Thanksgiving Break

Over the break, I spent way too much time doing the following: eating and shopping.  First, the eating.  We had three places to go: my grandmother's, Andrew's parents, and my parents.  Goodness, can my mother cook.  She generously offered to let me off the hook for bringing anything if I would just help her cook.  Check out this menu.  It was worth the days of preparation.  (Easy for me to say.  I only helped for a few hours!)  

One of my few contributions to the numerous Thanksgiving feasts was these cranberry orange muffins.  (And, despite how it may sound, that is indeed proper subject-verb agreement.)  The orange glaze on the top is clearly the piece de resistance.  

Please ignore the awful, unnatural color in this photo and focus on the glaze oozing down the sides of these yummy cake-like muffins.  After December 25, my new flash should cure this problem.

Now, the shopping.  Mom and I attempted to participate in the midnight madness at the Tanger outlets Thursday night.  It took only forty minutes to get all the way to Sevierville and an hour to drive the last mile down the highway.  As we sat in traffic, I knew it was a mistake to come, but I was afraid to say it because I knew Mom only came because she didn't want me going by myself.  Once I saw the massive crowd, however, I found the courage to tell her I thought we should just head home.  We simply don't possess the kind of determination it takes to persevere in such an intense shopping environment.  She was more than happy to turn the car around at half past midnight.

Fearing that I had missed out on some great deals, Rachel and I returned Saturday morning.  As we drove in at 8 a.m., I worried that they weren't even open because there were so few cars.  Turns out they were open, and we had the stores to ourselves for about an hour.  I will definitely remember this next year.

Milly was not bothered by the fact that my brand new jacket was laying on what she thinks is her blanket.

After a trip to Atlanta and three shopping trips over the last weekend, this jacket and a pair of boots are all I have to show for it (besides Christmas gifts anyway).  Ultimately, I guess this is a good thing, but I am needing a few things and actually have the money saved for them.  I'm not sure if it's God, the economy, or inadequate shopping skills, but I'm having trouble handing over the cash these days.  On a positive note, my Christmas shopping is done!  Decorations and wrapping are scheduled for next weekend.

New Header

After spending several hours every night for the past week, I have finally completed my new blog header!  What do you think?  I think it's gonna have to last a while because Photoshop is a beast.  I never knew it was so complicated.  Or maybe I'm just slow.  Either way, I now need to learn how to modify the blogger template to make it match my header.  Oh my.  Hope it doesn't take another week to figure that out.

Giving Thanks

I'm sure this will be an overdone post around the blogosphere this week, but here it is anyway.

I am thankful for:

• my husband who turns down the bed every night, opens the car door for me, and forces me to slow down and enjoy life.
• a family that always lets me be first in line for Sunday lunch.
• my dog whose entire body shakes with excitement anytime we walk in the door.
• the burdens God has laid on my heart.
• the aperture priority setting on my camera.
• my garage so I don't have to scrape ice off the car windows.
• students who fall in love with Lennie from Of Mice and Men.
• ValuTime Bran Flakes. (I know I've mentioned them before, but they really are that good.)
• blankets.
• books, sermons, and people who challenge me to overcome the sin of self-absorption.
• Papermate Sharpwriter #2 mechanical pencils.
• friends that get me.

Murray Family

I took a few pictures of Madelyn, Katelyn and their cousins tonight. I forgot how early it gets dark these days. We almost ran out of light! I'm looking forward to the external flash I'm getting for Christmas to solve situations like that.

Oak Ridge Half-Marathon?

"Excuse me.  Sir?  Could I exchange my shirt for the one that says 'The Oak Ridge 12 Miles?'"

No, I didn't technically finish the whole course today, but looking back several hours later, it is actually a funny story.  At the time was it funny?  Absolutely not.  Herein lies the tale.

We arrived at the Oak Ridge training facility/strange government building with awards displayed for excellent marksmanship.  (What is it they do in this town again?)  Just after registering, Dave Locke, the skilled marathoner, arrived to wish us well as he was headed out of town.  Very encouraging.  Thanks, Dave.  Then we waited around - inside - until time to start.  As I looked around, I noticed everyone there appeared to be a pretty serious runner.  A few were in shorts (I guess to make sure we knew their level of dedication?), some in their streakers (Rachel's moniker for those awfully tight, figure-unflattering pants that we only wore under our publicly-viewable pants), and there wasn't an iPod in sight.  Apparently that is the sign of a weak-I-need-something-to-distract-me-from-the-pain runner.

So the shot fired, and we were off.  Rachel and I fell to the back and kept our steady pace.  I was afraid to look behind me to see if we were actually the last.  I was relieved when Rachel told me we weren't.  Two minutes later the 70-year-old woman passed us with an encouraging "You can do it!" wave.  I'm not kidding.

Feeling good around mile 5.

