pounds so far so I've kind of "lost my mind".I had a good week. I stayed on track through the week and planned to save plenty of points for the weekend since we were on a different schedule than we're used to. I did goof up on Sunday night because we went out to eat, and I hadn't

Not Just the Two of Us

2009-03-08T20:56:00.010-05:00

We have an even dozen nieces and nephews (8 from my side; 4 from his). Most of them have stayed at our house before, but we have never had any sleepovers without parents. This weekend we had my older brother's 2 oldest children stay over (almost 7yo and 4yo). There was a local production of Peter Pan, and we got tickets. The rest of the weekend...we just planned to have a good time. Here's

What’s Up Next for Running?

2009-03-06T08:00:00.000-06:00