I Ran A Half Marathon and Got Teary About It

Hi There!  Oh, what's that in the picture, you ask?  Just my Princess Ginny bib and medal from the Disney Princess Half Marathon, no big deal...

Okay, I lied, it's a huge deal (to me, anyway).  I know runners are kinda like those CrossFit Crazies and it becomes all they talk about, but let me gloat for just a minute, please.  I am so ridonkulously proud of myself for even signing up for this (but really, it had both Disney and Princess in the title, so how could I not have?), let alone actually going, and then actually finishing.  And heads up: I trained for this one.  Woot!

I ran my butt off, literally and figuratively.  Usually going into a race of any length I just assume my legs and lungs will remember what it was like to be an athlete.  For this one, though, I ran like a maniac almost every day, and hopefully it's become a habit that will continue beyond the finish line this morning.

So, going into this thing somewhat prepared, I was also scared because I felt like I was maybe setting myself up for disappointment (I'm insanely goal-oriented, remember?).  8 miles in, I got a little cranky, but through the awesome signs and texts from my family, I sucked it up--not much of a "wall," thankfully.  Anyway, long story short...this was pretty much the most amazing thing I've ever done in my life.  Yay!

Oh yeah, and there is the small matter of me crossing the finish line and then getting all girly-teary-eyed about it.  I high-fived Mickey right as I crossed, a girl put my medal around my neck, and I got choked up like it was my job.  People were talking to me and I just had the awkward trembly-lip and just smiled like a creeper instead.  But, hey...I just ran 13.1 miles, so it's okay.

Things I Learned While Running

1. Port-a-Potty's will never make you feel better about your life, even if they do make you feel better physically.

2. I want to be a Disney Princess so badly that it makes me want to throw up.

3. Although I started out a skeptic, I want to wear nothing but running spandex for the rest of my life.

"Spandex....ALL SPANDEX!"

4. When you lay down after a long run, the minute you stand up your knees will rebel and try to make your life miserable.  No amount of cajoling will get them to relax.

5. People who run entire marathons are dumb.  Absolutely dumb.

Ummm, Oh Yeah, and There's This -- My mother always (correctly) says that I constantly need to have a project going.  So, now that this running thing is behind me, my next "project" is......Haiti! Yep.  March 9-14 I'll be going to Haiti on my first mission trip.  I guess you could say I really have lost my mind this deployment.

Like A Good Neighbor...

Listen, I'm a terrible neighbor.  Horrific.  The only interaction I've had with any of my neighbors was to do a Walk of Shame after I backed the Jeep into their fence (which, thankfully, didn't leave a mark) at 6am.  (No, I wasn't rude...I fretted about whether or not to say anything all day at school and then almost puked and cried on their doorstep when I finally did.)  So my goal to get out of my "comfort zone" this week was to do something to reach out to my neighbors, which coincides with the theme of our small group at church--it's all about building a relationship with the people around you.  For the old peeps I made banana bread, because I know that's what my grandparents like to have with their coffee.  For the younger families I made confetti cookies and Rice Krispie Treats.  (By the way, if you don't know about confetti cookies, you can find the recipe here--you are so welcome!)  

It was fun to spend the day baking for other people.  When it came time to deliver the goods, though, it was funny how antsy in the pantsy I was about knocking on everyone's door.  But they were so welcoming!  Burl and Imogene (I explained to them how I, too, am a member of the Old Person's Name Club) were so grateful for their banana bread, and they immediately repaid me with a ton of grapefruit from their tree.  Honestly....like 20 grapefruits.  There's no way I can make it through them all, so please come grab one or ten.  Fence neighbors offered to do anything and everything I needed done since Travis is gone.  Across the street, Rhonda asked me to start joining her on evening walks.  I mean, what an awesome "neighbor" thing for us to do together.  And all of the kids on the street made me thank-you cards, too.  

                               

How funny.  All of that because of simple tasty treats.  I am so thankful that I sucked up my jitters and rang some doorbells.  Naturally, my mind is already wandering to the days when our street will host Family Fun Nights and I will babysit the crumb-snatchers across the street.  I'm already picking out our first play for Elizabeth Ann Court's Neighborhood Theatre Troupe.  Okay, maybe I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, but who's to say what kinds of relationships can be built if you simply build up the courage to reach out?  

And seriously, y'all....somebody come share these grapefruit with me.  

PS -- My half-marathon is a week from today (sqwee!) and I found these socks at Target.  Obviously, they were made just for me.  I'll be sporting the pink anchors, along with a tiara, during my race!  You jelly, bro?

My Week in Pictures

It has been a minute, y'all!  In case you didn't hear my shouts of joy, I got to spend a week with Travis mid-deployment, which is entirely unheard of.  He's transitioning from Japan to El Salvador, and was lucky enough to get tasked with having to be in Jacksonville for a week.  It was ama-za-zing!  In lieu of my ranting about it and getting all gushy, here are the highlights in pictures:

We got a dining room table, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa!

We saw Jimmy Buffett!

Our finished table.  I'm in love with our Anthropologie dishes!

Meatwad was so happy to have his snuggle buddy back :o)

We baked and cooked and generally made a scene.

 

And, finally, we spent lots and lots of time with our arms around each other.
**Special shout-out to those pearls, y'all!  Best Valentine's Day gift ever!**

Really, it was fantastic, and I'm sure it's spoiled the heck out of me for future deployments.  But that's okay!  It was extraordinarily hard to say goodbye this morning--goes to show it never gets easier to be away from someone you love.  But I made it through the day, came home and got my hard cry in (just like last time), went for a long run (in new shoes, which helps), and I feel like I'm already settled back into my solo routine.  

With him in a different location now, our time difference isn't quite as extreme.  It kinda reminds me of when we were apart while we were dating: He was doing Navy what-not, and I was finishing up school.  If we could be reunited on May 22, just like last time, well that would be ridonkulous.   

There really are so many things to look forward to: next week is my Disney Princess Half-Marathon, the Gate River Run is just around the corner, as well.  And Spring Break is a little over a month away, so I'll get to be back in WV with my family soon!  (I'm even working on talking my family to come here and drive back with me, so if you happen to talk to 'em, bug them like crazy for me!)  And June will be here before you know it.  

I much prefer life with Travis physically by my side, but as long as he's emotionally there, I think I'll be okay.

PS -- Thank you to everyone for the kind words.  My life is so much better knowing that I have such a strong support system.  I love you guys.