PICTURES!

I've spent the last few days trying to find an outlet for my pictures without giving in and paying money to upgrade accounts. The only think I could come up with was my facebook account because they give a link to my album there.

During the course of my trip I took 250 pictures. All the albums I could only allow 60 pictures, so needless to say, I had to pick and choose. They're also not in order, due to the fact that I used both my camera and my brothers, so I'm sorry for that too!

So, without further ado, here are my pictures:

I'm not in this picture - click to see more!

Sorry...

....for being MIA.

I'm really busy at work. I haven't even had time to look at the pictures I took from my race.

Ah. The Race! I DID IT!!!! SO much to talk about...I promise to give a full update as soon as I can!

Dark and early.

I'm awake long before my alarm is supposed to go off. It's only 4:30 am and I'm still sleepy, but I've slept as much as my body's going to let me...for now. My Grandma will be here in an hour to pick me up and take me to the airport - YAY! Is it strange that I'm excited to go on the plane so I can read Southwest's new in flight magazine?!

I'm hungry right now too, but I know I'll have to wait till I get past security. Not only am I hungry, but I'm sad because I can't stop and get my London Fog from Satellite because I can't take it with me past security. :( Now I'll have to settle for overpriced coffee and a not-so-good burrito. Sad times.

On a happier note: I'M GOING TO SAN FRANCISCO TODAY!!!!!

On a completely unrelated note: I think it's official that I like foam soap more than liquid soap. Yup. I used to be completely anti foam soap because I liked making my liquid soap foam. There was a joy in seeing the little bubbles after rubbing your hands together long enough. Now, compared to the soap that is over foaming in my hands, I feel as though the liquid soap really isn't doing much. And, in true American fashion, I think I'm overworking for the soap.

WOW. It's 4:38 on a Friday morning and I'm talking about soap...

I may write from the airport when I get there after my $5 cup o' Joe and $7 greasy, not spicy, thing they call a burrito.

Adios!

The Time Has Come

Well, folks, this is it! All the months of waking up early and going to sleep before my friends have even decided what bar they're going to has come down to this weekend. I just did my last morning run (I say last because I honestly don't know if I can see myself running this early in the dark during the winter) and now the only thing left to do is pack (AHH I still need to pack, and Grey's Anatomy is on tonight...no time left!!)

I'm waiting to check in online - five minutes to go. I know I've said it before, but I really am so excited about this! I've been reading other peoples tales of their TNT marathon and I think I should prepare myself to be emotional while running. Apparently people have up signs saying things like "Thank you for saving my life," or "You're running for my dad." THings like that. I'm taking kleenix with me just for that reason.

OOOO and I can't wait to see how this 'sea level' running is different from here. My lungs have adapted to being a mile high. No more huffing and puffing during my runs!! If you're reading this and would still like to donate, feel free! Click the link on the right and donate your heart out. :)

Ok. Time to go check in!!!

da Balloons

Have I mentioned my love for the Balloon Fiesta? I think I have, but let me just say it again: I love the balloon fiesta! Where else in the world can you be driving to work and see Puff the Magic Dragon hovering above you? Ok, maybe if you live in Amsterdam and had a little too much fun the night before. Seriously though. It's awesome. I actually took some pictures of Puff while I was driving (it's amazing more people don't get in accidents during the Fiesta), but I don't have the little upload-adapter thing with me. I'll put them up when I get home.

I also love running in the mornings during the fiesta. Today I went four miles and it was pitch black outside except for five balloons illuminated from their burners far away in the distance. I was said they were just the dawn patrol balloons because today is the first day of the Special Shapes Rodeo (hence Puff sailing over the Big-I).

Running this morning was really good for me. It felt great. Well, the first mile or so SUCKED because there's some muscle around my Achilles tendon that's really painful, but after I got past that I felt fantastic. I actually felt strong and somewhat speedy. Despite walking and stopping more at the beginning to stretch I finished earlier than I intended. YEA!!!!

I'm kinda sad this training is almost over. I know me and I know that it'll be nearly impossible to continue running in the mornings once it starts getting colder and darker. I also know it's hard for me to go work out after work. Boo. I'll figure something out.

T-minus 9 days and 22 hours :)

I'm giving up

I think one of my biggest pet peeves is the misuse of the words "Chile" and "Chile." I realize it shouldn't annoy me as much as it does, but for some reason or another it drives me up a wall.

I think I'm making myself more angry the more I keep looking at this Simply Recipes Web Site.

