Questions...

Here are some questions that have ran through my mind recently...

--why would you wear a sun dress to a dog park?

--why do people always feel like they have to give an answer when there just is not one?

--how did my husband get strep throat in June?

--how could I love my dogs any more?

--isn't it interesting how my motivations change over time?

--why is gas so freaking expensive?

--how come, in this great country of ours, we can not find 2 amazing, GREAT, worthy candidates for president?  I mean, 2 people who you would feel confident if either one, not like it is just a toss up and either way you are screwed?

--how can it be this hot so quickly?

--is there any way possible I will ever win a triathlon?

--can't weekends be 3 days instead of 2?

--why am I not content with the things God has given me?

--when will I really make it in my career?

--why does money exist?

--why does network TV suck in the summer?  Hello people, we are still watching!!  Don't drive us to the internet!!  You need us!! 

so those are a few questions running through my mind, as we start this lazy, hot summer...enjoy!

New Photos...

So I am not super savvy about all the web stuff, but I created a new photo album of some old photos on my Facebook page...above are a few of the shots...

But check out the whole album...I hope that you can see these photos even if you are not a facebook user...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=24172&l=cfe74&id=504603911

I posted a bunch from the past few years...enjoy!!

I can't wait for...

FOOTBALL SEASON!!!!

For real...Tim and I had a few friends over today and cooked out...and I got SOOO excited for Football Saturday's and cheering on the DAWGS!!!! Yes I am that ridiculous Alumnus who goes insane for Georgia...it is actually embarrassing. Tim is a saint to deal with it.

And I have to admit...in the past 3 weeks I have looked up the football schedule no less then 10 times to be sure I am careful in planning my fall...I even planned my vacation around it! (that and my brothers soon to be baby)...

I hat hot dogs and burgers on the grill, friends over, and an anticipation for September...I love summer but fall is right around the corner!!

Go Dawgs!!

feeling helpless...

he events in the Chapman family's life this week lead me to feeling totally helpless...I have not been sleeping well and all I can do is think about how tragic it is and how their lives will be forever changed by these events...this definitely gave me a bit of a more healthy outlook on each days events and really trying to determine if what I get frustrated about or annoyed about really matters...and thinking about it I am loving people well while we have time here together...

WOW. I believe in God and his plan for us, and his plan for all of the events in our life, but this one has me down, it is a pickle.

Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter killed by car in driveway

By KATE HOWARD and LINDA ZETTLER
Staff Writers - The Tennessean

Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest child died Wednesday afternoon after being struck by a car driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family's Williamson County home.

Maria, one of the Christian singer's six children, was taken by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt Hospital, which confirmed the death, according to Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The 5-year-old was hit by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, she said. Police did not give the driver's name.

The teen was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser down the driveway of the rural home at about 5:30 p.m. and several children were playing in the area, McPherson said. He did not see Maria in the driveway before the vehicle struck her, she said.

"It appears to be a terrible accident,'' McPherson said.

No charges are expected, she said. The accident was witnessed by two other children; the entire family was home at the time, McPherson said.

Singer/songwriter Chapman, who recently was inducted into Music City Walk of Fame, is one of contemporary Christian music's most recognizable and most awarded names.

He and his wife Mary Beth have long been supporters of international adoption, having brought three girls from China into their family. Maria was the youngest. The couple is so active in the cause that they formed an organization, Shaohannah's Hope, to aid families wanting to adopt.

With his latest music tour, which came through Nashville in November, Chapman started a campaign called "Change for Orphans". He asked audience members at each stop to bring spare change to the concert, where it was counted and given to a local family to aid in their adoption process.

"I don't know of anybody who loves his children more than he does and is so committed to the adoption concept, and to lose one, no matter what the circumstances, is heartbreaking beyond all comprehension," said John Styll, president of the Nashville-based Gospel Music Association.

"He talks about his kids all the time. That's his life. His kids are more important to him than music, that's for sure."

