Nashville Rock-N-Roll Marathon.

This weekend we took a road trip to Nashville for the Rock-N-Roll Marathon.  This was Elliott's first time out of Arkansas, and he was such a trooper!  We left Friday morning, stopping in Memphis to eat lunch at the Beauty Shop, and arrived in Nashville right as 35,000 other runners arrived, spent an hour and a half in stand still traffic, making it to the convention center just in time to retrieve my bib, shirt and swag bag.  It was a long day, but our little man hung in there and was ready to crash by the time we checked in at the Marriott at Vanderbilt.  

Saturday morning Gary and Elliott walked me to the start line and wished me luck, returning to the hotel in time for Elliott's morning nap.  Meanwhile, I made my way through 13.1 miles of steep hills in unseasonably warm weather.  The hills and heat took a toll on me around mile nine, when I gave in to my achy knees and walked the remainder of the race, finishing almost 30 minutes slower than my personal worst.  I was disappointed, but happy to be running a race less than 4 months after birthing a baby. Training was a challenge, as I have to plan everything around Elliott's meals, and I admit I should have put in a few more miles per week, but now I'm more motivated than ever to get back in the shape I was in pre-baby.  

Gary was such a huge support this weekend, walking 3 miles (as many of the roads were closed to cars) carrying E in the Baby Bjorn to the finish line to meet me.  Seeing their sweet faces at the end of a tough run was the best reward.  The 3 mile walk (uphill) back to the hotel felt like 10 for me, and I would have paid a taxi $300 to break the law and drive us (with no car seat) back.  But, we made it, and after a shower, a half a large pizza, a 2 hour nap and 800 mg of ibuprofen, I was a new woman.  We spent Saturday evening in our hotel room icing my knees, watching the Mavs loose the first game in the first round of the playoffs, and listening to Elliott's sweet jibber jabber after finally discovering his voice. 

Traveling with a baby will wear you out, but I'm proud of how well our sweet boy adjusted and rolled with the punches this weekend. 

Dallas White Rock (half) Marathon.

Saturday morning Gary and I drove to Dallas to run in the Dallas White Rock Marathon. We stayed Saturday night with his parents in Ft. Worth and left around 6:00am to head to Dallas Sunday morning for the race.

The race started at 8am so we had 2 hours to get there, park, and get to our corral at the starting line. This seemed like plenty of time, but it was 7:45 when we pulled into the parking lot. Traffic from the 20,000 plus runners was insane, but we made it to our corral just in time.

Although Gary did not train for this race, we opted for the 2:15 minute corral. We didn't stay together this time, because I was set on reaching my 2:15 goal.

For the first 10 miles I was running a steady 10 minute mile and feeling good. But, at mile 10 I hit a wall. The guy I was trying to pace myself off of headed the other direction for the full marathon. I had been pushing myself to keep this guy in my sight, because I could tell he was maintaining a good pace. When he turned off, I felt a little discouraged. I also began to feel an intense pain in my right knee that was causing my right leg to give out.

My knees started giving me trouble at the last half I did in Conway. I had slowed my running routine to about once or twice a week since that race to give my knees a break. I've been icing them after every run and putting heat on them every night. This has helped tremendously, but by mile 10 they were worn out.

For the final 3.1 I had to slow my run to about an 11 minute mile and walk for a few minutes here and there when the pain got too intense. I finished just over my goal in 2:16:52. This sill broke my personal record of 2:19:48 that I had set just a month and a half earlier. I felt pretty good about my time considering I had slowed my training down considerably since October due to my knee pain.

Gary finished in just over 2:30. This was a great time since he had run only once since running a 5k back in July!

I'm hoping to get my knees back in shape soon so I can run the half at the Little Rock Marathon in March.

Overall, we had a great experience in Dallas.  I'm proud of our times, and I'm looking forward to setting new records for myself in the coming year.

Summer is flying by!

Wow, I can't believe tomorrow is the last day of June! The summer is going by so fast at the Grant home. We have been busy every weekend, we haven't even made it to church in over a month.

This past week Michael Jackson died. It was a shock to everyone and the news coverage is still going on! He was so talented, but he was a troubled person. I hope he has now found some peace.

This past weekend Gary and I went to Hot Springs for his family's annual "Grant Getaway." This sign welcomed us when we arrived at the condos. We spent the weekend chatting with the family, and hanging by the pool. The girls even went and got manicures and pedicures. It was good to see the whole Grant clan.

Last night when we got back we went to dinner and a movie with some friends. We saw "The Proposal" with Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock. It was so funny! Loved it!

Today I spent the day cleaning and doing laundry. Being a "grown-up" stinks sometimes. I am realizing paying bills, working, cleaning house and cooking dinner can wear on a person real quick! But, it's life. However, one thing I do enjoy about having our own place is decorating it! This is a painting Kate did for our bedroom recently. It adds so much color to the room!

I registered for my first 5k online tonight. It is on July 11th at the Big Dam Bridge in Little Rock. Brooke and I are preparing for our first half marathon in Memphis, TN in December! A 5k is 10 miles shorter than the 13 mile half marathon, but it is a good start. I am looking forward to pushing myself in a way I never have before.

This is a short week since the salon will be closed Sat. for the 4th of July. I am looking forward to our 3rd weekend in a row in Hot Springs. It has been nice to have a few Saturdays with Gary for a change. This time we will be at my parents condo with Laura and Caleb. It should be a great time! Now I just have to make through the next 4 days...