Kiawah Half Marathon- check.

Ran the Kiawah half yesterday with a couple of friends... had a good time, sore as hell, am now packing for ANOTHER work trip.

I am tired.

Sorry not more descriptive- been bad about blogging!

VEGAS!!!!!!!

Just stepped off plane back in Charleston. What a trip...

Good news- I am up to running 3-4x a week...doing 3-4 miles regularly.

Am debating signing up for a 10K race this weekend- can run most of it and just enjoy the beautiful (cooler) weather... or I can do the 5K option.

Decisions...decisions...

Good to be back!

Time for another sporadic post...

Been super busy recently... working out like crazy too! Did 6 out of 7 days this week, the one day off exception being when I had a "bad" blood donation experience at the work blood drive this week... seeing blue spots fading to black and everything. Awesome.

Heading to Norfolk tomorrow for work- then Vegas for the weekend.

I can maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake it.

I'm baaaaaack....

So much has happened since my last post. I started a new position at work, went on about 49 trips, sold my car, bought a new one, and...and...signed up for the Kiawah Half Marathon in December! The race that started this whole thing two years ago. I am feeling great about it! And I am sorry for being an MIA blogger that has not read posts, commented, or been around for awhile :)

Let me catch up quickly- I was in Kentucky last week for my niece's first birthday. She is the cutest thing ever! Here are some pics...

Travel is taking me to Chicago AGAIN next week. Looking forward to it.

All for now... I am gearing up to run/walk the bridge tomorrow. Getting back into the swing of things is hard but I am committed!

Happy trails!

Spending the week in Cabo San Lucas...

View of the Pacific Ocean from my room... AWESOME!!! I can walk right out onto the porch to the ocean!

Still recovering from the nail to the foot...

Figured I would post some pics since I NEVER travel :)

After meetings in Chicago, then off to the airport to...

San Francisco! We finished up a meeting in Santa Rosa and hit some wineries in Sonoma. Here is one from Rodney Strong. I went a little overboard and ordered two cases of their Reserve vintage- they are shipping it home for me! :)

Next week I am off to Toronto for a day or two, week after is Cabo, then L.A.!

I am already committing to the Kiawah Half in December, should be able to run by then, right?

Happy trails!

Off to Chicago!

Will be working... and catching the White Sox play the Indians tonight. Woohoo!

Tomorrow morning's run?

No, not my boring old neighborhood... Central Park! (oh yeah, I am in New York thru Friday for work)

Next week? Chicago! The running shoes are definitely coming out to play... my fav route is a quick jaunt from my home base, The Palmer House Hilton.

Happy trails to all!

Arapahoe Basin? Check.

What a fun day of skiing!! 13,000 foot altitude kinda gets to me though.

I know- I am a wimp!

Off I go... to Denttsreal!

I am off on a 10 day work trip... to....

Denver...

then...Pittsburgh...

...and finally...Montreal!

Random... huh? I am speaking at three different conferences and stretched it all out to one super mother-trip. Arrivederci!

Back from Cabo...tired...need rest

Checking in... and then out...

Hey everyone! Busy travel week- just got home last night from Saaaaaaaaint Louis. Rainy, windy, crappy. At least I wasn't flying American though, right? I am off to Tampa tomorrow for a work conference and then five glorious days of relaxation, deep sea fishing, and fun at President's Club in Cabo San Lucas. Woohoo! I can't wait.

Of course I am glad I did the Bridge Run this year but failed to mention I had gotten 18 stitches in my side after the dermatologist removed a piece of me for further testing. She never mentioned not doing any mid-range races so I did... and the damn stitches were pulling apart. Crap! Now I have a huge scar and some bandage on. BLAH. Always wear your sunblock, kids. The dermatologist ain't a fun place to go. You better believe I am packing in the SPF 30 and 15 for this trip. My doctor ain't playin'!

On a random note, I decided today that I wanted a cupcake. My dilemna was that I was a) too lazy to go buy one and fight the out-of-towner traffic for the Family Circle Cup and b) did not want to use the entire box of mix and can of frosting in my pantry. Normally I might make a complete batch for Craig and friends and coworkers but I am going on the road for 9 days and Craig is at a work conference in Dallas... although he just called me to tell me they were playing football right now in Texas Stadium. I was a little confused but he sounded really stoked. OK, back to the cupcakes. I put about 3/4 a cup of mix in a bowl with an egg and some unsweetened applesauce (good substitute) for oil and had enough for 4 little cupcakes. Yay! They baked up quick and I put aside a bit of frosting (I picked blue dye today) and there you have it! They should sell little packets of mix like this for people that do not want an entire batch. They probably do... but oh well. They would charge you 4x what you would pay to split up a $1.00 box. Kinda like how all those chic Cupcake boutiques around cities today charge $4.00 for ONE cupcake. Holla for my cupcakes! I would email you all one... but the frosting would get on your computers.

And while I was on that thought... what goes better with a cupcake than...(no, not milk)...some iced tea! I tell you- I could drink tea day and night. I love that stuff... only I did not make it at home. I went rummaging through my crap (some stuff unpacked from 3 1/2 years ago when I moved here) to find my iced tea machine. Then I remembered- my loser ex-BF took it!! NOooooooooooo. I improvised- I took a pot of water on the stove and threw a bunch of teabags in... and then dumped into a huge thermos with ice. Thankfully, I bought the 1000 pack of Splenda at Sam's last month so sweetener is not an option. Yaaaaaaaay. Any better ideas how to make tea?