The tragedy was announced during Wednesday-night services at Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, which the family attends. Maria had just graduated from the church preschool.

And word spread throughout the tight-knit Christian music community on Wednesday evening.

Styll got the news not long after Maria's death.

"I'm confident I can speak for everyone in the community to say we will do everything we can to support this family, as we would do at any time, but especially at a time like this," he said.

Most of the Chapman family was at Vanderbilt children's hospital after the accident and could not be contacted. The long, gravel driveway leading to the home west of Franklin was blocked off by Williamson County sheriff's deputies.

Weddings...

I love weddings...they are so sweet. There is so much hope and "newness". Tim and I drove up to Ohio this weekend for our dear friend's wedding...it was such an honor to be a part of this day today. And it was the definition of sweet...both the bride and groom were totally "smitten" with each other, it was very obvious. It can really rejuvinate your day to day to see 2 people in love!!

The rehearsal dinner last night was so rad...to hear so many people stand up and witness to my friends purity, gentleness, kindness and character was fun to hear...this wedding was one that you walked away from truly being honored to participate in.

Here are some pics... mostly some goofy ones of Tim and I!!

a close shave...

So I am sure by now you know how much I love all of my dogs...and today was one of the funniest moments I have EVER had with KOBE...my sweet loveable GIANT Golden retriever/german shepherd/rottweiler mix...95 lbs of sweetness...he is such an amazing boy...

Anyway, we took him to PetSmart today for a haircut, because we had let his hair get a bit out of control...typically I cut his hair (basically butcher it), but it was time for him to get a grooming by a professional...
So Tim dropped him off this morning and consulted with the lady, and she recommended a certain shave that was good for Goldens...

and when I showed up to pick him up, I did not even RECOGNIZE him...I am not kidding!! They shaved him as close as possible to the skin; he looks totally hilarious!! So the lady brings him out, I looked at him then looked away, because I did not even think it was Kobe. She said "Holt" and I looked back, this time doing a total double take, then I started to chuckle, and was like "that’s not kobe is it?" and of course she was like "this is your dog" and at this point I am laughing SO hard, I could not stop. He looked so funny, I was tearing up...so the lady starts to get nervous because I would not even take the leash because in my mind I am still wondering if this is really my dog, and trying to comprehend how stupid he looked. So I was like there is nothing we can do, and I grabbed the leash, and I was still cracking up. I mean laughing hysterically.

So then the PetSmart lady gets a really serious look on her face and says..."please don’t laugh at your dog, he understands that and it is going to hurt his feelings""...and she thought that comment would make me stop laughing? It just got worse!!!

So I walked out with Kobe, and the whole time I am trying to talk to him between laughs (oh and by the way, I was by myself, so there was NO ONE to share this with in the moment)...he stops to pee, I then put him in the car, and the whole way home I am still checking him out to be sure he is indeed Kobe. Kobe has these cute spots on his nose and on around his eyelids, and they were present, so I knew it was him.

Then we get home...and I promise you Sadi and Jackson are seriously mocking him and laughing at him. Kobe is acting sort of shy, definitely embarrassed.

What a day!!

Hollywood Sunrise

So i had a really cool trip this week that is going to be hard to top--it was fun personally and professionally...I went out to LA with some co-workers for some meetings...the meetings were LONG but great...and the people I traveled with were a ton of fun...

So the highlight for me was running in Runyan Canyon. Now for those of you who love your Us Weekly and People Magazine...you know this is where they always have the pictures of the stars with their dogs or working out with their trainers...so when I found out this park was a 1/2 mile from my hotel, the good little paparazzi in me knew exactly where I would be jogging!!!

So on both Wednesday and Friday morning, I took off from my hotel and jogged to the park...now you might know that Hollywood is at the base of a mountain that the Hollywood sign is on), and this park has paths that take you to the top of a mountain where you can see ALL of LA, the Hollywood sign, out to Santa Monica, and you can see the ocean. It was BREATHTAKING. On both days that I ran, I thought of about 10 different blogs to write, because the scenery was majestic--it was about 50 degrees and completely clear and not hazy--as I climbed the trails, I could see all of LA and the beauty of it (fyi--I love LA, so I am a tad biased). It really was amazing.

