Thursday, November 19, 2015

Five Things



I'm participating in the Grow Your Blog Hop hosted by Runaway Bridal Planner.  Today is a spotlight day for me.  If you are new here, I certainly appreciate you stopping by and hope you'll return.

In the spirit of getting to know one another, I thought I'd share a few things about me.  It's also time for the Friday Five, so let's just kill two birds...so to speak.





I Was Raised On Country Sunshine (Dottie West)

I was born and raised in the rural south.  We had a large garden and summers were spent picking, shelling, shucking, and snapping.  We had a pumpkin patch long before that was considered cool.  One of my favorite things was to feed the cows with my Grandfather.  He let me sit in his lap and drive his truck to the pasture.  We had no cable TV, certainly no video games.  We did have a telephone...and it was on a party line (Google that!). 

I liked to read and we'd go roller skating in town, but we (kids) were often bored.  The standard response to our complaining was "Go Play Outside".  So we did.  We biked the rural roads and trails in the woods.  We used an old swing set frame as a gymnastics apparatus.  Ask me how many times I've had the breath knocked out of me {with chocolate cake in my mouth too!}  We played on the tractor.  We played in the dirt.  We used our imaginations.  Even in my 50's, my favorite thing is to Go Play Outside. 


River Bank (Brad Paisley)

Although I had many years of piano lessons and a few years of dance lessons {...bahaha}, I was a tomboy.  Weekends were spent in a cabin on the backwater.  I played, fished, swam, and water skied with such vigor that my lungs would ache.  But, I would not tell my Mother for fear she'd make me stop.  I'd fall into an exhausted sleep and do it again the next day.  Later we spent summers and holidays at the Gulf of Mexico.  It's abundantly clear where I get the urge to be in-near-on a body of water! 

It's All About The Spray




Young at Heart (Frank Sinatra)

I met my husband on Halloween.  He was Dracula and it was love at first bite (sorry, couldn't resist).  We have three sons, one DIL, two grandkids and two weird dogs.  I have a BS in Business Management, not to be confused with Human Resources.  My education was all about numbers.  I've worked in Accounting/Finance all of my life and run a specialty finance company.  {Yawn} 

Our house is the hub of family fun and chaos.  I wouldn't have it any other way. We spend warm weekends in the backyard and on the lake.  I still slalom waterski.  Who's old?  Fall weekends are focused on college football.  Winters usually still include a Disney visit, even though our kids are not little anymore. We take a few yearly trips and still frequent the Gulf.


CCAD 5k -- 2012


Running Down A Dream (Tom Petty)

Although I water skied every Summer and had quite the collection of Kathy Smith workout videos (anybody?), it wasn't until much later in life that I became more active and eventually discovered running.  I started on the gym's treadmill in the Winter of 2008, after getting bored with the elliptical machine.  I was amazed that this gawky girl with the gangly arms and legs who was excused from PE all of her life could run!  I credit our love of Disney World for the motivation to run my first half marathon -- also the first race I ever signed up for.  I received an email about the WDW Marathon and Half.  "What's that?" quickly became "I can do that!"  And that, I did. 


The Race is On (George Jones)

Viking Half Marathon -- 2015


I've run 142 races of varying distances but the half marathon is my favorite.  I've run 36 halves, completing 17 in 2014 alone.  I am currently finalizing a foot injury that caused me to DNS the Chicago Marathon.  I've cycled and run crazily in the pool to maintain my fitness.  I'm curious to see how well that worked as I'm registered for the WDW Marathon in January.  {Fingers crossed!} 

I currently co-host the Weekly Wrap with my friend Tricia.  It was created with the goal of connecting with and supporting other active women. The link is open from Sunday through Wednesday evenings.  We'd be honored for you to join us.  You just might meet a friend for life!  As a bonus, you can also earn multiple chances to win a wonderful prize. 


What motivates you to try something?



I'm linking up with the lovely ladies of the DC Trifecta.

 
Courtney from Eat Pray Run DC,
Mar from Mar on the Run!.










89 comments:

  1. You can never be too old for Disney. We always went went we were younger w are parents and still enjoy going as adults. Congrats on that many races. That is amazing! We are signed up the WDW marathon as well. Maybe we will see you there!

