field trip sighting

On the Lawn.

Today my department spent the morning on a field trip to the University of Virginia. It's Garden Week, so two of the pavilions were open to the public and tours were given of the gardens. We joined a garden tour, but the guide was way too quiet and hard to hear, and the student guide who gave general information on the history of the university said a lot of things my colleagues and I knew weren't actually true, so we eventually broke away and wandered through all the gardens on our own. We also made an obligatory stop by the Edgar Allan Poe room, and were aghast to learn our boss had never seen it. All of this fun was naturally followed by lunch on the Corner, which we enjoyed outside. I'm so happy spring is here.

T minus 3 days

In three days I'm running the Blue Ridge Marathon again. I'm both excited and nervous. Excited that I made it through marathon training injury free and excited for race weekend in Roanoke. But nervous about all those uphills and downhills. I don't feel like I got quite as much elevation training this cycle, or at least not long and high enough. But it's also kind of impossible to really replicate the course conditions without going to Roanoke.

Anyway, I don't really have serious goals for this race, but I would like to make it up all three mountains without any walking during the uphills. I know I will likely need to take some walking breaks for the sake of my IT band and possible knee pain, but I'd prefer to do those on flat sections, or maybe downhills. A PR would also be nice, but I'm not going to push myself too hard for the sake of time. I want to enjoy the race (even though I know it will be really painful and miserable at times) and come out injury free.

abbreviated Vegas family fun

A couple of weeks ago was Nascar weekend in Las Vegas. And you know what that means...another Vegas family vacation! (I didn't go to Nascar though, just so we're clear.)

I was supposed to fly out on a Thursday to meet up with my parents, brother, and uncle and aunt. But Virginia got snow that day, which messed everything up. I couldn't get another flight out until two days later (and I even switched airports). Not only did I miss out on hang out time with the family, but I also missed the Red Rock Canyon half marathon I'd been planning on as a training run with good elevation gain. Instead I just ran around my hilly neighborhood Saturday before finally flying out.

I arrived Saturday night around 9:30. Dad and Ryan picked me up and we stopped by the hotel (Treasure Island) to drop off my bag and join up with Mom. Then the four of us walked over to the Venetian and ate a good family-style meal.

Sunday Dad and my aunt and uncle were at the race, so Mom and Ryan and I hung out. We ate dim sum (including the chicken feet Ryan made us order) for lunch, then walked around. We visited the live flamingos at the Flamingo, walked around the new shops at the Linq, and rested with margaritas (Well, I got a margarita. I'm not sure what they ordered.) at Margaritaville. Then Mom headed back to the hotel while Ryan and I walked around some more before finally meeting up with the race spectators for a steak dinner at Treasure Island. After dinner most of us walked over to Harrah's to play some games. My aunt gave me $100 to play three-card poker with them, which I went on to lose. Luckily Ryan won big there and kept passing me more chips so I could stay and play with him, but I lost all those, too. (He still came out way ahead though, don't worry).

Chicken feet.

Cute.

Contemplative.

It was beautiful out. I even wore a skirt and flip flops.

Monday morning Ryan had to head back to Utah for work. We originally thought he'd leave Sunday afternoon but he stayed a little longer, which was nice since I got there so late and we would have hardly had time together otherwise. After he was gone the rest of us had breakfast together (it was actually more like lunch, and even though they all got breakfast food, I ordered Vietnamese noodles), then went out and did some sightseeing. We visited the conservatory at the Bellagio, then went back to the Linq and rode the High Roller, the new (and world's largest) observation wheel. It was fun. After our ride we stopped by Sprinkles and shared two cupcakes we bought from the cupcake ATM.

Parents at the Bellagio

 

The High Roller.

Pod thingy.

Uncle and Aunt

Cupcakes!

Uncle T.

Sometimes Dad likes to stand on one leg like a flamingo. So I made him do it with me here.

From there we went back into Harrah's for some games, but Mom and I got tired of that after a while so we went to a restaurant where we could sit outside and have margaritas and chips with guacamole. Eventually Dad walked by and I got him to come join us. So it was fun parent-daughter time. A little later we met back up with my aunt and uncle for dinner at the hotel's buffet. I wasn't really hungry at all, but I still ate (including cotton candy for dessert). After dinner Dad and my aunt and I went over to the Mirage to watch the volcano erupt, then went on to the Forum Shops, which apparently stay open until 11. When that place closed we headed back to Treasure Island for the night. I stayed up just a little playing (and losing) slots.

The next morning I got up early enough to get a good breakfast (by myself) before my parents took me to the airport. It was a short trip, but really fun. I love our Vegas family vacations.

snowstorms

Last Monday evening we got snow here in Charlottesville. Tuesday I stayed in all day, and since I didn't go to the gym for my pool running I did 45 minutes on the bike trainer instead. Then Wednesday and Thursday the streets were clear but sidewalks weren't, and things were icy and super cold, so I opted for the treadmill at the gym, doing seven and five miles, respectively.

