Schooled by a Two Year Old

I used to love playgrounds! Whenever I'd find a new one it was easy to transform it into my own little fantasy world of pirate ships and molten lava pits... don't act like you're not following. I could spent hours on the tire swing, merry go round, monkey bars and balance beam. I would go home after hours of playing, covered in dirt and not the least bit worn out.


So I was pretty pumped to take my 2 year old niece to the coolest playground on the island and revert back to the good ol' days when my biggest worry was how many times I could cross the monkey bars. But that feeling was stomped on pretty quickly. Do you know what happens to adults on tire swings?? They get nauseous. And even when my life depends on it to cross the monkey bars over the bubbling lava pit, I couldn't pull it off. My playground time was pretty much a failure. And everything I tried to do, my little niece did it ten times better.

When did I become such an old lady! It's sad. So tomorrow, I'm going back, and I'm not leaving until I cross the lava pit without committing a painful suicide. Here's to being a kid again!

Murphy Family Vacation

Arriving in Hilton Head is the most refreshing feeling I've ever felt. The smell of the salty ocean and mossy breeze, the whole fam being together, beach cruisers, riding through the forrest. It's my favorite place.

This is the view that I wake up to every morning. So far I've ran four times, eaten great fish, got a great pair of boots, seen two alligators, and have been to the beach none. I know, it sounds a bit off. There's been a nip in the air so we've been waiting for the right day. Today is gorgeous, today is beach day. We're heading up the the Harbor Town Bakery for coffee and banana nut pancakes, then it's off to flaunt our full bellies in the sand.

Next post will include pretty ocean and nature pics, until then here's my nutty family...

Make the most of everyday!

Not a virgin anymore

That's right! Last weekend was my first marathon. I registered for Columbus knowing that I was 8 weeks post-Ironman and that lightning fast legs aren't in the cards (not that they would be without the IM). None the less I need something to train for, so Columbus it was.

After my brother, Christopher, and I practiced our starts we all piled in the car and headed out on our loooooong (supposed to be three hour) drive. About an hour into the drive my brilliant father decided he needs to stop and eat (seriously?! You didn't think about this before we left?). So our sarcastically long drive turned into a real long drive.

Needed a good stretch and some fuel before continuing on the road ahead.

We finally made it to the expo... way later than necessary.

Made it through the crowds, got checked in, took a few stupid pics, and went to find food.

Stay with me, here's where I stop rambling. You see, my lil bro is a bomb runner. He's got these laser rocket legs that I just wasn't born with. He really is so naturally gifted... he's just not always the sharpest tool ;-)

Christopher has done one marathon prior to C-bus where he paced sub-3 for 21 miles before getting sick and having me walk him across the finish line over 4 hours later. My heart broke for him because I knew how hard he trained for that race and all he got out of it were ankles torn to shreds because he somehow thought it was a good idea to wear old cotton socks with the elastic worn out. They ended up under his feet and his shoes were literally filled with blood puddles.

This time around he figured out a solid nutrition plan and nailed his long runs. He even bought a new pair of socks just for this race (which, no joke, he couldn't find the night before the race. They eventually turned up).

It was race morning and Christopher had his game face on (clearly). It was frrreeeezing that morning, a balmy 2 degrees with 30mph winds (at least that's how it felt). Our sorry arses bumbled to the start line and decided to make a final pit stop. In the port-o-pots, we heard the gun go off. Probably not the best place to be for the start of the race.

I ended up crossing the start with the 5:30 pace group, and I had no idea where Christopher was. About three miles into the run, Christopher comes running by (with his sweatpants tied around his neck that he forgot to leave with my parents!). We had a quick chat, he tells me how frustrated he is with all the bottle necking and swerving, and wished me luck. Despite a less than ideal start, he looked great.

I'll be honest, I looked in every medical tent I passed to make sure I didn't have a bloodied brother curled up inside. I had already told myself that no matter how on pace I was, if he pulls another Chicago Mary I'm staying with him.

But fortunately, once he passed at mile 3 I didn't see him again until I ran down the finish chute and saw him cheering with the rest of the fam. He had his race, and a really fast one at that. This time around he wanted to race smarter, qualify for Boston, then train his arse off for April. His qualifying time is 3:10:59... and he ran a 3:11:42.

42 seconds! Can you believe it!? 42 teensy tiny seconds! He ran such a smart race and slowly worked his way back up to pace, and missed it by 42 silly ol' seconds. 3:11 is a huge PR for him, but it was hard to get excited when he was so, SO close. If only he wouldn't have stopped to pee, or what if he would've started on pace... It's so frustrating and it makes my heart ache.

But the bottom line is he raced his ass off. He nailed nutrition, he nailed his training, he wore socks with snug ankle holes. He knew exactly what he needed to run that last mile in and he left it all on the line.

"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed." ~ Michael Jordan

Christopher, you'll get your race.

And then to add salt to the wound, he got a broken medal (hence the half #1 finger).

Train on.

Cbus Update

Yesterday was my first marathon. I ran a 3:52. Before the race I thought I could pull off a sub-3:40 with my sad semi-training plan. But I was humbled.

I have never been so sore, stiff, or achy. Ironman is cherry pie compared to this. There were times when I had no control over my knees and they would start to buckle. Around mile 20 I felt like someone was stabbing my right bum over and over and it would send shooting pain down my leg. The race was humbling, exciting, and has left me wanting more.

