Lessons learned, post marathon

So, I was pretty excited and proud of myself after having run that crazy long distance of 26.2 miles. I thought I had conquered the world, which of course is not true. The funny thing about running a race, or any doing anything competitively, I suppose, is you are surrounded by people who are doing and have done exactly what you just did, AND they probably are doing or did it better. So, in a way that's good, because it's motivating and you can set new standards and expectations on yourself and continue to improve. But it's bad because you can't just say, "Well, I did what I said I would do. Cool. I'm good." It's bad because now you have set the bar higher in your life, and you have to keep working. No one warned me of that.
So, I got all pumped and motivated post race to go CRAZY with getting up in the mornings and going running, and going to classes 4 days a week at the gym that included yoga and weight training. I decided to cut back a ton on the bad things in my diet, and add a variety of healthful foods. And I was going to clock at least 30 miles a week. I was ready to become, well, awesome. 

Day 1 of being awesome: Monday post race, I had rested well since Wednesday, so I got up early in the morning, was super productive, went to work, then ran 5 miles in less than 45 min, then did yoga. BOO-yah. Awesome.

Day 2 of being awesome: Tuesday the plan was to get up at 5:00am and go to a class for strength training. Forgot (perhaps on purpose) to set my alarm. No matter, I can still run my 5 miles and be awesome. After work, I ran my 5 miles, and was pretty awesome.

Day 3 of being awesome: Well this day I was supposed to go to work, run 5 miles, then do yoga. I decided to take a rest day. My shins hurt a bit. I took my Friday rest day on Wednesday instead. Don't worry. I'll make up for it later. I'm still awesome.

Day 4 of being awesome. Missed the workout session at the gym at 5:00am again. It was a rough day. I ran 3 miles in 78 degree weather, and it felt like 10. Miles, not degrees. The awesomeness is spreading a bit thin at this point.

Day 5 of being awesome: It's Friday. I'm not doing squat. Brad, take me on a date! (It was awesome, but I am not being super awesome).

Day 6 of being awesome: Goal at the beginning of the week was to run 5 miles Monday through Thursday, rest Friday, then run 10 on Saturday. Awesome right? Well, I ran 8 miles, of terrific hills, but again, I am 9 miles short this week. Not so awesome, but acceptably so. Next week will be different.

Day 7 of being awesome: Sunday doesn't require awesomeness, but I will say this: I did not eat very healthfully. So. Off to a good start.

Days 8-12 of being awesome: Did yoga once.

The lessons I learned by not running or working out for nearly a week are these: I feel AWESOME. Haha, just kidding. But really, I did take the week off, and started out feeling a leetle bit guilty, but eventually just told myself to take a real break. Just for a week.
At the end of this week, I have decided, I miss running. I miss work. I miss pushing myself. I miss taking care of my body in the way I know works for me. I don't feel super awesome, at least, not in the way I do when I set a goal and accomplish it. I started to actually have less energy, less motivation, less patience with myself and others.
I realized I like trying to improve, and setting goals, and doing difficult things.
I realized I must have, somewhere within those weeks and weeks of training, begun to like running. I became a freak.

And that, is AWESOME.

The Second on the Fourth

So, remember that one time I made a New Year's resolution to run a marathon?
On the Fourth of July this year, I ran my second marathon.

This is Martha, my friend from work, and I. Martha and I kept each other on track, training-wise, and we ran our 20 miler together.

Heather, my sister-in-law trained in Utah and drove up to run the race as well. This was her first marathon, and she ran her first 10k a year ago exactly! She totally beat me.

This is a 75 year old passing us. Yup. That's rough. 

Did you notice I'm wearing red, white, and blue? Happy birthday, America. 

This is the farthest distance Martha had ever run to this point. Of course, every step after it was further, but hey. Can't be stoppin' every step of the way, no matter how much you want to.

Orion, Martha's husband is on the left. Brad is taking the pictures the whole time, and also on a bike. He woke up with me, drove us all to the marathon, and rode his bike the entire way, supporting us like crazy. But not the annoying kind of support, where someone who isn't running tells you to run faster. He was perfect just cheering me on, and giving me as much space as I needed.

This lady was a hoot. She ran the last mile with us, after having run a half marathon. Just to cheer us on. 

Yay! Mile 26!!

And the finish line.