Today I had ten miles scheduled, but another snowstorm came. If I had gotten up really early, which I didn't, I could have gotten over to the gym and run on the treadmill before roads got really bad and they closed. I thought about pushing my long run back to Sunday, but that would mess with next week's schedule. And then I started to see friends on Facebook talk about their morning workouts, including one friend who ran outside in the snow. And as you know, I haven't posted in a month so every time you check in you see me bragging about loving winter running.

So I did what any self-respecting winter runner who is also slightly crazy would do, and went outside for ten miles. It was my first time wearing Yaktrax, and they worked great. I even got some neighborhood hills in. It worked out well because it's still snowing and not many people were out driving, so I could just run in tire tracks in the middle of the road. It was kind of awesome.

Unfortunately I'll probably be back on the treadmill next week when the roads are clear but not pedestrian-friendly. Alas.

winter running

I love running during the winter you guys.

In the winter it's cold, so you don't have to get up super early on the weekend to get your long run in before it's too hot.

And since it's cold, you get to wear running pants. With pants on, no need to shave your legs!

 In the winter it also gets dark really early. So if you work inside at a desk all day like me, you never get to be out in the sun during the week. Plus it's cold outside, so you're not spending the weekends sitting outside at cafes or lounging around the pool. You're inside. But with winter running, you get outside! And if you don't go super early in the morning, there is often sun! So it makes the long winters much more bearable.

In the winter there are no leaves on the trees. This actually has a drawback, in case you're out running and need to step off the road for a pit stop. Less coverage. On the other hand, it gives you a chance to catch some mountain views you might otherwise not get to see.

I don't know if this is true or not, but I think running in the cold is also better on pesky joints and IT bands that otherwise might get a little more swollen. Less need for ice baths if it's already below freezing out!

And let's be honest, running through the winter lets you feel just a little bit like a badass.

Running in Santa Fe

While I was home in Santa Fe for the holidays I kept up my 3-4 days of running per week.

My first run was a few days after I'd arrived. I planned out 8 miles, but after I'd been outside and gone about 2.5 miles toward downtown on a rail trail, I decided to cut it short. I thought maybe the altitude and the fact I hadn't run in four days was making it difficult. But as soon as I turned around it started to feel a lot better, and I picked up my pace. I think the real problem was cold wind rushing in my face, which I hadn't really noticed until I was finally going away from the wind. So I decided to go a little longer and made it to 6.5 miles.

Heading north on a rail trail through town.

My next two runs were both 3 miles on a treadmill at my parents' gym. Then the Sunday after Christmas I did an 8-mile long run outside again. I started on the same rail trail as before but went all the way downtown and came back a different way. Once again it was harder going north but got easier and faster on the way back. This run was also in sixteen-degree weather. Around the 3-mile mark I went for a sip of my sports drink and saw it was freezing where it leaks around the lid. Yikes.

Brrr.

Ran across Billy the Kid wearing a bike helmet!

My last two runs were 4 and 5 miles back on the treadmill at the gym. That last day I had been hoping to get outside on another trail, but the forecast was for really cold temps plus wind and clouds, and since the trail wasn't paved or near roads I decided maybe it wasn't the best idea to risk getting stuck out there and dying of hypothermia. Instead I stared at the trail (which happens to go right by the gym) out the window from the treadmill and cursed myself each time I saw a runner or cyclist go by. The sun had come out and I didn't see any wind, so I would have been fine. Sigh.

Pretty nice view from the treadmill though...

When I got back from New Mexico I spent a few days in Richmond, where I ran 3 miles Friday and 10 Saturday. And starting today I'm officially in marathon-training mode!

Christmas

I just spent almost two weeks in Santa Fe for Christmas. It was nice to take a break and hang out with family.

My brother Ryan had to work for Christmas and wasn't there for the actual holiday, but he was there for a few days the weekend before. I hadn't been planning to arrive until the 23rd, but I changed my flight and went out on the 20th so our visits would overlap a little.

It was great to see Ryan, and it was also nice to see his dog Tess! I love her.

Walking Tess!

Since all four of us were together (for only a day and a half, sadly) we opened our presents early after mom made burritos, a family favorite.

Ryan on the plaza.

On Christmas Eve my grandparents came over and we had our traditional posole and tamales for dinner. Then Dad and I bundled up and headed out to walk Canyon Road.

Farolitos and art.

Dad chatting with a rabbit.

On Christmas morning my grandparents came over again for breakfast and tree. Later in the day more relatives came over for Christmas dinner. It was a good day.

Teaching Granddad about selfies.

Grandmother, too.

Checking out the tree. I love our Christmas tree. (But Ryan decorated it this year before I arrived and he skimped a little on the ornaments.)

