Introducing RUN WITH THE ROUSHES

Hi Friends!

This will be my VERY. LAST. POST. on Keeping Up With Kimberly. I am so excited to announce the launch of my new blog, RUN WITH THE ROUSHES.

I am glad I can finally share this blog with you after working on it behind the scenes since January. I've been debating on whether or not to move to a self-hosted blog for a while and decided that there was no better time than right now.

I have a new post up on Run With The Roushes today explaining why I chose my new blog name and why I felt that now was a good time to update my blog.

All of my posts from Keeping Up With Kimberly were transferred to my new blog so you can still look back and read old posts! Beware – I didn’t go though the older posts and update the formatting so some things might be a little kooky looking. This site will remain live until Google deletes it, so you can also pop back over here to read the archives.

Here is the link to the new blog: www.runwiththeroushes.com.

Feel free to send me feedback through the comments or the contact me page with any suggestions on how to improve your reading experience if you have difficulty navigating the site. As always, thanks for reading :)

Anthem 5K Recap and The Reverse Raffle

On Saturday, The Professor and I (along with our nearly 6,000 closest friends) ran the Anthem 5K in downtown Louisville. This was my third time running the race and The Professor’s first.

The Anthem 5K is the first leg of the Louisville Triple Crown, a series of three races that lead up to the Kentucky Derby Festival mini marathon and full marathon.

The course is flat and fast. My only complaint is that there were a lot of turns and the roads were still a bit snowy which made the turns difficult. I had to slow down a couple of times to avoid slipping in patches of snow from taking the corners too tight.

                     

I think these was taken near the the 3 mile marker...I need to get those arms down!!

I was aiming for around an 8:30 pace, but knew I might be quicker than that given my 400 splits during my last speed workout. I started out too fast, but fell into a groove around the half mile marker. I slowed down a bit in the second mile because I was worried I would fall apart in the third mile if I held an 8 minute pace. Looking back, I wished I would have pushed through it. Oh well! I was strong in the third mile and even had a kick at the end. I had my eye on 3 people and I passed them all in the last quarter mile :) Thanks to the guy in black and yellow, my finish photo was not so great...but they never are. Believe it or not, this was the best one of three. Check out that beautiful elbow!

My Garmin clocked the course at 3.17 and my official finish time is 25:07. Here are my official stats:

Splits: 7:56, 8:15, 7:49 (and a 1:07 for the last 0.1)

Overall: 724/5,458

Gender: 151/3,203

25-29 Age Group: 24/440

On Saturday night, we went to a Reverse Raffle at my old elementary school where my mom still
teaches, St. Anthony. The Reverse Raffle is a fundraiser held every year for the school and The
Professor and I have attended the last few years and we always have a blast. It is really confusing at first, but once you catch on, the concept is pretty simple. They only sell 200 tickets and each ticket is numbered (1-200). Throughout the night, they draw numbers. When your number is called, you’re out! The goal is to be the last ticket pulled and you are the big money winner :) There are 3 different levels of tickets sold, so there are 600 possible chances and 3 big winners at the end of the night. There are TONS of other smaller prizes given throughout the evening and this year they gave away a total of $6,025 in prize money in addition to a TV and other smaller prizes.

We didn’t win, but my cousin walked away with over $250 in winnings and my other cousin walked away with over $100. No too shabby for the Huber family overall! They also had a silent auction. I bid on a kitchenaid mixer (and lost so please buy me one) and The Professor bid on a canoeing trip (which we also lost). There were tons of other cool baskets that were donated by local businesses and the school. Even though we didn’t win anything, we had a blast hanging out with my cousins and drinking for a good cause :)

So there you have it – two recaps in one post!

What types of fundraisers does your church/school/community host each year?

Did you race last weekend? Where at?

Half Marathon Training Week 5

Happy Monday, friends. If you're new around these parts, you can catch up on my training below:

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

WEEK 4

Monday: 4 mile run, check!

I set my alarm early so that I could get up and run before work. I snoozed it twice and then gave up and reset my alarm for 7:30 and went back to bed. I prefer to run in the mornings, but I CANNOT drag myself out of bed early enough to do it. I ran on my lunch break and just barely had time to get a shower and get back to my computer. When my mileage increases next time, I’m going to have to run either before or after work. My lunch hour is not going to cut it.