Take this recipe I found after digging around for Mexican Red Chili Sauce. AHHHH. Just spell it with an "E" already!!!

Check out
A Guide to Southern New Mexico Chile for a comprehensive guide to all things chile.

....I promise to not get so irked on the chile situation in the future. Ah, who am I kidding, it'll always annoy me!

I'm too protective

I think I'm too protective and way too opinionated when it comes to New Mexican cuisine (among other things).

This recipe was on my google home page. It annoyed me, therefor I need to share it and pass along my annoyance:
Chile Verde
oh yeah. Read the comments listed below the recipe.
gggrrrrr

It's that time again!

It's Balloon Fiesta time!!!! Yesterday I got to see the balloons without waiting in a car line for an hour, and without paying an entrance fee AND without freezing. Well, there was some freezing.

Our long run yesterday started at Paseo and Coors. We ran towards the mountains, a run that gave us a perfect view of the balloons. Besides the fact that it was ridiculously cold that early in the morning, it was a good run. My running partner and I were able to hold a conversation the entire time (something we couldn’t even fathom at the beginning of the season).

I know I’ve said this before, but I am so excited for San Fran! It’s now less than two weeks till I run and I can’t wait. YEA!!!!

We start tapering this week, so that means the mileage I run goes way down! It’ll be nice to sleep in an extra half hour the next two weeks.

In sad news, a woman died today from a balloon-related cause. So sad. I’m going up in a balloon this Saturday, so hopefully there won’t be any wind and it’ll be perfect ballooning weather.

On the road again...

I got back into my daily routine this morning – sorry for not writing at all last week, I caught a cold and slept in – and running felt good. I think I caught my cold from the last run I did (which I also didn’t talk about – sorry!) up in Red River. It was a hellova run to say the least. Not only was it raining the whole time (beautiful), but I was also running up in the mountains. Uphill both ways. In the rain. With NO shoes on. Kidding about the no shoes, but it was raining and it was ridiculously hilly. My calves and bum felt the burn of the hills the next two days.

After I ran Red River I knew I would be absolutely fine for San Francisco a month later. Not only did I run at a higher altitude than I’ve been training here in town, but I won’t have any of the hills like I did in the mountains. Piece. Of. Cake. (Cupcake preferably!)

I was mad that I missed my long run on Sunday, but I still wasn’t feeling up to the *challenge. Coughing up both of my lungs would have looked really bad while running 12 miles. I still kinda feel guilty about missing it though.

So…my race/run is in 19 days. That means I leave in 17 days and I’m SO excited!!! I’m looking into getting a camera phone so I can take pictures of different parts of my race. My goal is to run my half marathon in 3 hours. Yes, I know that’s still a seriously slow pace, but whatever. I’m doing it. Heh. Actually, if I run the pace I’ve been running I’d come in at 3:25. Now I’m anxious to see how I’ll do. I’m still not doing this for a time though. I’m doing it for the cause.

…One of my dad’s cousins just got diagnosed with Non-hodgkins lymphoma. She starts chemo this week I believe. My dad is actually going in to meet with his oncologist today for his 2 ½ year check up. In an hour and a half (more like 2 or 2 ½ hours because of how late doctors usually are) we’ll find out if his cancer is back. * JUST BREATHE* – note for me.

So. That’s what’s been going on over here. Enough from me for today!

Went running again this morning. Logged 4 miles this time. It felt good, real good. The best part about today’s run (well there were two good things) was that it was foggy the entire time. Not just a little fog-around-the-corner type of fog, but the I-can-barely-see-in-front-of-me kind. It was awesome. Not to mention, the fog was spraying me with mist every once in awhile, which was more than pleasant. It gave me flashbacks to when I lived in England. That was one of the most enjoyable things about living out there. I LOVE the thick fog that was out every morning and night; everything seemed so serene and perfect – ahhhh!

The second fantastic thing about my run was that I changed my route a little bit (see below):

Since I had a long run yesterday along the same route I’ve been going on I decided to change things up a bit. Instead of going north, I ran west – downhill!!!! It was easier on my psyche, but just as hard on my body because I had to control myself from the gravity. Still had the runner’s high afterwards-woohoo!!

This weekend I’m going up to Red River (talk about more serenity!) for our little family tradition. That’s funny, I sad “little” and “family” in the same sentence. My family is nothing but little. We rented only two rooms this year though because not everyone can make it. Last time I went up there it was with almost all my cousins and it was the day after Thanksgiving. It snowed while we were there ☺ I’m just expecting it to be cold this weekend.

