ragnar tennessee

Last week I went on an awesome adventure with 11 amazing women. We ran Ragnar Tennessee! It is a 200 mile relay that takes place around the country and we ran from Chattanooga to Nashville! We completed the course in 29 hours 24 minutes! We finished 69/218 teams and in our division 2/16 so we were pretty proud of ourselves! 

My team was with 11 friends who were also alumnae of Washington College, most of is rowed in college, but we had a few other girls who were friends. But it was great to see some people I haven't seen in years and some girls I see a few times a year! So here is our team shirt - the front is the one with the runner and the back is the running more miles!

The idea behind the race is that it is a 12 person relay race. Each person runs 3 legs - so 36 legs total for the team. The legs range from 2.5 to about 9 miles with each person running between 10-19 miles. I had 14 miles total with a 5.3, 4.5 and a 4.2 mile runs. With our start times I started my runs at 6pm, 3:15am and 1:30pm.

So here is my Ragnar adventure in pictures. It was one of the coolest things I've ever done! I can't wait to do another one - I love that these women challenge me and we all push each other to be better athletes. While I am one of the slower ones - we all have our own strengths and having their support makes me love running so much more. 

So Thursday we all flew into Nashville and made our way to Chattanooga. Once we got there we decorated our vans and had an amazing carb-tastic dinner. The pasta was all homemade and it was delish! 

decorating George & Martha - our vans for the weekend!

We found these great George Washington hats! So much fun! 

WOOOOO! 

Friday morning we were at the start line ready to go. They assign times from 7am-1pm depending on your team's pace. We had a 10:30 start time, so while Van 1 was ready to go, Van 2 went down to cheer them on! I was runner 11 - so I was in Van 2.

The start in Chattanooga! Gorgeous! 

George's Girls at the start line

  

team cheers and shoes! 

attempting a jump photo at the start line

start line! 

teammates running!  

Van 2 at about 1am! Wooooo! Oh by the way it got down into the 20s!!!! SO COLD! 

We love George Washington

So with our times my first two runs were in the dark - so I didn't get any photos of me running until my final leg. Here I go! 

At the exchange! Wooo! 

getting some water from my teammates on my run! 

best sign when running :)

Passing the bracelet to Jeanne - this is leg 36! She is about to run us to the finish line! 

marking my final run off on the van! 

WE DID IT! With my lovely ladies at the finish! 

We spent almost 30 hours in a van together! And had an amazing time doing it! 

My jump photo at the finish! 

the medal! 

this bracelet went 200 miles! 

 I absolutely loved this experience! At times it was crazy - I got maybe 3 hours of sleep during the race, spent 30 hours in a van with my teammates, ran 3x including 2 at night for 14 miles, at one of my runs i ran on a trail where I was alone in the darkness - pretty cool to run in this! and overall had a rocking time! SO much adrenaline and I loved it! I totally recommend doing something like this! My team is already talking about doing another one! Which I LOVE - that we plan reunions based on crazy things like this!

Have you ever done a relay like this? 

october so far

I can't believe it is October 21st - this month is flying. It has been a busy month - especially on the weekends. I try to plan my weekend with at least one fun thing to do. 

So going back to the beginning of the month. One of the boy's friends was having a big pig roast at his family's farm. It was a gorgeous day - maybe a little too hot for October - it was 95! But it was a fun day including a little time shooting too!

Gorgeous farm out in Facquier County

A little fun skeet shooting!

So then because it was 95 one week - the next it rained for 6 days straight. It was gross. And of course I went camping during that! I went with the boy and his coworkers for their bi-annual trip. It was a lot of fun, despite raining. YAY for great waterproof clothes. I also hammock camped for the first time, and I love it. SO much nicer than a tent. I felt like I was in a cocoon and it was so cozy!

hammock camping

work fun with co-workers - it was bring your child to work day. so we acted like children and went on an ice cream break. 

So last week was Founders' Day for ZTA and we celebrated our 115th birthday. We had a great alumnae event and I made pumpkin spice cookies - which were delish! Yay for adding another new dessert to my list!

