Monster Dash Half Marathon

So today, I did the impossible...well for me that is haha. I ran my first half marathon EVER. The Monster Dash. The half marathoners started at 9 a.m. and then there was also a 10k and 5k going on as well that started later on. I've been training for MONTHS and today was the day where it all paid off. My mom, Josh and his bff Spencer came along to be my team of cheerleaders. Josh was an amazing supporter and was the one to drive us all. I would have driven but ummm yeah...not too sure that would have been possible post running. We arrived at Grant Park a good hour before start time to allow for proper stretching, photos, and to check out the hilarious costumes since it was a Halloween-themed run. I opted to wear my Monster Dash swag and skeleton gloves.

I haven't been in Grant Park since the Polar Dash where Josh proposed almost a whole year ago now in January :) . It was great to be back and to conquer a challenge I set out to beat for quite some time.

Of course I've been training for months but other than being physically prepared I needed to mentally prepared as well. How did I do this? Creating the perfect playlist to keep my motivated to run 13.10 miles. The following is my playlist that kept me pushing through even when my right knee started to throb in pain (thanks to a basketball injury from way back when).

1.) In This Moment- Adrenalize
2.) Savage Garden- I Want You
3.) Eminem- Lose Yourself
4. Neon Trees- Everybody Talks
5.) Rihanna- Diamonds
6.) Hole- Celebrity Skin
7.) Ke$ha- Tik Tok
8.) Coldplay- Princess of China
9.) David Guetta f. Sia- Titanium
10.) One Direction- Beautiful
11.) Adele- Rolling in the Deep
12.) Rihanna- Where Have You Been?
13.) Lady Gaga- The Edge of Glory
14.) Lady Gaga- Bad Romance
15.) Shania Twain- Man! I Feel Like A Woman
16.) Justin Bieber- As Long As You Love Me
17.) Eminem- 8 Mile
18.) Michael Jackson- The Way You Make Me Feel
19.) Coldplay- Paradise
20.) Adele- Skyfall
21.) Marilyn Manson- Personal Jesus
22.) Cobra Starship f. Sabi- You Make Me Feel...
23.) Blink 182- What's My Age Again?
24.) Eminem- Til I Collapse
25.) Janet Jackson- Escapade
26.) Janet Jackson- Runaway
27.) Disturbed- Down With The Sickness
28.) Blink 182- All The Small Things
29.) Britney Spears- Till The World Ends
30.) Calvin Harris- Feel So Close
31.) Flo Rida & David Guetta- Club Can't Handle Me
32.) Shakira- Waka Waka
33.) LMFAO- Sexy And I Know It
34.) Eric Clapton- Layla
35.) Young The Giant- My Body
36.) Guns & Roses- Sweet Child O' Mine
37.) Aretha Franklin- Respect
38.) Led Zeppelin- Black Dog

Every time I felt like walking it, a new song came on and lit some more fire into me to keep going and to push harder than I have ever pushed. I must say, I was VERY proud of myself. I did my best and really, you can never be disappointed in that. I crossed the finish line strong leaving many Batmans and Thors in the dust. I finished in 2 hours and 30 minutes. I met below my estimated goal time so I was beyond ecstatic. Victory was mine and I had my team of cheerleaders waiting for me at the finish line while I crossed it listening to Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog" ummm awesome? Yes.

I got a medal and an amazing North Face quality reflective jacket that I can add to my Monster Dash swag. I'll definitely never forget this race that's for sure. It was not only physically challenging but mentally challenging as I said before. Also, my friend Cortney made her famous chocolate chip cookie/brownie/cupcake things. They were my victory nom noms once my stomach settled the eff down. During training, I didn't run more than 10 miles all that often but when I did, it seemed like my stomach would go into a state of shock. "I'm thirsty!! No...you're really hungry!!! NO...you'll throw up....SIT DOWN...STAND UP..." It took about a good hour and a half before I felt like I could actually stomach food and more than a sip of water every so often. Being in the back of a car and stuck in traffic didn't help at all either but I got through it and when I did...I broke into that bag of chocolate chip cookie/brownie/cupcake yumminess.

