Archive | December, 2012

2012

31 Dec

2012 was a roller coaster of a year.

It started off at the bottom, and has since worked its way up to the top – with some bumps along the way.

2012 taught me many life lessons, and showed me what I am made of.

I had moments of extreme heartbreak, followed by moments of happiness that I had not ever experienced. I’ve never had a year filled with so many tears and sorrows,  yet so much happiness and so many smiles.

Among my favorite memories are my many trips. Below is a little snapshot of where I was this year.

nye

Santa Fe, Vegas, Louisville (times two!), Chicago (times two!), San Francisco & Napa, Central Coast CA, NYC, Dallas.

I look forward to seeing what 2013 brings, and pray that it is a little more stable then 2012 🙂

Thank you for your continuing support and kindness. Happy New Year!!!

xoxo,

Ali

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Help Wanted: The Perfect Playlist

5 Dec

Hi friends!

I am happy to announce that I am feeling much better than I was yesterday when I posted about being sick and miserable. It seems that I have turned the corner and I am now on the road to recovery. I actually got out this morning and ran 4 miles, which felt incredible.

Anyway…onto the point of this post. 

I have decided that I will wear my iPod in the Dallas Marathon. I am not usually an iPod wearer in races, but this time around, I will be. First of all, I have no buddies to run with me and I might get a little lonely. Secondly, I think I will need the added motivation when I get to the hard miles. I have a big goal ahead of me, and will need all the extra help I can have to get me there!

So this is where I need your help.

I want YOU to give me songs to put on my perfect playlist.

It could be your favorite workout song, our favorite song together, or a song that you would just like me to listen to.

You can comment on this post with your song (please include your name if you want some credit), text it to me, tweet it, or Facebook it. I only ask that it’s upbeat and will take some of the 26.2 miles of pain off my mind!

(Last year, I saw Meggie do this before she ran a marathon and I thought it was genius. I told myself that I would totally be copying her idea when the time arrived. Thanks for the idea, Meggie!)

I look forward to hearing your choices and being able to think about you as I am conquering this race!!!

As always, thanks for the support!!

NOW….GO!!!!!!

xoxo

Ali

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Determined to Get Well Soon

4 Dec

Dallas is quickly approaching, and as of last week, I was more than ready to run this race. However today, it is a different story.

I have been a total germ-a-phobe the last few months and have done everything I could possibly do to not get sick. All of my precautions worked, until last Friday…

When I woke up on Friday morning, I knew things were not good. You know that feeling you get right when a cold is setting in? Well, I had it. With my asthma, I get knocked out by a cold. For me, I know what it entails, because I have been dealing with it my entire life. A cold means I get a respiratory infection and it means I spend at least a week hacking and coughing and feeling miserable (I know, poor me!!!).

With my big race on Sunday, you can imagine why I am freaking out a little bit. I have been training for 21 weeks for this race (which is over half of a pregnancy btw)! I want to rock this race, and run my heart out on Sunday. And the last thing I want is for my breathing issues to get in the way of that.

As soon as I felt the illness coming on Friday, I called my Doctor and got two of my inhalers refilled. I thought I would be able handle it with those and not have to go in for more medicine. Well, yesterday I had to give in an actually go into the Doctor for additional meds.

I am now operating under a full on “Get Well Plan”. Included in this plan is a ton of rest, lots of fluids, Emergen C and plenty of medicine.

The Plan! Complete with steroids, nebulizer treatments, inhalers and mucinex.

The Plan! Complete with steroids, nebulizer treatments, inhalers and mucinex.

I cannot believe I am actually putting this photo online...this is what a nebulizer treatment looks like!

I cannot believe I am actually putting this photo online…this is what a nebulizer treatment looks like!

I am on Day Two of the plan, and still feel like crap. However I can tell that I am starting to get a little better.

Tonight I was feeling completely stir crazy and decided to get my bike out and ride stationary in the living room. Not working out since last Thursday was making me nutty. I had to sweat a little, and I am so glad that I did!

45 minutes on the bike felt incredible!!!!

45 minutes on the bike felt incredible!!!!

My hope is that by Thursday I will be able to run, and by Sunday I will be able to rock my race! Sure, my breathing won’t be back to normal, but I do think it could be manageable to run a good race.

I welcome all tips and tricks you have for a breezy and fast recovery!

xoxo,

Ali

My little snuggle buddy Karly has certainly helped be feel better!

My little snuggle buddy Karly has certainly helped be feel better! My Mom has been quite the help too! 

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