I think it’s appropriate to start doing monthly recaps so I can remember what happened.  Terra does a great job of this, and mine won’t be as awesome as hers…and I’m sure my memory is much worse too! 

But, as this blog is a journal of sorts, I’d like to record what went down so I can go back and take a look!

January 2012 was:

New Year’s Eve weekend in Austin

Buying a gorgeous new bike – 2012 Quintana Roo Dulce (I guess this Ironman thing is really happening). Charlie approves.

Pinot’s Pallette with the JULs (Just Us Ladies – girls’ night out)…painting of Autumn Stream

Marathon Olympic Trials here in Houston!!!

Chevron Houston Marathon (PR – 4:44:42)

Book Club at Rach’s – Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Dessert party hosted by Morgan and Mollie

Couples’ Dinner at Cam & Lis’ house

Giving several tours at the museum

Bubbles at BlackFinn

Casino Royale YAD Event

Trivia with some fun people at Harp

And countless bike rides, swim practices, runs, trips to Boneyard, meals with friends.  And laundry.  Probably lots of laundry.

I ran my 3rd marathon, the 2012 Chevron Houston Marathon. 26.2 miles. That distance… though I am becoming more familiar with it, it never ceases to lay the smackdown on me. At White Rock, I felt like I never really hit the wall. Maybe it was because I had a running partner the whole way – it’s easier to push through with someone else than play that mental game by yourself.
I don’t remember much of the race. I was completely zoned out – I still kind of am. I remember starting on a long straight uphill onto a bridge. I remember seeing the TNT cheer station at mile 7 and my parents shortly thereafter.  Pic of us close to mile 8:

Cameron and Lis cheered from mile 10 in the museum district. Aimee, Michael, Carlene, and HUGO saw us at mile 12. Here’s where things start to get fuzzy. Running through West U, I lost Kristen. I tried waiting, but couldn’t find her. So I trucked along on my own. At mile 16, the whole family gang was waiting. I stripped off the long sleeved shirt I had underneath my jersey – I was getting overheated. Here’s Shane and Aimee helping me out of it! HAH.

Continue on through Galleria area. At this point I was still just behind the 4:30 pace team and couldn’t believe it. Then…I hit the wall. Right at mile 20. I wanted to throw up. I wanted to quit. I saw people who did quit. But I knew if I could make it to mile 24 I would see the TNT cheer station again.
Misty caught up with me at 20.5 and asked if I wanted her to run me in. I said something to the effect of, “If you want to…but I don’t want to talk.” She could see that I didn’t really want company and dropped back after a block or so. The next few miles? I don’t remember. Just after I passed mile 25, I saw my coaches, Ally and Paula, and gave them a thumbs down to indicate that I was NOT OK. We were probably running a 10:30 pace at this point but it felt like I was flying, it was so much effort. I kept telling them that we were going too fast. I am SO GRATEFUL that they ran me to the finisher’s chute – I definitely would not have been able to finish “with dignity.”

Pic in the finisher chute – eyes on the prize.

I had gotten my heart set on 4:30 since I stuck with the pace team for so long…but I couldn’t hang.  I did PR though… 4:44:42.  I’ll take it.

Next time, I’m cracking that 4:30 time wiiiiide open.  Ok, maybe not that wide.  Cracking it narrowly open, I hope.

Walking out of the GRB with Shane, my mom, and Kristen.  Sans shoes.

Then came the best part: post party at Cedar Creek!  Nothing like refueling with a beer or 4.  To be fair, I only had 2, but we did polish off two bottles of champagne in the remaining 8 hours of the evening.

Here’s my zoned out ass in the finisher shirt hanging with Shane and my buddy Ben – who finished in 3:48 – PRO.  Um, and who also only took a “French shower” after the race – deodorant and cologne….for the ladies.

Mmm…beer.

I’m just now getting back to feeling like myself.  I had a severe case of old lady legs.

I’m very much looking forward to running Austin with some fabulous blogger friends – Nicole, Ameena, Tara, Ashley, Nicole, Ashley…am I missing anyone?? Oh, that might be scary.  My family will have to accept the fact that I might be ditching them for blogger friends a couple of times.  Don’t worry Mom, they won’t murder me.  I think.

If there’s one thing you should know about me and my relationship with books and authors, maybe it should be that I love/worship Jonathan Safran Foer.

Now, the movie Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is coming out.  I’ve already seen it through means that shall not be revealed; suffice it to say that they couldn’t squeeze all the detail of the book into the film.  I enjoyed in nonetheless, and the boy that plays Oskar Schell is PHENOMENAL.