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    1. Disney brings out the kid in you no matter what your age! It's still iffy about WDW. I think the deferral day is next week so I've got to make a decision. It's pretty expensive to defer though! I may just bite the bullet and go anyway.

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  2. As I just recently discovered your blog, and even though I've read your "Who Is HoHo" page, I enjoyed reading all these fun things about you. I love getting to know the people behind the blog!

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    1. I'm so glad you stopped by. I like the behind the scenes stuff too. Everybody has such different backgrounds, but we also end up having a lot in common!

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  3. sounds like you are gonna be well prepped for wdw in january. that is a lot of half marathons :) have a great weekend!

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    1. From a stamina and endurance standpoint, I'll be ready. No doubt. But running? Yikes.

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  4. Wow! You've ran a lot of races! That's cool your first half was a Disney race! With all that cycling and pool running you've been doing, I'm sure you'll do great at WDW Marathon!

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    1. We will have to see how this alternate training works. My thoughts go back and forth on whether I should or CAN do this marathon. It'll definitely make for a good story if I do.

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  5. Here from the blog hop and I am so impressed with your running resume. Wow, so many races. Meeting your husband on Halloween, so cute. College football games, heck yeah.

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    1. Thanks. In the south, college football is like a religion. Everybody takes it so seriously. But it is a lot of fun and a great excuse to get together.

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  6. Loved this ! Always nice to get a peak into people's past and understand where they came from, how they grew up. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend !

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    1. It's funny because most of us have such different backgrounds, yet we have so much in common as active women too.

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  7. Great post. I love the song sub-titles. I guess you weren't joking when you said music is s big part of your life. I really enjoyed meeting you this blog hop and I hope we'll stay friends. Your life is quite different from mine. At least now, although the the country background is really familiar.
    Party line? I haven't heard anyone talk about that in a long time, lady.,
    Congrats on 17 half marathons last year. That's a testament to how much you love this sport.
    Http://Runwright.net

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    1. No joke, I've been singing that top song for a week now. LOL. I think it's great that we have such a diverse group of ladies in the blogging community. You learn a lot. And, you end up realizing you have a lot in common as active women too. Thanks for stopping by and for your participation in the Weekly Wrap!

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  8. Cheers to the spotlight girl! I think I love running and cycling so much because we virtually lived outside playing when we were kids. Running brings back that sense of adventure. So so happy you're just about ready to run (on pavement) again. All the best with DISNEY!!!

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    1. Running satisfies that need to just being outside, in the fresh air, with maybe a little sunshine too. Nothing better! The foot healing is going so slow, especially this week.

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  9. I want to run Disney one day! It looks like so much fun! I've only been to Disney once on a band trip over eleven years ago. You're doing so well with your biking and swimming. You've been smart and strong in your recovery, I'm sure you'll have an even stronger comeback. I hope to see you at Ryan's Run on the 28th.

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    1. Disney is fun. But, it really stresses some people out. I'm always amazed how many grumpy people you see at the happiest place on earth. You have to go in with the right attitude, I guess. I'm not sure about Ryan's Run. I thought I'd have a couple runs under my belt by now.

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  10. Although we didn't have one, I do know what a party line is and yes to Kathy Smith (and Cher!).

    We played outside a lot, too, although I am most definitely not a tomboy and most definitely not athletically blessed.I was the girl with her nose always in a book and/or drawing (which I almost never do anymore. I start again only to stop again as life gets too busy).

    17 halfs in one year? You are a crazy woman!

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    1. I had forgotten Cher had workout videos! My nose was always in a book too! Other than water skiing, I was not athletic at all. I NEVER took a PE class! Yeah, I decided to do 14 halves in 2014 and added a few more for good measure. I only did 8 this Winter/Spring. {sad face}

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  11. I love that you used Country songs to bullet point things about you--so clever! And the south has a way of growing on you--the football, the lakes, the fields. It sounds like you have made the most of eveyr bit of it!

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    1. There's always a song in my head...so that just comes natural. Although I live in the suburbs of a city now, I'll always be a country girl in my heart.

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  12. Nice to see you in the blog hop too! Love all the country music songs and comparisons . Super creative have a great weekend

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    1. It's been fun getting to know the hoppers, even the ones we were already were familiar with.