But the overall thing I thought of on the way up was "man this is freakin hard to climb and I am so tired"...when I got to the top, I was in awe, it was just so amazing...and then on my way down I thought "that climb was so worth it"...gosh those thoughts struck me as a reminder that the journey is so worth it...and when you get to the end of the journey, the high never lasts as long as you want it to, but the journey was required to get there--and even though it was hard, tiring and sometimes I wanted to quit, when I met my goal all of the pain faded away...and on the way down I was extremely grateful. It was just an interesting parallel to my life...Overall, i felt amazingly blessed.

On Friday I took my phone so I could get some pics of the views...but the camera phone photos do not do it justice at all!!

to train or not to train...that is the question...

So I am in process of training for the Breast Cancer 1/2 marathon and am contemplating what to do next...triathlon season is coming on, and I tend to be over-ambitous in the beginning...or do I want to run a full marathon?

There are issues to overcome with either choice...the marathon: 18-20 mile training runs that wipe out the entire weekend...

the triathlon: trying to find time to train for 3 sports...

I am really addicted to competition, so it is hard to find a substitute for this...but there are days that training can be a drag...so we will see what the summer holds...

but I am excited. I seem to have this "every other week" excitement about working out...this is a good week!!

is it mean to laugh @ American Idol contestants?

I am embarrassed and feel guilty about how hard I am laughing at these contestants...I am sorry, it is so funny...sad...embarrassing...hilarious.....it is incredible.

I mean, have you ever been at a theme park and you ntice someone who is dressed so bad...n a way that you feel embarrassed for them? And they are there with a large group of people? Well my roommate from college (Kelly) used to look at people like that out in public and say "they must not have any good friends" -- meaning that if they had some good friends, they would tell them how ridiculous they looked and save them from embarrassment.

Do some of these contestants have anyone in their life who is honest with them?? I am not talking about the crazy's who are just trying to get on TV...I am talking about the ones who TRULY believe that they are meant to be a singer...wow.

I had a pretty rough day today, so this is a great way to blow off some steam and laugh it off...I do feel guilty that I am laughing at people...oh well.

Hope you are well...

balance...resolutions...the new year

Well I would love to say that I will certainly be blogging more in 2008 then I did in 2007...but let's be honest...who knows what will happen...I am a maniac about creating action lists and plans, and then I kill the joy out of my dedication to follow through no matter if I like it or not...that seems to wreck most of my hobbies...they all become sports...so basically if I decide that I will have a plan to blog, it will be no fun anymore...

Here is a case in point...I have really been struggling with anxiety over the last 3-4 weeks...I recently have narrowed my focus of passion to 3 things: Tim (and obviously the dogs), my work, and my running. I went through a period in 2007 where I felt such chaos, so I knew i needed to simplify, so I did...I narrowed down everything to those 3 buckets...well now, since i am psycho competitive, I basically judge every day on this man-made barometer on how i am doing at all 3...

Well running is pretty simple to judge...either I went running or not, either I ran a certain pace or distance or not...it is very tangible...

The other 2 are a lot more subjective...With tim, I judge myself on some of the following...like did I pay enough attention to Tim today? did i make him feel valued? Did i allow him to love me?

On work...did I work long enough? did I get affirmed enough? was I kind today and a good teammate? was I a good listener?

I honestly judge myself on so many levels all day long, that I have a hard time relaxing. So even though I feel like I have turned the corner to be smart with my time and choices, and to focus on a few important things, I almost do not even give myself a chance to succeed because I over-analyze everything, and hold myself up to a standard that I would never put on anyone else. So it can become very self-damaging...

So tonight I wanted to share what I am going through...I have learned a lot lately about being vulnerable, and how important it is, especially in leadership...and that's it.

