National Half Marathon Weekend

On March 26, I ran the National Half Marathon on DC--it was really an amazing experience to train for something like this without a training team.  I found that I was very disciplined throughout the training, I was dedicated, and I was ready for the race.  I ran with two friends, Beth and Allison.  The race was not as organized as it probably should've been and there were definitely some hiccups with race transport and mile markers, but all in all I had a great time and a GREAT run.

Beth and I got our picture taken with Abe at the Race Expo.

Here we are pre-race---let me remind you that it was rather chilly that day (the next day it s-n-o-w-e-d).

Here we are afterwards--check out the medals and the smiles!

While we were in DC, it also happened to be the start of the Cherry Blossom Festival!  I had never been, so before riding back to RVA in the car for 2+ hours, we decided to stroll around, stretch our legs, and check it out.

 

 

It was cool to walk around and see all of the trees in bloom--I think I may want to check it out again next year.  

After the race and the Cherry Blossom Festival excitement, I went home and chilled out with friends, 8 1/2 for dinner and some Real World, Las Vegas.  It was perfect.  

The next day, I went to my friend Kathy's house to visit with her and her sweet little girl, Ainsley.  We had a lot of fun and I really enjoyed playing with Ainsley and getting to know her personality--she is a riot!

 We ate a little bit of lunch.

 We played with dolls and strollers.

 Took some time to rest and take a drink.

And lots of laughing and smiling.

~Lexie

A Quick Hello

Hello Everyone!

This is a quick post to let you all know that I am still alive :)  I completed the Half Marathon on Saturday and it was great!  I was going to blog yesterday, but I took a nap and vegged on the couch instead!  I am already looking into my next Half Marathon (what can I say, I'm a glutton for punishment)!  Then I was going to blog today, but errands, a birthday lunch, laundry, and dinner (and some time with Hubby--at Home Depot and on the couch) interfered were further up on the priority list today!  If only there were more hours in the day!

Anyway, I have some fun stuff to share with you--from my Veteran's Day off adventures to the Half Marathon adventure to some updates on our bathroom re-do adventure.  I am just going to need some time to get it all out and pictures uploaded, etc. which ought to be later this week. I hope it will be worth the wait!

Until then!

~Lexie

What to do on a day off...

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day and we are off!  I work for the County of Henrico and us government employees are off in remembrance of all those who have fought for our freedom!  Thank you veterans!!!

I am looking forward to a busy day of fun, visiting with friends, work around the house and a little something special in the evening!

I am meeting Amity for our final run before the Half Marathon this weekend!  Woo hoo!  Very exciting!!  I am going to  have my sweet godson, Thomas in tow, as I am minding (I love that word, it sounds somewhat more sophisticated than baby-sitting) him for a little bit in the morning for his Momma.  Just picture it--me with the Holly-meister, Thomas in his jogging stroller, running through the streets of Richmond.  It ought to be a spectacle an adventure! 

Since this is the fist time I have mentioned my sweet godson, I am going to have to tell you a little but more about him.  His name is Thomas, he is 2, and he is hilariously funny, super sweet, rather active, has a super sweet smile...and I adore him!  Here are some pics so you, my readers, can agree with me about how cute, sweet, and adorable he is meet him!

(I started with some pictures from when he was a wee little angel baby--his Momma might not agree with the whole "angel baby" description...there was a few sleep issues, but I always thought (and think ) of him as an angel)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

   

 There he is!  The big 2 year old!  The last 4 pics are from his 2nd Birthday.

After playing with Thomas, I am tackling priming our bathroom.  We have recently gotten it re-tiled with a nwe shower and when it is all finished, I will show you the big reveal with before and after pictures.  I am so excited with how it is going to turn out!

Then I am meeting my Mom and we are going to the R Home for the Holidays Event at La Diff!  I am so excited! I won the tickets from the lovely ladies at Urban Nest!  You never think you are going to win, but I did!  Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan from Apartment Therapy is going to be there and it is going to be fabulous!  I plan on taking lots of notes (and pictures) to share with you all!

I will leave you with this sweet photo of Thomas...the cute little face and cheeks I get to hug and smooch on tomorrow!

