The best advice I've ever been given

I've been given a lot of advice in my life. Especially when it came to college choices (let me take this moment to give a big "Go vols!" for their win in the NCAA tournament!! It's Tennessweet 16!), ministry, and heaven help, when you start having children. (That's one part of pregnancy that I was NOT prepared for! So far, the second baby seems to come with less unsolicited advice.)

As many pieces of advice have been invaluable, there are three different things that have been said to me that I echo in my mind often and always bring me to a place of reality. (And they came from 3 of my favorite women!)

1. You can't argue with crazy; crazy always wins - Melissa Dorsey

Any time I have gotten myself all bent out of shape and think of "what I'm going to say...", I'm always reminded of this especially when I'm reading things on social media that people are obviously feeling strongly about and other people start to argue with them and by the end of 259 comments, people are cussing, calling names and getting tons of "likes" for an extra-cutting remark. The argument ends and nothing is solved except that a relationship has ended and two parties have labeled the other as "hateful". 

Or maybe it is a person that suddenly gives you a piece of their mind and you have NO idea where their accusations have come from. This is where Lee's quote, "perception is reality" comes to play. How someone perceives a situation is what they think is true. And they're not gonna change their minds. I've also found that the crazy comes out in me the fastest when I let the crazy in my head. So, don't argue with crazy; crazy always wins. (And thanks to y'all that have put up with me when I've been the crazy.)

2. Don't go to the doctor if you have zero intention of taking their orders. - Meg Ashby

Second opinions may occasionally be sought after, but if I'm going to go to the doctor, sit in the waiting room for an hour, get an exam, and pay my co-pay, I'm going to take what the doctor says as some type of seriousness. People make a career doing what they do because they know something about it. And if I know all there is to know, why would I go ask? If I want opinions about running, and am faced with a professional runner or an ice skater, I'm going to listen to the one that has studied the races, tried out lots pacing techniques, has run thousands of miles, and thinks about running all the time.

I have zero medical training (okay, a few nuggets of audiology training that can help with ear problems, but that doesn't really count as being a "medical professional".) Some of the worst news from the doctors I've gotten was the bed rest diagnosis (I've been blessed with great health), but knowing that my doctor went to school for many many years to know what's best for mommas and babies, I listened, and I was able to keep that baby cooking for a bit longer. And paid my copay. 

3. Your #1 goal as a mother is to raise and teach your children how to be independent adults. -Jeanne Lowe

As a mother, I have found that there are multiple things that would just be easier if I did it myself. But, I think back to the things I was taught to do as a child that made a transition to adulthood so much easier. (Helping with laundry, learning how to cook, setting the table, etc.) Not only did I learn basic tasks, I also learned that the world and the people in it, didn't revolve around me, but that I was a small part of a greater world and I had to contribute to do my share. People were counting on me (both as a kid and as an adult) to do my job and if I did my part, everything worked more smoothly and the stress was alleviated.

I have also found this very helpful when it comes to emotional milestones. With Nina, there have been days where I want to hold on to the days of the past, and I remind myself that The Lord has given me this opportunity to raise up children that will love Him, will love his creations, and will come to learn and embrace their personal gifts. That's my job: to disciple, teach, and encourage. When she moves out of our house, hopefully she will know many basic tasks that she can pass on to her children. (The kid has already asked how long she has to wait until she can use the stove.)

The thing I am most grateful for is that these women pour their lives and wisdom into my life and the lives of others. 

And I'm so glad they're never the crazy. 

Fly to the Desert for Fun in Las Vegas

As I mentioned in my last post, I was pairing with Kendra to do her favorite travel spot. Here she is! 

Fly to the Desert for Fun in Las Vegas

 

Despite its reputation as Sin City, Las Vegas has a broad selection of things to do. Sometimes, I bring the kids along and enjoy family shows and activities. Other times, I go on business but take the time to hit a spa or a couple of great bars. Whatever brings you to Las Vegas; there will be plenty to keep you occupied throughout your stay.

 

1. The Spa at Aria Las Vegas

Although Vegas boast’s several quality spas, my favorite is the spa at Aria Las Vegas. This spacious resort is the perfect place to get away from the bustle of city life. As soon as I step inside, I feel the stress begin to melt away. Of course, lying on the warm stones of the Ganbanyoku beds takes the relaxation even farther. This spa also features a wide variety of massages and treatment options.