I hope to be blogging more often...so we will see :)

Leigh

Ciao Italia!!

Tim and I just took a 10 day trip to Italy for our 5 year anniversary...amazing is all I can say!! I am not exageratting when I tell you it was the best trip of my life!! It was so fun to go and explore and see new things with Tim--we had so much fun together. I am here to tell you after 5 years--marriage is fun!! And we consider ourselves extremely blessed!!

So we started our trip in Venice--it is so picturesque!! This is the Italy of the movies -- the beautiful canels, the sweet homes...I told Tim that if we could ever build our own house, I would love for it to be an Italian style villa!! We celebrated our anniversary on Sept 14th by taking a Gondola ride and eating at a canal-side restaurant--Tim gave me a pair of beautiful diamond earrings and 2 beautiful roses!!

While in Venice, we also saw all the major sites, St. Mark's Square, the Basillica, etc., and we went to this amazing Modern Art exhibit with art from around the world. It was cool.

We left the quiet of Venice and took a boat, bus, plane and train to get to Rome; we felt very well traveled when we arrived in a very noisy Romeat 10 am. We found our hotel, checked in, and then we were off for 2 full days in Rome--thanks to our friend Naomi Marvin who put together a tour of Rome for us--we walked our butts off and saw EVERYTHING--St. Peter's, the Vatican, the Borghese Park, The Coliseum, the ruins, the Trevi fountain, the Spanish steps...and more!! We ate amazing food--the pizza and the mozzerella cheese was the best I ever had--we loved Rome!! Tim and I both were very inspired in this big city!! We already want to go back!!

From Rome, we again tool a train, boat, taxi and a bus to get to Positano, Italy. This little beach town is in the South of Italy, on the Amalfi Coast. Positano is what I hope heaven looks like!! Our walking tour of Rome wore us out a tad, so the timing of Positano was perfect--we had a full day on the beach, we toured the island of Capri, and we went to see the ruins in Pompeii. The whole trip was amazing, but this part was my favorite.

We went back to Rome for our last night, enjoyed our favorite Pizza and Gelato, and came back in time to watch Georgia beat Alabama last weekend!! Go Dawgs!!

I SO recommend a trip to Italy...check out our pictures here:
Italy Pictures!!

The trip was so fun--I had a hard time coming back to reality!! Poor Tim has had to work all week, and I have had the pleasure of a week off...thank God!!
Hope you enjoy the photos!!

still learning...

I am still learning. surprise surprise, I just don't know it all yet. you see, that is a tough lesson since I come from a family that prides themselves on always "knowing"...always being right, winning arguments, saying the last word, and basically being on top. I love my family; and much of my success is due to those characteristics that have been bred into me...the desire to win, compete, do my best, strive to be great...but I am still learning.

This summer can be summed up in that sentiment; learning. I am in the process of learning some of lifes great lessons, and boy is it a struggle for me to be in this process. I definitely am not an "enjoy the journey" type of gal...I like the completion, the final note, the end. So being in the midst of learning lessons, and then having to make choices while in that season, and having those choices affect what you are doing...gosh, my head is spinning.

And the struggle!!! I was running tonight and I was just angry because I feel like I have handled some things poorly and wish that I had communicated some things clearer. But how would I know how to do that until I learned it? I have to go through these things so next time I might get it right...I might be better next time, and know how to handle it with the wisdom I gained in this season. But I just want to know it now and get it right the 1st time!!!! AHHHHH. frustration sets in.

I sometimes wish I could learn as fast as I could eat. This is silly, but wouldn't it be cool if all the lessons I was supposed to learn could come in an ice cream cone, and I could just eat it and have all the knowledge (maybe the calories can be different based on the size of the issues I needed to learn about :) )...

Well all this reminded me of a Switchfoot song...Learning to Breathe...

Hello, good morning, how ya been?
Yesterday left my head kicked in
I never thought I could fall like that
Never knew that I could hurt this bad

I'm learning to breathe
I'm learning to crawl
I'm finding that You and
You alone can break my fall
I'm living again, awake and alive
I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies

What complicates things even more is this unfair expectation I place on myself to get it right the 1st time, with no practice...that's when I feel like "my head gets kicked in"...