Time: 37:41 Pace: 9:25

Tuesday: 7 x 400m, Check!

It warmed up to 60 degrees on Tuesday and there was a break in rain in the afternoon. I was so excited to hit up the track and do my speedwork outside. I even convinced The Professor to workout with me. We left our house and jogged the mile to the track. When we got there, we realized there was a lacrosse game happening on the field and we couldn’t get in. Note to self…check the athletics schedule next week… We opted to do our workout on the indoor track. Not as much fun, but a bazillion times better than the treadmill. My goal was to average 1:55 per 400. I took the first one easy and then laid the hammer down.

#blurryiphoneselfie

1 mile warm up

400m @ 2:00

400m @ 1:52

400m @ 1:50

400m @ 1:46

400m @ 1:43

400m @ 1:39

400m @ 1:39

1 mile cool down

Wednesday: 3 mile run, check!

It was POURING rain all day Wednesday. I did a 10 minute stretching video in my living room, turned on HP7 and hopped on the treadmill. The miles went by quickly and I wasn’t as sore as I thought I would be. Maybe there is something to this “stretching” thing ;)

Time: 28:55 Pace: 9:38

Thursday: 2 mile jog, check! (switched with Friday)

We got EIGHT INCHES of snow on Wednesday night and woke up to another winter wonderland. I wasn't able to convince The Professor to play in the snow with me, but I was able to convince him to go on a snow run with me. The roads were slick in some spots, so we kept our pace at a nice easy jog. It was cold, but an absolute blast to run/play in the snow. 

Time: 23:47 Pace: 11:53

Friday: Rest Day, check! (switched with Thursday)

My friend posted this article on my Facebook wall: The Typical Couples You See at Races. The Professor and I are a 5/6 combo thanks to this blog and my need for selfies ALL.THE. TIME….although there was that one time that we wore matching blue shirts for our speed workout on Tuesday…

Saturday: Anthem 5K, check!

My first race of the season! Even thought it was a frigid 22 degrees and the roads were slick, we were out there for the first leg of the LouisvilleTriple Crown. I had really weird goals for this race. I was aiming for an 8:30 pace but I told myself that I would have been happy anywhere between an 8:00 and a 9:00 minute pace. I’ll post a full recap later this week, but for now. Splits: 7:56, 8:15, 7:49 (and a 1:07 for the last 0.1) 

Before the race

and after the race!

We did a 1.4 mile warm up and a 1.5 mile cool down to make it a 6 mile day.

Time: 25:07 Pace: 8:06

Sunday: Rest Day, check!

Sore. Oh so sore! I did my 10 minute stretching video and felt somewhat better. I also got to eat cake from my favorite bakery and that made my muscles feel much better. My cousins both had birthdays last month and my grandma's birthday is this week so we had a celebration on Sunday afternoon. Everyone send my grandma Happy Birthday wishes this week :)

Did anyone else race last weekend?

How is the weather where you are?

The Boy Behind The Blog

If you didn't get a chance to check out my interview, you can read it HERE. The Professor and I had so much fun interviewing each other and bantering back and forth about our answers. Hopefully, they help you all get to know us a little better too :)

Here we go!

K: If you could have an endless supply of one food, what would you get?

Chips and Salsa…for sure!

K: Are you a morning person or a night person?

Morning person.

I know. It drives me crazy how chipper you are in the morning, even before coffee.

Mornings are awesome. It’s like, there is so much that can happen in a day.

K: What’s your favorite hobby?

I like to do cardio –swimming, biking, and running.

Oh – are you a triathlete?

Yea – I like triathlons. Can I buy a new bike?

K: Negative. If you had to describe yourself in 3 words, they would be…

3 individual words or 3 words that go together and make sense?

3 individual words. Don’t overthink this!!

Goofy. Gassy. Smart. In that order.

I would put gassy in front of goofy…but your call.

K: Next Question: If you won the lottery, what are the first 3 things you would do with the money?...and you can’t say invest it.

I would give a big portion to charities, I would buy a triathlon bike (the very best one) and all the best triathlon stuff, and my third one would be to put some away.

That’s not an option for this interview!

Ummm. Charities, triathlon stuff, and beer. I would buy beer.

Nothing for me?

I won the lottery, not you!

K: Tell me one that that most people don’t know about you.