It really was a beautiful day out though for the race. It couldn't have been better. It was chilly in the morning though and warmed up throughout the race which made it difficult running with a long-sleeved shirt and track jacket. The wind felt SOOO good though and I definitely took advantage of those water stations. I'm sure they slowed down my pace significantly in the end but oh well, I was more than happy with my performance and time. :) We went to Red Robin for a victory lunch and I gorged myself on a cheeseburger with sweet potato fries and I think it might have been three or four strawberry lemonades. I figured these calories simply didn't even matter since I probs just burned more than 2,000 running a fricken half marathon.

It tasted soooo good. And might I backtrack a bit and say that getting out of the car after sitting in the car for awhile was quite a task. I felt like an old lady who just had hip surgery. I had to limp along due to my right knee and my hips and legs were definitely not fully functional after what I just put them through. I suspect that my heels will see the back of my closet this week since I'll be rocking flats for this whole work week. I don't even want to know how sore I'll feel in the morning if I'm this sore already but I can still say that I would never take any of it back. I feel achieved, victorious and proud that I kicked so much ass.

Paradise Found

It's crazy how whenever you get back from a vacation...you need a vacation to re-coop from your vacation...I apologize for the unannounced, week-long absence. This was my first whole week off of work for TWO YEARS. Yes, two years. So needless to say...I was excited. It's tradition to go to Hayward, WI for Josh's side of the family every summer where they rent a bunch of cabins off of the lake. After I go through a momentarily lapse of "holy shit I don't even get cell reception out here" the much needed rest and relaxation ensues. It's nice to disconnect once in a while...however I max out at a week...my main goal during vacation was to completely forget about work....oh and to get a nice tan. Both goals were met. My wine consumption was of course of the charts as well.

After five days of fishing, canoeing, badminton, swimming, drinking games and in-law family bonding later...Josh and I found ourselves in Bay Lake, MN for my cousin's wedding. Now THIS was the part of vacation I was looking forward to the most. While Josh has Hayward, I had Bay Lake when I was still a kid listening to Nsync tunes. Our family would get together at the cabin we owned every summer and coming back made me realize how much I really fricken miss it. This time we stayed in our own villa off the lake at Ruttger's Lodge Resort. Anyway, we were fortunate enough to only have to drive three hours from Hayward to Bay Lake so it wasn't too bad. Plus, Josh did all the driving so I have no room to bitch. We only had two short days there so I made the most of it and hopped on one of my uncle's seadoos (fully clothed) asap. After that my fam decided to dine at Ruby's that is right off the lake the day before the wedding. I find it hilarious that places like this refer to "proper attire" as anything but your bikini and flip flops.

The wedding was beautiful and I couldn't be happy for my cousin and her now hubby. I also cannot believe that I actually still fit in my dress too after gripping onto a wine glass throughout the whole week.

 I seriously don't get to spend enough time with my cousins. We're all VERY close and I couldn't imagine life without them. Although two are only pictured here, (the rest were dancing their socks off) there's nothing like a wedding to bring everyone together. A photo booth will also be required at my wedding. It definitely made for some pretty hilarious photos.

It was rough leaving, but Josh and I had to leave the morning after the wedding. Before I left I took one last photo. This is what I woke up to. Gah, did we really need to leave?!

I give major props to my dude for driving the WHOLE way back. We left at about 7 a.m. and got home at around 3 p.m. which isn't bad considering I remember the trip being nine plus hours (my mom would always insist on stopping). Although we were only gone for a week, it seemed like a whole month! Packing is one of my least favorite activities of all time too. What usually happens is my bags will stay in my room and as I need things from it I will remove them. As of today (About a week and a half later) I am fully unpacked. I'm also starting to train for my first half marathon that's at the end of October. I'm trying not to think about the outcome of that (death) and trying to stay positive about it. I purchased some sweet, new running shoes that have more support for running longer distances and some new attire as well. The swag that comes along with this run is quite awesome too. The Monster Dash is also Halloween-themed since it's the weekend before what I call the slut awareness holiday. You can run in full costume which I fully intend on doing. Wish me luck kids!