Do you guys ever find out your technology can do something you didn’t know it could do?
With my Garmin, I learn something new like every day with that thing.
So when I first got it two birthdays ago, I used to primarily to run, and nothing else. Because I got it as a gift for my birthday, and I didn’t pay the $300 some-odd for it, it never occurred to me to use the crap out of it and get my money’s worth. It wasn’t until I started training for my 789 half marathons I’m doing that I figured out I could use it for intervals, and a bunch of other cool stuff.
So over the weekend on Fripp, I got it in my head to get some beach cruisers so we could ride around, see the island some more, and get our exercise in for the day.
For some reason, it popped into my head that the Garmin 610 could be used for cycling as well. I’m not sure where I’d heard that, because I never read instructions, but after literally like 30 seconds of playing with the watch, I figured out how to put it into cycling mode, and was able to use it while we cruised. Now it was only a 5 mile ride, but it was awesome to be able to see what other amazing things the watch could do!
Ever found out that your technology can do something incredible?
Hey folks! I hope you’re having an amazing weekend, my weekend has been nothing short of insanely busy, and my life shows no signs off slowing down for the next few weeks. But I can’t complain, I think my problem is one of the most beautiful to have, and I’d rather a little too much to do, than too little.
That said, when I finally get my house painted/get my car cleaned/get my wedding save-the-dates sent out/get bills paid, I might be a little more relaxed than I am now.
Now onto the weekend recap!
I worked at Fleet Feet North Raleigh on Saturday, which was pretty amazing. I actually don’t dread ever going to work there – and it’s really always nice to be around like-minded, good fitness people, who you don’t really get as much of when you’re working in an office, like I do during the week. Sometimes, it’s a little tiresome being the freak in the office when you brings salads for a lunch. At Fleet Feet, you’d sometimes WISH someone would bring a damned Lean Cuisine up in that piece cause the little fridge would be stuffed with people’s healthy lunches!
So Sunday, I had to head home with a friend for a memorial service, so I put Coco’s Thundershirt on her, packed her in the car, and headed home.
She was a really good sport, and endured the trip pretty well, which is good because we’re going to the beach next weekend, and she’s gonna have to hold up for a few hours. But we’ll stop for lots of coffee and bathroom breaks for her, and we’ll get her a little more used to the car.
I walked into my parents’ home, and looky what was sitting on my dad’s bar! So I promptly took it to read while I was running my 5 on his treadmill. I still love Bieber, and I know he’s gonna pull through this rough time.
And now, here I sit, blogging to you all from the relative comfort of a McDonald’s dining room, because the WiFi at my parents’ house needs life support. Is it a law that that WiFi at all old peoples’ house has to be horridly spotty at best? It really doesn’t seem to bother them!
So the plan tomorrow before I pack it in and head back is to wake up semi-early, run, spend some time with my Moms, and head out to Raleigh with the dog before we get more snow. This blasted snow is going to cause me to kick a hole in a wall, I swear it.
As I blog, I’m laying in bed at 10:57 pm on a Saturday night, so early because I want to run in the morning. I’m headed home tomorrow after my run to attend to some family business, and I can honestly tell you guys, I have not been so tired in long time. I’m tired. My feet hurt. I finally got my apartment clean after nearly a week of it looking like a small bomb detonated in here. And all I’m hoping for is an early bedtime tomorrow at my parents’ house.
To ease you into this week, I give you, this hot hot pic of my heiny, lookin’ oh so fabulous in my winter tights as I foam roll my hip, which has been talking to me since I taught 2 classes kinda of sick early this week. I think I was trying to compensate for the fact that I didn’t feel well by dancing the hardest I could and flopping about like Beyoncé when I knew good and well that each mucusy minute, I felt that I was knocking at death’s door.
Nevertheless, I’m feeling far, far better, and I am attempting a 16-miler today prior to my drive to Charlotte. Wish me luck, and I’ll chat with you guys after I get to Charlotte tomorrow!
Happy Thursday afternoon, beautiful people! Hope your runs are going well. Mine are good, save for a little bit of a stuffy nose and a sore throat that I’ve been nursing. But this hot and cold weather is good weather for getting sick in, right?