 Adorableness!!!!

~Lexie

Weekends with AAA

Hi Friends!

Hope you all had a nice weekend!  I can say that Fall is definitely here!  It is chilly out there and frost was on the ground. 

Saturday was the final run before the Half Marathon next weekend!  We ran 6 miles and it felt good (and cold).  I am excited for next weekend and can't wait to cross the finish line!  My friend, Amity, is running too.  We have been training together and I am so excited for her to cross the finish line, too!  This is her first big race and I am so proud of her! 

 This is our team from the Half Marathon Training Team--the Falcons. 

This is a picture of Amity and I on our run a few weeks ago.

Thought I would share with you the eventful start to my day...I was going to make a biscuit run this morning, but Sophie (Saab) was not cooperating...dead battery (thinking the cold weather was not sitting too well with her).  So, I zoomed off in Hubby's car, then came back and waited for AAA to come to the rescue (Hubby had a tee time).  No big deal, I was able to catch up on my shows that were taking up space on the DVR.  AAA came and gave me a jump and encouraged me to get a new battery.  So, I got in Sophie and we were headed to Advanced Auto Parts and she was sending me the "Refill Fuel Now" message.  Since I did not want a repeat from a few weeks ago (remember Gas Can Annie), we made a pit stop at the 7-11 (across from Advances Auto).  Well, Sophie had had enough and was not interested in re-starting to cross the street after she was filled up.  So, I walked over there and was able to work the charm and get one of the guys to follow me across the street to jump her so we could get a new battery.  $160 later, Sophie was happy, content, and willing to go on any errands I threw at her. 

And to think I thought I was only going to be getting groceries and dog food today!  Now I have a new car battery with a 3-year warranty!

Any of you have any interesting car-related adventures/mishaps/conundrums?

Running

Well...today I ran 9 miles, so I thought I would post about my running.  I guess one would call me a runner...I do run regularly, but one would not point at me off the street and say "that girl is a runner."  But, it is my regular exercise regiment and it helps to keep me focused and provides some sort of consistent activity.  Otherwise, let's face it, I would be sleeping more and watching more bad TV (which in and of itself will involve an entire post to itself, at least).

Here is a picture of me and my great pal Lissa, after we did the Rock and Roll Half Marathon Relay last year.  I started running because walking took too long.  That is really the reason.  Plus, it is a good way to tire out the ol doggie.

Not that she really ever needs too much  help with that!

About 3 years ago I decided to to the Monument Avenue 10K--a huge race here in Richmond that Ukrop's (RIP) used to sponsor (now that Ukrop's is no longer in business, us Richmond runners are wondering what will become of the race)--and I joined a Training Team.  I LOVED it--it kept me structured, gave me a plan (which I love), and helped me feel confident on race day.  So...after that was done, I went searching for another training team.  At that time, there was not one for the Richmond Half Marathon, but there was one for the Full Marathon...you see where I am going with this?

So, anyway, my friend Jennifer, who had encouraged my budding running antics somehow convinced me to do the Marathon Training Team.  She was just coming back from having bambino #1 and wanted to get out and get moving.  Well, it was fun!  I met lots of good people, was able to run the miles, and was getting my groove...then Jennifer found out she was having bambino #2!  Well, my original running buddy was out, but I made new running buddies and kept going.  My original plan was to run the Half Marathon distance, but after I went out and conquered 17, 18, 20 miles!!!  I decided, what the heck.  (This picture above is me almost at the end.)

So, now I just run...kind of like Forrest Gump :)  I have recruited friends to run, as I love to run with other people and am always looking for running buddies!  I have also made some new friends on my running adventures--that's is one of them, Beth :)

Currently, I am training for the Half Marathon in Richmond on November 13--hence running 9 miles today.  Today was gorgeous running weather!  Blue sky, cool temps, crisp air!  I had a minor boo boo--took a lovely trip to the ground along one of the Monument Avenue sidewalks--those darn cracks!  Luckily, nothing to serious--some scrapes and some teeth rattling. 

So that is my Running Story in a nutshell!

**Disclaimer:  I really think that the human body is not supposed to run over 3 or 4 miles--anything over that is a little wacky   :)