10 Hour Match and it's NOT Over!

So as an avid tennis fan I'm of course following Wimbledon this week. I don't get to play as much as I like but I love the game. Ever since I played with my dad when I was little. I'll have to tell you sometime about my trip to Wimbledon.

What has taken my attention since yesterday? The world's longest tennis match is in progress right now. Today in England at the Wimbledon grand slam a young American John Isner and a Frenchman Nicolas Mahut will continue for a 3rd day a 1st round match that has broken all kinds of records. Longest match, longest set, most aces - and it's not over yet! These guys just must be emotionally exhausted. It's like they've played 2 full matches already. The first 4 sets took around 3 hours and the 5th set more than 7 hours.

With no tie breaker in the 5th set the set is tied at 59-59 -amazing! When I talked to my hubby on the phone yesterday afternoon he asked what I guessed the 5th set would be at, I guessed 18, then 24 then 30 and to see they have played almost 120 games in the final set... this is historic! No one has ever seen anything like it!

If you get a chance today check out the stats or better yet the match on ESPN2. I can't wait to see what happens and in case you're wondering, I'm definitely rooting for the American John Isner. Go USA!

This just in, check out this great Today Show Interview with John Isner

Oh and while we're at it. Great job US Men's Soccer Team on your big win!!

Tonight's Biggest Loser Marathon

So on tonight's episode of The Biggest Loser the final four contestants did a marathon. I haven't been watching this season but was glad I got to catch the marathon coverage tonight.

This is the 3rd season they've done a marathon and each of the seasons, even if I wasn't watching the show, I managed to catch the marathon coverage.


Again tonight, I was blown away by the results. Michael, at 299 lbs. finished in about 6 hours. But that's not all. Daris, a 25 year old who has lost 150 lbs. finished in 4 hours and 2 minutes - AMAZING! That's 9:35/mile! I am so impressed.

And all I can think is... wow, if these people can do it... can't I??

We'll see gang. Someday...?

A Good Sunday Morning Ride

I had a great early morning ride today with my friend Jen. It started out a bit cool and cloudy but we had a great time riding through Lancaster County farmland, even passing by a covered bridge. We didn't experience much traffic and had no trouble with our bikes.

Jen is a great mom who I admire a great deal. She has 3 kids and her oldest is an amazing kid with special needs. I know all 3 kids keep her busy. In the last couple of years I've had the joy of seeing her finish her first sprint triathlon and her first half marathon.

She's become quite the athlete and she inspires me. She totes her kiddos in her bike trailer and get up early to train and I'm sure all the exercise does wonders for her health and her spirit and her outlook.

If I look back, I've been looking up to her and her twin sister since I was in junior high. I'm sure they both will continue to have many lessons to teach me.

Friends are such a blessing and so is being outside, getting some exercise and reflecting on a Sunday morning. I hope you all had a great one too.

A New Experience & a BIG disappointment...

On Saturday I had the opportunity to volunteer at Lancaster City YMCA's Race Against Racism.

My responsibilities included helping to set up the starting line & the finish line as well as clipping timing chips off of people's shoes.

I'm really enjoying getting to see all that it takes to put on a race. However, clipping timing chips, is not an easy job.

It's not easy if your scissors aren't sharp. It's not easy if the people made their chips too tight. It's not easy to avoid all the bodily fluids folks have lost at the finish line. But this experience made me even more thankful to all those who work so hard to put on these races.

What's the big disappointment you may ask? I volunteered at this race specifically so that I could be at the finish line for my good friend Stace's first race. The disappointment... I didn't see her once that day.

I didn't realize there would be over 3,000 folks participating so I didn't think about picking a place to meet up with her. And unfortunately she didn't have her phone with her. I'm glad though we'll both be running at a race together this weekend, the Turkey Hill Classic.

I was super excited though that my friend Julie found me after the race. Julie will be at this week's race with us too. The weather should be great. I can't wait.

A Lesson Learned...

On Tuesday after work I had a lousy run. Last week I ran several times. All of those runs were in the 5-6 mile range so when this Tuesday's 3 1/2 mile run went so poorly of course I wondered what was wrong.

So I wracked my my brain for what might have gone wrong. I came up with some good ideas...