Hope everyone is doing well- I know you are jealous I get to work this weekend :)

Bon Voyage!

Off to the Western Caribbean until next Saturday!

Way to go, runners!!

A BIG CONGRATS to all of you who just finished marathons and half marathons!!! I love reading your race reports and seeing how much fun you are having out there!! :) Way to go!!

YAY!!

I am just getting back to wimpy 2 and 3 mile run/walks which are not as fun as 20 mile training runs, but will do for now.

Traveling a lot- Chicago, Seattle, now Philadelpia... and OFF TO THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN on Friday!

Yes, kids. It is almost CRUISE TIME!

Does Goldilocks live in Chicago?

I was/am in Chicago for work this week... again. Only this time, it was too cold. Because of snow, wind, the position of the moon and stars- my flight got cancelled. Typical! Luckily, I get to spend some more quality time in the Sheraton downtown. Have no fear....there is plenty of fun stuff to keep me occupied- bowling across the street, shopping, karaoke in the bar downstairs.

However, it is either too hot or too cold in Chicago. This Goldilocks is wondering if it is ever just right?

I sure hope I get home tomorrow morning!! Supposed to be 60's this weekend back in Chucktown- holla!!!

Oh yeah- and something crazy happened on the flight up to Chicago earlier this week... our airplane got struck by lightning. CRAZY!! First time it has happened to me in over 600,000 miles of air travel. In case you are wondering what it is like, it sounds like a really loud cracking boom and then you see light all around the plane and coming through cockpit door. We had a first time flier on the plane- she seemed totally freaked out.

I thought it was kinda cool.

I am weird though.

On another happy note, I am going on the President's Club sales trip to Cabo in April for my company!! Vacation rocks. I will even have some remnants left of the tan I will get in three weeks from my cruise when I hit Cabo. WOOOHOOOO!!

Keeping the non-running blog streak alive!

So, I am going on another cruise on February 23rd to the Western Caribbean. For those of you keeping tabs, I just went on one in December. I kinda like vacation. And the Caribbean. And it is kinda a cruise "date" with someone I have only been seeing for three months. A date that lasts 7 days and we will be sharing 180 sq foot cabin.

It almost sounds like a reality show.

Can't wait to head home tomorrow- Boston is freezing my butt off! I have finally decided that I will start my training for the Cooper River Bridge Run- my homecoming to racing several years ago. Hey- wait! Yall should come run it too!! Mendy, David- you have no excuse. Jess- come on up! Marcy- NY sucks this time of year-come to Charleston. Jayhawk and all your blogging posse- Charleston is waiting!! Bring your mom- plenty of bourbon to share! All you other folks- come on!

OK, I kinda am motivated now.

This might be the worst running blog ever created...

Why is it the worst? I guess cuz I don't really talk much 'bout running lately. I should rename my blog to Me and My Free Weights or Me and My Pilate Mat or Me and My Elliptical Machine. Not much running though. And I am still OK with that. I still have yet to make it to the sports medicine place to look at my foot. So, I am keeping on working on and focusing on eating better.

And starting tomorrow on United flight #something at 6:30 AM- I am back on the road (or in the skies). To Chicago. Sweet, sweet Chicago. Still love that city :)

Off to the Caribbean!

The life and times of Tiff!

What a week- three cities in three days and I am whipped. Luckily, I have gotten into a groove of working out and doing non-running things to make my foot feel better- biking, elliptical, stairmaster, but it is not the same.

I wish I had these biking skillz

I just don't get the same high I do from running. I might take a couple tips that I received from Mike and try to get through it. My Kiawah half (that I will not be running but spent $70 on) is this Saturday. Oh well, oh hell!

On a good front- 2 days til I leave for my cruise! We are hitting Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan, and Cozumel! I am about ready to have a nervous breakdown from working long hours, traveling all over, and end of year stress. Can't wait.

Happy trails to all... damn it is nice to be home for a couple days!

Greetings from Indy!

This week has taken me to Boston and now Indianapolis. I have decided to stop stressing about the half marathon next weekend and just sit it out. Yes, I lose my $60 registration fee but I really don't care. I actually leave that day to go on a cruise so I am not TOO upset. Of course, part of me is still wavering and thinking I could just walk/run the damn thing and take 6 years to finish. I think I have pretty much made up my mind.

I hit the workout room this afternoon- did 3 miles on the treadmill and 15 minutes on elliptical with some weights afterwards. I think I am gonna just stick with shorter runs and enjoy that before starting to train again. It is clear my heart and foot were not really into jumping back into half marathon training after Chicago. And that is OK!

In my personal life, things could NOT be better. Not really wanting to post anything about that right now... maybe I am scared to jinx it? Ha ha!! I cannot stop smiling!

Hope everyone is doing well... I have been slack on reading blogs recently. I did catch that a bunch of you are doing the PF Changs half in Phoenix in January. Sounds like fun! Doesn't look like it is in the cards for me though... I can't wait to track everyone online!

Phew... 11 days til I leave for the wonderfully fabulous waters of the Caribbean....