Awesome.

I just got a call from the Bank of America fraud department. Someone has been buying electronics with my card number in Canada.

Yeah. Awesome. Fraud. Canada. Good mood.

I’m going running.

Kayaking…. do you think I can do it?

I consider myself a novice to intermediate kayaker. Do you think I will be ready to do an 8 mile cross country run/12 mile kayak adventure race on May 12th? The race description used the word “grueling” at least 6 times in the paragraph of four lines.

So…I have never measured the distance I have kayaked… how long should I expect to take if I go at a moderate pace?

I might just go for it and start training now... luckily I have PLENTY of water to practice on here in Charleston!!!

Snow, hills, and running… oh my!!!!

3 miles is better than nothing, right?

I woke up after only sleeping 4 hours or so on my aunt’s couch and a long night of throwing back the homemade vintage, playing Texas Hold Em, filling Easter eggs with candy and silver dollars (I didn't steal any, OK? It's for the kids), and getting physically assaulted by the 84 kids in the house… and looked outside.

Snow, ice, 20 degree weather. Welcome to beautiful northeast Ohio, folks!!

So, I did what any sane Southern gal would do. I laced up my running shoes and did an easy 3 miles, stepping gingerly around patches of ice and moving out of the way while snow plows came through.

Go TIFF!!!

P.S. I think it was a wise move to save my 9 mile long run for tomorrow… when I am back in good ole’ Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarleston. Word.

Today's Happy Hour....

Running the bridge!

I did a good 5 miles over the bridge... and back... today!! It felt soo good- I finally felt almost 100% after being sick and geeez I could feel it. I really pushed the last mile and finished strong. Lots and lots of folks out enjoying the bridge- runners, walkers, bikers, etc. What a niiiiiice evening!

Damn, I love running. Love it, love it, love it!!!!!

Burnin' the midnight oil!

For some reason, I cannot sleep. I had a kickass workout tonight- speedwork, some fun gossiping on the elliptical with one of my gal pals, weights, rowing machine (which I am strangely addicted to)- and now I am WIDE AWAKE at 1:00 AM.

Of course I am making the most of my productive late-night evening....I am Ebay shopping, looking at my race calendar through the year 2012, and other essential activities that need to be knocked out before I hit the sack. Duh.

We did take a couple pics of Eric the Alligator today from the view from my window. They are zoomed in photos but it is still a little disturbing as Eric is only about 10 feet from the road and people run on that path all day.


Eric's Home- The Pond


Isn't Eric a total cutie?!?

Tip for the Day: If ever chased by an alligator, run zig zag.

Don't ask. Just do it.

I should have been a rap star…

Or at least a rap star’s girlfriend.

I missed my calling.

Today is a good day!

So, I made some yummy Oatmeal Raisin cookies last night and used pumpkin instead of oil or butter. I also used about half the called amount of brown sugar and threw a little honey in there. They are awesome!!! I brought em into work and the coworkers love loooove them.

Tiff-1, Kitchen-0

Damn, I have to go to a family reunion thing this weekend...in Northeast Ohio. Flying into the beautiful Akron/Canton airport. It is supposed to SNOWWW. Aughhhh!!! It is 80 degrees here today though so I am happily enjoying the sunshine as I look out the window at the alligator that lives in the pond on the side of our building. I named him Eric. Eric the Alligator. He is not behind a fence or anything so I hope he does not scarf up one of our clients in town for training. That would be bad. Very, very bad.

True Confessions...

First step is admitting it....

I watch The Bachelor. And I looooooove it. The only thing I enjoy more than the train wreck show is to read The Bachelor Recaps which are freakin' hilarious!

I love the simple disclaimer at the top...

"The following information you are about to read is of personal opinion. If this e-mail circulates to friends, family, enemies...that is your business. However, if you or someone in your address book happens to personally know, sort of know, know the brother/cousin of, thought you saw in the grocery store buying Spring Oreos and Spaghetti O’s or have a spin instructor that looks exactly like one of the Bachelorettes on the show...none of this is personal and I'm sure they are all lovely people."

Check it out!!

Monday afternoon workOUT

I decided to hit the work gym today around 4:00 PM and work it out. I am still feeling a tad under the weather from being sick so I did a fun mixed-up workout to keep myself interested. I almost forgot we have a kick ass gym at work because I am gone so much but I really love it! Lots of machines, weights, hot guys, etc. My version of heaven.

I did the following workout, in this order:

2 mile run at 5K pace
3 miles bike
2 miles run at 10K pace
5 miles bike
10 minutes rowing machine
weights and abs

I felt great afterwards! I changed clothes and hit my Junior League meeting where I proceeded to drink way too much wine. Yummmmmmmm....

I love working out!

Who's $300 RICHER?!?!

ME! ME! ME!! I won my work NCAA pool and it feels GOOD. Not only did I win with Florida... I also beat all the bloggers' butts and won the BlogLand pool- despite me picking Ohio State in that pool.

Damn, I am good.

Bee-yotch.

2007 Cooper River Bridge Run- My Race Report

Golly, what a wonderful Bridge Run weekend! I love the buzz around town while 40,000 people prepare to “GET OVER IT!” and celebrate together. The week leading up to the race was not the best for me, health-wise. I was still sniffing, coughing, and sneezing Saturday morning on the way to the race from my sinus infection and taking antibiotics. I had gotten minimal sleep the night before after my flight in from LaGuardia was delayed. I hadn’t run in over a week while sick so I decided to just take it easy at the Bridge Run and HAVE FUN. Luckily, I ran my sub-hour 10K a couple weeks ago (before getting sick) so I did not feel pressured to run all out.

The weather Saturday morning was pretty decent- 60’s, partly cloudy. The only crappy part was the humidity- blech. Welcome to Charleston! I lined up within my starting group and bam! We were off! Of course, there were slower runners and walkers that somehow thought it appropriate to start at the front so the first mile was spent dodging in and out of people and testing my agility. I finally decided to just give in and quit trying to dart in and out of people. I ran with a couple of my running partners and we had a blast- smiled for the cameras, laughed at the costumes, enjoyed the fanfare, and had a great time!!!

Running up the bridge is always more fun with thousands of people around you… it was clear which people did not save enough gas to get up the hill though- falling out and slowing to a jog or walk. Normally this would be OK but the run was so packed on the bridge that the people behind would trip over them. I stayed to the far left and just took the bridge at a steady pace. We finally got to the top around the 2.5 mile point and enjoyed the nice downhill before hitting the downtown streets. I was still feeling a little dehydrated from being sick so I gulped 3 or 4 cups of water once we got downhill and we had our first water station after Mile 1. Inevitably, I drank it too fast and got a cramp on my right side. Eeeekk! I kept trekking along and just decided to slow my pace and enjoy the crowds and other fun activities along the way. I even grabbed a beer at Mile 5 from some dude handing out Miller Genuine Draft.

The course was wonderful. The day was fantastic! I did not run a PR, finishing in 1:04. I had the best time ever at a race though! I guess I will blame my slower time on being sick and not feeling so hot but I am happy to take 10 minutes off my time from last year. The rest of the day was spent at the running club tent and local watering holes, enjoying some fine beer and good friends. I was sooooo excited to see the taped coverage of the bridge run on TV later and get the full effect of the event. I watched the Kenyans knock out the course in 28 minutes- wow!! I watched the throngs of people walk and run over my beloved bridge.

364 days til Bridge Run 2008!!!!