Surprise!

Surprise!!

Since none of my regulars read this anymore, I'm going to shock them with a new post. Hopefully they stumble upon this one day.

So let me sum up the last 5 months...

-fell in love (well that happened before May, but it gets better and better as the months go by)
-trained and ran a marathon (Chicago 09 baby!!)... set a PR
-trekked to Casper, WY for work every week .... siiiigh
-met my guy's entire family and they are awesome!
-attended one of my best friend's wedding
-saw U2 in concert (slightly disappointing, not gonna lie)
-attended Kelly's first movie and saw it on the Big Screen ... soooooo cool!

And the really important stuff:

-read a couple really good books
-watched a lot of trashy reality tv

Upcoming excitement:

-my guy is meeting some more family this weekend
-running the Malibu Half in 2 weeks
-heading to my high school 10 year reunion over Thanksgiving. OMG!
-attending ANOTHER best friend's wedding in December
-taking 2 full weeks off from work over the holidays. Its like a real Christmas high school style break!!

Thats all for now folks. Its kinda fun writing again. :)

Chicago Marathon... 10/12/09. 4:42


U2 Concert... Pasadena Rose Bowl (10/25/09)

This is easy

I'm sick and it sucks.

I guess the good thing... no travel this week!!! I'm hoping my couch and some good ole fashion RnR will do me good.

Ps... I'm trying to be smart and am taking a week off from the roads to heal up some aches and pains. Keep your fingers crossed!!!!

Casper the Ghost

Casper, Wyoming. WOW.

I love LA. Like, a lot.

Casper, Wyoming is this little town of 40,000 some people - living at 5400 feet elevation surrounded by snowtopped mountains and Walmart. Theres not really much else. Its a super mellow town, lots of big huge stores and a Kum & Go (which I still think is a hilarious name, but my mind typically wanders).

I'll be travelling there every week for the next 6 months or so (get out the tissue please). Getting there is crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrazy. Actually, getting home is that nutty part. We took this tiny little plane from Casper to Denver and you could feel EVERY little bump. I've never felt nautious on a plane and I've never almost hit my head from bouncing and jerking so much. At one point, I even said my prayers... and I have to do this next week and for the next 24 weeks. Thats alotta praying.

Anyway, on much more exciting news... I ran a 5K PR in Boston and threw up at the finishing line. HUUUGE!! And then I ran 4 miles through Newton during the Boston marathon, including Heartbreak Hill....soooooooooo fun. I love marathons and I love running. I'm sick!

Some of my favorites

I've been gathering a list of some of my favorites... just those little things that make me happy:

-Turning on my car with a full tank of gas
-Opening my fridge after I just went grocery shopping... so many choices!!
-A closet full of clothes, just after I did laundry
-A brand new pair of running socks!
-Eating a beautiful yellow banana...and really almost any fresh ripe fruit. MMMMM, good!
-Of course, watching a romantic comedy. HA!

HOW GREAT ARE THOSE?!

OOOOH, so I was hunted down the other night for saying I loved bad chic flicks after all... I DO love bad chic flicks, but ones like... The Wedding Planner, Save the Last Dance, Coyote Ugly. LOVE THEM. And I strongly dislike Kate Hudson flops. Poor girl... sometimes she picks amazing movies, sometimes... not so much.

Not much to say

Hi All... so again, its been awhile. Shocking!! I don't even really have much to say so this will be a really really really random blog. But here are some things that have been on my mind lately...

I really-really-really love romantic comedies. They make me happy and all warm and fuzzy inside. Even the bad ones... and I think I may even like the bad ones the MOST! Whats up with that? I've been forced (I'll be hunt down for saying that word - "forced") to watch more action movies lately (and horror and anything BUT romantic comedies) and I'm sorry to admit, but its just not as rewarding as my warm and fuzzy romantic chic flick movie affair I have going on. And the most ridiculous thing about it... my boyfriend WRITES romantic comedies and I have yet to get him on board. Side note: not entirely true, he watched "hes just not that into you" but that was a terrible movie and doesn't count. Ladies, go read the book. Its genius.

I Love Girl Scout Cookies. I've noticed I'm a particular fan of thin mints (frozen only please) and peanut butter pattys. YUMMMMMMM! But don't eeeeven try and bring them over or I'll wolf them down in one sitting. Yes, they're THAT deeeelish.

I really love trail running, but it makes me yearn for hiking... the views are breathtaking and it is beyond peaceful, but theres really not much peace in huffing and puffing your way up the mountain. I love it and I'm gonna keep running and mastering those trails, but I miss hiking. And I think I might even give camping another try. I just have to embrace camp fire hair!!!