After Christmas I hung out with my parents a lot. We went to the gym a few times, ate out several times, saw three movies, went to a concert, visited a museum, walked around Christmas lights at the botanical garden in the freezing cold, and hung out at home watching tv.

A Christmas burrito at Tomasita's.

Plus a sopapilla with honey for dessert.

Waiting for a movie to start.

We hung out with my grandparents again the day before I left. And that evening, which was New Year's Eve, my parents and I went out for one last New Mexican dinner before having a low-key night at home.

It was a good trip.

It's a good event, but I still don't like 5ks.

On December 6 I met up with friends at Monticello and ran their Holiday Classic 5k. I ran it two years ago, and that was my 5k PR. I don't run many 5ks though (other than the Montalto Challenge). That's because 5ks are hard. I'd much rather run long and slow than short and fast. Ouch.

Anyway, I got to the visitor center and picked up my bib, then took the shuttle up to The House. Two friends were also running, and another two were volunteering.

Twins! (Coincidentally. We took off our jackets to run though.)

It was chilly.

I jogged around on the mountaintop to try and get a warmup in. That's key (for me) for not dying during a 5k and actually having a decent chance of going fast.

Part of the course, right through TJ's garden.

A backward view from the course of TJ's vineyards and Montalto.

The race started at 8:45. I was going to attempt another PR, even though I haven't been doing any speed work lately. The course runs around Monticello, the gardens, down some roundabouts on the mountain, down part of the Saunders-Monticello Trail, and back up the trail to the parking lot of the visitor's center. The terrain included pavement, gravel, wood chips, and boardwalk. I managed to keep up a decent pace most of the way, but then came a dreaded side cramp. Around mile 2 I decided to take a walking break. That's pretty pathetic for a 5k, but I hoped it would make the cramp go away so I could continue running. Which sort of worked. I finished 8 seconds slower than my PR. Stupid cramp.

Happy finishers. They both won prizes.

In other running news, I registered for the Blue Ridge Marathon in April again. I've been running about three days a week, but as soon as Christmas is over I will start training for realz. (Though I haven't figured out a plan yet.) I'm not nearly as excited and obsessed with it like I was two years ago, but I think it will be good as long as my body holds up. Last Saturday I ran up Observatory Hill once for kicks, and it helped me get excited to work on hills and mountains again.

upstairs

Last night I had a little housewarming party. It was a nice mix of coworkers and friends. There were lots of good things to eat and people sat in all my new living room furniture. Since I had the house all ready for visitors to poke around, I took a few pictures of the upstairs and I'll now finally share them with you.

This weekend I got a new lamp for my room and hung up some pictures, so it's finally put together. (I'm still looking for a headboard though.)

My new bed, mirror, and bedside table (which is part of a matching set of side tables but the other one is in the living room).

My old dresser that I painted, along with a new Ikea mirror.

The mid-century modern piece that started my love for mcm furniture. The pictures were taken out of a calendar and hung in Ikea frames made for record albums.

The other two rooms upstairs are much smaller than my master bedroom. The guest room has my old bed, along with little tables I already had.

Visit me and you could sleep here!

The third room is my office. So far I've only used it to pay bills and be on the computer. It has potential for being a cozy place to write my dissertation, but unfortunately I don't usually write at my desk.

The desk my grandpa fixed up for me back when I moved to Raleigh, and two bookshelves I already had. In the other corner (not pictured) is a lateral filing cabinet my aunt passed down to me. I haven't actually organized or filed anything yet though...

So there you have it, the three rooms upstairs!

Grateful for Friends

The last few weekends I've had fun times with friends. Sometimes finding and making and keeping friends can be hard when you're grown and don't live near high school or college friends, so I am especially grateful for the friends and community I've been able to make and find in the last couple of years.

One friend's parents recently bought a vacation home in Wintergreen, so five of us girls went there on a Friday night. We hung out that evening snacking and playing Ticket to Ride. The next day we made breakfast, went for a short hike, got in the hot tub, and then drove back to Charlottesville and enjoyed a late lunch outdoors. It was nice both to hang out with girls for a sleepover and to get outside.

Last weekend I made the four-hour trek to Raleigh on Friday after work for a Halloween party with friends I made during grad school. I hadn't been back to Raleigh in several years, and going to the party was sort of like a blast from the past with the same crew. The next night we went to a restaurant for Octoberfest and I got to hang out with my friend Elizabeth from school. It was really nice to catch up with her.

I was a gumball machine! The guy on the left is from Jaws. The guy on the right appears to be a creepy gas station attendant.

With my friend Ryan, aka the Kool-Aid Man.

Last weekend my friends S and B got married! Friday night I hung out with them a little after their rehearsal dinner, Saturday was the wedding, and Sunday morning was a lovely brunch. It was a great weekend of hanging out with, and celebrating, friends.