California, Here We Come

October 17th, 2013 will be the day my mom and I embark on our journey to San Francisco. I will be participating in the 10th anniversary Nike Women's Half Marathon on October 20th, so we are going to make a long weekend out of it. After a few months of waiting, registration finally opened this morning, and I absolutely cannot wait. I have been to California many a time, as my grandparents used to live there, but I have never before been to San Francisco, and I have plenty of items on my San Francisco to-do list.

Golden Gate Bridge (Source)

Coit Tower (Source)

Alcatraz (Source)

The Full House house (Source)

The left-handers store (Source)

Most importantly, I will be completing the Nike Women's Half Marathon, which is a race throughout the many hills of San Francisco. And at the end of the race, assuming I finish, I will be presented with a special Tiffany necklace by a San Francisco firefighter. I can't say that's not some good motivation to finish the race!

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Normally when my mom and I travel just the two of us, we were gearing up for an entire weekend of volleyball, but this time we will be able to do a lot of exploring a beautiful city. I am very excited about that, and I am also very excited for this half marathon, though I know it will involve some late-summer training, and it will be a risky trip to take right in the middle of what is sure to be a crazy school schedule. However, I don't think I am going to regret this trip, and I just had to take advantage of the automatic entry, given to me because I am still a college student. Next thing on our list - booking our flights! If you have any "must-see," "must-do," "must-eat" while in San Francisco, please send them my way. I love planning trips, and I especially love planning trips that consist of cramming a lot of into a little amount of time.

Broken Curse

Happy Sunday! I'm taking a break from Survey Sunday, not because I don't have one in mind, but because I'm doing a race recap for y'all today, and I have a lot of other homework to do, so two posts today probably isn't happening. Don't worry, I'll be back next week with another good one for your reading enjoyment.

Anyway, this morning started bright and early as my alarm went off at 5:00am. I really wasn't that tired, mostly because I was asleep by about 9:30pm, so waking up at that early hour really wasn't horrible. I stood in my pajamas debating shorts or tights for quite some time before finally settling on tights, just because I knew we would be waiting around in the dark for at least an hour, and if I started out being cold, I would never get warm. I did get a little warm a ways into the race, but I think the tights were a good decision on my part.

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So, after finally getting dressed and ready for the race, I headed to the kitchen, toasted some bread, lathered on some peanut butter, and sliced a banana so that I could eat a piece of peanut butter and banana toast. I also sprinkled it with some cinnamon, and it was the perfect pre-race fuel. Toast, peanut butter, and banana has been my go-to pre-race meal for the past couple of years, and it has yet to let me down. I finished off the rest of the banana and ate one of my banana-oatmeal-almond butter muffins before Katie's parents arrived at the Clubhouse to take us over to the race. We got over there around 6:00am, but we sat in the warm car for a few minutes before heading over and getting ready for the race to start.

I think since my decision to do the race was so last-minute, I wasn't fully believing what I was about to do. I haven't run 13.1 miles in a long time, and this was the longest race since my broken toe incident, which, by the way, hasn't bothered me for at least two weeks. I'd say it's fully healed, despite the fact that I still think it looks a little fat. Anyway, we ran into a couple of people that we knew, and I started getting really excited for the race. Plus, I knew it would all be over in about two hours and I could get back in my warm bed if I so chose. We started right about on time, and I started off on the course that I ran just two years prior. It was just as fun (and hilly) as I remember it being. I feel like my hill training was pretty minimal, especially in the weeks leading up to the race, but it wasn't too bad until I looked up and saw the infamous Enfield hill at mile 12. I had to laugh when I heard the people around me saying, "That's it, that's the hill." Because, yes, that was the hill. The good thing is that once you got to the top, you only had a little over a mile to go.

THE hill (Source)

I felt pretty great the entire race, but I thought that mile 10 to mile 11 was easily the hardest mile for me. I couldn't tell you why, but I felt as though it lasted forever! Other than that, I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day to just casually get up and go run around Austin. And I have to give a shoutout to my friend and roomie, Katie, who absolutely DOMINATED her first half marathon with a time of 1:56. And she was worried about not finishing! I wish I had pictures of us to share, but they all came out pretty dark and/or blurry, so you'll have to trust me when I tell you that I looked like a rockstar pre- and post-race! I also wish I could show you a picture of all the food I ate post-race, but that was devoured long before I thought about documenting it. Oops!