Internet networking and socializing is crazy. I'm over myspace but I'm afraid of what I'll be missing if I take my profile down (I know, what you're saying, but yes, really!!). Facebook is fun when I need to procrastinate (which is really a daily, almost hourly thing) and Twitter... my latest obsession. I'm not quite on the Twitter bandwagon yet, but its just another internet something to waste time. Follow me peops...lksarah!!

And one last thing... I'm a team captain for the Revlon Run/Walk on May 9th and NONE of my friends have registered. Whats up with that? I know y'all love to be active, so go register - it'll be fun, I promise!!!!!! Go to: https://www.revlonrunwalk.com/la/ and use team number "390" to be on my team. Thanks. I love my supportive friends!!!

OK, thats enough rambling for now. Like I said... random!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm thinking Rambo

So a few months ago, I was out for a run with my running partner and he said he had a huge debate over who would win: Dutch vs. Rambo (and for my non action movie lovers - Dutch is from Predator and Rambo... well we all know Rambo). I FINALLY watched Predator the other night and got through about half of Rambo... and even so, I think Rambo would dominate. I might be a little biased because a certain someone in my life is a huuuuuuuuuuuuuge Rambo fan (kinda obsessed actually), but Dutch really didn't do it for me. Although... he did look pretty good compared to his current Governator days. And in general, I'm not really a Stallone fan, but my gut is just telling me to go Rambo on this one.

Anyway, this is the lamest blog ever... but I'm expecting a lengthy comment section from my Rambo loving boyfriend. :)

Morning sunshine

So like I said, I've been working crazy hours lately... but even with less then 6 hours of sleep under my belt (for how many nights now??), I still managed to wake up before 6am today and get a 7 mile trail run in. AND IT WAS WORTH IT! I've been fighting off a sore throat and swollen glands for awhile, so the cold air was a little rough on my lungs, but it was beuuutiful. I'll never get sick of the Santa Monica mountains, a sunrise over downtown and the water off in the distance. How do we live here!!???!?!??!?!?!


I definitely took my time for the first couple miles and the entire group sprinted by... but it was all good. An hour and 20 minutes later, the group was down at the bottom of the trail waiting for me so we could all hit up Peets for a some morning joe. Pretty embarrassing to come in last (just that much more training ahead of me!) but sucha a great gesture of teamwork as well.


Maybe the most magical thing of it all... Coach Jimmy gave me a recipe of a little witches brew for my cold. Hot water, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, fresh ginger and grapefruit seed extract. Umm, what? Its so spicy its burning the sore throat away. HA! I'll keep you posted... so far so good and my throat is feeling better then it has in over a week. Maybe Jimmy really does know what he's talking about.....?

I hear you!

Okay okay people... my blog has just been resting and is starting to wake up. HIIIII!! Good morning!! :)

I watched the Oscars last night at a great Oscar party... definitely a night for the books. I was THRILLED that Sean Penn won for Best Actor. I know all you Rourke fans are disappointed, but Penn killed it in Milk. I don't even know Penn's other work (I'm not really a follower as you can tell) but he was sooo convincing. Actually, I take that back - I saw 'I am Sam' and to compare the two... Penn is a crazy amazing actor. So ba bye Rourke!

And how funny was that cut to Angelina during Jennifer Aniston's presentation... loved that! Even the Oscars are perpetuating the rivalry. LOVED THAT! (and FYI: Aniston will always trump that homewrecker...)

On other exciting news... I'm heading to Park City for a little snowboarding trip with my girls this weekend. I've been working stuuupidly long hours and this is the big pot of gold at the end... fresh snow, a massage and girl talk - all weekend - sounds so amazing and refreshing.

Five Glorious Minutes

It was 5 blissful running free minutes... in other words, I ran a half marathon on Sunday in 2 hours and 11 minutes... 5 minutes faster then my last half marathon. HELL YA!!! A huge thanks to Coach Jimmy who completely shook up my training and got my legs (and mind) ready to race. When we started together, I was basically overtrained and my annoying aches and pains wouldn't clear up... now I'm happy to report I'm injury free. YA HOOOOO! It was actually kind of brutal... racing is HARD! But it was a huge accomplishment and I can't wait to see where this running thing is gonna go!!!

Some pictures for show n tell...

Pre run... with my friend Greg... paced me for 9:45s.


During... guess we're happy!

And the best running partner out there... I'm DEFINITELY happy!