That’s not my point, just mere entertainment.  JSF’s latest book – Eating Animals – not that new, but important.  Here’s the description, lest I butcher it:

Foer explores the topics of factory farming and commercial fisheries. He examines topics such as by-catch and slaughterhouse conditions, saying that Indonesian shrimp trawlers kill 26 pounds of sea creatures for every 1 pound of shrimp they collect, and that in American slaughterhouses, cows are consistently “bled, dismembered, and skinned while conscious.” He also explores the health risks which pervade American factory farming, including the claims that H1N1 originated in a North Carolina factory farm, and that 98 percent of American chicken is infected with campylobacter or salmonella at the time of consumption.

Foer also examines the cultural meaning of food, beginning with the experience of his own grandmother, who survived the Holocaust, with a lifelong obsession over food. He builds on and ultimately criticizes the work of Michael Pollan on our relationship to the food we eat.

Finally, Foer examines humane agricultural methods, and the divide between animal rights and animal welfare.

The reason behind this investigation?  His wife was pregnant with their first child – and he simply wanted to know what would be the most responsible choice in regards to feeding his son.

I’ve flip-flopped on vegetarianism before.  Good God, it is SO EASY to go back to eating meat.  It’s in f’ing EVERYTHING.  But one of my resolutions and one of my 30 before 30 goals is to completely give up meat – fish included.  I can say with conviction that I’ve eaten my last bite of meat – and I don’t even remember what it was.  It’s THAT forgettable.

Anyone on Earth needs to watch Earthlings.  It’s worth your time.  And it’s free RIGHT HERE.

After watching Earthlings?  I’m repulsed.  Not because I didn’t know these things before.  I did.  I’ve read Skinny Bitch and Eating Animals and watched the PETA videos.  But thinking about animals as a whole, as earthlings, just as we are – the psychology behind it all?  Nothing disgusts me more.  I don’t think I’ll ever be a super judgey vegetarian, but at the same time?  How can people who know what they’re eating and buying into NOT give it up?  How can people who know that most shelter dogs will be euthanized buy a pet?  It literally makes me sick to my stomach. What’s it worth? I mean, you need meat? That craving, that taste – it goes away in a month or so. You can get protein through other means. Yes, endurance athletes included.

I have no other argument for eating meat other than that it tastes good.  But so do a lot of things.  A lot of things that we don’t let ourselves experience are awesome.  But we don’t do them because it would be wrong.  Drugs, for example.  That might be a joke.

I know this is the responsible decision for me, and for our future children.  While Shane has not made a commitment to a vegetarian lifestyle, he accepts that I will not be buying or cooking meat.  He’s an adult, he’s free to make his own decisions and eat it when outside of our home.  Yes, I’ll be the difficult one.

Meat is so affordable, so easy.  It shouldn’t be the case, and it hasn’t always been.  It’s an effect of factory farming.  We should be smart enough to recognized that what we’re putting into our bodies is garbage.  And our relationship with animals?  Is garbage.

It’s time for the annual survey….geez, it seems like yesterday I was writing last year’s!!

I’m ready for 2012, even if it IS supposed to be the apocalypse.  But for different reasons.  Last year I was ready for 2011 because 2010 was such a hard year.  I was ready to start a new year in our new home. 

This time I’m ready for a new year because 2011 was so kickass that I can’t wait to see what 2012 brings!

What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
We bought a house in Houston in March, I started a new job in April, I attended BiSC in May, I ran my first marathon with TNT in June, I co-hosted a rehearsal dinner for my gorgeous sister-in-law, I started triathlon (finishing the season off with a half ironman), enjoyed a Thanksgiving with both my parents and my husband’s here in Houston.

Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My 2011 resolutions were to pay off my credit cards (CHECK), lose the remaining 7lbs I had left (CHECK), take a big trip and some small ones (CHECK) find a job I enjoy (CHECK), buy a new computer (FAIL), and to not have any babies (TRIPLE CHECK).

What are your new year’s resolutions for 2012?
I’m following Nicole’s guide to goal-setting and outlining a sort of life plan for the next year.  That being said, I do have a couple of big goals….firstly, buy a decent bike (ah, how my priorities have shifted) and finish my first Ironman – Ironman Texas on May 19th (I’ll have to miss BiSC this year…major bummer).  Next, take my sister on a post-college-graduation trip.  She wants to go to Paris….um, OKAY!  I’d also like to travel some with Shane…go to NY to visit his parents, maybe go somewhere we’ve never been together before….we might go to the beach with my parents.  I hate to be vague with resolutions but another of mine is to stop making people  priorities when they obviously don’t make me one – I will not stand for flakiness, I’m far too busy.  On the work front, I’d like to get a couple of different projects going here at the office.  No details, sorry…I work in HR!  But stuff that will show my value to the company.  Oh, and no babies still.

 Did anyone close to you give birth?
YES!  My good friend (and bridesmaid in our wedding) Merritt had baby Mason, the first of my close circle to give birth.  It’s so funny because it feels like yesterday we were zipping around in her red Mustang in high school.  Well, Merr was zipping, I was willing us to not die.  ;o) 

Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.