I’m planning on running eight miles this Sunday up in the mountains. I’m also planning on huffing and puffing my way through it. Ha. I hope I’m just kidding about the huffing and puffing despite the increase in altitude – CAN’T WAIT TO RUN AT SEA LEVEL!!!!

FIVE

How far is five miles you ask? Well let me tell you. It's from the bottom of my driveway to Paseo Del Norte.


Can you believe that? I can't.

I also can't believe I was up before the sun was. That's just wrong on so many levels. People should not wake up before the sun wakes up. I have to say though, that the sunrise this morning was beyond spectacular. It was so amazing I'm tempted to figure out a way to run with my camera from now on. There were these huge storm clouds sprawling over the Sandias, and once the sun started creeping out it turned the clouds into a work of art. It started as a pale pink, then rose, hot pink, violet, lavender then a bright purple. I thought it was done after that and the clouds would turn gray, but instead they started turning gold, yellow, orange, copper. It was fantastic. Sadly though, I was running in the opposite direction of the view, so I had to keep turning around to see it.

I have a gripe about drivers in the morning, but I don't feel like ruining my morning by complaining about them. Long rant short, drivers need to remember what they learned in elementary school and look BOTH ways when they get to a stop. I haven't been hit yet, but I definitely get close enough to hit the car - only then do they realize some people actually run/walk/bike against the traffic. Silly people.

It's cloudy outside today - I love it. Fall is coming :)

My Heritage

I need better pictures of my parents and possibly a better baby pictures, although how do you get cuter than this:

Whirlwind Week

The reason for my absence in blogging can be described as a "long story short" tale.

My friend Kat flew in a week and a half ago from London. We basically played tourist around the Southwest for a week. It was a ton of fun. We spent a couple long, hot days in Las Vegas (didn't win any money, didn't see any movies stars, did drink a little and did have a lot of fun), traveled to see the Grand Canyon, followed by Petrified Forrest and the Painted Dessert in Arizona and then went to Northern New Mexico to check out everything in the Taos/Santa Fe area.

She also got to witness her first American Football game (complete with cheerleaders) and her first cockroach. We went up the tram and even made it to the NM State Fair. All in all it was a long, fun and somewhat educational 10 days!

I even managed to get my long runs in. What I didn't do was run during the week, and I definitely felt that during my 10-mile run on Sunday. It was hard. REALLY hard. My legs felt like lead and I felt like I weighed 1,000 pounds. I finished it and vowed to get all of my weekday runs in until the race and to keep up with drinking lots of water.

If anyone has any fundraising ideas, I'm all ears. I still need more. My deadline is October 1st.

me

Like: Wine, red grapes, white grapes, green grapes, craisins
Dislike: raisins

some things

I haven't blogged in awhile, just haven't really been in the mood honestly. Tonight feels like a decent time to write though. I had a busy/productive weekend. To spare the boring and lazy parts, I'll skip ahead to Sunday when I helped with the New Mexico Marathon. I was volunteering by being a "motivation station" for the runners. My mom, dad, brother and Emily all woke up WAY before the sun was awake and set up on the very north side of Tramway. Truth be told, I didn't even know Tramway goes the way it does (we were in between Sandia Casino and Country Line Restaurant - WAY OUT THERE!). Anyway, it was really fun to see runners smile because of the signs we had and the "woo hoos" we were giving!

I forgot...On Saturday I bought a new comforter from Kohl's during their fantagreat sale:

I really like it. A LOT. It's ridiculously comfortable and it makes me want to never get out of my bed. Oh! AND the bed frame is new, courtesy of someone from Craigslist who was giving it away for free. Also courtesy of my cousin Francisco for moving it for me!

On Labor Day (Monday) I decided to buy something I've had my eye on for awhile, an Exotic Retreat Bookcase from Target:


:) So, I bought it. Along with this 3-Shelf Bookcase in Espresso:


I spent 2 1/2 hours building this last one, and ended up hurting my lower back a little. BUT, I finished it! Here it is:

I'm really excited about it! The other bookcase is 6-feet tall and will most likely take more time to assemble, that and I don't have room for it in my bedroom, so I'll just wait awhile to put it up.

I also found out I can take a panoramic picture with my camera, so this is what happened when I did that:



Other than my big purchases, I haven't been doing much of anything. Just running. My fundraising has pretty much slowed way down these days. I still would like to get more. If anyone is interested in an Albuquerque the Magazine subscription, let me know - they are giving me $6 (half) of every subscription sold. They make good gifts!!!

Ok...time for sleep. Hope you enjoyed the pictures!