So here's to life, and all the lessons we are learning...

Leigh

The attack of the Wii

So I bought Tim a Wii for our 5 year anniversary and gave it to him on Friday night...now you know this is a BIG deal, because I am the one in the family with "Addictive" behaviors and seriously in a 1 year period, played over 450 games of NCAA Football on our old Gamecube (yep...that was before I started all this exercising!!)...so I only decided to get Tim the Wii after much thought about how I have overcome my gamer addictions, and YES I could handle it, and just say "No" when my game playing started to take over my life.

So we have had the Wii set up for 24 hours now, and all day yesterday I didn't play it...but this afternoon, Tim asked me to play Wii Tennis with him. Begrudgingly I complied, thinking that it is his "gift" and I need to let him enjoy it with me, and a few games can't hurt.

And for those of you who don't know, the Wii is different then other gaming consoles where the controllers are motion senstitve, and you use your arms, and all the motions to make moves; not just your fingers. So the plot thickens..

So we played a few games (I won), and I am starting to get excited about it. Kobe, our dear sweet giant of a dog, was laying on the couch the whole time, interested in what we were doing. All of a sudden, he gets pretty excited about how I was playing, and jumps off the couch, starts biting my wrist, and trying to tackle me. So we are like chill out, tell him to lay down...for the next 3 games, he repeats this pattern...

Then on the 4th game, after we have put him back on the couch, and he listened and he is laying there, I go for a backhand, I wind up and swing my arm across my body...and at the same time, Kobe is trying to get off the couch, and at the perfect timing, I smash him across the face...I hurt my hand I hit him so hard! He ran out of the room and I followed him, totally consoling him, apologizing, etc...it was tragic. Tim was cracking up.

So after we made sure he was ok, we went back to playing...a few minutes later, Kobe walks back to the den and starts to enter the room...he saw my hand go up in the motion of the serve, and he turned, tucked his tail between his legs and BOLTED from the room.

Tragedy I must say...NCAA Football Video games ruined me, and the Wii Tennis has ruined Kobe.

Hilarious.

good news since yesterday's post...I slept 11 hours last night!! Bedside Baptist had a mandatory meeting this morning, and we all attended!! :) It felt good.

Have a great day!

Leigh

sleep deficit...

sleep deficit...
Have you ever been so tired, that you can hardly think, move, breathe, comprehend...but no matter what you do, you can not sleep? That has been the story of my August...I am glad it is now September!!

This past month has been a crazy one...we have been particularly busy at work, planning all of our fall events, and hearitfirst.com has continued to grow like crazy, so opportunities have been coming out of the woodwork...or web I guess :) ...

And I have had some heavy things on my mid, decisions I had to make...weighing out the consequences of these decisions...sorting through my guilt about some decisions, and understanding that...and trying to answer the question: what is the best thing for Tim and I at this point in our lives. We are coming up on our 5 year anniversary...what are my hopes and dreams for the next 5 years?

So basically, my mind has been slammed, working in overdrive the past month, so full I can't manage it. I am the type that has to wring something out ENTIRELY and weigh every option and analyze EVERY detail before I make a decision...that is exhausting. For me, but for those close to me as well.

So anyway...I am this stressed...but I can not sleep!! I have been up every morning at 4:30-5 ish...and not to work out!! I usually don't work out until 6:30 am!! Then I can't take naps, because my mind is racing...it is ridiculous!!

So it is Saturday morning, and I went to bed at 2 last night, and I am up ready to go at 6:45 am!! No plans to work out until 9:30 this morning!!

So all of this combines to a very "slowed down" state of Leigh...I feel like my comprehension levels are at an all time slowness, and my reaction to everything is skewed.

So there. No point to this rambling except I am so tired!!

But on the brightside...FOOTBALL starts today...this is my favorite day of the year.

