Sunday, November 29, 2009

What a crazy past couple of days!!! I'm ready for rest!

There are so many things that I have done since my last blog, I don't even know where to start! First of all, Wednesday night we had Thanksgiving dinner with my family...Thursday morning...ran 10K Montclair run. I was hurting but finished in 1:01 and Nick was right behind me at 1:04!!! After waiting for our friends, Lauren and Phillip (they walked...and came in AFTER the kid's FUN RUN!)...we rushed home made homemade mac and cheese and this amazing dip I got from Michelle! It was a cream cheese cranberry dip...VERY GOOD and EASY!

I had to take this picture of Cody hanging out of Nick's backseat of his '67 Mustang...it's classic Cody!!!

After Round 2 of meals, we hung out with the family for a bit...run home to take nap...then meat them and see The Blind Side. IT WAS AMAZING!!! I'm telling anyone who wants to see a truly happy story...GO SEE IT! I had no idea what to expect, and I thought we were just watching a football movie...but it is SO MUCH MORE!
Friday- we all woke up bright and early to take Cody to my parents house...run to PetSmart to get him food and stocking stuffers...then meet the Miles' family at 7:30! Auburn played their heart out, and it was definately a great game!!! We came back home that night.
Yesterday, I went to work...then went back to the Miles' household to celebrate his sister's 23rd Birthday!!! Came home...slept...dreaded to wake up and run 7 miles in morning...
Sunday-woke up and met Misty and Christie for our run...can I just say that I am a little exhausted!!!

Don't forget to visit our fundraising website: www.firstgiving.com/ellenmiles

Sunday, November 22, 2009

ahhhh...another Rest day after 7 miles!!!







I am really beginning to love my rest days again! We ran 7.2 miles yesterday morning! It was an awesome run! I tried to keep up with Misty and Christie...but wow am I tired! After work yesterday, I went to my sister's to eat dinner with them and my two nephews!!! I had soooo much fun seeing Parker and Charlie...I picked up Charlie last night and said "Oh my gosh" and he says "Oh my gosh!!!" It was the funniest thing I heard...and of course we left something Cody's bowl...so that just means that I got EXTRA time to play with them again this morning. This is one of the pictures that I took:

After that, Cody and I went on a walk...he is getting sooooo big! Whenever there is humidity, he ears crimp up like we used an '80s crimper!!!














We were walking and this is a picture of a new neighborhood (right behind our house) of their common area! How nice is this...the fire pit, pond, chimney...seriously!

Friday, November 20, 2009

What an AMAZING REST DAY!

Ok...so I got a little more than what I bargained for...I went shopping, got new shoes, shirts, iPhone (YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY), pink iPhone cover (yay x2), stole Nick's massage (legitimately, it "technically" could still be mine since I gave it to him in JANUARY!!!)...THIS HAD TO BE THE BEST REST/OFF WORK DAY IN AT LEAST A YEAR!!! I really don't know what is up with me, but I felt like having a "me" day...oh...almost forgot to say that I even got new eyeshadow!!! (double wamm)...now that I have my new iphone...I am soooo stoked...I mean that I can actually add video! I will have to update phone soon so you can see video of Parker and Charlie in their new Santa hats! sooooooooooooooooooooooo cute!!!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Tomorrow is rest day!


Today was a jammed pack day for my off day! Cody and I started by going to the bank (one of his favorite things). This morning I got ready and went to meet Isabelle and Amanda at Homewood Park today...we strolled around with Isabelle telling "Co-deee come here!"...After that, we all strolled and got some food, then I got a rigged up iPhone and went to the Junior League Market! I got tons of X-mas presents for the family!!! After that, Nick and I met up with Danny (our coach) to do our group run! It was only four miles, but there was a BIG hill at the end! Can't wait for my walk with Rebecca and Raughley tomorrow! Nick and I are watching the new Star Trek (yay!!!) right now with iced up knees!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

3 miles...ready for my rest day on Friday!


I stole this from Isabelle's blog...its just too cute! Nick and I ran tonight and it is starting to get chilly!!! We ran our three and have our group run tomorrow night, but I'm telling you...I am ready for my rest day! Tomorrow I have a big day...meet Isabelle and Amanda with Cody at park, go to The Market, see my sis and nephews, group run, etc...this daylight savings is killing me! I hate it getting dark so early!

Don't you want to just eat him up!!!