Anyhoo, remember pop quizzes? I think the last one that I took was in religion sophomore year in college and the joke was on Tripp York cause I actually did the reading. And I can actually recall what the reading was about – about Disney. Scary.
So I stole this pop quiz from J at Skinny Chick Blog, but she said we could steal it, and she’s a runner too. I kept the pink font in her honor. Onto the quiz!
1. What weather do you refuse to run in?
I refuse to run when it’s icy out. We don’t do ice too often here, the sidewalks never get cleared, and as someone who has (very painfully) broken a bone before, I have no interest in doing it again.
2. What distance is your “short” run?
My short run is this like, 3 miles loop through downtown Raleigh. I think Jillian Michaels said one that 3 miles is what you need to stay fit, and I’ve always taken that to heart. I always have 30 minutes to pop a 3 miler in.
3. How do you stay hydrated while running? Water fountain, carry your own etc.
I carry my own, and sometimes stop at coffee shops and the Whole Foods to fill up my little bottle. I haven’t worn my backpack in a long time, and I’m just not yet in the mood to wear it. Handheld it is!
4. Music or no music?
Usually music. Sometimes not if I need to be alone with my thoughts.
5. Do you ever run nekkid? {Without GPS, not literally silly}
Sometimes. When I forget to charge my watch. But I love it.
6. What is the first thing you do after a run?
Grab some water, and walk the dog, since I know she’s usually been waiting on me for a while.
7. What’s your favorite running shoe ever?
You know what? I’m kind of in a shoe rut. I work for Fleet Feet, and I have every running shoe at my disposal, and I was a Brooks girl, I’ve been a Brooks girl for a while. But here’s me here….
In a NB (and the review is coming soon!) and I’m still not sure which way I’m gonna go with shoes. I’m running a half in March, and a full and a half April, and I need to figure it out ASAP, cause I don’t want to be without toenails!
8. Do you make deals with yourself to finish a tough run? What are they?
I think usually I just think about food and Austin to get me through the run. I think about pasta, beer, toast, wine, beer, and my husband-to-be when I’m toward the tail end of a long run.
9. Two things you can not run without besides kicks?
A good bra. There’s nothing better than a good bra.
Boobs!
10. Running has helped me ___________.
Be confident in myself – who I am, my skills, my abilities. I wouldn’t have had the balls to do a lot that I have in my life without running.
11. Are you following a training plan? If so, what does your weekly routine look like?
I’m following the Hanson method. Sunday I run long (but not longer than like 16). Monday I run 5, Tuesday a speed run that’s been adding up to like 8ish miles the last few weeks, Wednesday I take a break, Thursday I run 8 fast, Friday I run 5 easy, Saturday I run 5 easy and then I do it all over again. Mama is TIRED, mmkay!
12. Be honest, do you regularly stretch + foam roll post run?
I stretch. And I foam roll a few times a week, but definitely not as much as I should.
So how’d you do on the pop quiz? Feel free to lift it, answer one or two of these, or just drop in and say hi to me!
So, after the photoshoot on Saturday, I ran, and hopped in the car to head to Charlotte because I got me and Deb some tickets to see Demi Lovato. So first things first, after a 10-miler at my parents’ I met up with Deb and some of her work friends at a place called Georges Brasserie in the Southpark neighborhood of Charlotte.
The place was super nice, and turned out to be a French place, which means the menu was baller.
Bottomless Mimosas were $12. Yes please!
Cheers!
We started off with an order of beignets for the table….
And literally, almost every single girl at the table ordered the French Toast which was AH-maze. Go to Georges, and tell them I said hey!
So next up, the Demi Lovato concert!
If you guys know anything about you, you need to understand that I am ride or die for Demi.
Me and Deb found giant Demi before the show, where the median age was like 15. Seriously, besides moms, we were like the oldest people there. But I knew every word so suck on that tweens! Deb and I found the Tampax (weird) photobooth and took some really really cute pics. I’m gonna hang onto these for a while.