I love college football. Go Dawgs.

Leigh

Colorado Pics

Hello!!  

Tim and I spent 6 days in glorious Colorado last week...can I say 85 degrees and NO humidity!!  It was a great escape for us!!

The 1st part of the weekend we spent with my cousins Byron, Melinda and Logan in Denver. We love them so much!! Tim and Logan are two peas in a pod...they can hang out all day long.

I did have to do some work though (GMA Music in the Rockies), but it was very rewarding work...I taught some courses to independent artists on how to market their music online, and participated in some industry round tables.  That was fun...only tough part was cell phone service and the wireless connection!!  

This slide show is mostly from our trip into the Rocky Mountain National Park, where we drove up to the top of the mountains 2 times...over 12,000 feet high!  It was rad...

Enjoy the scenery!

 

Rocky Mountain High

Tim and I have been in Colorado since Friday night...I LOVE this state. And that is wierd, why??? I am the antithesis of an "outdoors" type...I do not love the woods, snakes, camping...ummmm no. But Colorado is amazing.

We flew in Friday to spend the weekend with my cousins Byron, Melinda and Logan, and we had a BLAST...these guys are so fun to be with, so relaxing, and just really cool people. We went to the pool, and went to the Alpine Slide - - basically a luge type slide at 10,000+ feet in Breckinridge - and just relaxed. They are our family, but we consider them friends, they are so much fun to be around. Byron and I worked out--well he actually whipped my butt swimming and then running--but it was great.

Then on Monday we drove to Estes Park, for a GMA event that I am speaking at. Estes is cool, it is at the base of the Rocky Mountain National Park - which we both loved!! Once again -- Miss "Anti-Outdoors" was a freak about driving up the mountain to the top--we actually did it twice!! And we have take a ton of pictures, that I might post if I ever get to it (not a strength of mine!!).

The coolest thing about being on top of the mountain is the perspective of just how small we are on this planet called Earth...and to remember how mindful God is of us. We were at about 10,000 feet, at a rest stop, and there were these chipmunks running all over the place...and I was thinking, "how on earth could a chipmunk get up this high?"...I mean, did the 1st 2 chipmunks on the mountain like hiking? It sounds silly, but the verses about how "every hair on our head is numbered" really seem to make sense when you see this little 8 pound chipmunk running around on the hillside of a mountain.

Well I have one more session then we are back to Nashville...hope you are doing well!!

leigh

Saturday's are for football...

So it is a beautiful day today in Nashville...I mean today has to be the perfect summer day. It is probably 80-85 degrees, and oddly the humidity did not come out to terrorize us today.

My day started with a 6 am wake up call (please do not tell me how ridiculous this is--Tim already has!! :) ), so I could ride my bike over to meet Suzie for our bike workout. I wore my normal bike shorts and a tank top, because it has been crazy hot all week, so we figured we would go early to beat the heat.

Well to our surprise, it was the perfect morning, sunny, no humidity, I actually could have worn a long sleeve shirt!! So we rode about 18 miles, and it was a slow, lazy, non-lance armstrong effort, but it was an effort nonetheless.

I got home earlier then normal for a Saturday (since we did not try to run or swim), and Tim was up, so we decided to head to Meridee's, our favorite breakfast spot in Franklin. what a payoff--french toast stuffed with cream cheese--could it be any more fattening? It was amazing, and I did not care.

So I came home, took a nap...then I woke up and hung outside with the doggies...it was beautiful. they decided to terrorize our neighbor dogs for a good half hour, then we headed inside.

So I started flipping channels, and I ran across a rerun of the 2006 Tennessee vs. Alabama football game. Now if you know me, you probably know 2 things about me:

1. I LOVE Football. Yes, the countdown is on (41 days) until Georgia's 1st kickoff of the 2007 season

2. I hate the Tennessee Volunteers. It is true hate. There is no other description.

So you must realize that my #1 (love for football) took over, and I am actually sitting here watching this game. Tim questioned my choice--and I defended myself saying--"do you know who won this game?" (cause neither of us did)...so that was my justification to sit here and to watch football.