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  13. so fun!! what a creative way to get to know you! I'm working on half #26 this weekend but 17 in a year? wow!! thanks for linking up!

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    1. Good luck with #26! That's great. I'll probably feel pressured to make up for lost time next year. Maybe I'll do 16 in 2016.

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  14. Another business person! I almost doubled on accounting and finance, but majored only in finance. I couldn't stand it anymore to take one more high level accounting class to get the double. I wanted a fun class instead.

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    1. I almost majored in computers (way, way back when) but quickly realized it would be constantly changing and I wasn't up for the continuing education requirement. So, I stuck with what I knew and that was accounting and numbers.

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  15. So.Many.Races. That is so awesome! Great post, very creative :)
    Meg x
    www.anchoringchange.com

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    1. And so little time to get them all in! I'd race every weekend if I could. Thanks for stopping by.

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  16. There's no such thing as being too old for Disney. Ask my father-in-law, he'll gladly drop everything to make a trip there in a heartbeat. :)

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    1. We've passed our love of WDW down a generation and probably another generation too. I can hear a snippet of a tune or smell something and be instantly transported to a specific Disney location. Ahhh...

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  17. It's nice to meet you! I love Disney too and we used to go to the gulf all the time when I was a kid. It is so fun and so relaxed. I hope you have a great day! http://www.stainedwithstyle.com

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    1. I've been to other tropical places. I'm always surprised that their beaches don't compare to the panhandle of FL. Isn't that amazing? How lucky we are.

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  18. yahooo... your spotlight day - let everyone else see how awesome you are :)

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  19. Always love getting to know you better! Have a great weekend!

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    1. Thanks Deb. It's always fun to peek behind the scenes.

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  20. I love getting to know more about you. Sounds like a great place and way to grow up. You were so active all the time. When I was a kid it was the same way. We used to hop on our bikes and be gone all day. Only had one rule...be home before the street lights turn on! We did eventually get an Atari though - we still have it! lol Man, you have run A LOT of races!! You are so much better at training through your injury than I. I've been sort of just saving my leg for tomorrow's race instead of doing much. I am not proud of this. You will be totally ready for your race after the holidays. Have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. We didn't have street lights. LOL. But I think we knew to be home by supper. Or at least we didn't want to miss out on that wonderful home cooked meal. I haven't been very good this week with my alternate training. I'm just so over it. I want to run.

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  21. Ha I do know what a Party Line is without Googling it, lol :) Ya know I learned, or just now realized, something new about you. Your first half was a Disney run. Talk about starting at the top! Not a coincident you talked me into my first, and only marathon, yea don't all runners say that; to be a Disney run, huh? I'll share a funny story that reminded me when you talked about having cows. We use to visit my great-grandmother when I was little and they leased the land to a cow farmer. There was a great big bull with a ring in it's nose. My granddaddy told me if I could get a hold of that ring I could lead that bull around wherever I wanted too.....I believed him too. I don't specifically remember but I'm pretty sure I had to be stopped from going into the pasture with the intent on grabbing that ring! ;)

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    1. I actually thought when I first started racing that I couldn't just do a "regular" race. They had to be in great locations to keep me motivated. I gave up on that idea as my love for running developed. It is probably very appropriate that my first marathon be at Disney. Is that what the running gods were trying to tell me? I do believe you could lead a bull around by the ring in his nose!

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  22. What a great post and I now know even more about you! I have my fingers crossed for you for January too! I am looking forward to meeting you in person! I big motivator for me is the fear of being left behind! Now I just like a little challenge and a little push :) Hang in there- you will be running soon!

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    1. Thanks, MB. The WCW marathon is speeding toward me a little faster than I want. I still have not run a single step! Oh, my. If I am able to participate, there certainly will be no time goals!

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  23. Another great intro for me to learn so more about you!!!

    LOVE LOVE playing outside as a child. I use to say I was bored to my parents just so they would say 'go outside!: lol!!! if we weren't reading a book (grew up with 2 educators as parents), we were outside playing and then would get in trouble for tracking in dirt-ha!!!