 

2. Wining and Dining

There are thousands of places to eat or grab a drink in Las Vegas. My favorite pairing involves a juicy steak and red wine. As a special treat, watch the water show from a table at SW Steakhouse. Scotch lovers will enjoy selections at Tom Colucchio’s Craftsteak. Affordable prices and delicious Italian food are always available at Fiamma Trattoria.

 

3. Mandalay Bay

It isn’t difficult to forget that Las Vegas is located in the desert. At Mandalay Bay, you can enjoy the water and relax on a sandy beach. The lazy river is a favorite attraction of mine. Kids love the wave pool. This is definitely my idea of a great place to spend a vacation.

 

4. Cirque du Soleil’s O

Of course, you can’t come to Las Vegas and not see a show. I love Cirque du Soliel. Their show O is staged using a 1.5-million-gallon pool. The water moves as the pool changes shape throughout the performance. The stunts and various characters leave the audience begging for more.

 

I hope I’ve inspired you to book your own trip to Las Vegas. The city certainly offers a large variety of hotels that cater to any family’s needs. Sites like Gogobot make it easy to read user reviews and find some cool tips and tricks. No two trips here are alike, so I’m sure you’ll find some of your own favorite things to share with others. I bet you’ll enjoy yourself so much that you plan a second trip as soon as possible.

 

I'm leaving on a jet plane...

Okay... we're not really. I was asked by Kendra to write a blog about my favorite place I've ever traveled. I've done a decent amount of traveling in my day, so picking a spot was the toughest part. I began to consider my favorite trips:

- Multiple family vacations to Myrtle Beach, SC. (or as we call it here in WV, "The Beach") This would include lots of time with the clan, and tons of fun with Nina (even though she much prefers the pool to the ocean or sand). We're creatures of habit and comfort, therefore "the beach" is always a winner.

- Several trips to Walt Disney World with my 2 favorite times being in 2004 when all 4 Lowes were adults and had an "adult" Disney trip. (All very relative, knowing we still rode as many rides as possible) and in 2009 with just me and Lee as we laid around the pool and decided that it was time to add children to our family (Nina was born 13 months later).

- Several super fun trips to visit Lee's sister and BIL in D.C. (Bless their hearts, they're our permanent tour guides. And cupcake guides. I don't think they mind that part.)

- A few trips to visit my Auntie. (both in Seattle and Brussels) I haven't taken Lee to Seattle yet, mostly bc I know we would be moving there before our return flight. That city is his spirit animal. Or city. Whatever.
- And a family trip this past summer to watch my childhood "little sister" get married in Alaska. Such a beautiful state. If only it wan't so blasted far away! 

I decided to focus it on mine and Lee's weekend getaway spot, Stonewall Resort.

When Lee and I were engaged, we read a ton of books and our amazing friends, JD and Rhonda, met with us regularly to help walk us through marriage to help us think past the bells and butterflies and discuss conflict, finances, children... And we always found some food, too. One of the things we discussed was the need to keep romancing each other after diaper changes were more frequent than weather changes in WV in March.  

I nursed Nina for 13 months, therefore never spent the night away from her. As Lee's 30th birthday approached, we decided we would go away, the two of us, to celebrate. After much apprehension, we left Nina with Grami and drove an hour and fifteen minutes north to this local resort that friends had raved about. 

As we drove in, we found an incredible lodge and we were immediately in love. We checked in, went to have burgers at TJ Muskies that has fireplaces and a cozy environment. We fell in love with their Fripps and Dip (They're not fries and they're not chips. But they ARE addicting and amazing.) and the Smokehouse Burger. (Bacon, smoked Gouda, BBQ sauce, French fries onions. Yum!)

They have an outdoor, lake front fire pit and often have s'mores supplies handy and Adirondack chairs set up. They have an indoor/outdoor heated pool. With hot tubs both indoor and outdoor. There are maps of all kinds of trails, a campground, and a super nice golf course. ("Super nice" is how those of us who always come in last in put-put describe courses that bring people in based on the course alone.) Lee and I love early morning running there.

In the mornings, their breakfast buffet at Stillwater's is top notch. Be sure you don't miss their homemade granola. You will thank me. 

The beds are comfortable and rates are affordable. The spa is top of the line. We've had a couple's massage, a facial, pedicures...  Love it. 

We love that it's so close by and we can make quick, one-night trips. (Very important when you're married to a pastor and Sunday is a work day.) We also love that it's a spot that has everything you need without leaving the property. 