I meant to add this onto my blog this past weekend, but I am having some iPhone technical problems...like, it did not help that I dropped it in a cosmopolitan and it's been in repair since Halloween weekend. Well, I did have my prescious iPhone for a total of ONE day last week...and I was able to snap a couple pics of Michelle's baby, Gates! I mean how cute is he!!! By the way, he is the best baby. He is welcome to stay at my house anytime :)
As for running, I was too lazy to get up this morning, but Nick and I have 3 miles to run after work. 3 miles actually doesn't sound bad after doing 5 and 6. I can't believe we are jumping up to 7 on Saturday!!! I am so honored to say that we have already received $639.30 on our fundraising website (w/in the past 12 hours!) I have even made it easier for all of you, and you can just click to the right and donate right on my blog! I know baby Gates will be cheering us on all the way from ATL!!!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

For the record, I am not a morning person!

You might be asking why would I make my title this...well that is where training for the Mercedes comes in! Since Nick and I are running for Isabelle, that means we have group runs 3 days a week!!! Tuesday mornings just happened to be our SUNRISE run (at 5:30 AM!!!)...anyone who knows me, knows NOT to talk to me for the first hour of me waking up...at least until I get some Diet Coke in my system. Well, I am working on turning over a new leaf! We ran 5 miles this morning, but I am not going to lie...as soon as I got home...I went BACK TO SLEEP! Today was a very exciting day for me because I was able to set up our fundraising website for The Bell Center. As many of you might know by now, we are running in honor of our little friend, Isabelle! She is my inspiration on why I run at 5:30!!! Our target goal from The Bell Center was $2,620 but I stepped it up a notch...and made our goal $5,000! All of the money goes directly to this wonderful nonprofit organization. I will be keeping you updates as we progress with training and of course just keep you updated with my crazy life. Please visit http://firstgiving.org/ellenmiles to donate and learn more about The Bell Center. Also, if you want to keep updated with Miss Isabelle, feel free to visit her mom's blog
I look forward to keeping you updated...on a side note...as I am still a relatively new wife and I just had to show you a picture of my very first homemade chicken potpie picture...it came out wonderful...very easy recipe if you are interested, let me know!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

What a great weekend!


Wow...I couldn't have wished for a better weekend for my vacation days! It was beautiful weather, had Michelle, baby Gates, and Chrissy come in town!!! Friday night, let's just say we all (plus Whit) went and ate A LOT of cheese dip...but who can really resist cheese dip from La Paz??? Yesterday was our first group run!!! Chrissy even got up and decided to hit the roads of B'ham with Nick and myself...wow, was I EXCITED to see Nick finish 6 miles!!! This was his VERY FIRST time to run SIX MILES!!!! It was a fulfilled day, with having celebratory drinks at On Tap with the group, and then went to Momma G's to get some sandwiches and ENJOY A SATURDAY OFF!!!! I'm not going to lie, I was exhausted all day yesterday so I was just lazy for the rest of the afternoon and evening. This morning, when I woke up...I told Nick we had to go to The Original Pancake House for breakfast. I'm not going to lie, this was probably my first Sunday off...I can't even remember when the last time was! Anyway, we had a busy day ahead of us. Today was going to be our first day to meet Isabelle with her mom and grandmom!!! In case you missed it, Nick and I are running in honor of Isabelle for The Bell Center in the Mercedes Marathon on Valentine's Day. I will keep you posted once I get our website up and going to learn more!!! I bought a couple of Elmo books yesterday, because I did know that Elmo is one of her favorites!!! Isabelle is 2 years old with Larsen's Syndrome. She is wearing a halo around her head (we're hoping to get it off next month). She had such an amazing spirit and was all about seeing what Cody was up to! Cody loved giving Isabelle lots of kisses! We can't wait to raise money for The Bell Center...just look at her...how can you resist her precious face!!!

Friday, November 13, 2009

I love my walks with Rebecca, Raughley, and Cody


I have had this amazing friend, Rebecca...FOREVER! We used to run and walk all throughout highschool...times never changed with us...this is her adorable son, Raughley, trying to get out of the stroller to play with Cody! It's so nice to actually get to take a WALK every once in a while with all of the training! I feel like we are back in jr. high again everytime we get together!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Nick ran 5 miles with me today!

This is huge! Nick leaped from 3.5 to 5 today (we did walk a little...not just because he needed it...but I did too!). Anyway, I feel much better about him running 6 miles on Saturday (and me too), but it will be our first time with the group together! We have decided to become Partners in Training (PIT), so that means we have to raise $100 per mile for each of us (total $200) so we can sponsor a child at The Bell Center!!!

This is how the Mercedes Marathon started...it is an amazing story!