What places did you visit?
Besides the random trips to Dallas and Austin, I went to San Diego for the marathon with TNT, and also to DC for The Nation’s Triathlon.  Shane and I took a 2-year-anniversary trip to San Francisco and Napa. 

What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Well, as long as we’re being materialistic, I’ll say a nice tri bike and a sweet Mac computer.  I said last year that I also wanted a filter on my mouth – to not be snarky.  Well, I’m retracting that for 2012.  I don’t want a filter.  From now on, if people are being shitty, I’m going to let them know.  That being said, I’ve gotten a lot better at holding my tongue and making smartass remarks when the only result will be hurting someone’s feelings.  I don’t want to hurt people for the sake of honesty or my opinion.  BUT I’m going to be up front with people about my feelings.  I have a lot of friends…I don’t need any fake ones.

What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 24th was our 2-year wedding anniversary, of course.  On June 5th I ran my first marathon.  On June 12th my sis-in-law got married! 

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Honestly, all the fundraising I was able to do for TNT.  I have raised almost $8,000 so far and it’s one of my life goals to raise $30K.  And it would be a lie to say it’s selfless fundraising – it makes me feel awesome to participate in these events with such awesome people, and raise money for blood cancer research.  TNT means a LOT to me.

What was your biggest failure?
This is a really assholic thing to say, but I feel like 2011 was a major WIN.  It rocked.  I guess I would say my one failure is time management.  I need to spend more time on our house and carve out specific “family time” instead of running around all the time, literally and figuratively.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Hurt my ankle 3 weeks before the San Diego Marathon.  Oy.  And….major sunburns.  Sunscreen is a top priority from now on.

What was the best thing you bought?
A bike.  I was really nervous about starting triathlon because I was NOT OK on a bike.  I could barely ride at all.  It is definitely still the weakest leg for me, but the good news is I’m not scared.  I also didn’t want to spend a lot of money on something I wasn’t even sure I’d like.  Well, I fell in love with triathlon and there’s no going back now!

Whose behavior merited celebration?
I’ve always thought this is a weird question.  But – probably all of my awesome family and friends who supported my endurance and fundraising efforts…coming out to numerous pub crawls, happy hours, St. Arnold’s nights, date auctions, etc.  You guys…there are no words.  You rock my world.

Where did most of your money go?
Besides the boring stuff, it went to sports and travel and fundraising!

 What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Not as exciting as last year’s MOVE TO TEXAS, but I was excited of course about all the races and spending a big Thanksgiving together AND all my friends getting married, having babies, etc.

What song will always remind you of 2011?
“Ours” by Taylor Swift.

Thanks for a wonderful year….family, friends, TNT, and Houston.

In which I feel like…

I feel like I go out of my way, fall all over myself, to make sure I can accommodate my friends and support them and go to all the things they want me to go to and do everything they want.

Recently, I just feel jerked around.  I’m busier than your average bear and don’t have time to be passive-aggressive or wishy-washy or…well…rude.  If I’m rude, it’s because I’m intending to be.  Because you’ve pissed me off.  I don’t understand how people are SO RUDE without meaning to be.  Also, SO CLASSLESS.

My absolute biggest pet peeve is people who don’t RSVP – were you raised by wolves??  Fucking let people know if you’re going.  Facebook has even provided a “maybe” button for you, if you’re one of those people who can never make up their goddamned mind – which is in itself annoying. Thanks.

The older I get, the harder I find it to force friendships and ignore the fact that I can’t stand how the person operates.  My personality is just too strong…can’t help it, Lady Gaga says I was born this way.

I DON’T HAVE TIME TO BE JERKED AROUND, LIED TO, NOT RESPONDED TO, ETC.  Especially by my “friends.”  Time to make a concerted effort to cut people out of my life who make me so ragey.  Nothing makes your blood boil like finding out you’ve been lied to.  I try to be as straight up honest as I can – unless I need to tell a white lie to spare a friend’s feelings.  But I’m tired of extending courtesies to people who don’t reciprocate.  So – you’re cut out. Byes now.

I feel better already!

This past weekend I headed up to Dallas to race my 2nd FULL MARATHON!  I knew weather conditions were going to be pretty daunting (by Texas standards): high of 42 degrees and rain.  I don’t know why, but it always rains when I go to Dallas!

I honestly thought the race would be postponed or cancelled, or that we’d defer to the half.  So Kristen and I enjoyed a pre-race meal of champagne (thanks for hosting us for girls’ night, Marisa!) and homemade pizza!

It was indeed pretty miserable.  For gear I wore NorthFace running tights, a Nike dri-fit long-sleeved shirt, my TNT singlet, an Adidas purple running jacket, an Asics headband/earwarmer, Asics gloves, and Puma socks.  And of course my trusty Sauconys.   The race director said that all you’d need was a long-sleeved shirt and some shorts but I don’t think so, dude.