My favorite part is that it has become our weekend date place. We both chose to celebrate our 30th birthdays there and went there for a reset getaway this past fall. It has been the place where we're reminded that before we were "mom and dad" we were "Carmen and Lee". It feels like a quick, mini-honeymoon fully equipped with beautiful views, awesome food, and tons of togetherness. Stonewall is where we fall in love again every time we go.

(Mushy post over.)

Big Boso News and A Race Recap

The title of this post has two parts, but the context of them is intertwined. Yesterday, we saw the most beautiful thing: a tiny baby with a strong 120bpm heart beat! We're 7 weeks and 1 day along and, while it's still early, a strong heartbeat is such a good sign that this one may be a keeper! (I totally ugly face cried during my ultrasound because we were so excited!)

Our doctor asked us to take a few months off after the miscarriage and D and C to let my body and our hearts recover. As part of the recovery, Lee, Melissa, and I decided to run the Myrtle Beach half-marathon. The race was at the end of our "wait" period and a few weeks after the one year anniversary of Julia's passing. It was the perfect goal for all of us. We registered and trained and were ready. With a few weeks of training left, our wait time was up and we realized that, if God agreed with the timing, I would be 6 weeks pregnant when the start gun went off. The doctor promised us that would be fine and happy training! 

Since I always know just a few days in that I'm pregnant, I had a few weeks of pregnant running before the race. I was conscious to keep my pace slow, drink lots of water and take fuel, and made sure I stayed close to town to be close to bathrooms (thanks to my in-laws for being my potty stop). The week of the race, my pace was comfortably around the 9:30 mark, right where I needed it to be to make my goal time at race day. 

The day before we were scheduled to leave, we got hit by a huge snow storm that dumped well over a foot of snow in a day. We had to change our reservations and drive in the snow to get to Myrtle. After lots of traffic, we got to the expo at 7:30, got our bibs, met Melissa's guide runner, got some pizza and tried to get to bed. It was late, we were afraid of oversleeping, and we had the usual pre-race jitters, so sleep was little and far between. 

We woke up 30 minutes before our alarm and decided to get up. As per my usual pregnancy, not enough sleep equals nausea. Bad, intense nausea. I tried to eat and could barely choke down my breakfast. We got ready, opened the door and saw a monsoon. (There are no rain checks in running) We drove to the race, met up with Carl (the guide runner. And our new favorite person), let Melissa use her first ever porta-potty, and waited to start. I assured Lee that he didn't have to stay with me and that I had my phone and would be fine. 

We took off and my watch was set to stick to my 4:1 run walk program and I was quickly reminded of the blogs and articles I've been reading about pregnant running in the first trimester: the hardest part is breathing. From the start, I couldn't run for more than 2 minutes at a time. I had to pee at mile 2, but there were no bathrooms set up until mile 5 (where I had to wait in line for 10 minutes to use). My nausea won 10x during the race. I was miserable. I would NOT quit.

I saw a time clock around mile 9 and realized that Lee should be done and I was not going to be anywhere near my projected finish time. I pulled out my phone to text Lee knowing he would be really worried if he didn't see me when I told him he should. He encouraged me to keep going. My back was throbbing. Around mile 12, I couldn't choke back the tears anymore. (I had already choked back too much vomit. Gross. I know. No one said running was a pretty sport) However, not being able to breathe + crying + running for over 2 1/2 hours = hyperventilation. I had to stop and calm down to get what breath I had, back. Lee contined to check on me and it made me feel more secure. I crossed the finish line 40 minutes past my projected finish. 

I was so relieved to be done and in so much pain, I immediately sat down and sobbed. And hyperventilated again. Photographers kept trying to take my picture, and I kept saying, through my sobs "No thank you." (Manners are always important) I finally got to Lee and felt so relieved. He got me food, water, and chocolate milk and sat me down and went to get Melissa after she crossed. When she got to me, she was all smiles. I was so proud of her. 

(Liss and our Carl. We love him.)

Then she noticed I had blue lips. (The rain quit around mile 2, then we had 20 mph winds. Lee compared it to the scenes on The Biggest Loser where they run on the treadmill with a resistance band around their waist)
We got to the car and got back to the hotel to get warm and clean. 

(We took a picture of us smiling, but Brad didn't capture it. But, this is the best look as to how I really felt)

After resting and refueling, we were back to having fun. Dinner, doughnuts, and hanging out then back to the snowy WV early the next morning. 