1. I didn't eat anything before my run?

2. I didn't eat enough for lunch?

3. I didn't drink much water that day?

Yes, all good reasons for a lousy run.

So I went out yesterday after work to test my theories. I ate before I went out, a half a sandwich and something to drink. I had a better lunch and I drank more water throughout the day.

As it turns out I went 6 1/2 miles yesterday without any trouble.

Hmm. Reminds me I need to be more careful about drinking water and my diet. How about you??

What would I do without podcasts?

So I had a great afternoon run today. It's the longest one I've done in awhile and though it was no where near the longest run I've ever done it felt terrific to be out. I was out for a little over an hour and I'm so glad I had time to get out there today. There was a breeze, sunshine on the way home and temps of about 55.

But I think the thing that made it really enjoyable was what I was listening to. I'm telling you, I do not think I would be where I am today without running podcasts. I listen to several hours of running podcasts every week and I have learned so much. To give back just a little I'd like to begin sharing with you some of the stuff I listen to and what I think of it.

Today it was two of my new favorites, Running to Disney and Two Fit Chicks & a Microphone. I am already a big fan of Gordon (Running to Disney) and Carla & Shauna (Two Fit Chicks). Today I listened to Gordon in Episode 10 and the "Chicks" in Episode 2.

I don't know about you all but I really like to listen to podcasts in order. I enjoy hearing all their stories and really get to know the hosts.

Gordon is so really down to earth, he's down in Alabama, he's a professor and easy to listen to. I typically don't typically prefer the "run cast" type of podcast, but I think Gordon is inspiring. You should check him out. He's been podcasting a couple years I believe so there are plenty of episodes to listen to.

As a a female who runs, podcasts done by women are always a real treat. Carla & Shauna are a little newer to podcasting, although they are accomplished in their fields, Carla is a personal trainer and Shauna an author. The Chicks will be discussing a different fitness theme every episode. Today's theme was running. This episode as especially helpful to me. They interviewed Julia Jones, who I was unfamiliar with, but learned a ton from. She's run all over the world and trains hundreds of ladies to run in Italy. I look forward to learning more about what she does. She gave some great ideas in the podcast and will continue to serve as a "running expert" of sorts for the "Chicks". I look forward to hearing from her again. I also look forward to hearing about Carla's marathon training journey, especially as I'd like to run my own marathon someday.

These are just two of many great podcasts out there. I encourage you to check out http://www.runningpodcasts.org/.

I hope to share more with you in the future as well as insights I gleen from articles, books and life experience.

I love to hear from you and welcome any feedback you might have.

A Tales of Two IKEAs

So I found out Thursday that there are 2 IKEA stores in the greater Philadelphia area. And I'm really glad I did. Let me explain why.

I tagged along with my coworker Kris to IKEA to pick up some furniture for some rooms at work. It ended up being good for her that I came as we had many carts and boxes to load and maneuver. Thankfully they did all fit in the car, but for a few moments we weren't sure if they would.

As it turns out the first IKEA in Conshohocken (the only IKEA I knew about) didn't have everything we needed and since my friend thought originally we were going to the Penn's Landing (downtown) IKEA we headed there next. And that's when the unexpected really began. I knew I'd have a great time with my friend but I didn't expect to find inspiration and motivation along the way.

As we headed into the city, I couldn't believe how excited I was. I saw 30th Street Station where we always arrive. I saw the path along the water my husband and I had walked on two falls prior. And the Art Museum where Kris and I started and ended our first half marathon last September, the ING Distance Run, now the Rock & Roll Philadelphia 1/2 Marathon. We drove by the water and reminisced about miles 11 through 13. She was a great encouragement to me.

I didn't know we'd see any of that that day and it was such a treat. And it doesn't stop there.

We also got to have lunch and out of this world chocolate milkshakes at Chik-fil-A and a quick grocery stop at  Trader Joe's. These are two of my favorite places that we don't have near us in Lancaster County, PA.

The icing on the cake was driving through the city on Broad Street, where I had run my first distance run, the Broad Street Run in 2009.

Seeing all these familiar sights, now forever associated in my mind with running, just made me want to get out there and run. I can hardly wait to do another race in Philly. It's a great city for running and holds a lot of firsts for me. I highly recommend you check it out.