The hot one from One Direction? Zayn? His lady-friend is in this group. They were really cute, and played a bunch of adorable covers from the 90s, including a TLC cover of ‘No Scrubs’. No one but us and the moms knew this one.
And finally!!!!
Demi! And the seats were really good!
She was amazing. Seriously amazing. She seemed really happy, and sang strong for the entire time. It wasn’t super overproduced, and the show really boiled down to her and the music. Demi played the new stuff, the old stuff, and played the drums, the piano, and the guitar.
The coolest thing? The Neon Lights app that you could download before the show. During Neon Lights, the app created this really cool effect on everyone’s smartphone blinked to the beat of the song. Such good energy!
So overall, that concert was amazing, and I actually found myself boo-hooing during her incredible rendition of ‘Let it Go’ from Frozen and ‘Nightingale,’ where she threw in this amazing key change at the last chorus.
So a photoshoot, a long run in beautiful weather, time with my sister, time with my parents, mimosas, and a Demi Lovato concert? I’m now exhausted, but what a fantastic weekend.
So remember that incredible dish I had at Pop’s on Sunday? The fusilli pasta with the mozzarella?
I slimmed it down, cut some of the oils, and made my own version, and it turned out awesome? The only downside? I made enough pasts for like 24 people, and now I’m trying to pawn large amounts of pasta off on anyone who will eat food fit for human consumption.
Here’s the side-by-side – Sunday’s meal is on type. Mine is on the bottom.
Mine looks a little “drier” because I skimped on some of those oils that can pack on calories. But it definitely was tasting good! Now who wants pasta?
Moving right along!
The weather was beautiful in North Carolina today, literally like 75 degrees. So I dragged my boss down to the track for a speed workout.
It was nice to run on the track on a pretty day, and I’ve been working out on such hard surfaces recently, I forgot how nice it is to run on a soft, springy surface. My body is totally thanking me today.
Today’s interval was a 1 mi. by 6, with a 400m recovery. It was cool, and I ended up being able to squeeze like 8 miles out of the deal without even realizing! That’s one of the beautiful aspects of speed workouts!
Okay, I usually never do this, but this is actually pretty funny.
Mile 1: 7:46 – hysterical, because I told my boss that the first mile would be a nice and easy one, just for us. I started to feel so crappy during the mile, and I couldn’t figure out why. Yeah, that would be why, I was running at ungodly (for me) speeds.
Mile 2: 7:59
Mile 3: 8:12
Mile 4: 8:09
Mile 5: 8:14
Mile 6: 8:14
The best moment? When a woman who was also working out on the track turned to me as she was leaving, gave me the thumbs up, and told me that I was awesome. I, being hyper-emotional because I was working out, completely burst into tears right there on the track. Whatevs man, working out is beautiful.
And now, it’s time for the reader question!
I got a text a few days ago, from a reader asking about tying running shoes!
I’m forever confused about the different ways to tie running shoes and have just recently learned the tighter you tie isn’t actually the better (I was wondering why my feet were going numb).
So Kim (reader in question) is certainly not the only one. I was beyond shocked when I borrowed my boss’ shoes for a run, and his shoes were snatched down to beyond an inch of their lives, and I’ve seen the same in a lot of folks who come into Fleet Feet. A lot of folks will come in and complain of their feet going numb especially.
So here’s the deal, and the way I would suggest that you tie your shoes in order to be comfortable.
Take a gander at the feets.
So your shoes do not need to be super tight, nor do they need to be flopping off of your feet (something I’ve certainly been guilty of). But if you’re one of those people who love that tight feel, but concerned because your feet go numb every run, I have a fun trick for you. Tie your shoes normally. Don’t squeeze the heck out of your feet.
Then, do this. We’re gonna backlace your shoe (and keep the shoe from sliding around on your ankle).
See that top eyelet on the shoe that you’ve always wondered about? We’re going to use it today. Poke the right lace through the right hole and the left lace through the left hole. So we’re making bunny ears. Now cut straight across the top of your foot and pierce the opposite ear. Same thing, pierce the opposite ear. Then pull both laces straight up, and this will lock the shoe on your ankle without killing the top of your food. Here’s how it’s gonna go in YouTube form.