A Marathon of Love

It’s really a love story. The Mercedes Marathon, a test of endurance and determination, a goal that drives ordinary people to train for months, is really just a love story.A Marathon For Love

It’s a love story between a boy named Matt and his daddy named Paul.

Matt was born with Down syndrome thirteen years ago. But not only did he have Down syndrome, he also had the heart defect that often accompanies the diagnosis. A sick little boy, Matt required open heart surgery, and the whole idea frightened his parents, Paul and Cinna Sotherland.

Cinna vividly remembers being at UAB with Matt and Paul just before Matt was to have his open heart surgery. The family was standing at one of the big windows at the end of the hallway that looked out over the streets of downtown. Runners, competing in the Vulcan Marathon, were racing by, and Paul – who ran a little, just for exercise – looked down at his tiny son and made one promise. “You pull through this, Matt, and next year, Daddy will run a marathon for you,” Paul pledged.

Tough little Matt kept his end of the bargain, and Daddy began training. Together they tackled the challenges ahead: Matt’s challenges that come as a part of the Down syndrome diagnosis, and Paul’s determination to run 26.2 miles in honor of the son he so loves. During his training, Paul looked for guidance and motivation, and even good running shoes, from Valerie McLean, the owner of a Homewood running equipment shop. Paul did run the Vulcan Marathon the next year, and then kept on running, completing nineteen marathons and half marathons too numerous to count. But it was really Valerie who took the inspiration from Paul and Matt.

She helped organize a half-marathon to benefit The Early Intervention Program (now The Bell Center), the place where Cinna and Paul brought Matt to receive critical therapies, and over the next five years, the Freeze Your Half Off Half Marathon grew into a first-class event. Valerie knew it was time to take the event to a greater level, and in 2002 transformed the Freeze Your Half Off into the Mercedes Marathon and Half Marathon. Proceeds from the event are given annually to just two charities that provide services to children, one of which is The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs.

In 2003, The Bell Center organized its first Partners in Training (PIT) group which provided experienced coaching for runners and walkers who agreed to raise funds for The Bell Center. In its first year, PIT included 45 runners and walkers who raised more than $80,000 for The Bell Center. In 2004 and then again in 2005, more than 120 participants raised more than $200,000 for the Center, important funding which has allowed the program to add more staff to serve more children who come to the Center in need of critical early intervention therapies.

All of that is important, but it really is just a love story. Just watch. Each year, Paul runs – for Matt – and each year, they’re together at the finish line.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Rain rain...go away!

Have I mentioned that I hate it raining? I am just looking outside my window and I think to myself, is it ever going to stop? How on earth am I going to be able to train when it's raining in the mornings and dark by the time I get home from work? I don't have a gym membership so outside is the only way I can do it! Also, I am not a person who is able to run on the treadmill...so I only have one option! I've been thinking about this whole half marathon thing, and I am trying to decide what my time will be in the race. My Nashville half marathon was 2:20:51 which beat my goal of 2:25, but this time I need to step it up a notch...but the way my training is going, I'll be lucky to make it 2:25. Next week is my first official week to get into it...I'll be training with a group! The first time was completely by myself, so I think it will be fun running with a group. I don't know, if you're a runner tell me what you think...do you like running alone or with a group? I would love to get some feedback!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Well I'm officially back running

After I had a couple of days feeling bad, I realized I really started to train more for the 1/2 marathon I've got coming up in a couple of months! Yesterday, I decided to do the 5.5 mile run like I did earlier on in the week. If any of you know Birmingham, it's the "Village Run" I like to call it...you run through English Village, Crestline, and then end up in Mountain Brook Village! Well...this time didn't go as planned. I was just starting off and I think I sprained my ankle! It is swollen and starting to bruise today! That stinks because I really wanted to run the Vulcan 10K this weekend!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

I feel like crap...


(Cody sleeping in back of Nick's truck on the way to Auburn)

Of course I had a VERY eventful day...woke up and ran 5.5 miles at 5:30, but y'all don't understand...I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON. It was actually soooo much fun! I ran into at least six people that I knew. Nick and I have decided to run the Mercedes Half Marathon!!! I can't believe it will be my second one to run! Just last week, I was cursing at myself for quitting running because it was like I had to start FROM SCRATCH!!! My secret confession is also that I was bought (THREE Designer Jeans that are two sizes too small last winter)...so I have major motivation. I knew I had to take the chance if Nick was even considering doing a half. I am so excited to finally get a little motivation back...that is until I started to feel like crap last night. I already got ourselves two z-packs. I can't afford to go back to work sick and knock me out of my routine.
I had to also post some adorable picks of my two nephews, the Bumble Bee and Pumpkin:

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