Purging

My house is clean and clutter-free. Well, mostly clutter-free. We did not go on vacation or do anything remotely fun Memorial Day Weekend. We took a 1/2 day on Friday and spent 3 1/2 days cleaning our house. I bought a box of heavy duty contractor trash bags and threw out approximately 15 bags of junk. When I was still in a slightly thrifty, green and giving mood I made a few bags for Gwen, my family, and Goodwill. Unfortunately, that mood only lasted a few hours.

We attacked bedrooms, closets, the kitchen and the basement. I introduced Michael to the split-second decision to trash something just because we don't have a place for it. Trash! Trash! Trash! It felt wonderful! I feel lighter, more alive, and incredibly peaceful. I am aware that I should feel guilty for throwing away things that could have been recycled or shared, but I just couldn't take it anymore.

This weekend I threw all of my beliefs about conservation and thrift to the four winds. I confess: it felt good.

Now that my house is in order, I will try to get back on the wagon.

10 Mile Playlist

I ran 10 miles again this morning. I am still amazed by how cool the mornings have been in Columbia the past few weeks. What an awesome experience! As most of you know, I run alone. As a general rule, I do not get bored during runs. I do need a bit of encouragement when the run is long and the terrain is hilly! Here is my 10-Miler Playlist...just a few more songs than I need to finish an hour and forty minute run.

Gives You Hell by The All-American Rejects
Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke
Our House by Madness
Livin' Thing by Electric Light Orchestra
Spaceman by The Killers
Coming Undone by Korn
St. Elmos Fire by John Parr
Light & Day by The Polyphonic Spree
Gonna Fly Now by Bill Conti (Rocky!!)
Home Sweet Home by Carrie Underwood (Sorry Ozzy!)
(Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
Jump by Van Halen
Baba O'Riley by The Who (My all-time favorite song!)
Float On by Modest Mouse
Desolation Row by My Chemical Romance
My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson
Do Ya by Electric Light Orchestra
Shut and Let Me Go by The Ting Tings
Peace Frog by The Doors
And We Danced by The Hooters
Surrender by Cheap Trick
Smile Like You Mean It by The Killers
Indestructible by Disturbed
Fox on the Run by Sweet (ME!)
Sweet Talkin' Woman by Electric Light Orchestra
Human by The Killers
Show Me What I'm Looking For by Carolina Liar
Word Up! by Korn
Barracuda by Heart
Tumbling Dice by The Rolling Stones
You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne
99 Red Balloons by Nena (English version)
Gone by Kelly Clarkson
When You Were Young by The Killers

This playlist rocked! Well, I guess it literally does rock with a heavy dose of both classic and hard rock, with a hint of Top 40 pop. My 10 mile route is very hilly, but I often forgot how hard I was working because I was jamming to my tunes!

I ran 10 miles today.

Today was my first 10-miler. Wow. I am still pumped about it! I started out at 6:30am and it took me 1 hour and 39 minutes to cover 10 miles. I ran the entire distance and only stopped to drink and eat energy candy. Nothing hurts, but unfortunately I have not been able to stop eating all day!

Those of you runners out there, tell me if I did this right: I have a fuel belt, so I started drinking gatorade after 1 hour of running. It was only about 70 degrees this morning, but I poured sweat. I do not like gels, so I ate a handful of Sharkies every 15 minutes after I hit the 1 hour mark. I don't know if this was the right way to fuel a run, but I did not bonk and I felt fine after I finished.

Ok, so I said nothing hurts, but I did encounter an unfortunate biomechanical problem with my left foot. I have Morton's Toe, which means my second toe is freakishly longer than my big toe. My running shoes have plenty of toe room, but my second toe talked to me during the entire run. It wasn't screaming at me, but it probably will as my mileage picks up. This week I am going to research gel caps and other orthotics before my next long run. If any of you have this problem I would appreciate any advice you can give me!

Mother's Day Rocks!