(Nina tried her best to spur Elliot on toward potty training. To no avail. )

It was a decent race. Not enough potties (that may have been a pregnant problem) and almost no spectators. Placements were based on gun time rather than chip time, and fuel wasn't easily accessible. But the course was easy to follow and flat. I don't think I'll run a half marathon while pregnant again. 

This conversation happened with some girlfriends: 

We are so excited about this beating bean and so grateful God saw fit to bless us again. 

The morning after the race, we watched a beautiful sunrise over the ocean was such a promise from The Lord that new beginnings are new every morning. 

Morning by morning, new mercies I see. 

I've never been so excited to be nauseous and for a medal to be around my neck and a race be over. 

Onions

Yes. This post will be as fascinating as the title sounds. Many personalities are described like onions: "You have to peel back the layers to see what you're really getting." Anyone who knows me, knows this is definitely not true of me. I'm kind of like... grapes. I may be sweet at times, may be sour at times, may even have wrinkles spots, but you know exactly what you're getting into at first glance.

Anyway, as I have stated before, we try to save money a lot. I also really like to cook. I recently discovered that I wasn't being frugal, green, or like the culinary genius that I'm not, and I have been buying frozen onions that are prediced. 

I know it's sad. But, I never completely learned how to quickly dice an onion without crying all of my mascara off and reeking of onion. (Which, with being a high school teacher, always makes me wonder if it's onions or if I really have body odor)

So, I do what the Boso family always does when curious about how to do something: go to YouTube! (Seriously how Lee learned to tie a bow tie) I immediately went and bought a bag of onions and put my new knowledge to work. I was amazed at how quick, easy, non-teary, and un-stinky the whole process was. Also, HOW MUCH CHEAPER it is. After a few nights of practice, I literally stayed awake for a while (after I turned off House Hunters International. Oh, snow days. You've ruined my sleep schedule.) thinking about how much I love cutting onions. And folding fitted sheets. My brain is a very exciting place to be, I tell ya. 

Apparently the tears are triggered when the root is cut off. So, here is the technique I learned (and if you've known this for years and are thinking, "She is so lame." you are so right.)

Get an onion and a sharp knife. Preferably the santoku style

Cut the onion in half from root to stem

Cut off the stem and peel the onion and lay half cut side down on a cutting board

Put the palm of your hand on the onion and cut horizontally through the onion about 3/4 of the way. If it's a small to medium size, do 1 cut. If it's a really big one, cut in thirds. 

Now, take your knife and make many vertical cuts down with the knife around ge same plan as where your horizontal cut stopped. 

Now, cut across the vertical cuts and repeat the steps with the other half. 

You will have an onion diced to the fineness you want and it will be done super quickly!

And if you think about it enough, maybe your Nannie will give you your favorite thing from her kitchen from your childhood. 

(I was FaceTiming with my brother yesterday when I showed him I inherited the onion and potato bin. He was as excited as I was.)

There, you have it: an intriguing post on onions. Your life is now more complete. 

Snow Day, Snow Day (singing)

 It's official. I have been off of work for a week and, by the looks of things, I may be off a little longer. We had a foot of snow and today is the only "break" we getting and the temperatures are in the single digits. Sounds like more than another half foot on its way tomorrow. I love snow and I love snow days. But, I would be lying if didn't admit that I spent a long time lingering at the gardening section at Lowe's last night. I'm slightly concerned that my time in Alaska this summer, that left me wondering if I could live there, may be part of this constant snow. However, it's warmer there than here. Anyone want to move up to AK?!

So, I've been trying to keep us all entertained for a few days. I can't run right now for more than 25 minutes because of a strained quad (22 days from the half. Awesome.) (I've seen a physical therapist. I'm resting, heating, icing, and stretching, as recommended. I WILL run.) 

Because I can't run, can't work, can't really leave the house, and it's too cold to play outside, we have been doing a TON of cooking. Like, I'd better get back to running or I'm going to be braving the snow-covered roads to get to the mall to purchase new pants. 

For Christmas, I got Ree Drummond's second cookbook. I looked through it and before bed on Christmas day, I had already ordered her first. She basically takes "normal people food" and makes it "awesome people food". Nearly every recipe has been knock-you-over-on-the-first-bite type of food. Here are some of our favorites from the last few weeks:

Cinnamon Rolls 

Chicken Spaghetti

Chicken Pot Pie (Probably my favorite of all. My girlfriend, Anne, gave me the hint to only use half of the shortening in the pie crust, and for the other half, use butter. A.maz.ing.)

Coffee Cream Cake (This is currently in my kitchen and I think about it all the time.)