So, my half marathon curse has officially been broken (the last two were plagued by injuries), AND I set a new personal record! I now have the itch to complete a full marathon in the near future, but I know that requires a lot of time, a lot of training and a whole lot of commitment. I would love to complete one (and just one), but I'm not quite sure if I have it in me. But then I have to think about the fact that the people we are running for are running a much tougher race than I am. I think it was mile 9 that featured cheerleaders all wearing yellow and holding yellow signs in honor of people who might be fighting cancer, who have beat cancer, or may have unfortunately lost their battle with cancer. It was a pretty powerful sight, and one that I don't think I will forget any time soon.

View from above the race (Source)

P.S. If you were tracking my results (which I'm sure all of you were), my race number was 12878. I ran the race under Katie's friends name (Devanne), because you are unable to transfer registrations from person to person. Betcha didn't know I was running under an alias!

Twas the Night Before the Half Marathon

What does one do the day before a half marathon? Well, I can't give you a list of what you should do, but I'll walk you through what I did today. The last half marathon featured on the blog was the Disney World Half Marathon, but I wouldn't say that going to Magic Kingdom the day before running 13.1 miles is considered to be the norm.

In terms of training, what I did before my first half marathon was run throughout the week - I ran Monday (5.6 miles), Tuesday (4 miles), and Wednesday (5.4 miles) this week - do some sort of cross-training at least one of the days - I swam on Thursday, as it was a beautiful day outside, take Friday off from any type of exercise, and run 2ish miles on Saturday morning. As planned, I didn't exercise at all yesterday, and made sure to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. This morning, I woke up around 7:00 to run two miles around my neighborhood. I was a bit surprised when I checked my phone to see that it was 35 degrees outside. I'm praying that it won't be that cold tomorrow morning. We all know how I feel about the cold weather!

It was a beautiful morning, though, so I can't complain too much about that. After my two-mile run, I came back inside, showered, and made some scrambled egg whites  that I ate alongside a couple of my egg white vegetable bars, a couple banana-oatmeal-almond butter bars, and a few no-bake energy bites. Evidently I was hungry this morning! 

I sort of snacked my way through breakfast and into the later part of the morning, so after I got a haircut and by the time lunch rolled around, I wasn't too hungry. I ate a large honeycrisp apple with peanut butter around 2pm, with a couple more egg white vegetable bars and no-bake energy bites. That kept me satisfied and fueled for some school work until about fifteen minutes ago when I whipped up a dairy-free pizza to eat for dinner. I made it the way I always do, but I added a bit of leftover pulled pork that a sweet YoungLife committee mom made for us before club on Monday, to the top of it. I don't know if that's weird, but it sure tasted good!

So, my day has been pretty chill - lots of relaxing, some homework, and lots of water. I am going to try to get to bed fairly early, because my 5am wake-up call is going to come early. I am really looking forward to the race, though, because the weather should be good (albeit, cold), and I really like this course, though it is pretty darn hilly. I would love to finish in under two hours tomorrow, but realistically speaking, that probably won't happen. Hey, just finishing is an accomplishment in my book!

I'll be sure to post a race recap sometime tomorrow or Monday for y'all. Wish me luck!

Austin: A to Z

It is Survey Sunday, and I want to keep this going as long as possible, so I'll squeeze in a post all about my current city - Austin. I'm sure a few things will be repeats from previous A - Z lists, but I'll try to keep it as original as possible for y'all.

A- Art

Castle Hill is what comes to mind specifically, but how can you rule out the iconic "i love you so much" wall art, and the Hi, How Are You frog on the drag?

B- Bananarchy

Hands down my favorite trailer in Austin (that I've tried, at least). Frozen bananas dipped in peanut butter or chocolate? You just can't beat that on a hot summer day.

C- Capitol

Austin is the capitol of the great state of Texas, and the Capitol building, no matter how many times I've seen it, never ceases to amaze me. It even makes me want to learn a bit more about government, or at least take a tour of the Capitol building.

D- Domain

High-end shopping, incredible eating, and a fun atmosphere is what makes this outdoor shopping experience an unbeatable one. 

E- East Austin Coffee Shops

Bennu, Cherrywood, and Thundercloud are among the favorites of UT students, but there are plenty cool coffee shops to be found in this part of Austin. Always check the website before you go, because you might get lucky and go there for an open mic night, or even a comedy night!

F- First Thursday

I have yet to cross this one off my list, but it's the first Thursday of every month (hence the name), and all of the shops stay open late while you enjoy live music and stroll up and down SoCo with your friends.