I have lots of catch-up blogging and picture-posting to do this week. I will actually be home for an entire week!! In fact, I don't travel again until the first week of June. Anyway, my Mother's Day rocked. We spent last night in Ninety Six with Michael's family. I woke up at 7am (very late for me) and ran 4 miles. That 4 miler capped off a very nice 28 mile week! I am so proud of that 28 miles. After coffee and toast, I covered the boys in sunscreen and they went fishing with Pots (Michael's dad). Michael and I joined his parents at the lake for a few lazy hours of sunbathing. We went to the Grand Harbor Clubhouse for the Mother's Day buffet, and then we hit the lake for several more hours of skiing and kneeboarding. The boys had a blast, and I enjoyed the lounge chair and much needed conversation with my sister-in-law Laura. I enjoyed my day and I love my Mother's Day Running Geek gift: 3 pairs of Injinji toe socks and a 4-bottle Helium Fuel Belt.

So Mother's Day rocked, but this actually was a pretty rough week. Athena had surgery Monday to remove a cancerous tumor on her neck. Our vet thinks she got it all with the laser, and Athena does not have to have chemo or any other treatment. We just have to watch her carefully for anymore growths. I will let her eat a hundred Vera Bradley purses if she will just stay healthy! I love love love that dog. I was in Boca Raton, Florida through Wednesday. Thursday was my only day in the office and I hardly had time to go to the bathroom. I left work a little early, picked up Alex, and hit the road to Greenville to see my family. Friday's highlight was a 3 1/2 hour graduation ceremony at Clemson. My sister Madeline is my parents' fourth child to graduate from college. Alex and I met Michael in Clinton on Saturday for my sis-in-law's much-shorter graduation ceremony at Presbyterian College. Whew! This working mama is weary.

Whew! Just happy to be here...

Greetings from south Florida, folks! I am so happy to be here. After countless flights over the past two years, I just had the worst flight ever. Way too much turbulance. Seatbelt light on the entire flight. Barf bag almost used. Whew. I am safe in my hotel in Boca Raton with lots of work fires to put out before I can crash. Seriously, does work ever end???

The great thing about work travel is that my day usually starts later than a normal work day. Tomorrow is no exception. I am going on a fun 5 mile run on a dirt pedestrian path beside the Florida Turnpike before an 11:15am meeting. It's going to be a great day! I love this state...

Sunday Blues

I get bummed on Sunday afternoons. Doesn't everybody? It was so much worse before I took my corporate gig, but still...I (like everybody else) wish weekends could last forever.

I fly out to Boca Raton tomorrow morning. I may seriously look into taking the Florida Bar Exam. I love Florida. I would LOVE to move to Tampa, or Pensacola. South Florida is pretty awesome, and Jacksonville rocks too. Lots of options. Just have to convince Michael that this is a good idea!

This is my last big travel week for another month, so I spent lots of quality mommy time with the boys this weekend. Leapin Lizards, Frankie's Fun Park, and the Saluda Shoals Splash Park were weekend highlights. This morning at Cracker Barrel we told the boys I was traveling again this week. Their response? Shoulder shrugs. Yep, my boys don't need me.

In running news, I am not speaking to Nike. Those of you who are serious runners understand the importance of THE SHOE. I have been running in Nike Air Spans for several years. I buy them at a specialty running store in Greenville called Run In. The owner of the store has patented a special technique of slicing the sole of the shoe to give you more flexibility and comfort, even if you have to wear stability or motion control shoes. I am a big fan. I bought new shoes a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, Nike changed my shoe this year. I am totally pissed. I normally wear a 9 1/2. The new Span has a continuous air bag instead of separate air chambers, and I had to buy a size up to accomodate my custom-made orthotics. The result? The shoe fits around the toe box but is loose around my heel. Not so much as to rub a blister, but it still pisses me off. The 9 1/2 would have been ok without my inserts, but I have to wear my orthotics. One leg is longer than the other and the orthotics prevent the knee injuries I suffered a few years ago. The previous Span model was perfect. Why fix it if it ain't broke?

In other running news, travel is taking a toll on my weekly mileage. I did ok the week I went to Pensacola, but I only got 21 miles in this week. Treadmills make me feel like a hamster, and running outside was difficult in El Paso. Hopefully this week will be better. I just looked at a map around the Hilton in Boca Raton, and less than 1/2 mile from my hotel is "Jog Road". Hope that is a good omen!

Marathon training officially starts this week! No more peanut M&Ms, greasy food, worthless carbs, and excessive booze. Fun times.

Oh--still trying to decide if I want to go private. More on that later.