The race was going well.  Kenny and Jason, Rachel's husband, were running a great pace for their first half-marathon.  When I caught a glimpse of Rocky Top, however, the notorious hill at mile 8, I decided to walk up it, so Rachel took off.  (Thanks for staying with me that long, Rachel.  I know you could have beat the guys if your annoying friend wasn't holding you back!)  After refueling with a few sips of Gatorade at the top of the hill, I felt energized and ready to run again.  Less than 5 miles left.  

Kenny and Jason with way too much energy for their first half-marathon.  

Dead last in a race of about 50-60 runners, surprisingly, I wasn't feeling too bad.  I think I was even on track to finish by running.  Then, I got lost.  On empty country roads surrounded by suspicious government buildings.  Oh, and plenty of ponds, lakes, and woods to dispose of dead bodies.  As I began to hyperventilate, I tried to focus on the positive. 

 

1. I'm wearing red, so they should spot me from far away - unless I'm on the wrong road.  

2. Mom, Dad, and Andrew should be looking for me pretty soon because they'll be worried when they don't see me with Rachel - unless they can't figure out how to cross the field to get to this part of the course.

3. I just ate some Gu and feel okay - except you're supposed to eat it with water that I was expecting at a station just around the corner.

4. No, there are no positives.  Some strange man is going to drive up and murder me.

5. I'm not kidding.

Afraid I might need to conserve my energy to survive alone in the below freezing temperatures, I decided to walk.  After going about half a mile, I realized I really didn't recognize where I was.  So I turned around.  About five minutes later, which is a really long time when you think you are going to be murdered, I spotted a white Suburban with "Security" written on the side.  I flagged him down and thankfully, he understood my blubbering self as I explained I was running the race and had no idea which way to go.  He pointed me in the right direction, then offered me a ride.  I gladly accepted with only a bit of hesitation as I saw the semi-automatic gun in the console.  What is it they do in this town again?

He took me to the end of that road, and I hopped out to finish the race.  Trying to clear up my emotional self, I lost it again as I saw my two heroes walking over the hill.  Andrew has never looked so good in his red flannel shirt.  Dad generously offered to run with me, and we did.  For about five steps.  If running really is 90% mental, I definitely wasn't in the best of shape to continue.  Mom drove up a few minutes later, and Rachel hopped out ready to add another mile to her already completed race to finish it with me.  Thank you.  I will never forget that.  But, I didn't feel one bit bad about crossing the finish line in Mom's Kia.  Taking into account the mile I went out of the way, I think I must have done a total of about 12 miles.

Side note: I truly believe they should advertise this race as one for advanced runners.  Not because of the difficulty of the course, but because it is totally demoralizing to be dead last - even though you trained for four months - and have the water stations shutting down before you get there.  

Though I wanted to tell the people in charge that they could have their ugly, puke-yellow shirt back, I bit my tongue, grabbed my bagel and headed to Big Ed's.  I'm headed to eat my leftovers right now guilt-free.  And, no, I don't see another half-marathon in my future.  I'm thinking the 5K Jingle Bell Jog sounds like a lot of fun.

And they barely even stretched before the race.

I had to do a vanity check before posting this picture.  Remember - I had just run/walked/panicked through 12 miles in below freezing temperatures.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed to Running Hope.  Thanks to those who prayed. Those who sent cards.  Those who called.  Those who stood outside in the cold to cheer us on.  It means more than you know.

Confessions of a Non-Runner

I'm afraid a few weeks ago I had fooled myself into thinking I was a runner.  Seriously, I have the Gu, the iPod armband, and the utterly unfashionable reflective vest.  I even buy my running shoes at stores that pretend to sell shoes made just for you.  (Somehow they just always happen to be the most expensive pair available.  Coincidence?  Hmmm...)  Please forgive me if the training log to the left fooled you as well.    

So the race is only two days away, and I have run exactly 12.3 miles in the last two weeks.  I think I spent about two-thirds of my run on Monday just thinking of ways I could get out of it.  Short of wishing for a broken foot, I came up with nothing.  Honestly, if it wasn't for the Running Hope fundraiser that many of you so generously contributed to, I'm not sure if I would brave the 30 degree weather to run 13 miles.  

I'm just really disappointed with the way I have trained over the last few weeks.  It started great, but somehow I got off track.  I'm running slower than ever, and even short runs are pure torture.  I'm sure a lot of it is just mental, but my last few runs have just hurt.  All over.  Knees, calves, hams, hip flexor.  No amount of stretching seems to cure it.  (I apologize if you have heard me yelling at the top of any number of hills in Broadacres.  It seems to help to release the frustration.) 

So please think of me as you sit over a steaming cup of coffee Saturday morning.  I will likely be cold, hurting, and battling persistent thoughts that tell me to just stop and walk.  I'm not even worried about my time; I'm just hoping to finish the race.  

Of course, there is a silver lining.  We're celebrating at Big Ed's.   

Engagement Photos

This couple was just delightful to work with.  They just recently got engaged and are planning a March wedding.  I am honored that they asked me to take their engagement photos.  It was totally easy because they are so in love that the camera couldn't help but pick up on it.  Here is a link to the whole session.  It was a bit chilly today, but they didn't even seem to notice!