Long time, no blog

At this time, I am averaging a blog here every 6 months or so. Pretty sad, eh? I figure I will revisit blogging in the new year from time to time.

So, what has been happening in the last 6-12 months?

• Really got into Spinning and other Les Mills classes at my gym- Body Pump, Body Flow, Body Attack. I have gotten addicted to Yoga and Pilates!
• Been running off and on- haven't done a road race in about a year. That will change in 2010!
• Been traveling like madwoman for work after taking on some new responsibilities.
• I got engaged!

Yeah, the last point is definitely the most exciting! Long story short- I started dating a guy I met at work last fall. We dated for a little over a year. He rocks. We got engaged this past November in New Orleans. Planning a Fall 2010 wedding in Charleston. He is the most wonderful guy on the planet- woohoo!

So, in the wake of that news... will be definitely picking up the work out schedule again FULL FORCE. I have been working out steadily since taking vacation around the holidays... funny how I can fit 2-3 hours of working out in each day when not working :)

More to come... Happy New Year to all!

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!

Off to Chicago!

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

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

Now where did I put those running shoes...??!?!

It’s Official.

I signed up for the Cooper River Bridge Run 10K today- which leaves me one week (or actually 8 days) til the race next Saturday! I had to keep my streak alive so this will be my third year running…or run/walking in my case. Can you blame me for wanting to check the weather report before signing up for a race? Chicago… Chicago…Chicago… Well we appear to be A-OK with lows in the 50’s, highs in the 70s.

On a slightly bad note- I’ve only run once in the last 5 months… but I’m doing it! Nothing like a good kick in the butt to get back on track. And…a certain person does not know that I signed him up too… misery loves company, right?

Now I must find an outfit! And wipe the dust off those running shoes...

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!

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!

Back to the grindstone!

So, I am back on the road for work...

Today-Thursday- Kansas City
Thursday-Friday- back to Charleston
Friday-Monday- Los Angeles
Tuesday-Wednesday- Dallas
Thursday-Friday- NYC

Yeah, I am definitely back on the travelin' wagon. At least it takes my mind off other things...

Which leads me to...

THANK YOU!

Thank you so much to each and every one of you that offered positive insight, encouraging words, and other support after Chicago. It means so much to me.

Stay tuned though... this girl is only getting started.

Sad, yet true

On my flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles this evening, I hit 120,000 miles flown so far this year.

120,000 miles in 8 months and 10 days

I have even managed to now maintain Platinum status on TWO airlines- Delta (4th year in a row) and US Air.

Will the Tiffster ever slow down? Only time will tell!

On a bleak running note, the area around my hotel leaves something to be desired to a runner. Looks like Treadmill Tiff Time tomorrow...

An easy (hot) 10 this morning!

So, my training plan called for only 10 miles this morning... my last stepback week before next week's 20 miler and then taper.

The worst part of this week? I have to run 20 miles BY MYSELF. My running partners are doing it Saturday morning and I am in a wedding that day so I know I will be boozing it up Thursday night at the bachelorette party, Friday at the rehearsal, and Sat for the festivities.

So... I am running it Thursday morning. Before work.

What?

Yeah.

Sigh.

This week is nuts. I fly to Los Angeles tomorrow afternoon for 2 days, then to DC on Tuesday evening, then back to Charleston Wednesday night.

Get home at 11 PM Wednesday night.

Run 20 miles in the morning.

3 days of debauchery.

And work.

Damn.

Oh yeah... on another interesting note. I have received flowers from guys I have been dating/seeing twice in the last two months. Immediately after I receive the flowers, the "relationship" goes to sh*t. Next time the florist calls me with a delivery, I am giving a false address. Seriously.

Hell yeah- the Gamecocks are actually beating Georgia in the 3rd quarter- I am opening a bottle of wine.

Another reason to celebrate? Michigan SUCKS.

The cutest damn thing in the whole world!

My little niece is sooooo cute!!! I had to post this- yesterday was her first day at the pool and I think she made QUITE the fashion statement. At the tender age of 5 weeks, she already understands the concept of accessorizing without cluttering the outfit. She also understands how to best hide her physical flaws (like baby chub) by sporting the cover-up. Her matching hat really gives the outfit a punch too.

Awwww....

I am in Minneapolis this week- working, working, working... only got 2 hours of sleep last night due to some technical issues with my demo and a 5:40 AM flight. Gonna be up late tonight too. Hope I can make it running in the morning... joy!

...in the middle of a looooong trip...

Left home Tuesday morning at 6:00 AM for DC. Stuck last night here after my flight to Lexington, KY was cancelled...giving me a BONUS vacation at the Hilton Crystal City. Yahoooooo!!!

Flying out today to see family in Lex, attend friend's wedding tomorrow in Louisville. Fly to Raleigh Sunday... and now going to San Francisco Tuesday night... back next Friday.

Sigh.

At least I got a treadmill run in this morning. Lord knows much I love the treadmill... choke choke :)

Happy trails to all!!!

Tiffster

Vacation all I ever wanted vacation had to get away...

Yeah- I can't get this out of my mind... because I am on vacation!!!!!! Sweet, beautiful, lovely vacation with a big fat capital V!!!!! So, I kick off vacation sitting here in the Crown Room in the Boston airport getting ready to come hooooome after a trip to San Diego last week, Oklahoma City, and now Boston.