9 times out of 10 I text people when I’m on the toilet. So now ya know where I am if you get a response from me…delayed or immediate.

Oh geeze. Don’t ever text me!

K: What do you consider the most important event in your life so far?

Getting the job at Georgia College.

Umm HELLO!

We’re not married yet…MAYBE that will replace the job thing in June.

K: Do you have a favorite article of clothing?

My Columbia jacket.

The one you wear every single day

Yea. That one.

We should probably wash that.

Yea - it's been a while. Also – my watch.

K: What’s your favorite sport to watch?

Soccer

K: Favorite sports team?

What sport?

Pick one.

My favorite sports team of all sports…Arizona Cardinals. 

K: What’s your favorite board game?

I hate Monopoly.

BUT THAT’S MY FAVORITE.

Really? You spend three hours playing a game and only one person is happy and everyone else is ticked off! You get so mad when you don’t win!

But I’m oh so happy when I do win!

Back to me – I like Balderdash. Although everyone knows when it’s my definition because i'm so hilarious!

Ok Chandler – chill – you’re not THAT funny.

See, I’m a Chandler.

K: Next Question. If you were in a Miss America talent competition, what would your talent be? Also, before you answer, let’s a take a moment to reflect on the fact that The Professor once won a Best Legs Award in a beauty contest.

Hey – I won the whole da$% thing. I was Mr. Nelson County High School!

You’re awesome.

I know. For my talent, I would play the guitar and make up a song. A funny song.

K: If you could have a condiment dispensed from your belly button, what would it be?

Seriously? Is that really your question? What's wrong with you? Hmm. I’d want it to be a condiment I use a lot. OH WAIT. Do you remember that canned cheese stuff you can put on crackers?

Cheese Wiz?

YEAH CHEESE WIZ. It would be freakin’ awesome! Anybody got some crackers? Cheese Wiz is here! I’d be the life of the party.  

And now that you have that image in your head...I’m going to wrap it up! I hope you had as much fun reading out interviews as we did conducting them. Now, it’s your turn:

What’s your favorite board game?

If you could have a condiment dispensed from your belly button, what would it be?

The Girl Behind The Blog

When I told The Professor I wanted to do a “behind the blog interview” for both of us, he looked at me like I was crazy. I was updating my About Page on my new blog that I’ll be launching this month and wanted something more exciting than the normal boring paragraphs about my life. Eventually he got on board with the interviews and we had a blast doing these over dinner one night. We recorded our interviews so that I could go back and transcribe them in all of their wonderful detail. If I can figure out how, I’m going to add some sound clips, because it was hilarious! 

Without further ado…here is my interview:

J: What is one goal that you want to accomplish in your lifetime?

K: One that’s top of mind right now…is to publish my writing. So whether it’s an article in a newspaper or magazine…something… Nothing scholarly, just writing for total fun on a subject I love. And hopefully a topic that other people appreciate reading about and learning about.

J:  What is one thing I (The Professor) do that bugs you the most?

K: [Zero hesitation here, people.]

YOU LEAVE USED Q-TIPS LAYING AROUND. LIKE RIGHT NOW THERE IS ONE ON THE END TABLE BY THE COUCH. IT MAKES ME SO ANGRY.

J: They’ll make it to a trashcan eventually!

K: Boys are disgusting.

J:  What’s your favorite cereal?

K: Lucky Charms

J: Why?

K: Marshmallows. Duh. 

J: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you take with you?

K: Do I have internet access?

J: IT’S A DESERTED ISLAND

K: Hey bro, wifi goes far.

J: [Glare. A loving glare, but it was still a glare :)]

K: Fine. I would take a scrunchie because if it’s an island, the humidity probably has my hair out to here. And I would take my iPad, preloaded with tons of books from the kindle library.

J: [Insert mumbles here about battery life and no chargers on the island.]

K: Well fine then I would take a book…ohhh…I was about to say Harry Potter but I can’t pick just one. Can I take ONE set of books?

J: [Insert another glare here]…that’s fine.

K: Alright! A scrunchie, the complete set of Harry Potter books, and…I would also take a jumbo bottle of sunscreen.

J: Good idea – you would be like human bacon out there.

J: Name one thing you miss about being a kid.

K: Family vacations, swimming in my aunt’s pool, and eating lots of popsicles…and barbies and being a Girl Scout. Can that all count as one thing?