And today is the perfect weather for a fall Saturday in Athens, GA, between the hedges.

I am ridiculous--I am SO excited.

4 minutes left in the 4th quarter, this is a close game! Go 'Bama!!

Hope you are well...

Triathlon!

So today I completed my 1st ever "Olympic Distance Triathlon" -- 9/10 mile swim, 26 mile bike and 6.2 mile run.  Yeah, it was pretty insane...long...tiring...but FUN!! 

I was honestly completely nervous before it began--I did not sleep at all last night, and was feeling very UN-prepared...I am typically obsessive-compulsive about training, but I definitely bit off more then I could chew on this race...

You see on May 28th, I completed a short mini-triathlon in Nashville - 200 meter swim, 8 mile bike - 2 mile run--it was so short and quick, and I loved it--I could compete, and pass people...and let's just say I became a tad over-confident in my new found triathlon abilities...so I looked at the racing schedule for the southeast this summer, and even though today's tri was only 6 weeks away, I decided to give it a go.

Well, in total Leigh fashion, I really tried to fit too much into my life at once -- you see, over the past 6 weeks, I have had a busy travel schedule...

--Trip to Greenville, SC for my cousin's graduation with Tim, then on to Atlanta to visit my brother

--Trip to Wilmore, KY, for a festival for work

--Trip to Dallas for a festival for work

--Week long vacation with Tim & friends in Chattanooga

--Trip to Wisconsin for a festival for work

6 weeks, 5 trips...I trained in Atlanta, Wilmore/Lexington KY, Dallas, Chattanooga and Appleton, Wisconsin...swimming miles, biking a few hundred miles and running over 100 miles...insane.  But fun nonetheless!!

So the tri was a challenge--more so mental then physical--we (Tim, my 1 fan came with me) got to Chattanooga on Friday night, rested all day on Saturday, then we went to the race site at 6 am Sunday morning...after setting up my transition area, I was off to the swim start.

The swim was in a River, it was my 1st open water swim ever.  The water was not too gross, it was warm and there was a good current.  I tried my best to follow the bouy's, and actually finished in 32 minutes, my fastest time at this distance ever.  I got out of the water, and ran to the transition to get on the bike, telling myself to relax, and to remain calm...my heart was racing.

The bike ride can be summed up in 1 word -- HILLY!  There were honestly NO flat spots on the course...it was a long up and downhill...this was the toughest part of the race--and the longest.  I finished in 1 hour and 37 minutes, which again, was a great time for me, but very slow compared to my competition.  I mean, so many people passed me, I started to laugh about it...and it was a blow to my ego, but hey, my goal was to finish, so I decided to just gut it out.  It really was long though, and I am happy to have finished!!

And then the run...I was the most confident about my run, because that is still the easiest sport for me to train for...so I rarely will skip a run workout...I did it a tad slower hoped (64 minutes for 6.2 miles), but I passed 3 girls in the last 2 miles that I had my eye on, which boosted my confidence!!  The cool part about the run was that my Mom was volunteering at the 1 mile/5 mile water stop (the run was one where you run 3.1 miles then turn around and run back), so she was there to cheer me on @ crucial times...when I had just started going on the run, and when I needed a boost to finish well.  I finished strong, and my Dad and Tim were at the finish line cheering me on -- I was exhausted & glad at the end. 

I grabbed 2 bottles of water, and finished off 3 pieces of pizza within 15 minutes of finishing...I did not realize how hungry I was after working out for 3.5 hours!!

I had a lot of fun, and am looking forward to my next event...not quite sure which race I will do next, but I am so fueled to get better...my goal for this race was to finish and to learn...now that "Grandy" in me is kicking in to become the best ever.  (It never ends!!)

Well I hope you are doing well...I am happy I have a day off of work tomorrow to rest and recuperate...I will probably take 3-4 days off, then get back at it!!