So I've been running a lot more this month too. I leave on Thursday for Tennessee! I'm running a Ragnar relay with 11 of my college friends! We've been planning this since November 2012! I am so excited to be a part of this team as we run 200 miles from Chattanooga to Nashville in about 30 hours.  Each person runs 3 legs of the race - so my total mileage is about 14 miles broken into 3 parts. 5.5 miles and then 4.3 and 4.2 miles. I'll be running my parts around 5pm on Friday, 3am on Saturday and 4pm on Saturday! Woooo! 

running along the WO&D trail in northern VA

And this Sunday was the Crucial Catch with the Washington Redskins football game. I was there with ZTA handing out pink ribbons! Also on Saturday, I got to see my parents and brother - they came to visit him and came down to DC where we did Arlington National Cemetery and they also got to see the boy again. 

with some ZTA sisters

Redskins game

But even better was my JETS beating the Pats in overtime! I wish I could have watched the game! So tonight I started to pack for my Ragnar adventure. So many things to pack for a running trip - since I'll be running 3 times in about 24 hours! Any recs for things to do in Nashville? I'm staying a few extra days to explore - since I've never been and am SO excited to visit!

How has your October been?

weekend fun

So I've had a busy few weeks! I went to my parents two weeks ago and this weekend my friend Suz was in town. So I ended up taking lots of pictures - which always makes me think of a better blog post when there are pictures! And I feel I am on a National Park kick again this fall! Last fall I went 12 weeks in a row with visiting a different National Park! So some pictures from my adventures!

I love Sandy Hook! Been here a few times as a child, but needed to make an official park visit with stamps, sign picture and the brochure!

Momma and I at the lighthouse - oldest continually operated lighthouse in the US - 1764

The lighthouse

I love the beach in sweatshirt weather!!  Enjoyed sitting at the beach reading with momma!

Sandy Hook is also home to Fort Hancock - a former Army base. 

So had a great time in Jersey seeing my parents and so on the way home I decided to stop at Eisenhower National Historic Site outside of Gettysburg! And of course I had to drive through Gettysburg!

I am in LOVE with this photo from Gettysburg! 

More from Gettysburg

Eisenhower National Historic Site - National Park # 76

President Eisenhower's house - his farm was pretty awesome

And then last week I was busy in the evening babysitting and it was also my roomie's birthday! So 4 nights in a row out and then Friday I met Patricia for dinner and then picked up Suz from Union Station and went on a night tour of the monuments! I've known Suz since second grade and she is my oldest friend! So much fun to have her visit me in DC! 

If you come to visit me - chances are we'll do a night walk around monuments! It is my favorite time to see them! WWII at night with the Washington Monument in the background

                                          

Abe says heeeeey! 

Saturday we went to Capitol Hill - we did a tour and even went into the House gallery since they've been debating over healthcare & funding of the government, but they were on recess. 

Stopped by the White House

And said hi to TJ

Was excited for the MLK sign and got to jump with a National Park sign!

And after some fun on Sunday of brunch with the boy and National History Museum I dropped Suz off. It was fun to have a visitor and play tourist in DC since I rarely head into the district! So since I was there I decided to go to Constitution Gardens - its on the side of the Mall and I've always skipped by that side allllllll of the times I've been on the Mall. And since there aren't signs for the different places on the Mall this sign is going to have to count!

Constitution Gardens - National Park Site #77 with the 56 Signers of the DOI as well. Super cute!

So that's been my fun recently. And apparently the government just shut down. Pretty crazy after all the times the last few years it coming close and after 17 years it did for the first time. 

heeeeey there

So I apparently have a blog. This has been the longest time I've gone without writing in it. And it makes me sad. I miss writing about my thoughts and what's going on in my life. After the summer I just didn't do much in August and well wasn't in the mood to be on my computer. So here is some fun from the last few weeks in September! 

Ran the Navy 5 miler at the Navy Air Force half marathon September 14th! And ran into my friend Katherine after! 

Chance and I went camping for a few days at Assateague National Seashore! National Park #75

I stopped and saw my little brother at college. Yeaaaa - he is kinda tall. 

With my amazing crew ladies at Meg's wedding!

More wedding fun

National Park #74! Had a fun afternoon hiking and exploring!




So I'm trying to get back into blogging. It is SO hard when most of my favorite bloggers have all kinda slowed down too.

xoxo