J: What song are you listening to on repeat right now?

K: Katie Perry, Roar. I’ve listed to that song like, a THOUSAND times since the Super Bowl.

J: What is your favorite drink? Alcoholic drink?

K: My favorite drink is unsweet tea from McAllister’s with 5 spenda

J: So…sugar water…ok

K: And my favorite alcoholic drink is Long Island Ice Tea.

J: What punctuation mark best describes your personality?

K: An exclamation point. Because I’m loud and easily excitable :) Also because I'm passionate about everything I do and always put forth my best effort. Plus,  I always try to be smiling and putting good vibes out in the world.

J: Which Friends character are you?

K: Monica. I’m weirdly organized and a bit of a control freak.

J: This is true. You’re definitely a Monica. You plan everything. Which Friends character am I?

K: You’re like a mixture between Chandler and Ross. You’re a Chaross. No – you’re just a Ross. You’re a huge nerd, but a a very lovable nerd. The only difference is that you're not allowed to have three divorces. You're stuck with me FOREVER.

J: This is bull. I’m Chandler because I’m HILARIOUS. I’m funny and nobody knows what I do for a living!

[And this argument conversation went on for another 5 minutes before we got back to the interview…]

J: If you had a pet monkey and you could train it to do one trick, what would it do?

K: I would train it to go to Orange Leaf and bring me FroYo every single night.

J: Yea –well. I would train it for you to do the dishes because I know you hate the dishes.

K: …yea…that would be nice. We need a dishwasher in our next house fo sho…hey – can you go get me some FroYo after this, monkey? And then maybe finish up the dishes?

J: ......

Stay tuned for Friday's post. I interviewed The Professor so that you all can get to know him a little bit better too! In the meantime, it's your turn:

What's your favorite cereal?

Which Friends character are you?

Half Marathon Training Week 4

Click below to see my 2015 Kentucky Derby Festival Half Marathon training recaps:

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

Happy March, everyone! Finishing up with Week 4 means that I'm a third of the way through my training plan. There are less than 8 weeks until the half marathon! I am starting to feel much stronger on all of my runs and its great to be back in a training groove.

Monday: 3.5 mile run, check!
I felt good during my run on Monday, which was surprising because I was worried I would be sore after my Sunday long run. I thought I was in the clear BUT my entire body locked up on Monday night while I was working my way through a carton of ice cream and watching The Bachelor. I started YouTubing stretching videos right away!

Time: 33:47 Pace: 9:39 

Tuesday: 35 minute tempo run, check!
I did a 12 minute stretching video before my run that focused specifically on IT band, shin splints, and hip flexors. It was so painful and I loved it. I felt much better afterwards so I hoped on the treadmill for my tempo run. I did not work hard enough. I was on my last 5 minutes and wasn't breathing any harder than an average run. I know to SPEED IT UP next time.

10 minute warm up @ 9:41 pace
5 minutes @ 9:32 pace
5 minutes @ 9:23 pace
5 minutes @ 9:14 pace
5 minutes @ 9:05 pace
5:31 minute cool down @ 9:41 pace

Distance: 3.75 miles Time: 35:31 Average Pace: 9:20

Wednesday: 3 mile run, check!
I did my stretching video again before my run and then popped in HP 7 (part 1) and got to runnin'. Seriously people - if it doesn't warm up soon, I'm going to need some movie recommendations.

Time: 29:24 Pace: 9:48

Thursday: Rest Day, check!
I was glad to rest. I'm definitely starting to feel sore all over, but it is a really good sore feeling (not a painful sore feeling!). This is the sore that I love - knowing I'm working hard and continuing to improve every day.

Friday: 3 mile run, check!
Rest Days are like a warm hug from your best friend. I felt great on Friday and rocked my run.

Time: 28:24 Pace: 9:27

Saturday: 8 mile run, check!
I misjudged the temperature on Saturday morning and it was pretty cold (22 feels like 13, yikes!)...but there was no way I was getting on the treadmill. I convinced The Professor to bundle up and run outside with me. 6 miles for him and 8 miles for me. I had every intention of sticking back with him, but my legs were SO FLIPPIN EXCITED to finally be outside that they just took off. I felt strong and wanted to see what I could do...so I did! Splits: 9:51, 10:21, 9:25, 9:34, 9:30, 9:18, 9:05, 9:05.

