Race Recap: Athens Half Marathon

It's getting chilly out there y'all! I'm snuggled in bed taking my first sips of coffee and realized we owe you a race report. October could quite possibly put me in the grave. Our weekends have been off the chain crazy with birthday parties and other things. Well, the only kid birthday party Single Gal attended was #1's, but she has had many social responsibilities as well. The month is not even over yet either.

At the Arch after Packet Pick-Up

As we got closer to the actual day of the race and reviewed some of our training run times, I basically resigned myself to a 2:20-ish finish time. It's not that our training was bad but our times seemed a bit slow for our high hopes of running 2:10. We came to the conclusion that this would just be a fun race and we were happy to be lining up at the start together (and 3 weeks shy of the twins first birthday was a big plus for me). So we joked about our 13 mile "fun run," drank an alcoholic beverage the night before and coffee on the way to the race since we had to get up super early to drive out to Athens. Also note, I bought us matching tank tops on clearance from Target since it had not been terribly cold the last few weeks. We were a bit cold waiting for the race to start but shed our arm warmers quickly.

We started out pretty fast of the first mile, which I knew we would so not a huge deal. We both felt good and I tried to dial us back on our pace but we kept hitting times a good bit faster than our normal pace. The course is hilly at times but has some lengthy down hills, which is where we planned to make up some ground. I was very worried we would "bonk" or hit the wall somewhere around mile 10. We did make the call to stop for a bathroom break around 4.5 miles. There were two port-o-potties but it did not go as quick as we had hoped. Whatever, it's a "fun run". Single Gal was having some side cramping pretty much the entire race but she was gutting it out despite that. I was feeling awesome. We race together, but the deal is, if we need to separate we separate, see you at the finish line or in between. We also keep to a no talking rule, which you would never believe if you ran with us on Saturday mornings. Single Gal kept telling me to go on but I wasn't sure I was ready. We split before the bus barn around 8 miles. Time was looking good for me. I felt great and decided I would just go and worry about bonking when it happened. Never happened. I tried to pull out that 2:10 but just missed it with a 2:11 something. It was the first race I actually felt like I was racing. That I was really going for it and giving it everything I had. Single Gal cruised in at 2:16-ish, still a good race for her.

This was a well supported race and even though the temps were cold, decent spectator support. I really enjoyed their funny signs! " You're running better than the government." I'm really enjoying the half distance right now and while I do think if will run another marathon I don't think it will be in 2014. I do think Single Gal and I will be ready for redemption from Las Vegas 2011 by 2015 though.

XOXO
The Housewife

Weekend Recap!

So...Monday morning I was incredibly sad to see last weekend come to an end.  Well, I was sad for like 4 hours until my flowers were delivered!

My weekend started early.  TDH really likes to be the one to make the plans (no complaints here) but since he is an out-of-towner I always send a list of suggestions and he goes from there.  I was beyond excited to finally eat an actual meal at Little Alley Steak in Roswell {reviewed previously} rather than just sit at the bar, drink too much Chard, and harass the awesome bartenders.  I figured a nice steak dinner would be good prep for my race on Sunday, too.  Boy was it.  I had the small filet and successfully ate every bit of the mac and cheese on our table.  And maybe had a lot of wine.  We had a fabulous dinner! We were almost 30 minutes late for our reservation but I have yet to see a hostess that isn't immediately disarmed by his ridiculous Scottish accent so I knew we wouldn't get any static. 

Little Alley place cards!
*image from atlfoodsnob.com*

The only crazy part was that we had to make our exit right by Tall Stu who also happened to be right outside with some friends that night.  Awkward. I prayed he didn't see me but I think he did! It's not that I'm sneaking around but I didn't exactly feel like making introductions either. 

I was up late for sure but managed to eek through Friday at work and then speed into Atlanta to meet up for our reservation at Murphy's {I know, I know, we went there last time, but Murphy's is never a bad idea. Ever.}  We ate on the patio.  We drank beer.  The food was perfect.  The service, as always, was spectacular.  I also love that he recognized that I was hardly keeping my eyes open and I got to go back to the hotel and watch TV in bed until I fell asleep.  Speaking of sleep - I didn't get out of bed until well after 9 a.m. It was so nice to just pop out of the hotel and be right in Atlanta.  We walked around a lot, talked a lot,  had coffee, and then meandered to ESS for brunch.  Where we talked more, ate more, laughed more, etc.  {I even cheated and had a bellini the day before my race.} 

Anyway. He is super fun. And its always nice to go out with someone that takes care of all the little details where you don't have to worry about anything.  The accent, good looks, and perfectly fitted suits don't hurt either.  

Sunday was race day!!!

I already gave y'all the only picture I took when I did Monday's post.  So sorry about that.   I had such a great day! It was so easy to get to Athens early in the morning, they had plenty of free parking,  and there were only about 3,000 people racing.  My original goal was to shoot for a time anywhere from 2:10-2:15.  The last official time I logged was 2 years ago for a half and it was around 2:26.  I got my race results -- and I officially came in at 2:09:38!!!!!!!!! I can't believe I beat my ultimate goal of 2:10.  I needed a good race to get out the crazy bad juju that was the Las Vegas Marathon.   I am so proud of myself - especially considering I trained alone and wasn't even sure I could run that fast.  Again, I ran like hell to get that time.  I looked at my race photos yesterday and I basically have a terrible look of pain on my face when I crossed the finish line, but I did it! 

I came home and sat on the couch the rest of the day and watched girly movies with Em and it was glorious. So was the pizza we ordered.  And the beer we drank. 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Monday Obsessions: The Mindy Project + Some Other Stuff

Whew.  Y'all, The Housewife is right. I am exhausted. Or whatever is more exhausted than a normal level of exhaustion.  Serious thanks to her for keeping the blog going because I have barely been home.  

I am excited to be back.  I am especially excited to talk about my newest TV obsession - The Mindy Project.  I mean, as someone who is hardly ever home and usually doing a ton of other things that don't ever involve watching TV it's a pretty big deal for me to stop and tune into a show on the day it actually runs.  Mindy Kahling was good on The Office.  But she is fabulous on her new show.  I probably like this because I kind of feel like this is my life right now. 

Are you watching it?! Discuss. 

A few side notes.  I totally have a great weekend recap in the works for y'all! 

BUT....

A few things that just couldn't wait. 

After two amazing date nights with TDH who finally made another appearance in Atlanta I actually rushed home for lunch an hour early because I had a call from a florist about a delivery.  I. Almost. Died.  Never, have I ever received a flower delivery.  And it's beautiful. And perfect.   And I can't stop looking at it.  Like I legit want to carry it around with me so I can have it in whatever room I happen to be sitting in at home. 

instagram of the day #1

and now I'm just plain gushing. 

I also took this before I started my race! Turtle and I had a wonderful early morning in Athens this weekend for the Half Marathon.  And trust me when I say, I ran like hell on Sunday.  And for me to do that when I have felt beyond tired since Thursday was a big day. 

beautiful starting line for the Athens Half. 

I also came home to some sweaters I ordered from The Gap in my mailbox today. 

I may have just had the best Monday of my life.  I hope you all did, too! 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~