Do itttttt. Now remember, chill on the laces. Do not get fixated on tying them so tight that you see life flash before your eyes. It’s unnecessary, and the last thing you want to be thinking about is how bad your feet hurt 10 miles in.
Anyhoo, I miss you guys, come visit me in the comments.
Tell me something, what’d you eat for dinner last night? Pictures are welcome!
And in case you’re still dumb (jk, jk), my here’s what is my “here’s what three things I’m obsessed with this week,” which I totally stole from Andy Cohen, my American Idol. Andy, please, give me my own show! I need it!!! Okay, here goes though.
Lake Street Dive.
A friend tagged me in this video on the YouTube, and I’ve been obsessed ever since.
Rachael Price is that lead vocalist, and even though the show was totally sold out, I was able to purchase exactly one ticket. I know a few friends are hitting the show too, so I should be able to try to find them, but yes, I love Lake Street Dive enough that I’m just going to go to this show solo dolo.
The weather.
I promise, I’m not lame. Which I have to say because I recognize that it’s pretty lame to be posting about the weather on my blog. But it’s been disgusting, especially by NC standards, and I’ve been forced onto the treadmill more than I’d like this week. Mid next week in good ol’ Raleigh, we will be well into the 70s here. When we had a snow storm and people were abandoning their cars this week. It literally makes no sense. But whatvevs, I’ll take whatever keeps me off the treadmill for a day or two. Raise ya glass for 10 miles on Sunday! Woohoo!
These Minnetonka Boots
I blogged on these a few weeks ago, how I’d been dying for some to add to my collection, so imagine my surprise (delighted surprise), when Austin told me to close my eyes and open a shoe box? They could not be more perfect! Gah, they’re exactly what I needed!
So what three things are you obsessed with this week?
So here’s a disclaimer. I am not pregnant, nor have I delivered a baby. But., one of my best friends was pregnant throughout the time I trained for my marathon, and our lives have always been eerily parallel, despite the fact that she lives about 8 hours away in Nashville. As I was going through the whole process – the training, the race itself, and then the after, I asked her about it, and she seemed totally in agreement, that training for, and executing a marathon is kinda sorta like the process of getting pregnant and delivering a baby. Also, fun fact: now that we have kids, we are sworn to secrecy about what happened at her wedding weekend. I am fine with that 😉
Mama Chelsie and baby niece Evie, when she was born on January 21st of last year! Mama delivered with no drugs!
How Marathoning is Like Delivering a Child
By: Cheri and Mama Chelsie, cause she’s actually delivered a child.
You’re pregnant/you’ve registered for your first marathon! So what do you do? You tell your best friends, because you’re kind of so excited, but kind of terrified. What have you gotten yourself into? Oh well, you’ve got forever to prepare for this, right? Right? Why do some people so happy for you, and some people seem so terrified for you?
Realizing that what you’re about to do is going to be a big deal, you go to Barnes and Noble and sit there with a tea while you read every single book on the topic. You might even bring your laptop to Google some stuff and do some cross-referencing. Why the hell are there so many theories on this stuff? Should I eat seafood? Is caffeine okay? Am I about to get judged for all my choices?
You tell people. And the world starts to implode. First, it’s a lot of congratulations. Then, a lot of unsolicited opinions. Then a lot of stupid questions. “How far is a marathon?” “Why are you doing that?” “I think my sister ran a marathon once, but she said it made her hate running. [shrugs] Hope this doesn’t make you hate running!”
Once you get over the initial shock of what happens, you realize, you have to eat well. Gone are the days where you could mindlessly toss back a few cups of coffee, or drink all night with friends because each day when you wake up, whatever’s in your belly is what is coming with you for the run. If something doesn’t agree with you, your body will certainly let you know, and you may find yourself in the bathroom a little more than usual.
You talk to your friends about how they did it. How did they prepare? What should you know? Some of their advice is comforting. Some of their advice is terrifying. You kind of think you can do it, but you kind of doubt yourself a little bit.