I have some great pics, but no camera cord. So those will have to wait.

Congrats to everyone who showed this race who's boss! My lil bro totally dominated but I'll save his story for when I have my pics.

The rest of the day was a whirlwind. As soon as I finished, my family gathered me up and stuffed me in the car. We squeezed three people in the back and drove three hours home. When we got home my legs decided they had had enough abuse and stopped working. Thankfully my mom helped me out because after being home for only a half hour I was being dumped off at the airport. I flew to Chicago, tried to get off the plane, and literally had to peel my bum off the seat. My legs were useless and my hips were worse than the Tinman's. Finally I boarded my last flight of the night and made it to Appleton, WI, where I truly looked and felt disabled.

I just had the worlds best cinnamon apple waffles for breakfast and it's now time for a food coma. Good night.

Cbus Mary

So we landed in Columbus, went through the expo, and got checked in. Now the fam is sitting around the hotel waiting for the dinner bell.

We're set to start at 7:30a tomorrow and my twitter will automatically be updating when I cross over the timing mats (pretty cool!). The weather should be pretty cool, but Ken Combs hooked me up with some sweet gear to run in. Because let's be honest, more important than pacing and nutrition is how cool your get-up is.

Good luck to everyone running both Cbus and L'ville! Here's to fast legs and fun times!!

Big Island

I didn't think I wanted it, and I didn't think it would hurt this bad (get you minds out of the gutter!). Kona has come and gone and whenever I think about the race I feel as if I'm being punched in the chest. Last year I didn't get this feeling. But this year it's different. This year all my friends are there, swimming in my favorite place in the entire universe, telling me all about the heat, the ripped up bodies! It really, truly hurts to think about.

I so badly want to shake everyone that was there who says they're disappointed with their performance!! Oh bologna!! I would have given a kidney to be there and you're complaining that your sock was on funny. There was a double above the knee amputee out there looking Pele right in her eyes. Amazing feats are accomplished out there, and to be a part of it is no small achievement. Get over yourself and embrace how hard you've worked and how far you've come, because this opportunity is not one that's just handed out.

Congrats to all of my dear friends and training partners. Two ironmans in six weeks, enough said. Train on.

In my head

Saturday's run was one of the most enjoyable runs I've been on all year. I teamed up with Mighty Mouse Kelli Miller, who doesn't know the words 'quit' or 'back-off', for a 16 miler. The goals for the run were to stay in the moment and hold a steady pace. Here's a recap of the day...

Hi Kelli!!, start the watch, feels fast, too dark to see my pace, 1 mile beep marker, Larry's already done 15 and still going, legs are heavy, ouch first hill, dang it's a pretty morning, warming up and feeling better, my stomach hurts, Hi Larry!!, he's flying at mile 20, sweet a gas station let's stop, no bathrooms! what a joke, I love that Kelli's doing all the talking, stay focused, strong up the hill, you're breathing way too hard, savior! gas station numbero 2 and it's open, I'll be right back, ahh much better, flat roads from here, this is hard, mile 5 beep marker, good idea let's run to Indiana, downhill, weeee, damn tree limbs, back in the rhythm, Uncle Pete!!, stop the watch for a hug, back on our way, downtown smells funny, it's too sunny I can't see anything, stay strong, stay focused, I see the bridge!, not so bad, that river has a whole new meaning, hellooooo Indiana!, man what a gorgeous day, mile 8 beep marker, Holla!! Half Way done, one more hour, you can do anything for one more hour!, my stomach hurts, hmmm, no wonder it was so easy to cross over the bridge, we have a huge headwind heading back in to Louisville, this is hard, Yes! I'd love to stop at the Marriott for water, mmm breakfast smells good, on our way back, I'm hungry and my legs are heavy, get your rhythm, stay focused, you're doing great, dang! downtown really smells funky, almost back to Grinstead, where did this huge hill come from, hold your form, will it ever end, ahh! made it to the top, Grinstead!, feeling great, ohh, not so great, hold it together, water break, 3 more miles, you can do anything for a little 5k, made it to the parks, stay focused, it hurts, out of Cherokee, just two more little hills, running strong, it's such a beautiful day, I wish I would have brought my sunnies, OK, I'm going to die now, I feel like my knees will buckle soon, we'll stop for Kelli's gloves she dropped, just make it to the gloves, just make it to the gloves, ouch this hill sucks, strong to the top, I said STRONG to the top, you aren't a power walker move your arse!, Done! now where are her gloves, gloves!! quick walk break, so much for a walk break, go catch Kelli, last 1.25 miles, I can do anything for 1.25 miles, don't slow down!, it hurts, my legs are slowing down, dig deeper!!, Heeyy! Thank goodness you honked at me, I needed to snap back into it, last mile, I hate this climb back to the park, hold your pace, last mile, woooow, you're way off pace, move your ass girl!, this hill is the worst, I'm going to faceplant and everyone will see me, stay focused, hold your form, your back on pace, David!!! Hi!!, wow, he totally picked me up, made it to the overpass!!, Holla!! So close to being home free!, go go goooo, .2 miles left, I can't breathe, sprint!!, .1 mile left, faster, faster!!, 16.00, stop and walk, ahhhh, such relief, Dunzo!

Thanks Kelli, you kicked my arse!