This just blew my mind

Seriously. Fan-freaking-tastic cover of "Sour times" by the Civil Wars. Originally performed by Portishead.

Sour Times (Unplugged) - Music Videos - Live Performances

Enjoy,
Damaris

IL half marathon - a new PR!

So, you may remember that I began training for the IL half marathon back in January. Well, yesterday was the big day. The last time I ran a race was Spring 2010 (PA school has kept me way too busy to get the training in). My PR, or personal record, for the half marathon is 2:30:01. My goal for this race was just to beat that time.

I started running again back in January with my Vibram Komodo Sports. Then in February I bought myself a Garmin Forerunner 210 (amazingness). I did pretty well with sticking to my plan and felt really good about my training. I headed to the race expo on Friday afternoon with my husband and just wasn't that jazzed. The weather forecast was calling for 48 degrees with 20 mph winds and 30-40% chance of rain. This is not the kind of running whether that I consider optimal... to say the least. That, and the fact that I didn't see any of my running buddies at the expo, just had me feeling a bit "blah". Nevertheless, I set out all my gear and made sure I was in bed by 9pm. It took me a while to fall asleep, and then 4:30am arrived and my alarm was going off.

I suited up in my new CWX 3/4 Stabylx compression tights, lightweight Under Armor running jacket, and Vibrams, etc and made the drive up to Champaign. I hit some patches of rain, but then it died out. I stopped at the first group of porta-potties I saw and then met up with my running buddies. I was starting to get more excited at that point. It was pretty cold and I'm really glad I remembered my gloves!

The race started and I was feeling good. I finished my first 2 miles way under goal (9:40-9:50). I took a 1 minute walk break at 3.75 miles and then again at 6.5 miles. That's when I ate some energy beans too. We were winding through a park on a narrow path for most of miles 7 and 8. This is when I started getting tired and a had to take some short walk breaks. Mile 9 seemed to go on forever, but mile 11 was worse. At mile 12 I knew we were getting close to Memorial Stadium, where we would finish at the 50 yard line. At that point it was all about pushing myself mentally. I saw my friend Randy cheering me on right before the turn to enter the stadium and I gave my last kick of energy to finish strong.

I crossed the finish line at 2:22:00 and scored a new PR!!

Congrats to Jaymie (who also scored a new PR of 2:06), Paula, and Kathy for finishing strong. I hope to one day be like Kathy - she's 61 and finished the full marathon in 4:45. Pure amazing.

Here are some pics:

Happy, happy, happy!!

Jaymie's a rockstar and ran a 5k on Friday night and the half marathon on Saturday, so she got 2 medals. And she PR'd on BOTH RACES!!!

Randy and Jaymie. Unfortunately Randy pulled a muscle last weekend and was unable to run the half marathon.

Jaymie, Kathy and Randy

I hope everyone has a great weekend. Now I'm off to work on my master's paper and powerpoint. Ugh.

-Damaris

Here's some funny for your funny

this blog has me laughing every day. if you need some laughter in your life then click the link...
no seriously... click the damn link!
http://textfromdog.tumblr.com/

here's a sampling:








Go hit the damn link already!! Enjoy and have an awesome week. :)

It's my Birthday!!

Hey guys. It's my Birthday today!! This means I'm just a little closer to 30. This is actually my 29th - so my last year of the 20's and I have plans to make it a fantastical year. Lots of good stuff coming up. Namely... graduation in 104 days!!!!!

Anyways, I got some new shades this week and I went to dinner with the family last night. So, here are some pics. A few friends that I used to work with are all getting together today with our husbands and little ones (minus us, of course - we don't have any midgets yet), so that should be fun.

oh, and i got a mani pedi today too! 

Everyone have a fantastical day!!!