I felt a little twinge in my hip during miles 7 and 8 so I stretched A LOT when I got home. My new favorite stretch is the pigeon pose. I have a whole post planed for my favorite stretches but I have to blackmail ask The Professor to take a few hundred pictures of me before I can finish it up and get it posted.

Time: 1:16:13 Pace: 9:31

Sunday: Rest Day, check!
We celebrated my bestie's birthday on Saturday night so I was extra thankful for this rest day. How cute is it that her boyfriend's birthday is the day before hers? They're adorable and I love them.

I thought a good way to end this week's post would be a little comparison chart of my training weeks so far, so here ya go:

How far was your longest run last week? 

Which workout are you most excited for this week?

Bundle Up & Get Outside!

We are still being plagued by the cold here in Kentucky, but it is FINALLY starting to warm up into the 30s. And look, the snow is melting!

My last EIGHT runs have been inside on the treadmill and I am over it. I'm hitting up the treadmill for the last time today and I will be OUTSIDE for my long run tomorrow. 

It'll only be in the 20s when I run, but the thought of 8 miles on the treadmill makes me want to quit running and become a professional hibernator.  Instead of crying about it again...I'm bundling myself up and heading outside. 

I've been mentally preparing myself since yesterday afternoon and I already have my outfit planned :) I posted these tips last winter, but I'm posting them again in hopes that it motivates you to take your runs outside this weekend too! 

Cold Weather Running Tips

• Make sure you wear the proper clothing. Your outfit should vent - do not run in cotton! It is no fun to be cold AND wet while running. 
• Layer up - but don't wear too many layers. I've always been told the rule of thumb is to dress like it's 10-20 degrees warmer than it really is. You want to be warm, but you don't want to sweat a lot and catch a chill. Make sure your outer layer is windproof. Also make sure your outer layers are bright and reflective.
• Wear a hat! Heat escapes from your head and you need to retain as much heat as possible when it's negative degrees out. Don't forget your gloves or mittens either - heat also escapes from your hands and feet.
• Make sure your shoes have traction. This is especially important when the roads are slick.
• Protect your eyes. I don't know about you, but the cold and wind really bugs my eyes and makes them water. I recommend investing in a good pair of athletic sunglasses. This is also helpful when the sun is reflecting off of the snow.
• Don't forget fluids! Fluids are just as important when its cold as they are when it is hot out. Cold air dries out your skin and can have a dehydrating effect. 
• As always: carry your ID or cell phone, run with a buddy if possible, and let someone know your route.

Don't worry friends - spring is on its way!

What do you consider the perfect running temperature?

How cold does it have to get to force your run inside?

We're Moving to Georgia!

I have been sitting on this news for over a week and I was seriously about to EXPLODE not telling anyone. Now that the t’s are crossed and the i’s are dotted, I can finally tell the world!

The Professor has accepted a position at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, GA and we could not be happier. Starting this fall, he’ll be teaching in the Economics department while continuing his research.

We knew back in January, when The Professor had his first interview in Boston, that GCSU would be a good fit for him. It’s a small, public liberal arts college in a medium sized town, close(ish) to a big city. In case you’re not close to a map, we’ll be 30 miles from Macon and about 90 miles south of Atlanta. The school colors are blue and green (both of which I look fantastic in!) and there are lots of opportunities for both of us to get involved on campus.

The Professor spent two days in Milledgeville back in January, but I’ve only seen the town through a Google search. We’re planning a trip down there in April and I cannot wait to check it out. I’m so excited that this move will most likely be our last and that we can finally start to plant some roots together in a town we can call home.

Source

In case you’re wondering what I’m going to do in Milledgeville, the answer is a big “I don’t know yet.” I have started looking online, and I’ve found a few exciting opportunities that I can explore, but there is not a plan of action in place yet. Since we don’t plan to move until after the wedding, I have plenty of time to find the perfect fit.

To celebrate the contract signing, we invited our parents and siblings to join us for a dinner party in Danville. Plus, I wanted to celebrate that I had finally finished unpacking just in time to start packing again haha.

We all got to watch The Professor put the final sticker on the map and it was a really special moment. I am SO PROUD of him and know he will be an amazing professor. He’s worked so hard and I’m glad I’m here to watch him fulfill his dream.