G- Greenbelt

Hiking, swimming, running, and biking - there is something for everyone (and their dogs) on the Barton Creek Greenbelt.

H- Hey Cupcake!

.. and other food trailers. Austin is pretty famous for its food trailer scene, and they really don't disappoint. They are starting to spread, at least to Houston, so if you have the opportunity, you should definitely give them a visit.

I- Ice Cream

As weird as this is, Austin has some pretty great ice cream establishments. Amy's, Lick (which is known for its vegan flavors), and we even have an Ice Cream Festival. Yep.

J- Juan In A Million

I have only been here once, but the Don Juan challenge has been featured on Man vs. Food, so you know it has to be a winner.

K- Kayaking (and Paddleboarding)

Austin truly has the coolest outdoor activity scene I have ever seen. Kayaking, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Row Boating, there is truly no end. You also get a great view of the Austin Skyline.

L- Live Music

Austin is the live music capitol of the world, and though Austin City Limits and South by Southwest are the two most well-known festivals, Stubb's consistently has great performers, and you'll even find live music when dining at places like Central Market.

M- Mt. Bonnell

I've said it before and I'll say it again - one of my favorite places in the world. It's the highest point in Austin and I've seen more than a few proposals happen up here. Just saying.

N- Nighttime Bat Watching on Congress Bridge

This is something everyone should do at least once. From March to early November, you can watch 1.5 million bats emerge from their hiding spot under Congress Bridge. Truly a spectacular sight.

O- Omelettry

I know today was my first time eating here, but now that I have, I know I will be going back.

P- Pennybacker Bridge

I've also mentioned Pennybacker Bridge, but I have yet to find a sunset that can beat one seen from up here.

Q- Quack's Bakery

One of the best things about Austin is the unique, one-of-a-kind restaurants and bakeries you will find here. Quack's Bakery is one of them, and they not only sell baked goods, but they feature a full beverage and deli menu as well.

R- Rudy's BBQ

It's Texas. I had to mention barbeque at least once. If you're in the area, I highly recommend checking out Rudy's. Whatever you order (I recommend the chopped beef sandwich), is sure to make your mouth water.

S- South Congress

One of the coolest streets in all of Austin. Eclectic shopping, food trailers, and great restaurants make up this happening street.

South Congress Books

T- Town Lake

One of my favorite places to get in a peaceful walk or run. You can't beat the view, and you will feel like one of the fittest people in Austin once you become a frequent on this trail.

U- University of Texas

Enough said. Hook 'em.

V- Vulcan Video

One of the few video stores left, this family-owned video store is sure to have almost any old movie or TV show. One of my favorites? Heavyweights.

W- Whole Foods

If you haven't been to the Whole Foods Headquarters here in Austin, you haven't lived. Just kidding, but it's truly a great one, and I'm so spoiled to have it so close to me!

X- X, you have stumped me again!

Y- Yogurt Planet

It's no Berripop, but Yogurt Planet's pumpkin flavor is to die for. Located in the triangle, it's a pretty close destination for when I need my frozen yogurt fix. 

Z- Zilker Park

Austin's most beloved park. It hosts the Zilker Tree and the Trail of Lights, Barton Springs, and the Kite Festival, among other things. It's also a great place to hang an eno and catch some z's. 

Thanks, Luke, for the idea! I had a lot of fun naming some of my favorite places in Austin. Speaking of Austin, I am crossing one more thing off of my "To Do in 2013" list, as I am officially running in the LIVESTRONG Austin Half Marathon this coming Sunday. One of my roommates, Katie, is running in it, and one of her high school friends just realized that she had a prior engagement that would prevent her from participating. She asked Katie if she knew someone who would be willing to purchase her ticket, and she pretty much talked me into it. Not that I needed much convincing. I loved running the Austin half my freshman year, and I am hoping that since this is such a spur of the moment decision, I will stay injury-free. Fingers crossed! Like I said, exciting news for me, maybe not quite as exciting for you. I just had to share that little piece of news with my wonderful readers. See y'all later!

Half Marathon No-Go

It's a dreary Saturday here in Houston and it was made even more dreary when I made the decision that I will not be participating in the 2013 Houston Half Marathon. While running is an option, I feel as though I am compromising my running form and will risk injuring myself even further, which is the last thing I want. I'm pretty bummed about it but with my toe still not at 100% and the threats of bad weather, it just seems to be the right decision for me.