French Breakfast Puffs (typing the name may or may not have forced me to walk to the kitchen to get one)

Tonight is Pork Chops and Applesauce and Cheese Grits. So excited!

All the recipes have heated up well and, for the main courses, I've been making full recipes so Lee and I can have leftovers for lunch. However, because we don't need 7 pans of cinnamon rolls, I have been using half recipes for the baking. My aunt got me this awesome cooking conversion magnet that I have used nearly every day for almost 8 years. Definitely a "can't live without" in my kitchen. (Thanks, Auntie!)

My college bestie, Katie, (who is equally as obsessed with The Pioneer Woman) and I have discovered the awesomeness of the cast iron skillet. Lee and I inherited our skillets from our grandmothers who have both passed away. So, not only are they seasoned with years of cooking, they're also very sentimental.  (Here is one skillet cooking Eggs in a Hole. Or Chicken in a Basket. Or Popeyes....)

My current favorite gadget is an appliance that acts as a grill, a griddle, a panini press, a flat press...  I use it for grilled cheese, chicken breasts, vegetables, Lee made pancakes (why does it always seem like pancakes are a man's domain??). I seriously can't get enough of it and use it all the time. The plates are dishwasher safe too. Love it. (And it's made by Cuisinart which has an excellent warranty and great customer service.)

Anyway. That's what we've been up to in our snowed-in villa. I think I'll stick to cooking instead of measuring snow on the back porch that caused me to fall down steps and I now have a very bruised back. Another story for another day. 

To answer a few questions

Y'all. It's a struggle with me today. I'm in week 8 of 12 in my half-marathon plan and I am starting to get tired. I have the incredibly weird (but apparently, not too uncommon) problem of not being able to sleep after a long run. On Saturday, I ran 9 miles and was (obviously) quite tired by the end of that day (I burned 19 WW points. I only get 26 in a day.) (We ate oreos.), but I laid awake for hours and barely got 3 hours of sleep that night. Now, my body is trying to play catch up and it's losing. I've read a lot about possible dehydration or my core temperature being too high for sleep. I'm not sure on any of it, but I will try anything. (Suggestions? My runs normally are over by 3:00pm, so it's not that I'm running too late...)

ANYWAY! I'm sure you could care less about my restless sleep on Saturday nights. Since my post on my goals from 2013, I have had a lot of messages, texts, emails, etc about 3 areas. So, I thought I would elaborate on them to answer them to the best of my ability.

Bible Study
Several years ago, I felt a strong calling on my life to start an in-depth Bible study with several gals from our church. We met on Saturday mornings at our house and did the 10 week study by Beth Moore called "Breaking Free". It was a great time to be together and dig deeper in the Word. What started as 5 of us in my living room in our pajamas (it was 8:00 on a Saturday! Courtney was the only one of us who even took a shower first!) Since then, we (our pastor's wife, Jennifer, and I have taken turns leading) have had several large group Bible studies and have grown so much as women in our church. I have two favorite Bible study authors: Beth Moore and Kelly Minter.

Beth is basically the Billy Graham of women's Bible studies. She has written tons of in-depth studies and books, and devotions. My first Beth, I did at home, by myself, and no videos and just fell into such a deep love with God and His word (A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place). Last year, we did James, David, we've also done Esther, Jesus... My favorite one was called "Living Beyond Yourself: A study of the Fruits of the Spirit". Check the study length before you begin. Most of Beth's are 10 week studies. Daniel is a 12 week, James is 7. We started Stepping Up: The Psalms of the Ascent last night and it is a 6 week study.

Kelly is relatively new on the horizon and has incredible insight. Her studies are typically 6 week and don't have video sessions with it. I have done her study called Nehemiah that was literally life-changing in the way it taught me to do ministry and how to look at leadership. I started No Other Gods and will finish it whenever we take a break in our study routine.

There are lots of other wonderful authors that the Lord has blessed with insight and writing ability to reach us. Dig around and find one that you can connect with!