Hope you are well!!

Leigh

PS: My pre-race photo, and my finishing sprint...

the 5 year plan...

Hey all...

you know me--I am a planner. I love plans, lists, more plans, ideas that lead to plans, and even more lists. Yes I am the lame-o who makes lists for myself on Saturdays, that actually include "wake up" and "eat" and "shower"...ok, I know, just bear with me...

So when my boy Elroy and I got married, we went to Costa Rica on our Honeymoon--it was AMAZING...getting married in September limits travel on the eastern seaboard due to hurricanes, so we flew west to paradise...so when we were on our honeymoon, we started making plans (the boy knows the way to my heart!!)...and we said that on our 5 year anniversary, we wanted to go to Italy...

it was a pipe dream at the time, and to be honest with you, at the beginning of 2007 it was a pipe dream as well...but God honored our plans, and yesterday we booked our flights to Italy from Sept 12-21!!!!!!! God had his list too and wanted to check it off for us!! :)

We are finalizing the details, but we do know this...we will be in Venice on a Gondola ride on September 14th, 5 years from the day we said I DO!! I am psyched!!!!

We are going to Venice, Rome and Positano. Our friend Bethany is working on the ultimate Italian itinerary for us...it will be a fun list that I can check off!! :)

So here's to plans!!! and lists!! and the pens/pencils I use to mark things off the lists!!

the country music half marathon...I finished!! had fun!! and hurt my back!!

I am proud to say that I not only survived an extremely busy GMA week last week, but I finished the Country Music half Marathon in 2 hours and 28 minutes on Saturday. And for those of you who keep up, I am proud to tell you that I ran the entire race, except for 2/10 of a mile on part of mile 12...at that point I knew I was going to hit my goal time (my goal was 2:30), and there was yet another hill...so when I got to the top, I grabbed my breathe so I could make a roaring finish. My friend Suzie always saves enough energy for a strong finish, when often I am too impatient and just get to the end...but I wanted to run through the crowd with my fists pumping and smiling because I completed anther goal. If you recall, when I did my marathon in January, I was using the "run-walk" method where I ran for 5 minutes, then walked for 1 minute throughout the entire race. It is an amazing method for long distances...but starting in February I began to train myself to run the whole thing...no walk breaks. So I am dually proud that I finished, but that I ran, and that I met my goal.

The race was so much fun...people were everywhere cheering for us; it was like a big party. People were literally tailgating down Belmont Ave. The bands are never really great, but it is fun to have the distraction for like 30 seconds as you run by.

The best part was running with my friends...Suzie was along for the run, as usual...she is like my alter-running-ego, and now she is gung-ho bout the triathlon season coming up. Also, my dear friends Rebecca and Laura came down to run with me--they both have been training and it was a joy to run the streets with them. We literally sang songs, laughed, and helped each other through. If it wasn't for them, there is no way I would have run the whole time--they kept me at it. The older I get the more I know that the best friends are the ones that you can pick up with wherever you left off--Laura and Rebecca are friends from Lexington, from my grad school days...they came and visited me when I moved to Florida (surviving some brutal sun burn) and now they have dropped in on Nashville--it is great to have pals who love you no matter what and it can just be fun, with no strings. Laura's hubby Brent came down too...he was the honorary "Sheriff" of Nashville for the weekend, and kept it real with Tim as the cheer squad.

The worst part of the weekend is this lower back / upper butt pain -- I had this pain at about mile 19 of the marathon...and it came back at mile 6 on the half on Saturday. Today I went and got a cortisone shot and stayed home from work. Man it always seems like when you take a sick day all of these great TV shows and movies will be on...I got nothing. I slept, checked email, and that's about it. My back does not feel much better...but I do have some drugs for the rest of the week, so we will see. The moral of the story is that I need to stop skipping sit-ups at the end of each workout and get my body in shape!!

Well I hope you are doing well...

Off to my next race...my 1st triathlon on 5/28/07 here in Nash...

Leigh