    It has been fun getting back into fitness, health and running at an later age and rocking it out better than folks younger....I love the 'wait-what...you are how old?' Never gets old!

    142 races...you go girll!!! That is impressive!

    Looking forward to rejoining the Weekly Wrap...this blog hop has kept me really busy and slacking on my usual blogs that I follow (sorry for that)

    Sending continued healing prayers your way-I have been so impressed with your determination and motivation to stay active during your injury-you rock!!!

    Have a great weekend!

    Tamieka@fitballingrunningmom

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    1. I'm so ready for this injury to be over so I can just go run. I'll have a lot of making up to do in 2016 to satisfy my half marathon craving. Join us on the WW whenever you can. I certainly understand how life gets in the way and makes us even busier than we already are. Yep, this hop kept up hopping!

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  24. Great intro! Thank you for sharing. I have really enjoyed learning about others who have a goal of lifelong fitness. I also love that image of your home as the center of chaos and love :).

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    1. That's just the best way to describe our house. I compare it to the Griswold Family (of Christmas Vacation fame) because things usually go awry too. You just have to breathe deep and go with it. Always good times though.

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  25. I started running in 2008 but didn't run halfs right away. I LOVE the outdoors. I've finally met someone who loves racing as much as I do.

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    1. And you are going to be so far ahead of me now. We were so close! We've got to run a half together one day.

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  26. Just think how much things have changed since we were kids. It's mind boggling. Sometimes I wish we could experience those simpler times. I guess we could unplug. (EEK) 17 halves does sound crazy. How did I do that? I could have opted for that this year, but did that fatal marathon training thing instead. LOL. Maybe I'll do 16 for 2016. Sounds like a good goal.

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  27. Love this!!! When I was a child, my friends and I were frequently bored, so we spent a lot of time abiding by the "go play outside" instructions, too!

    Fingers crossed and praying that you'll be fully healthy by the time the WDW Marathon rolls around!!!

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    1. One of my brothers had a game he invented called Park Police. It was a park ranger type scenario. We rode around on our bikes pretending to keep law & order in the national parks. Too funny!

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  28. Love learning more about you via this blog hop! 17 halfs in one year? That is amazing!!

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    1. Thanks. If I had stuck to that type of goal for 2015, I might not have injured myself. Oh, well.

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  29. I can't remember how much I have told you (there has been quite a bit of correspondence between us lately), but it seems like we have a lot in common (though you will probably NEVER find me attempting to water ski). You are slightly ahead of me on the half marathon count (I'm currently at 27), and that distance definitely is my FaVoRiTe, but I'm starting to have a fondness for 26.2's...that count stands at 4 (one of which was a 6-hour overnight Ultra in the heat of summer with a tribe of awesome gal pals). I look forward to seeing what else YOU accomplish ;-)

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    1. When I read your blog, I immediately thought we had a lot in common. But, you definitely have me on the 26.2s. I was hoping to love and immediately repeat my first marathon. Stupid foot injury. I just want to get back to it so I can start making plans and setting my goals for next year. Ugh.

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  30. Your childhood sounds like a country song ... which is in my mind perfection! So many times during the hustle and bustle of our city life I've told my husband "we should move to Montana and live our life staring at the mountains" ... He thinks I'm crazy! But little does he know I'd actually do it!!

    I admire the number of runs you've completed and that you're allowing your body to heal properly before pursuing your marathon. I am sure you'll cross that finish line soon, healthier than ever!

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    1. I always wanted to live on a farm with lots of animals. But I would want plenty of hired help to do the work. I just want to sit back and enjoy it. My two crazy dogs would be in heaven herding the sheep and the goats. This healing process has worn out my patience!

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  31. I ran my first half marathon at Disney too! There's nothing like Disney to motivate and inspire you to find more happiness :) The half marathon distance is my favorite too. Great to get to know more about you through Grow Your Blog!

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    1. I was so impressed with the Disney entertainment and how the miles just seemed to fly by! I'll never forget the choir singing We Are The Champions as we turned the final corner. Chills! No other race has ever compared to that.

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  32. Fun post - it's great to get to know you better :) You have run a bunch of races - the half marathon is my fave too!

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    1. Thanks! I can't wait to get over this injury so I can add a few more halves to my resume!