You start going to bed a little earlier. But it doesn’t really matter, because as you get a little closer to the event, you won’t sleep well anyways. You’ll fall asleep okay, and find yourself stress dreaming about every thing that could possibly go wrong.
You get a little practice with your longs runs (a few fake contractions). Some of them make you really confident. Some of them are defeating, and you’re really not sure if you can do it. But what choice do you have right now? You can’t back out, right?
Jesus, that beautiful is baby, huh? Mama Chelsie isn’t too bad either 🙂
Some really weird stuff starts happening to your body. You’re hungry all the time. But you only want to eat good stuff. Your thighs rub together. Things spread, things come together, and your energy is all over the place.
Okay, it’s the morning of. You can do this! After 9 months (or less) of training, you are so pumped, and very nervous. And the adrenaline of what’s about to happen to you starts to pull you through.
Less than halfway through, endorphins are flowing. What are people talking about?! This is awesome! You might even nod your head and high give some passers-by. Mind over matter that’s all it takes. ::hair flip::
Chelsie was in labor for over a day. Luckily, there is not really that when you’re marathoning. But an hour and a half after those endorphins are flowing, despair comes. What the frick were you thinking? Why did you think this was fun? Why did you tell everyone you were doing this? Now if you were to lay down and die, they will know you failed. You’re breathing heavily. You’re making noises. The only thoughts are the thoughts of your loved ones, and how you have to make it back to them. Not religious? Doesn’t matter. You will be praying.
The final push. 25.5 miles. People tell you you’re almost there. You hope so, because seriously, you’re not sure you’re going to make it. But you put one foot in front of the other, and keep moving. And suddenly, the finish line appears. And with that, you give it literally everything you have.
Euphoria. You’re crossing the finish line. And you collapse into a pile of emotion. Disbelief. There are tears and sobbing. Someone puts a medal (a baby) on your chest, and a blanket around your shoulders. There are hugs and smiles. And in the words of Chelsie, “you feel like a million bucks,”
The would-be Rip Van Winkle. You want to sleep for 1000 years. But you have to call your family and friends who are wondering how/what you’re doing. Ugh.
The next day, when you feel like like 10 trucks ran you over, you swear that you will never do this again. No one in hell could pay you enough to make you want to do this again. Your chub rub hurts. You want to eat, but you can’t. And you want to slap whomever it was that said this was a good idea.
The blackout. A few days later, when you’re feeling better and your homies are slapping you on the back for what you’ve done, you literally black out all the crazy stuff that happens to you, and you think that it might be a good idea to do it again. Whaaaaaa? Who would do this more than once!
Those little feet!
Happy Valentines week beautiful people! What have I missed about training for a marathon/having a sweet baby?
Total disclaimer: I stole this from Snack Therapy last week. So read this, then feel free to steal it because it reminds me of that sort of LiveJournal (is that still a thing?) sort of old-school blogging. I love it I love it. So here goes!
1. Were you named after anyone?
Yes. I am my parents first, and they named me after this Stevie Wonder single.
My name is actually Cheri Armour, and one of the rough things about getting married is deciding whether to change my beautiful last name that my parents gave me or not. Ah. I’ve got a ton of time to decide, right?
2. When was the last time you cried?
It kind of makes me cry to think about it. But the last time I really cried was when my grandmother died. I cried for real when it was time to lay her to rest. And it was really hard. Let’s move along.
3. Do you like your handwriting?
Yeah duh. I write like a total girl. Wanna see?
4. What is your favorite lunch meat?
I’m a vegetarian. So none, please 🙂
5. Do you have kids?
No. But I think I’d like some. I think I’d be a good mom.
6. If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
Yes. I think I always try to do the right thing. I value that in other people. I hope they value that in me. And I really love my friends. I hope they can see that.
7. Do you use sarcasm a lot?
Absolutely yes. That’s truly how I used to deal with my problems. I do it now because it’s like a second language.
8. Do you still have your tonsils?
I do! I used to get sore throats a lot, but honestly, since I’ve started running, it’s not really been a thing as much.
