A day at the expo

Remember to donate: www.crowdrise.com/ashleypatterson (donate by tomorrow and get entered to win a raffle)


Marathon Expos are the shit. Yep, I said shit. But really, they are. Had a great time and got so many free bags of cocoa roasted almonds and baked kettle chips. And had all these little 'shots' of Odwalla and flavored sparkly water and gatorade protein drinks. And ate little samples of power gooey things. And got a sweet free New Balance hat that says 'NYC 2010' on it. And saw Dr. Andy (former bachelor - we had a romantic run in a few years back that involved him giving me his email address - it was obviously very intense. he didn't recognize me. darnit.). The list could go on. But basically, marathon expos rock my world because anyone reading this who knows me knows that I LOVE FREE THINGS.


Here are a couple pics from the day. Thanks to SSR for coming with me. Love you boo.


And a big thank you to my many donors this week. Tina, David and Claudia, Kate, Anonymous, Andrea and Paul, Nat, Elizabeth and Jonathan (congrats on the engagement!), and Diana. I COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU GUYS!! I'm almost 2/3 of the way to my fundraising goal!  Love to all of you. Also - all you cool cats are going to get entered to win a really cool raffle. Stay tuned...

Read what it says.  It made me laugh.  It's actually posted on my fridge right now.

Can't decide if this map makes me feel better or worse.  At least it's pretty.

One week and counting...

The countdown has officially begun. We are one week out from race day.  This weekend they put up the marathon route signs.  This one is coincidentally a block away from my new apartment.  I think it will be around mile 8 or 9 as I'm running by this.

So excited!!

Big thank you's to Stacy, Lauren, and Brad and Suzanne for their generous donations this week!!!  I've now raised $1,105 towards my goal - THANK YOU to everyone who has donated! Spread the word:

www.crowdrise.com/ashleypatterson

Atlanta distractions

So for those of you who know me (which I'm assuming is most of you), you may know that last week was one of the most hectic weeks EVER in my life. I mean, it's been a pretty hectic month, but last week sort of took the cake. But it's over, thank goodness...I moved, pretty much completed my internship, and found an apartment (today!). Granted, I am still trying to learn to be good at my new job, still trying to learn how to run really far without dying, and still trying to learn how to just be a happy well adjusted adult in general (cheesy but so true), but I consider last week a relative success.  


I escaped from the week by heading to Atlanta for my cousin's wedding (yes, another cousin got married in Atlanta...). The rehearsal dinner and the wedding were beautiful. It was wonderful to see all of my family for the second time in a month (for the record: that NEVER happens). It was so nice to just relax and not have any responsibilities for a few days.  

My brothers

Me and Granddad - handsome ole devil that he is...

Me and my daddy

Parents

However, relax I did....


My mileage this weekend reached a whopping five miles.  Are you impressed yet?  


It gets worse.  I actually set out on Sunday afternoon to do a 20 mile run.  I made it two miles in 85 degree heat with a k-i-l-l-e-r hangover (should I admit that on a blog?) before I admitted defeat and resigned myself to the fact that if I continued running, I would surely throw up.  Yep.  Marathon training don't of the week: attend your cousin's wedding and thoroughly enjoy yourself. 

But, I did have a great 3 mile run along the Chattahoochee river Monday morning before I left. I'll refrain from playing Alan Jackson again.  But for the record, I love that song.  And that music video.  

In really exciting and awesome updates - I've raised $895!  Huge thank you's are in order for Rhian and Matt, Nick and Sarah, and the Knaebel family who all donated this week!  I couldn't do this without you all!  


Help me reach $1,000 this week!  I'm almost one-third of the way there!  Donate here: www.crowdrise.com/ashleypatterson
  

Updates and Thank You's

BIG thank you's go out to Bibi and Granddad and Joe Christian for donating this week! Thanks to you guys I've raised $430! That's basically one seventh of the way there! I couldn't do it without you!


Check out my Crowdrise page if you want to donate (which I really hope you do because I have to get to $3,000!) or go to www.witness.org/donate.

Full moon?

In running updates I ran 4 miles along the river last night with Nelson. Was it a full moon? If it wasn't, it was close and way cool. 


I ran 5 miles this morning around the East Village in ridiculous humidity. I mean, seriously, what's going on here? It felt like I was wearing a muggy wet blanket. Ick. But overall both were good runs. I'm getting nervous for Sunday!! Think I'm going to try for 16 miles...yikes!

I love the city at night

Donors are awesome!

Big thank you goes out to Chrysi and Tara who donated this week. You guys rock my world and I couldn't do this without you!!

Thanks for donating to my cause!!!

My fundraising total is up to $305!!  That's a little over 1/10th of the way there!  Go team WITNESS!

If you're reading my blog and wondering where the heck to donate (which I know you are all actually frantically wondering as you dig for your checkbooks) - never fear - here's the link:

http://www.crowdrise.com/ashleypatterson

Heading out for my long run in just a bit.  It was a late night at work last night so I'm hoping a good 14 miles around Central Park will rejuvenate me.  Anyone want to join?  : )