Lauren running in style :)



 Hot Chocolate 10K Pictures!





Did it!



Mmmm...Hot Chocolate

WOOHOO!!!  Yesterday was the Hot Chocolate 10k in Asheville, NC.  If you know anything about this race, the last 1K is straight uphill...and not a little bit but a steep incline.  I knew I was going to have to walk up the hill at the end so my first goal that I set was to run the first 2 miles without walking.  As I ran past the first mile, I heard the best sound ever...11:36...wow!  I was really pumped...my goal was to stay under 13:30/mile pace...the pace I hope to keep for Disney.  And then came mile 2...23 something...alright I can do this...I can make it to 3 miles without walking.  I passed Ty right before 3 miles...thanks for standing in 19 degrees and cheering for me.  I ran around the park and over the bridge...the 4 mile mark is too much farther..I can make it.  As I pass Ty again, I yell to him that I haven't walked yet and I get a little teary as he yells for me that my pace is awesome.  I'm slowing down a little bit but still haven't walked...I get to mile 5.  Calves are starting to burn a little bit and my back is killing me.  Probably around 5.25 and 5.5 miles I cave and walk a little bit.  But I know that I need to run to the hill because then I will have to walk.  I walk the hill and get to the 6 mile mark..76 something.  Not going to make my goal of under 1:15 but just want to finish the dang hill :)  I cross the finish line at 1:20...wow!!!  That is 9 minutes+ off my Turkey Trot time and would have been even more if it wasn't for the hill.  I am totally proud of myself and so is Ty....I couldn't be happier with my performance!!
And to top it all off..I found a Livestrong ear warmer at Dick's and had my hair had grown long enough to donate to Locks of Love!!!! 
Such a great day yesterday!!!  Pictures of the race will be up when we get home tonight!!!

Decent

There are good things and bad things about running a new route.  On one hand, the change in scenery is wonderful and I felt very good running, even though it was only 3 miles, I easily could have gone more.  However on the other hand...a new route means lots of new trees for Harley to make his own..grr...do they make blinders and smell guards for dogs...haha :)

People are Crazy!

What a day...what a day.  Today would have the been perfect day to go for a nice long run to clear my head.  People are just nuts sometimes.  I hate when people try to accuse you of not doing any work when in reality you are working, but calmy.  Why do people think that it looks like you are busier when you are running around crazy like, like a chicken with your head cut off???  It is possible to get work done in a calm and organized and less stressful manner....we are all adults are not?
But alas, something better then running came along, so I have taken 2 nights off in a row.  The opportunity to have dinner with a good friend should never be passed on.  Friends support you through good times and bad so when a chance arrives to see a friend from long ago, take it.  Who knows when it will happen again.  My Zeta grandsis is in town this week.  I was fortunate to spend Saturday with her, and my wonderful husband came along as well and helped to corral Addie and then I got to have Sarah all to myself for dinner tonight.  It is nice to talk about good ole Stetson days, the present, and the future.  There is a bond of sisterhood with Zeta that nothing compares with.  When you go from not seeing someone for a long time, talking through facebook, and spending two days as if not a day has gone by from the Beta Psi Chapter Room...that my friends is what is all about.  I miss that.
But I digress...tomorrow at work I'm sure will be quite interesting....and I'm sure a nice 6 mile run will be the cure. 
37 days until Princess Half Marathon!!  I ran 8 miles for the first time this weekend and it felt great, well actually it kind of sucked...but a good sucked :)  The Reutebuch Family Disney Trip planning is coming along nicely...I think Ty and I might be more excited than Addie.  I can't wait!!!!!!!  And again, it will be nice to meet up with my fine Zeta ladies while in Orlando :)

Well it is that time of year again for New Year's resolutions. Resolution number 1 is to try and remember how to actually update this thing and do it more regularly. Also I plan to run 211 miles, which really shouldn't be a problem, since I ran 100 miles from September to December this year and plan to run way more this year. And again I want to race once a month. I already have races planned for January, February, and March. I will be doing my first 1/2 marathon in Feb at Disney World and really need to pick up the training. It will happen :)
So far here is the 2011 race calendar:
January 22-IDES Hot Chocolate 10K, Asheville, NC
February 26-Royal Family 5K, Disney World
February 27-Princess Half Marathon, Disney World
March 13-Shamrock N'Roll 10K, Atlanta, GA
March 26-Atlanta Women's 5K, Atlanta, GA
April 16-Cheerios 10K and 5K, Covington, GA
May 7-Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K, Atlanta, GA

Well that's all I got so far. And luckily I have an awesome husband and daughter who get up and race with me or cheer me on in the wee hours of the morning :)

I once thought I could never run a mile...and I had a goal to finish a 5K...now I'm attempting 13.1 miles...who would've thought???