9. Would you bungee jump?
Absolutely not. I’m terrified of heights. I’m embarrassed at how scared I am of heights.
10 What is your favorite cereal?
I am so boring. I don’t really eat cereal. But when I was a kid?
This.
And this.
These are both things that I enjoyed with my mom as a kid, and I’d probably start crying if I took a bite of either of these two now. It just reminds me of really happy stuff.
11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Yes.
I mostly wear running shoes and it’s expensive to just mush them off, and it’s really bad for the tendons in your ankles to mush them off.
12. Do you think you are strong?
Yes. I’m a little girl. But I’m so so strong.
13. What is your favorite ice cream?
I’m pretty lactose intolerant, so I try to stay away from ice cream. I love fro yo, and over the holidays I discovered pumpkin cheesecake fro yo from this place called like Yogen Fruz? Does that sound like a real place or did I make that up?
14. What is the first thing you notice about other people?
Are they nice to other people? Do they treat waitstaff and their mom and their siblings kindly? They do? Okay, we can be friends 🙂
15. Red or pink?
Red on my nails please.
16. What is your least favorite thing about yourself?
I hate that I lose things. I cannot express to you how much I hate losing stuff.
17. Any tattoos?
Wouldn’t you like to know…..
But yes. I have footprints on my back in honor of my singing group, and a little baby turtle. I would like to get some huge colorful pieces after I get married.
18. Do you have any hobbies?
I run. I run so much. I love it. I told someone today that I feel more like myself when I’m running like 30ish miles a week at least. I blog. And I sing. Really well actually. I made the X-Factor one time. I told that story once.
19. What color shoes are you wearing?
Sock colored. I’m wearing some SmartWool socks.
20. What was the last thing you ate?
Apricot Slice, courtesy of a Kiwi friend who came over for Super Bowl Sunday, It tastes like something we eat in Haiti.
21. What are you listening to right now?
Anything by my woman crush. Here’s my favorite Demi Lovato song now 🙂
22. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
You know I own like 20 high-end nail polishes right? Don’t bother asking me that now. I’m wearing yellow now, though 🙂
23. Favorite smells?
I love the way my dog smells. That’s gross, but she’s so comforting. She sleeps on the edge of my bed, and I wake up sometimes and peek down to check on how she’s doing. And she she has not pooped on the floor in like a whole day 🙂
24. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
My sister, Deb. She’s two years younger than I am, but I’m pretty good friends with all of my siblings.
25. Mountain hideaway or beach house?
Bora Bora. I saw it on KUWTK, if you don’t know what that acronym is, BYE. Kidding, kinda.
26. Favorite sport to watch?
Girl, bye.
27. Hair color?
Loc colored. Very brown. Lighter brown on the ends from working at summer camps.
28. Eye colors?
Brown! So dark.
29. Do you wear contacts?
Yes. I wear Dailies, and I really need Lasik because I’m getting blinder by the second.
30. Scary movies or happy endings?
Happy endings. I hated The Breakup.
31. Last movie you watched?
Hm. I watched Girls Season 1 all weekend.
32. What color shirt are you wearing?
A black race top from the Shamrock Marathon, the first marathon I ever did. I almost forgot I had it on, and this sweet girl at run club was like “OMG are you from Virginia?!” No cause I got the worst and only speeding ticket ever there when I was like 19. SO NO. I am not from the state which got me grounded for an entire semester. Thank you though.
33. Summer or winter?
Summer. I live for little tiny jean shorts.
34. Hugs or kisses?
Both
35. Computer or television?
Telly baby! I love Bravo, HLN, and E! I won’t try and make any apologies for that.
36. What book are you reading right now?
Hanson’s Marathon Method. Pretending to read it. Blogging instead.
37. What’s on your mouse pad?
38. What color is your house?
This like weird brown color.
39. What color is your car?
Champagne darlings!
What was your favorite question of the stolen survey? Now answer it!
So over the weekend on Fripp, I got it in my head to get some beach cruisers so we could ride around, see the island some more, and get our exercise in for the day.
Overactive Blogger 