Pump Pump pump it up!

Ok folks we're down to 12 days until race day! (can you say oh em gee?) I was feeling extremely nervous and anxious this past week for so many different reasons.
1. I haven't been keeping up with my weekly runs that help keep me loose
2. My friend Kerri's marathon was today and I was running 16 with her in support
3. My race is in 12 days!!!

As nervous as I was about all of the above running today with Kerri helped calm me down. Not only did she do INCREDIBLE I was happy that I ran 16 with her to support her. She has been such a great support system during the training, I truly couldn't have done it without her. Today really got me excited and pumped for my race. There were over 30,000 people running this race including wounded warriors... let me just tell you it was an inspiring day to see soldiers and veterans and military wives out there supporting one another. There are no other words to describe today then amazing.
I'm really glad I ran the 16 with her because it got me refocused on what's to come... 26.2 miles. I feel ready, excited, nervous, anxious, and PUMPED UP! I forgot how hard your adrenaline pumps on race day. Fans screaming, music playing, bands rocking out, and lets not forget the orange slices! I'm ready! Bring it on 26.2... you're MINE!!!!:)

Congratulations Kerri and Teresa you DID IT!!!:) So proud of you both!!

-K

count down

I can't wait to have one of these medals around my neck!!

(These are past medals but you get the idea... can't find what this years looks like)

I feel so blessed to have made it this far in my training. Some people may not understand what this race means to me. But in reality this race has a lot of meaning. I'm 18 days away from...

-accomplishing a goal I never in a million years imagined I would attempt
-pushing myself farther than I ever have
-being a MARATHON runner:)
-hugging my sister after we finish our races and telling her how proud of her I am and how much I admire her determination and drive to never give up... even when things get hard
-getting a MUCH NEEDED pedicure (my poor toes need some lovin!)
-having my weekends back/sleeping in! (even though I plan to keep up long runs)


and most importantly...
*Thanking my grandma for all of her support in everything I've done in my life. As I've mentioned before my grandma passed away this past March and it was one of, if not the most, difficult times in my life (and my families lives). We lost the rock of our family, I lost the last grandparent I had, I lost a friend and my name sake. My family lost a lot; however, we realized how much she had done for us. She had brought our family together in a way that I can never fully explain. I miss her dearly and often catch myself tearing up thinking about her. But the one thing she taught me that I'll never forget is to NEVER EVER give up. I keep her in my thoughts everyday especially when I'm running because I'm not just doing this race for myself but I'm doing it in memory and honor of my grandmother.  
My sister and I want to honor her in some way on race day and have narrowed it down to making t-shirts or getting a bracelet made (those rubber ones). We're still working on it so I'll keep you posted as to what we decide.

This is my grandma and grandaddy on their wedding day:)

So today marks the last 18 days of my first marathon and while I'm nervous as all get out I'm excited and anxious to complete something so monumental!


What inspirational people are in your lives/were in your lives that help you get through challenging times?


xoxox, 
K

I've stopped saying NEVER

• 4 years ago my in laws tried to get me to sign up for the Ukrop's 10K. I said NEVER. No interest in running.
• Now I've completed 3 of them
• 3 Years ago I said I'd NEVER do a Tri
• Now I've completed 2 sprint events
• Last year Kendayl said she was going to do the full and I said I'd NEVER do more than the 10K
• I'm now 23 days away from completing my first half marathon
• When I signed up for this half, I said that I'd NEVER do more than one. This was it.
• I have at least 3 more that I want to do and one scheduled for next March in DC

See a pattern? It sounds corny but it really is amazing what you can accomplish when you commit. There's a sign when I leave Gold's Gym that reads "Know that you'll be back tomorrow." 

I started this process with a lot of doubts. I'm not at athlete. I'm not a runner. I'm not disciplined enough. I'm not a lot of things.