Now that the hard part is over, all he has to do is defend his dissertation and we will be headed south! Easy-Peasy, right??

Half Marathon Training Week 3

Click below to see my 2015 Kentucky Derby Festival Half Marathon training recaps:

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

Week 3 was challenging. I did my first non-treadmill speed workout and pushed myself extra hard on my treadmill runs. My hip was KILLING me after my speed workout so I took extra time to stretch this week (something I should have been doing all along).

Monday: 3.5 mile run, check!

We work up to a winter wonderland in progress on Monday so it was back on the treadmill for me. I considered an all natural ice bath after my run, but  I went back inside and had 200 mugs of hot chocolate instead.

Time: 34:17 Pace: 9:47

Tuesday: 6 x 400 @ 5K Pace, check!
The Professor joined me for a 400 workout on the indoor track at the Centre Gym. It was SO NICE to be on the track (even though it was indoors). 400m was 3 laps around the indoor track which was interesting, but once we got going, I got used to it. I had initially planned on running at at 8:30 5K pace (2:06 400), but as soon as I ran the first 400, I knew I had underestimated myself. Running negative splits was rough, but I felt great when I finished the workout I ended up running just under an 8:00 5K pace for my 400s.

1 mile warm up

400m @ 1:59

400m @ 1:57

400m @ 1:55

400m @ 1:54

400m @ 1:51

400m @ 1:47

1 mile cool down

Wednesday: 3 mile run, check!
I stretched before and after my speed workout on Tuesday, but my hip was killing me on Wednesday morning. I did a lot of stretching and took my recovery run nice and easy...and enjoyed some more Harry Potter.

Time: 29:39 Pace: 9:52

Thursday: Rest Day, check!
I spent my rest day doing research on foam rollers and fall marathons. I'm trying to debate whether or not I should get a foam roller. I'm done debating on whether or not to run a fall marathon. The debate is now WHICH fall marathon I should run!

Friday: 3 mile run, check!
It was -10 degrees when I woke up on Friday morning, so, yea, more treadmilling. I timed my run perfectly with the end of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It better warm up soon. I don't know what I'm going to do when I finish my Harry Potter Run-athon :(

Time: 28:41 Pace: 9:33

Saturday: Rest Day, check (swap with Sunday).
I was supposed to do my 7 mile run on Saturday morning and burst into tears when I looked out the window and it was a sleety, slushy mess. It would not have been safe to run outside and the thought of 7 miles on the treadmill threw me into a tailspin. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a real thing, people! I couldn't convince myself to run so I did A LOT of stretching and resting instead.

Sunday: 7 Mile Run, check (swap with Saturday).

I was in much better spirits when I woke up on Sunday. The weather was still crappy, but my treadmill actually looked inviting. I popped in HP6 and got to it. I've never run in compression socks, but my calves were tight so I gave it a try. I don't know if it was the socks or the stretching, but I'm not sore at all this morning. Also: I did get hit with a major case of the treadmills* in mile 6. I slowed waaay down, caught my breath, chugged some Gatorade, and then kicked my butt back into gear. I'm so glad I did because I finished strong! Splits: 10:07, 10:00, 9:50, 9:50, 9:41, 10:42, 9:33.

Time: 1:09:44 Pace: 9:58

A few thoughts on this week's training:

1. I'm chicken when it comes to the treadmill. Pushing myself this week showed that I've been training at an easier pace that I should have been. I'll be readjusting my goals moving forward.
2.  I did a terrible job fueling for my long run. I wasn't hungry before my run so I jumped on the treadmill without eating anything - big mistake. Also, I still can't take gus. They don't sit well in my stomach. Shot Bloks work well for me and I need to get some before my next long run. 
3. I need to live somewhere that's not covered in snow and ice while I'm trying to train for a half marathon because I'm starting to go absolutely nuts on the treadmill. 

*Case of the Treadmills: When you look down and see how far you still have left to run and suddenly feel like you're running at a world record pace and can't image running anymore so you slow down because you're a mental basketcase.

Case of the Treadmills: It's not pretty...

Weekly Miles: 20

2015 Miles: 67

Tell me about your best workout last week.

Indoor track: fan or not?

What's your favorite fall/winter marathon (October-December timeframe)?

We Booked Our Honeymoon!

We are only 4 months away from the big day! We made some BIG decisions in February – the most exciting decision was where to take our HONEYMOON.