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  33. That's cool, actually growing up being outside so much, appreciating life. I'm sure you learned a lot more about nature and the outdoors than a lot of us did!
    142 races, WOW! Major kudos on that! I too love the half marathon distance.

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    1. It's funny you mention learning about nature. My Mother taught us the names of all the trees and flowers. She liked to garden and passed that along.

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  34. I love(d)(?) Kathy Smith! I haven't kept track of all my races. but I'm sure I haven't done that many!

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    1. I didn't realize she is still around, but apparently she is. You should make a list!

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  35. Ok, GF, we are going to have to waterski together! Since you missed Chicago and all... :p

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    1. Come south in the late Spring or early Summer for a long weekend and we'll just ski our fannies off!

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  36. You've had a stellar running career since you picked it up, and you are super fast on top of that!
    I loved learning more about you, I was a tomboy growing up (still am a little I guess) and I love when I hear of others who had similar childhoods where we played outside and there were no problems coming up with new and fun things to do outdoors or with the other kids around. So awesome you had one like that! I always feel for kids now and the way too many video games and TV instead of fun outdoor activity.
    Your active youth is probably why you are still so active today!
    Oh and people still check out Kathy Smith DVD's at the library, I saw a few today LOL LOL
    FYI, love the creative song name section headers:) fun!

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    1. I need to find the video of Kathy Smith that I used to think was SO HARD. I would skip parts because I just couldn't do them. But I bet I could do the whole workout now!

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  37. Hello fellow blog hopper! I love that you're a big fan of the outdoors like me. And I love that your first half was a Disney race - mine was the Disney Princess Half last February!

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    1. I tried to get into Princess one year, but it was already sold out. That one really sounds fun!

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  38. Growing up in the rural south like that sounds incredible. We were also sent outside a lot - even in the dead of winter; I remember sitting at the skating rink with hot chocolate and shivering but so happy to be outside.
    I am also a fan of the 21K distance. I'm hoping to break my PR this year. You have done a load of them. Great job!

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    1. Good luck as your work toward that PR! I'd also like to PR in the half next year but I've got to focus on this healing thing. First things first.

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  39. Oh my gosh, your Southern stories sound just like my childhood! I actually enjoyed the snapping and shelling and shucking. :) Happy to read and learn more about you through the hop!

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    1. I didn't really mind the snapping and shelling part either! I wasn't too crazy about shucking corn though. All those silks! My Mother canned all of the veggies and fruits. That's something I never got into as an adult.

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  40. I love how you organized this post! Fun stories. I also was raised in the "go play outside" mentality in a small town. I spent a lot of time playing in the dirt and creeks, climbing trees, and skipping rocks! And so cool you met your husband at a Halloween party!

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    1. We didn't have good climbing trees that I remember. Oddly, that's something I didn't do much of. It sounds like something I should have been doing. LOL.

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  41. Creative post! Always great to learn more about someone. I too was a tomboy growing up! Nothing wrong with playing outdoors. I still love to too! :) And 142 races, awesome!!

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    1. Thanks, Sharon. I definitely was a tomboy. I think I had one doll when I was really little. A Betsy Wetsy. Doesn't that sound fun?

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  42. Love at first bite! ������. I'm glad you are nearing the end of your injury, it's tough not being able to get out there. But I love that you have found ways to supplement running!

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    1. I am too! It's been a long, long 8 weeks. I'll be happy to incorporate some real running miles in the next few weeks.

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  43. I love your strap line of 'Go Play Outside'! Sometimes running and being outside makes me feel like a child, just enjoying the moment and not worrying about anything else.
    I hope you are recovered enough for February!

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    1. You know, I just like being outside. I don't even have to do anything. One om My favorite spots is in my shady back porch swing. I'm worrying hard on my recovery.

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  44. 142 races? Wow! That's very impressive and inspirational.

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    1. Or just plain nutty to some people. But I truly appreciate your kind words.

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  45. You have a really impressive running career! 142 races is awesome! Do you like to travel for your races or are you more of a local race gal?

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    1. Both. I like to travel to new places and races but when well, you'll see me a lot on the local scene too.

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I enjoy reading your comments. Thanks for taking the time to leave one!