Raleigh Rocks and NOLA

I ran my first 1/2 marathon today!!! So I was able to cross that off my bucket list. I came in around 2:18, but officials haven't been released yet so I don't know for sure. I really surprised myself, as I had set a goal of 3:00. Although my race pace most recently was under 10 mph, I wanted to set something realistic. I knew that there would be a lot of hill action on this course (a new course from last year) and honestly, I didn't know how my body would react after mile 12. That's the furthest I'd gone until today. It's funny to me that training regimens for 1/2 and full marathons don't include even one run that is equidistant to the race. But hey, apparently it works, so I'm not gonna ask questions. I think my next race is going to be late April, the Run For Our Heroes, which honors fallen RPD officers.

To my motivators today, I thank you! Kristen, Meredith, guy in yellow, guy with no shirt, girls in tie-dye skirts, girls in pink and green, and my mp3.

So tomorrow, I will cross something off of my travel bucket list - New Orleans!!! One of my best gal pals Amanda is down there for work, and I'm meeting her tomorrow afternoon. I cannot wait! NOLA is calling me - next week holds for me the following things: hanging out with a good friend that I don't get to see near enough, a hurricane at Pat O'Briens, a meal at Emeril's NOLA restaurant, chicory at Cafe du Monde, a cemetery/voodoo tour, a muffuletta (YUM) at the 'home of the muffuletta' and lots of photo ops from Jackson Square to the French Quarter and beyond. Can you tell I'm a little excited?

Good Stuff

So I've got 2 great things coming up soon that I'm really excited about - my first 1/2 marathon and a trip to New Orleans!

Next Saturday morning, I'll run the Raleigh Rocks 1/2. I started my training late but I think I've caught up enough that I'm ready. I attempted my last long run today but had to either cut it short or use someone's hedge as a bathroom...so I cut it short after about 7 miles and ran home, very carefully. I'll run again tomorrow morning, I might even attempt the last 12...but we'll see how Pat and Charlie feel. There are a few girls that I work with that are running the RR 1/2 also - I'm looking forward to devouring some pasta the night before the race with them and then meeting them at the finish line!

The morning after the run, I'm leaving on a jet plane to the Crescent City! My college roommate Amanda is going for work and I'm tagging along - I've never been and I am really excited about it! Of course, I've made a list of things I want to do, restaurants I want to go to, that kind of thing - if anyone who's been there has any suggestions, send them along. One great thing - the hotel we're staying at is in a great location, right on the Mighty Mississippi! Walking distance to a lot, or at least an easy cab ride. Have I mentioned how excited I am? Thanks Amanda!

First Time For Everything

Okay, so I've never done any blogging before...so here goes. I'm lucky enough to have friends and family all over the world. Unfortunately, I don't get to hang out with or talk to everyone I love as much as I want to. So I thought this might be a good way for people to keep up with what's going on with us...and for new people to get to know us. Who knows, maybe one day my kid will show this to his or her grandkids...

Craig and I have been together since January 2003 and we got married October 14, 2006. We live in Clayton, NC and both love living out in the country. We can actually see the stars at night! Right now, it's just us and our cat, Kitty. But we're hoping to add to the family soon. So we'll see how that goes, you'll just have to keep checking back!

We are both truly beach bums. We get to the coast any chance we get - we mostly frequent Wilmington, Emerald Isle and the Outer Banks. But we'll pretty much go anywhere there's ocean. I surf, we kayak, we're both wanting to get SCUBA certified, and Craig is getting pretty good with a stunt kite.

Craig grew up in Binghamton, NY and I am a proud North Carolina girl. Growing up, my family and I did a lot of vacationing all over the place - we spent a lot of time at the beach, but we took plenty of trips to the mountains also. I went to college in the mountains and a little piece of my heart will always belong to Cullowhee, NC.

Really, we both just love to travel - anywhere. I want to go everywhere I've never been. I've got an ever-growing bucket list, and there are tangent lists that include different states, countries, and islands that I've been to (those are the lists I want to expand). Oh yeah...I have an unhealthy obsession with list-making. I make lists about other lists I've made...it's really a sickness.

We've both always got something up our sleeves. Craig is always working on a project, some bigger than others...or he's thinking up what his next project is going to be. He loves to fish and now that it's getting warmer outside, spends a lot of time at the wildlife club. He's also a serious grill master and dart thrower extraordinaire. Me, on the other hand - currently I'm working on some knitting projects, writing some music (I have always dreamed of seeing my name in lights), contemplating starting up my own photography company, and running like a crazy woman. In 2 weeks I'll run my first half-marathon and I cannot wait! We are both super competitive, especially when we're competing against each other. Sometimes it gets pretty vicious.

Well, this is it for my 1st post...I'm gonna go watch the game now (it's NCAA Tourney time and the Clemson game just came on) - See ya later