We walked a mile from the car at Fair Park….and only had to wait 5 minutes for the port-o-let – MIRACLE!

We waited even longer than that to crowd into our corral (hint: not A-1).  The first group took off promptly at 8am.

They had assured us that all racers would have crossed the start line by 8:30, but we were middle-of-the-pack and were exactly 30 minutes after gun time…yikes.  Little did we know that my family was waiting at the start line to see us begin our race.  Steph was leaning over the gate and I heard, “There she is!  Go Christa!” as we ran by.  Fun way to start!

Wellllllll, to make a long (very long) story short:  we held a steady 10:30 pace and got to the split (mile 8.5) a little over an hour and a half into the race.  It didn’t feel like almost 9 miles and we saw the sign above Granada Theater on Greenville Avenue that said Half Marathoners Turn Right, Full Marathoners Turn Left.  I looked at Kristen and said, “Ok, last chance,” and she replied, “Let’s go for it!”  Ah, so we did.  Left turn, and no going back.

Miles 12-21 around White Rock Lake were the worst.  Cold, lots of wind, and zero spectators.  I tried to just stay upbeat and be that crazy girl on the course who yells random things to keep everybody happy.  Yknow, stuff like, “ONLY TWO MORE MILES TO THE HOOTERS WATER STOP!  I SWEAR I ONLY STOP THERE FOR THE WINGS!”

Mile 20.5.  The Hooters girls passing out water, Gatorade, and – you guessed it – wings.  In case some runners want a nosh, I suppose.  Oh…and I took a PowerBar gel (tangerine flavor) at miles 6, 12, and 19.

They have a Start sign because they say this is where “the race begins.”  After this, you hit the “Dolly Parton Hills” – complete with impersonators.

We had a hard time those last few miles.  And apparently missed my dad waiting for us at mile 25 – and he missed us too!

Here’s a great shot my sis caught of us crossing the finish line – matching chip times, 5:07:18.  Not bad, all things considered.

Splits:

And that’s all, folks.  A little sore on Monday and Tuesday but nothing like after San Diego.  Plus – NO SUNBURN!! Love those overcast winter races.

Gunning for 4:40 in Houston on January 15th.  We shall see….

Hey guys.

Do you ever get discouraged when you read other blogs and it seems like other people have it all figured out? Or when Facebook makes everyone’s life but your own seem so perfect? I was trying to describe it to my friend Pati the other day – and I told her it’s kind of like that Dashboard Confessional song (hey, I liked them in high school!…and college) – the line that says, “I hope you’re as happy as you’re pretending.”

Obviously, a lot of blogs I read are my friends’ – and I really do hope they are happy, of course. But even strangers seem to have all the answers.

I ran the Dallas White Rock Marathon on Sunday and I’m hoping this is just your typical case of post-race blues.

I think it is….because I should be happy, right?! I have a husband and dogs I love, I have a job, I have amazing friends, December is full of parties and family gatherings, and….it feels like something’s missing….I just can’t put my finger on it.

Things I don’t want to write right now: White Rock Marathon Recap, My Life Lately, Boring Ass Shit Nobody Cares About.

I’m boring on Twitter because all I tweet about is a) endurance events or b) Taylor Swift.

Her latest…and my newest favorite song of hers….

Ours from Taylor Swift on Vimeo.

Ok, please try not to judge me, first of all.  I might be like a giggly teenager in the regard that I adore Taylor Swift and I want my entire world to be sunshine and rainbows and Lisa Frank [and running and burritos].

But I really respect her because she writes her own songs (and she’s 21 years old!) and plays guitar, piano, banjo, and a number of other instruments – I wish I knew how to play just one.  But really, her lyrics are just the best. AND she won Entertainer of the Year for the second year in a row at the CMAs last night – the first to ever do that.

“Mine” has always reminded me of my relationship with Shane – mostly because we DID meet in college and he did get someone who thought love was just the rug they pull out from under you to believe that it could be real.

And now, I am obsessed with “Ours.” I think it’s wonderful – to not bother with other people’s opinions and the minutiae of life getting in the way of what you have.  I get in my own way all the time.

Here are the first few lyrics…my favorite:

Elevator buttons in morning air
Strangers’ silence makes me want to take the stairs
If you were here we’d laugh about their vacant stares
But right now, my time is theirs.

Seems like there’s always someone who disapproves
They’ll judge it like they know about me and you
And the verdict comes from those with nothing else to do
The jury’s out but my choice is you.

So don’t you worry your pretty little mind,
People throw rocks at things that shine
and life makes love look hard.
The stakes are high, the water’s rough
But this love is ours.

Love. It.

AND I’ve attached the vid for you guys. Duh.