We spent a long time deciding on whether or not to take a honeymoon. Newsflash: THEY ARE EXPENSIVE. I talked to a few of my close friends – some who had taken a honeymoon and some who had not. They all gave me really great advice and ultimately, we decided that we wanted the experience of a honeymoon and that it would be worth the money to take the trip now instead of looking back and wishing we had taken the trip.

A long time ago, we decided that if we were going to take a honeymoon that we wanted to book our trip at a Sandals resort. We wanted tropical, beach, activities, and relaxation all in one. We also knew that we didn’t want to worry about a single thing once we got on the plane. All inclusive was the way to go for us.

We spent FOREVER exploring all of the Sandals resorts online. The Professor has already been to Jamaica so it was easy for us to cross that location off the list. We knew that we wanted to do a few excursions and we wanted to experience them together (The Professor has already seen the sites in Jamaica).

Seriously – all of the resorts looked amazing. We ultimately ended up choosing St. Lucia. Our resort has a bunch of restaurants, bars (including swim up bars), and excursions and activities for us to do.

Check out these pictures I pulled from the resort website:

We haven’t picked our excursions and activities, but these are two that we are looking at:

Hiking the waterfall

Hiking an active volcano!

Another February Wedding Success: All bridesmaid and junior bridesmaid dresses have been ordered! Check out how beautiful my cousins and sister-in-law look in their dresses! The socks really make the outfits perfect. 

 My bridesmaids are wearing navy and my junior bridesmaids are wearing this pink.

By the next time I update you on the wedding, my wedding dress will be here and I hope to have the invitations ordered and centerpieces made. Stay tuned!

Tell me your favorite place to vacation.

What were your wedding colors?

Valentine’s Day, A Birthday, and A Snow Day

I can’t believe it’s already Wednesday! This week is moving so quickly (not that I’m complaining). If you follow me on Facebook, I already gave you a glimpse of our Valentine’s Day date. We celebrated a day early this year and The Professor planned a great date night.

We had dinner at this little place called Jane Barleycorn’s in Downtown Danville. The Professor had stopped by on his way home from worked and dropped off some beautiful roses that were waiting on me when we arrived at the restaurant.

After dinner, we stopped by The Hub for some coffee and a slice of Snickers Cheesecake. We were going to split a slice but somehow The Professor only got one bite…you snooze, you lose! Centre College had a student production playing at the theater last weekend, so we went to see it after our cheesecake.

The show was called, “In The Event of My Death” and the students were incredible. The show was serious, but it had lots of humor mixed in. The students spent their Centre Term class learning how a play is written from idea to production. They had an opportunity to work directly with the playwrite on this production.

On Saturday, we drove up to Bardstown to celebrate Grandma Ruth’s 84^th birthday! We made dinner (homemade pizza) and had a wonderful evening spending time with The Professor’s parents and grandparents. I only have one picture and it's us making pizza. I have to get better at taking pictures!

Now, let’s talk about our SNOW DAY!!!! I love snow now more than ever. It’s so nice to be able to work from home and enjoy the winter wonderland outside my window without having to drive in it. We woke up on Monday with just a couple of inches on the ground, but the college had already cancelled classes for the day. The Professor was pretty pumped because he wanted the extra time to work on his research.

When we first measured right before 8am, we had 4.75 inches of snow.

By 10am, we were up to 7.5 inches. I enjoyed an awesome snowy view during my treadmill run and then headed outside at 12:30pm to measure again…9 inches and counting!

At this point in the day, I started counting down until 5pm so that I could go out and play in the snow instead of just measuring! At 3:15pm we were up to 11 inches of snow (and I was on my third outfit of the day - all from the sweatpants collection).

For my 6pm measurement (12.25 inches!), I was able to drag The Professor out with me to play in the snow! 

 ...and by play, I mean that he shoveled and I made snow angels and took pictures. 

Living in a tiny little town means that there are no snow plows and no salt trucks. We were able to get the driveway shoveled out and luckily our road is somewhat clear. The Professor was able to get out and go to the office on Tuesday (although no students showed up to his office hours) and I was glad to sit at my desk in the home office and stare out at the pretty snow all day. We're supposed to get a few more inches this week and I'm hoping for a few more snow days.

How's the weather where you are?

What is your favorite snow day activity?