So.... what am I doing for vacation? I don't leave for Dominican Republic til Friday so I have a couple days to kick it at home and celebrate turning the big 2-7 on Wednesday.

NEWSFLASH- send your gifts NOW so they make it in time!!! NEWSFLASH!!!!

On a running note- I had a great run in Boston this morning- 8.25 miles along the Charles River. Beeeautiful scenery, weather, and a great run all around.

I heart VACATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back in Charleston! Yeeehaw YALL

I know, I know... I did not blog this week. I am a bad, bad person. I did, however, travel to New York and Philly, deal with a lot of travel delays, lost luggage, and other assorted fun parts of my glamorous lifestyle.

On a happy note, I got a couple good runs in while in Philly, ran up the steps of the art museum several times, did my Rocky pose, screamed "YOOO ADRIAN" and kept running. Nothing out of the ordinary there. Came back late last night and had to tell my dinner date to push back our reservation til 9:30 PM due to canceled flights. Went on date and came to realization I did not like him either. Shouldn't a 40 year old man do his own laundry and not have his mom come pick it up and drop it off?? Don't even get me started.

So, tonight I am going to the wine tasting my friends are hosting. It is a good excuse to drink and be merry and feel like crap on my long run tomorrow night. Thankfully, I made it to my hairdresser this morning and am totally rocking my fresh highlights.

Well, my South Carolina running pal Mendy tagged me for "6 Random Facts about Myself" or something like that??

Here we go...

1. I was a KY all star basketball player in high school but ended up going to college on an academic scholarship

2. My mom and I have the same birthday (July 18th!!! 32 shopping days left)

3. I dressed up in my friend’s mom’s clothes one night when I was 16 years old and bought beer in a gas station. My friend later that night tried the same thing, got busted, asked someone to buy it for her in the parking lot, and we got arrested when she put the beer in my car. I was grounded for months!

4. Seeing milk spilt on a table makes me gag

5. I was president of my sorority in college

6. I read the comics from the back page first towards the first page

I tag... everyone else that has not responded!

This pic makes me laugh- taken Tuesday night in Manhattan after a couple Irish car bombs and some sake. Yes, the guys in the pic are my boss and salesguy.

Wednesday morning was not pretty.

Hot hot hot!

No, I am not talking about Sanjaya from American Idol... I am talking about this HOT weather out in Phoenix! There was a quick cold spell that hit Chicago right before I left last night (dipped into 50's at night) and then I land in 100 degree weather here.

I have been working myself ragged lately so I will guiltily admit I never made it out running in Chicago as I barely made time to get 2 or 3 hours of sleep a night while preparing for a big demo. This morning I woke up to dial into a teleconference call at 8:30 AM EST which equated to 5:30 AM local and me getting about 3.5 hours of sleep. Yipppeee!!

So, I got off the call and had had ENOUGH! I threw on my running shorts, tank top, shoes and shoved the local trail map down my sports bra and I was off! I am staying a little outside the city at this fabulous desert oasis- the Squaw Peak Hilton Resort. Because I am insane and travel so much, I have the highest tier status with Hilton and they upgraded me to a 2 level casita with a full kitchen, 2 bathroom, balcony, garage, etc. It is super sweet! I have already planned the after-game fiesta tonight in my casita.... yes we are going to see the Diamondbacks play the Giants!

OK, back to my running story. There are miles upon miles of trails in the Dreamy Draw Park- all pretty much in the desert. It was hot by the time I got out there and I could instantly feel the effects of not drinking enough water lately and I felt dehydrated. I followed my marathon training program which called for only a 3 mile run. I am definitely going back tomorrow and trying a different trail and going earlier to get a longer run in. It rocks!!!

The scenery was amazing- part of the beauty of traveling so much is the opportunity to run in different cities, in different terrains, and just explore. Glancing at the clock now... I think I even have enough time to jump in the pool and take a float down the lazy river...

Awwww....

Why am I at the office?

I am sitting here wondering why I am such a L-O-S-E-R and am at the office on Memorial Day.

Well...I am prepping for a big week of software demos and conference sessions out in Vancouver. Oh yeah, and I totally sucked on the golf course today so my plans of joining the LPGA are not going to be realized... luckily I think I am a fairly decent Sales Engineer.

Wait! Make that... Lead Sales Engineer after my recent promotion.

BOOO YEAH!

Still rocking some Chicago!

I am too tired to be witty and funny so I am just reporting my great 4 mile run yesterday through Chicago. Running partners included my boss (also training for Chicago) and one of our clients.

Beeee-autiful morning!

Damn, I am tired from traveling. Glad to be going home tomorrow night for a couple days before D.C.

Then Vancouver.

Then Chicago again.

Then Kansas.

Then Phoenix.

Then Philly.

Then Boston.

Hurray.

Wait...it's me!

So, I was perusing the conference web site for our big, big, big conference starting tomorrow to see what time I had to be there so I could have the maximum amount of FUN exploring Chicago. I was half asleep and came across this photo...of me!



Of course, I was probably doing the best demo of my life and no doubt they bought. I only wished they hadn't cropped out the name of my company at the top of the photo. We like free publicity!!

This week's travels take me to...

Pittsburgh & Minneapolis

On the road again!!!