Just Plodding Along

So it would appear that is has been about a year since a blog post happened. Why? I don't know maybe because running had been causing me so much pain that I didn't really feel like a runner anymore. Even though I was still trying to run. Or maybe it was because I didn't have a big goal for running any more. And this was first and foremost a running blog. So not much to talk about. Whatever the reason, I feel like sharing again because 1) I have finally started to run (reality check: run/walk) again and 2) I have a big goal for next year that involves training like I have never trained before and this blog has always helped keep me accountable and making progress in the right direction (more on the big goal later).  So to catch you up, in the past year: We made it to Mount Rushmore! and Badlands National Park my bestie and I ran together (the last time I seriously ran anything) at the Twin Cities 10 miler. Running with her is always the best. Since...

There is nothing better than spending a weekend with running friends.....even if the race you are meeting up for hasn't been trained for. Whoops. Last Thursday D and I drove the five hours south to Santa Fe to our bnb Casa Pacifica where we met up with my friends Karen and Michelle. The bnb was great because it meant having our own kitchen and Michelle likes to cook and we all like to eat what she cooks. It is a beautiful relationship! It was so great to see Karen and Michelle. The hardest part about moving is being far away from the friends you have have made. We spent two days exploring near the Santa Fe plaza, hitting up breweries and wine tastings and eating delicious food. On Saturday we were able to hit up the farmer's market which was in walking distance of our bnb.  On Saturday we also drove out to the Buffalo Thunder Casino to get our race numbers. The expo was small and besides numbers and t-shirts there was not much going on. I spent the day telling mys...

After two half days of driving we made it to Colorado! On the way we stayed in a hotel full of character. And were met by some incredible views and weather. We are all very happy to be here. And I have been here two seconds and acquired another hat. Now the prep for National Park tour 2016 begins. Full speed ahead to adventures. 

This past weekend I met my my sister and bro-in-law in Albuquerque for some fun. We didn't have any major plans besides eating and drinking. The perfect kind of vacation. We hit up the Apothecary Lounge for happy hour on Friday and tried to sit outside to enjoy the view Not my pic but it was so freakin windy we were afraid we were going to get blown off the roof so we had to move it indoors. After drinks and snacks we walked around the Old Town part of ABQ and hit up a place called Monroe's for mexican. The next day we headed to the Aquarium and Botanical Gardens. They were super fun. I love fish so I was super happy. The aquarium is on the smaller size but still fun. Part of it was closed including the touch pool so that was a bummer. I wanted to pet sharks. The botanical gardens are right next door so we headed over there to check them out. Not everything was in bloom since it is still early in the season but the Japanese garden was beautiful. ...

New Orleans recap continues because one, I had an awesome time and you all must share in the glory of this vacation, and two not much going on right now to blog about so yay for oversharing.  Saturday Karen, Michelle and I got up to run along the Mississippi and explore a bit.  We did an easy 3 to 4 miles with stops at points of interest.  When we were done we hit up the French Market for coffee and met up with Sarah who had slept in. We walked over to Stanley's in Jackson Square for breakfast then returned to the hotel to shower and hit the road to get to bar Tonique for a homemade bloody Mary.   Then we tried to figure out how to take the trolley to packet pick-up...and ended up in a cab cause it was taking too long. The Shamrockin 8K started about a mile from where we stayed but ended well 5 miles away. We wandered around the Audubon Park a bit and finally found packet pick-up and figured out how to ride on the trolley on t...

Morning came way too fast after staying out late. Plus an intense thunderstorm with serious thunder and lightening meant I was not overly rested for our 9 a.m. jogging tour. Luckily the rain turned into a drizzle and we didn't have to cancel. We met Kevin our jogging tour guide at the Old U.S. Mint and another nice couple form Kansas City and we were off. Brad and Angelina's House...they didn't invite us in for coffee. Rude. This tour was a great way to see New Orleans we ran around the French Market, through the streets of the French Quarter, along the Mississippi River Hello mighty  Mississippi river, apparently here it is 19 stories deep. through Jackson Square took up dueling in a famous alley known for smacks across the face followed by gunshots then it was across to the American side, down the trolley line to the Garden District with some stops in front of Sandra Bullock's, John Goodman's and the Manning's homes. Again, no inv...