What I Did For Summer Vacation - Urban Dare

Have you ever had one of those days that made you want to throw up your hands, crawl into bed and read until midnight... Yeah, well for me that day was yesterday. Yesterday, I would have come home and watched paint dry to escape the ridiculousness of the day. Y'all I would have volunteered to watch a Maury marathon on TV. I would have volunteered to weed the garden... or wash the dishes. It was just awful. It was made even MORE awful by the fact that it was only Wednesday, which meant that I still had (have) to deal with two MORE days of this craziness before a long weekend. Sometimes, friends, it just isn't worth it.

As I sat in my bedroom, eating my stress away and contemplating getting a new job (again), I decided to write about something that makes me happy. So I picked up my iPhone and looked at some photos from this summer. Summer was (is) a super busy time around here. We always end up traveling more than anticipated. Sometimes we get roped into street fairs, spontaneous celebrations, family outings or outdoor workout sessions. Because of the hectic schedule, we also have more "rest" days than anticipated. Lefty and I wake up with lofty dreams of Do It Yourself projects around the house and we end up sleeping late, procrastinating and saying we will do it "next" weekend. Things like that happen during our summer. We are ok with it- because things (mostly) get done on an acceptable timeline.

One of the events we have made time for the last two summers is a race called the Urban Dare. Think Amazing Race meets your city. We had a groupon in 2013 and decided that it would be fun to run walk quickly though some neighborhoods of Columbus, seeing some things that are often overlooked when you live in a city. And we had an absolute BLAST. We didn't come in last (I mean, it IS a 'race') and we didn't come in first (I'm going to emphasize the fact that there was NO running) but we did show some amazing teamwork and the attitude issues were few and far between. This summer we did the race again-- we ranked a bit higher in the standings (woot, woot) and still had a fabulous time. I recommend that when the Urban Dare comes to your town, you put together a team! You learn a few things about the city you live in, learn about your partnership, the obstacles are do-able... and you don't have to eat gross stuff :) Check out their website: http://www.urbandare.com/adventurerace.php Depending on where you live, they have races into the fall- we will be doing the race again in 2015!!

Here are some pics from our 2014 adventure... a Throwback Thursday photo array in the hopes that today will be a brighter day than yesterday! Happy almost long HOLIDAY weekend y'all.

Beginning of the day...

Before we took off in the heat. I had a fresh haircut and no sunscreen, what was I thinking?

One of our stops- on the statehouse lawn. WWII letters on a monument, made these history nerds happy campers, indeed! 

Extra points, identifying and finding this sculpture, while on the run! :) 

Getting towards the end. That is the face of a Hot, Black and Bitter, tired mess, y'all!

One of our obstacles- Lefty had to "propose" to a stranger. She was in the park... with her husband. We saw them again, after this stunt... She told Lefty they were over, since he was cheating on her after he proposed! LOL 

Good times- summer in the city. 

Diary of a Fat Girl

With my brothers getting ready to graduate from high school and all the other stuff going on around these parts, I have had a little time to look through photos and reflect on my high school/college years. Lefty and I were at Momma Hot, Black and Bitter's house a few weeks ago and we found most of my college acceptance letters. I headed home and started to look through pictures, walking down a mental memory lane. I came across pictures that I have not seen in years, and saw a ME I have not seen in years. Want to know my conclusion?

I'm FAT, y'all!!

I looked at a couple pics and this was me…

 

Now, don't start sending me emails… I do NOT have any body image issues. Honestly, I like my body MORE now than I did when I was in college. I was VERY thin in college… and I don't think that was the healthiest look for me either. So, what makes me think I am fat? Well, for one thing, I am short…compact…fun-sized. Whatever you want to call it, I am close to the ground. Close to the ground means that an increase of numbers on the scale is not too fabulous. Those pounds run out of places to go, clothes start to get tight, pictures look very different, for lack of a better term. And I look different. 

Some people will HATE this post, because most people who have had weight problems want to be the size that I am right now. Fortunately for me, the largest size in my closet is an 8, but trust me, sizes are all relative. If you are 5'10" and a size 8, you do not look very similar to a person who is 4"11" and a size 8. Actually, I don't want to lose much weight, but I can see the slippery slope, my friends. I refuse to get pants bigger than an 8. I refuse to be "chubby"; I refuse to conveniently forget what a size 4 looks/feels like.

So, today - April 1, 2014, I am signing up for my first triathlon. It will be a mini, and it is taking place the weekend of Lefty's birthday, in the suburb I currently work in. Also, I have already signed up for a half marathon at the end of this month. I will definitely be using the walk/run method during these 13.1 miles, but I am going to finish, even if I have to walk the whole thing. I will do at least three races this season. Now I just have to figure out what kind of fundraising I will do before these races. Either way, darlings… wish me some luck. Pray that I will tone up and not have to buy bigger pants! :)

New Running Shoes

Hola! Or something like that :) Just dropping in for a short update on the running schedule for 2013. A couple of weeks ago... I got these sweet babies!!


 

Now, I have to say- this is not going to turn into a running blog (I don't think), but these are truly the best fitting running shoes I have ever had. I went to Fleet Feet Columbus where the (very) tall guy that was helping me started out by asking what I was looking for. I had no idea. He asked me what I did for work; if I had any aches and pains (I have lots); and he measured my feet- several times. He also got me on a treadmill so he could record me running (gasp!) He brought out three pairs of shoes for my (wide) feet and the above is what I left with. Amazing fit. They STILL feel so good when I out them on... which helps me actually want to put them on and run. Win win. I have never run in Saucony, so this is going to be an adventure!

When I need another pair of running shoes, I will be heading back to Fleet Feet and if you have one in your town, check them out!