Now I understand better that I AM who ever I want to be. I won't win medals but that's not the point. I am a runner because I go out and run. Because I wake up at 5:20am on Saturday mornings and join Jillian and Kendra and Matt for our long runs. I want this and that forces discipline.

4 years ago I said that I had no desire to run. Period. Last Saturday, I RAN 10 MILES!!! And I wasn't being chased! :) This goal was never meant to be accomplished by me - and yet - HERE I AM!

I heard...

I have a secret... I have an obsession with Adele and I can't control it. To the point where I repeat the same 3 songs over and over and over again. Mike has a rehab center on speed dial in case he catches me repeating the song again. It's that.bad. :) There's something about her that gets to me and pumps me up. which is ironic because they aren't fast paced "pump you up" kinda songs.
So naturally I went to itunes and spent a wad of money on just about every song she's ever made. It felt reasonable at the time. I play her songs when I'm running and it keeps me going!


i.love.her.

Who do you have an obsession with right now? (obsession sounds weird but it's the kind of love that runs deep, ya know... real deep)  :)


That's all:) HAPPY SATURDAY!! (ps: I ran this morning through D.C. with my friend Regina and apparently we were the ONLY people who didn't get the memo that it was the MLK Jr. march... we stuck out like a sore thumb and almost got run over. NBD :) It was cool to see that many people out walking for something/someone so influential though!

On Cloud 9

Today I ran 20 miles in 3 hrs. and 20 minutes and I felt great!!! I was so incredibly nervous about this run and I was sore going into the run but I did it! I still have a 16 miler in two weeks and then I'll start tapering. However, 20 miles was the furthest I had to run for my training and it's now out of the way!!

Who would have thought I would be able to run 20 miles!? NOT this girl! But I kept on going and trained hard and I did it! 6.2 miles to go and I will have officially finished a marathon! Whoop!

To say I'm on Cloud 9 is an understatement... I'm ECSTATIC!!


What have you worked really hard for and accomplished?




ps: I had such a great time with friends this weekend... here are some pictures to recap! I'll be back later to chat about all the fun details:)

We had a great weekend! I truly am blessed with AMAZING FRIENDS!!:)

xoxox, K

I'm back with yummy recipes!

   Sorry I've been MIA... The school year started and well, I lose my personal life for a bit... however I think I'm on the up and up!
   Since I've been gone training has been great! I accomplished 14 miles, 16 miles, and 18 miles! Wahoo! It wasn't easy all the time but I feel stronger each time. 39 days 12 hours 17 minutes 33 seconds to go to race day!


   Moving on... I've been trying to make new healthy recipes recently and opened up my Cooking Light Cookbook that is INCREDIBLE! There are so many wonderful recipes that range from quick and easy to more time consuming and elaborate. I'll admit that I didn't choose the hardest but I definitely wanted to impress myself...and Mike:)
Without further ado here's recipe #1 (directly from Cooking Light  the essential dinner tonight cookbook)


Tuna with Avocado Green Goddess Aioli

• Aioli:  (I substituted the sour cream and mayonnaise for Greek yogurt)
• 1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 6 tablespoons chopped ripe peeled avocado
• 2 tablespoons fat-free mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• • Tuna:
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 (6-ounce) tuna steaks (about 1 inch thick)
  • Cooking spray

  Preparation

  • To prepare aioli, combine first 9 ingredients in a blender; process until smooth.
  • To prepare tuna, combine coriander and next 5 ingredients (through pepper) in a small bowl; sprinkle spice mixture evenly over tuna.
  • Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add tuna; cook 2 minutes on each side or until medium-rare or desired degree of doneness. Serve with aioli.  (I added green beans and bakes potato wedges

  

  This was Mikes portion...:)
  
  Now, I will admit that I was nervous about cooking Tuna because I hadn't done it before. But it was super easy and so FAST! The Avocado green goddess aioli was delicious as well... so much that I ate it with chicken the next night!

Super easy recipe that I will definitely be trying again!

Have you ever made Tuna? If so how did you make it?

Happy Cooking,

K