Weekend News

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABBY! A huge shout out to my best friend who is celebrating her birthday today! Happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you!!! Y'all might have this kind of friendship... shes that friend who can make me laugh, cry and hold my hair back when I'm not feelin so hot. She's opened her home and heart to me. I'll never forget sitting up on the 8th floor at the UCSB library and we shared our life stories (all 18 years of it) with almost no introduction prior to chatting it up. And I knew our fate was sealed when we were sitting through Poli Sci 12 and she asked me, "what would you do if I just ran up to the stage and mooned the entire lecture hall??" THATS SO GABBY!!!! Shes the real deal... kind, loving, hilarious, goofy and a great friend. I hope she has a kick-ass birthday.

After celebrating tonight, I'm running a half marathon on Sunday and I'm sooo excited! I've been pretty nutsoid about my training this time around and I'm STOKED! If all goes as planned, I should be kickin some booty. I'm injury free and rested. HUGE! More details to come....

Some new love

I really don't know how it happened but I've had a total new appreciation for where I live. Its crazy! I think I live in the most amazing part of town!!! I've been spending some more time by the beach lately and the views have been INCREDIBLE! A couple days a week I'm out on the bluffs for a morning workout - we start in the dark and get to watch the sun light up the sky (as we're getting our abs worked to death!). And last night I saw a beauuuutiful sunset... every bright color was blasted in the sky. Kinda took my breath away.

And then the trails!! and the mountains!!! I actually just got back from checking out a trail I'm going to dominate tomorrow... I'm sosososo super excited. I'm actually giddy at the thought of going out for a long run in the morning... the views are going to be killer and I can't wait to try something new. And of course, I couldn't be more excited to kill it with my favorite running partner... (a total side note - for anyone who runs solo, running with a group or a friend or a boyfriend... AMAAAZING!)

Annnnyway.... I can't forget to mention, its 70 something out - short and a tshirt wearing weather in JANUARY! My friends back east can't even walk a block without hating life and I get to enjoy the beach and warm weather most of the year. Its pretty unreal.

What gets me up in the morning

I'm sitting here on a Sunday morning at 6:46am and dyyyying. I woke up about 45 minutes ago so I could run... and in all honesty, I'm pooped. I was lying in bed this morning and just asked why. Why in the world did I pick up running??

I picked up running because there is nothing better then the accomplishment of one more mile. I picked up running because I love how its just me - the crazy one - outside in all sorts of weather, on all sorts of paths, at weird hours of the day. I picked up running because I love the way I feel when I cross the finish line or how it gives me strength and courage to beat anything that is trying to keep me down. And I picked up running because there is something so thrilling and electrifying about it. Its really that simple.

I just finished my last gulp of water before my 13 miler. Its time to go!!!!!

New year, new times

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I've had an amazing start in '09 and couldn't be more thankful for all that life has brought me. I have an incredible set of friends that keep me happy and grounded. I guess I'm feeling a lil nostalgic right now, so bare with me while I take a look back....

I kicked off 08 with a bang... nothin like a little car accident to get the year started off in the right direction... it was just all a little test to see what I'm made of!! But not to worry, I passed with flying colors and I learned I have more inner strength then I ever knew possible. I then made my way to Atlanta for a year which was AMAAAZING... incredible professional opportunity that I thank my lucky stars for. My team ended up saving a safety net hospital from closing its doors. SWEET! How awesome is that?

In the midst of the crazy travel, I managed to run 2 half marathons and finished strong with a 2nd 26.2 under my belt. Not bad for being in 2 time zones every other day. THEN... not only did I move and shack up wherever I could find a place for 6 months, I FINALLY GOT MY OWN APARTMENT! I'll never forget standing in line with Kel for lunch in May and telling her that by the time I'm 28, I'm getting my own place. Done and Done. Love that I can check that off the to do list. (and with a month to spare!)

OOOOH. And Obama gets elected. How coooooool is that? Totally random and off the subject, but I just saw Milk the other day and it seriously amazes me how progressive we think we are, but maybe we're really not so much. It took how many years to get a non WASP in office (sorry, with the exception of Kennedy, but he's close enough)?? And the whole gay rights movement - which is clearly still far from being resolved - only made headway in the late 70s. Thats nothin! Maybe its that I live in California and we're as liberal as it gets, but its pretty reeeediculous how long it takes to get our country to see the light. (I'm never biased, I know)

Annnyway, back to the topic at hand. Thanksgiving. Something definitely felt different in the air. Atlanta was behind me, the move was underway and things just fell right into place. I had my family beside me and the turkey feast was delish. In all actuality, this holiday season has been nothing short of breathtaking.

I rang in the new year with my guy and my closest friends beside me. How perfect! And in 09, I've laughed more then ever, I scored a new running coach and feel excited - for the first time in a long time - for the year to come.

Bring it 2009!