Heather ran even though she was sick to her stomach the entire way. I'm impressed. Ashlee, my sister-in-law was there at the finish line taking pictures. She even gave me a cute necklace at the end that had 26.2 on it. So sweet.

It was great to cross the finish line. 

Should I do another one?

Girls weekend!

I must say, I miss my friends and family in Utah and elsewhere. But, living in Portland has some incredible advantages. Three, specifically, are Kristin, Sarah, and Ashley, my high school friends! They all live within pretty reasonable distance, and so we get together periodically to escape the toils and tribulations of reality to be in the perfect bliss of one another's company. Ha, nah, reality isn't a tribulation, but their company is always much anticipated. Love these chicas!

We went to The Screen Door restaurant for dinner, which was fun, and very Portland. And by "very Portland," I mean Southern food, so I guess the fact that it's trendy is Portland... People start lining up 45 minutes before the doors to this place open. The food was overall pretty good. I like their breakfast better, though. It's really just for the experience. I don't think I ever had hush puppies or collard greens before that night! Collard greens: Not my fave.

We then went on a hunt for a bathroom along 23rd street in Portland, which was fun. We went by some cool shops, and I found a lip gloss that I really wanted to buy! One question I have for all the store owners out there: Do you, when you have people ask to use the bathroom from off the street who are clearly not there to shop, just tell them, "Oh, yeah, we have a bathroom, but someone's in it right now," regardless of whether or not that is true? That happened at least 3 times where we waited for 5 minutes at least, and no one came out. That's pretty tricky. 

We then went and stood in another line and waited for some famous ice cream. This place, Salt and Straw, is pretty famous. Always has a line out the door, even on rainy days, and even OPRAH liked one of the flavors on her "favorite things" or whatever. She has bad taste, actually. She liked the olive oil flavored one, and it was gross. Anyway, they have salted caramel, gooey brownie, snickerdoodle, almond brittle with salted ganache, honey strawberry balsamic vinegar with cracked pepper, bleu cheese and pear, and even bone marrow. They make all their ice cream in store with local ingredients. So Portland. So fun. 

The next day we went to Ashley's home for breakfast. It was maybe the best part of the whole weekend! She made these round pancakes called Ebelskivers, and she made eggs. It was all so good. 

Outside Screen Door (Cell phone picture from Sarah)

The Line: Note, the umbrellas. I'm actually surprised there were umbrellas, as it was only lightly sprinkling, and we are in the Northwest. Must be tourists.

Such a good place. Highly recommend it. Even if you don't love the flavors, it's cool that they're all so weird.

Sarah, Ashley, Kristin, and I.

Us at Ash's house (stole the pic from Ash).

Month 10 at the Rose Garden: June 27th

Brad and I have accomplished a very great and noble thing, that not even Kim Kardashian can boast. We have been married for 10 months now. Um, cool? I think yes. Anyway,  I  we were so excited to celebrate it, that we went on an adventure to the Rose Gardens in Portland. It is Rose City, you know.
We couldn't celebrate this memorable occasion without food, drink, and pictures. So, we packed up a picnic of the most random assortment of snacks you can imagine, threw in a water bottle along with some personal size Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider, and grabbed the camera and took off! The view, when we got there was beautiful, and the flowers were blooming, and the sun was just about to fall into the dusk zone. It was so dang Pacific Northwest-y (minus the rain) that I just felt like I could live here forever! Loved it.

 This is, in case there was any question, a rose. A red one, for that matter. I actually really like this picture for some reason. Maybe I'll hang it on a wall or something. 

Ok, I look like a crazy giant, but they had all these cool lamps with roses winding around them. I felt like I was in Mary Poppins' world, or perhaps Narnia, post White Witch. 

The man himself. Yes, he made it happen. 10 incredible months. 

Another artsy-fartsy one. I'm a beginner, don't judge. I just want you to sense the picturesque-ness of this place. 

Us!

Me!

Us again!

Picnic basket contents: bananas, pears (not so bad yet, right? Wait for it...), 4 bean salad, artichoke heart dip from Costco (Yum!), crackers to eat it with, and sparkling cider.

It was absolutely divine.

Us again.

And again...

Eek! Close your eyes!

Stopping to smell the roses.

Pretty fountain.

Happy 10th! Here's to another 10!

I will say this: Brad is extremely unselfish, kind, and just pretty gall durn fun to be with. I just love him to pieces. Reese's Pieces.