2011: less running, more writing

The obligatory 2010 post:

I’m not going to go into a huge play-by-play of the year. You have the archives for that! But I will say I started out the year at Wade’s house, drinking his home brewed beer (yum!) and hanging out in the hot tub. I imagine I may finish the year the same way …

I ran one marathon, not two, but I feel good about it. I became a triathlete. I realized swimming is not as scary as it seems, and cycling is scarier. My goal in 2011 is to be in the best shape of my life, and not necessarily by running all the time. I want more well-rounded-ness-ish. I saw this as my gym membership expires, so challenge accepted, but I will find a good way to get in that cross training. In fact, I may get my hands on P90x here soon.

I hiked a couple of mountains. Discovered a love of sleeping in a hammock outside. Way better than sleeping on the ground. Need to hike more. I went on my first solo hike. Just a day hike to Crowders, and I took Breanna the dog, so I wasn’t really alone alone. But wow – I felt so accomplished at the end of it.

I didn’t write a novel this year.

I bailed on blogging for a few months. And I’ve been working to get back to it. I really miss it when I’m not doing it, and I really miss hearing your comments and thoughts when I’m not doing it. In 2011, I’ll be better about that, I promise.

I traveled a lot. Florida, Washington DC, Phoenix, Vegas. The more I travel the more I want to travel. Little trips too – Asheville, Athens, Tennessee, Greenville, Lejeune.

I met some really wonderful people this year. Traveling can do that for you sometimes.

I lost things, too. A lot can change in a year’s time, and this year was no exception.

I learned a lot about things I never thought I’d need to know about. I learned about the strength of family and the ability to get through anything together.

I learned the power of the universe to wrap us up in it and land us exactly where we need to be, even if we didn’t know it ourselves. Some call it chance or fate or God’s plan. Maybe it’s all the same?

Hello, 2011. I can’t wait to meet you.

Hard core and intimidating? Hardly

Much delayed, but I promised to share my experiences from my first triathlon, so here goes: There’s something that seems very hard-core and intimidating about a triathlete. Which is why I laughed in my brother’s face when he first suggested I race a triathlon. But the truth is, I very much wanted to become comfortable [...]

Which end is up?

I feel too frazzled to blog. So much has happened over the past few weeks that I don’t even know where to begin! So, what I’m going to do today is be lame and tell you what I plan to write about. This will organize and un-frazzle me. = My first triathlon race report. Yep, [...]

Nothing to be scared of here

Ok, so I’m still working on my full race report from my Very First Triathlon … I know you are anxiously awaiting all those minor details that probably no one cares about unless they are crazy enough to think these things are fun … But while I’m getting all the other stuff together, I wanted [...]

Tomorrow, I get to play

First triathlon tomorrow. I feel ready and not ready, all at the same time. I know this much: I love it already. Even if tomorrow blows, I’m still enjoying the multi-sport workouts and all the good that comes with it. I’m sold! And, I’m super-stoked that Scott’s mom is coming to this one – I [...]

Tomorrow, I get to play

First triathlon tomorrow. I feel ready and not ready, all at the same time. I know this much: I love it already. Even if tomorrow blows, I’m still enjoying the multi-sport workouts and all the good that comes with it. I’m sold! And, I’m super-stoked that Scott’s mom is coming to this one – I [...]

What’s in your beach bag?

Some of my summer favorites, thus far: Neutrogena Ultimate Sport sunscreen: My friend Brian suggested I get this when I complained on Facebook that the Coppertone I was using was really heavy and greasy. He was right – I love this new stuff. It’s so light and sheer I almost forget I’m wearing it. But no sunburn!  Apple [...]

Don’t phone it in

Change is everywhere. I see it and I feel it within. I look in the mirror and I see a stronger, leaner, toned version of myself. It reminds me of marathon training except somehow … better. I know now why triathletes love the sport. I don’t even care about race day; I’m loving the training [...]

Shoe salesman with an agenda and other things

Okay, I’ll try to keep this in nuggets because I feel like I have a lot of nothing to say. … Triathlon training update: = Swim: So, I found out my friend Sally used to be a swim coach. Told you about that the other day when I mentioned our relay team. She had me [...]

Things I want to talk about

= Buying a bathing suit at Target while drunk at 5 pm on a Sunday; = Cycling rules/laws I’ve learned/want to confirm; = Brewfest in Rock Hill that boasted a climbing wall (does that seem like a good combo to you?); = Running a 5K while stressed; = Cycling the route of the triathlon that [...]