Money Saving
I have had a huge inquiry into how we have saved money, especially our grocery bill. My big "push" goal for 2013 was to be under budget each month at the grocery store. Our budget is $400 a month and last year, I was $376 under my yearly budget. (That doesn't include our $40 a month budget for eating out) (I know what you're thinking. "Wow. What a glamorous life they must live." It's true. We fight off the paparazzi every day.) We have made several cuts and decisions that have totaled up to be huge savings:

1) Making my own laundry soap
August 2012, I made a batch of laundry soap concentrate and it cost around $4. I didn't have to make any more soap until December 2013. (That's doing 1 load of laundry every day, some days, 2.) It's a simple recipe that I got from the Duggars. I put it in a bucket and reuse an old laundry soap dispenser. It works really well. There is also a powdered version to which I can't answer for, because we do liquid. (If you do powder, leave your thoughts in the comments for others, please!) I also have been making my own fabric softener: 2c hair conditioner, 3 c white vinegar 6 c hot water. I swear y'all, big savings. (I also make my own cleaning supplies when possible. White vinegar makes the world go round) I tried making my own dishwasher detergent and it was terrible. Recently, Good Housekeeping rated the Great Value brand (Walmart) powdered dishwasher detergent the best rated dishwasher detergent. We love it and it was $2!

2) Making a menu and store list and sticking to it.
After several years of going to work, coming home tired, biting each other's heads off about what sounds good for dinner, we decided to make a menu and a store list and making a trip once a week. As you can see by our huge restaurant budget, we rarely eat out. When we do, I typically have eater's remorse when I realize how little it took to make and how much I was charged. I get the Food Lion sales paper and start to make my menu according to what's on sale. I try to use multiple types of recipes to keep produce from going to waste. (Using lemon zest in a recipe on Monday night and lemon juice on Wednesday. Then clean my garbage disposal with the leftover lemon.) I also buy meats when on sale and bag and freeze (Ground beef 93% was on sale in the 3lb packs. I bought it, divided it into 3 bags, labeled and froze!). I use a ton of the Pioneer Woman's recipes and she uses a lot of spices and from scratch recipes. So much healthier and so much cheaper. (And any time I'm in the kitchen with my new knives, Pandora on, and my favorite soux chef, life is good.) We don't buy drinks besides milk, and coffee (Normally Seattle's Best #4) and no chips or anything like that. Our snacks are fruits, cheese sticks, etc. I buy store brand when possible (Especially on things like tomato products, zip-top bags, etc) I do use some coupons, but I am definitely not an extreme couponer. (If anyone has any ideas about how to save money on chicken, besides watching for sales, I'm all open.) I enjoy making my own bread, but I'm short on time often, so I LOVE the Food Lion brand whole wheat bread.

Running
When Lee and I first got married, we lived at the camp and literally couldn't run halfway to the gate. We were both active people, but Lee had messed up knees (soccer player problems), and I had a messed up mind (Past tense of "had" is used very lightly) and was convinced I couldn't run. So, I couldn't. It's funny how it works that way. After Nina was born, we decided to get down to it and start running. Lee started first and after I had lost 50 lbs after Nina, I started. (May 2011) I was TERRIBLE. We were at the track running (Lee was doing speed work and I was pushing a ten month old in a stroller), and I was so excited that I was able to complete a mile running at a 14:00 min mile (seriously the most I had ever run). I found a plan on weightwatchers.com that was a beginning 5k program that finally addressed my big problem: It wasn't that I couldn't run, but I couldn't keep the pace I was starting with. I have spent days trying to find this program that I used and can't seem to find it. Basically, you kept your pace at a 15:00 minute mile and did little spurts of a 12:00 minute mile and increased it. I ran that whole summer pushing a jogging stroller (It really wasn't as noble as it sounds; it was how I ensured her morning nap time) and ran a 5k in September in 29:43.

 Ever since, I have been a hit or miss runner. Last year, I trained for my first half-marathon using Hal Higdon's Novice 2 program. 12 weeks of gradually increasing your mileage to accomplish the 13.1. This year, I am 4 1/2 weeks away from the Myrtle Beach half-marathon and I'm using Hal Higdon's Intermediate plan. I am combining it with the run-walk-run program from Jeff Galloway where I run 4:00 and walk 1:00. My times are getting noticeably faster even with my walk breaks and I find that I don't get nearly as tired taking regulated walk breaks. (I was taking them anyway, may as well make sure I'm doing it correctly) I am in NO WAY a running expert. Honestly, I read a blog last week about how most runners are afraid of being found out that they're not a "real" runner. That is SO me. Dig into it! Running is guaranteed peace and quiet! The key to sticking to a running plan is to register for a race as soon as you select the training plan. Once you have money in it, you won't back out.

If you have more questions, leave them in the comment section so I can try to fully answer everyone's questions. I'm honestly, not an expert in any of these areas, this is just what I'm trying to figure out!

Happy studying, shopping, and running!