I went ahead and combatted my sadness by registering for the Hot Chocolate 15K - America's Sweetest Race - in Dallas on February 9th, and the Nike Women's Marathon 10K on March 9th. The cool thing about the Hot Chocolate 15K is the finishers party because "hot chocolate and fondue will only be the icing on the cake." The cool thing about the Nike Women's Marathon 10K is that it's on your terms, on your time, and in your city. You simply log the miles using the Nike+ app. That's my kind of race!

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Amira and I (possibly) also have another very, very exciting half marathon on the horizon, that no offense to Houston, but might offer more exciting views while I am running. I will keep y'all posted on that one - look for the announcement around April because nothing is set in stone quite yet! I'll just put it this way - this half marathon is one of my summer job search motivators.

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Today features last-minute preparation for going back to Austin - including gathering and packing the last few things, printing off syllabi (yuck), and preparing a few meals to take back with me so that I can ease my way back into the whole cooking thing. My dad prepared this turkey chili for me to take back and it should last me at least a week - perfect for the cold weather expected in Austin.

I am also going to prepare my oatmeal-banana-almond butter "muffins" along with a few other things that save for a while, squeeze in a workout, and watch the 2013 Miss America pageant on ABC.

Have I given you my recipe for these yet? If not, I need to! They're easy, healthy, and delicious!

Enjoy the rest of your Saturday - I'll be thinking of all you awesome runners out there tomorrow braving the Houston weather. No matter your time, you are a winner. And of course, the race would not go on without the incredible volunteers, so thank y'all for sacrificing sleep and warmth to help and motivate those runners!

Another Productive Friday

I hesitate to title this post what it is, seeing as what happened after my last productive Friday. But that's what today was, and I am looking forward to a relaxing evening at home, soaking up my last little bit of family time before I go back to Austin for the semester.

After my pancake breakfast, and gathering some stuff to take back to Austin, I headed out to run a few last-minute errands and take care of some last-minute stuff in the Town and Country area. I made a pit-stop in Barnes and Noble and almost bought a left-handed planner, but I just took pictures of my favorite quotes instead.

I then made my way over to the George R. Brown Convention Center for the Aramco Houston Half Marathon packet pick-up and race expo. I am a huge sucker for race expos so I enjoyed walking around, snagging all the free samples I could, and purchasing a SweatyBands headband that I don't really need, but who can pass up showing a little Longhorn pride? I hope I get to use it on Sunday because not only is my toe still in question, the weather is too. Race officials seem to be concerned about the chance of lightning, but I know I wouldn't complain if the start time got pushed back an hour or so!

So true 

Track me as I run!

I need to remember this while I am running on Sunday!

The exit sign

Since I was so close, and I've been wanting this picture for months, I stopped an Eleanor Tinsley Park to be a total tourist and snap a picture of the Houston skyline. I have so many of Austin and I need to be fair to my hometown! There's just something about it, and I'm hoping the next time I am home I can do a bit more exploring because there really is so much beauty to be found in Houston.

I finally headed back to my side of town but made a stop at my rival high school to visit one of my volleyball coaches from Stratford. I also know two of the other volleyball coaches over there so I stopped by to say hi and to give them some of the baked goods that my family has been munching on for the past day or two. It's always great to see one of my all-time favorite coaches, and we'll forgive her for moving over to the dark side.

Then it was time to meet Amira for a last hoorah in Houston before we both leave to go back to school. Amira goes to LSU and doesn't have many opportunities to come home, and when she does get to come home, I'm usually buried deep in school work because our breaks never seem to coordinate. Since we are both big frozen yogurt lovers, we decided to try Pinkberry, the frozen yogurt establishment that started in California and sort of started the whole frozen yogurt trend. It finally made its way to Houston so I couldn't leave Houston without giving it a shot!

Y'all, it was good. I got a combination of the chocolate hazelnut, which was sweet enough to go alongside the original, which was the perfect amount of tart. I got strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries as toppings, and I was excited to see that they have jumped on board with having peanut butter as one of the many topping options. Spain was the first time I had ever seen peanut butter as a topping option, and one of the employees informed me that they get it from Italy. I didn't end up getting it this time, but now that I know it's there, you can guarantee that I'll be making a return visit.

And since it's right across the street, I made a stop at Central market so I could stock up on my beloved carob chips that I can't seem to find anywhere else in Houston. I know I am returning to Austin, the land of plentiful carob chips in just two days, but I obviously need my chocolate fix before then.

Now I'm at home, planning on starting a new Netflix series (stop me, please), starting a new book, or maybe just taking a nap. It's a beautiful Friday, though, so I'd love to get outside and enjoy it!