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
  

Running in 'Hot'lanta...though it wasn't so hot, thank goodness

This past weekend, I had a great little mini-vacay to Atlanta for my cousin's wedding. The wedding was beautiful and it was great to see my family (aside from some minor heckling about when I was going to get married...). Sometimes it just feels good to get away from the city for a few days.

I decided it'd also be a perfect opportunity to ramp up my mileage a bit (have I mentioned that I signed on to do the marathon a bit late in the training game? Not to worry though...gulp).

Saturday morning I set out to run 12 miles along the Chattahoochee River.  That just has such a nice southern ring to it, doesn't it?  Alan Jackson anyone?







Well, the way my route ended up, I actually only ran 11 miles but felt pretty good about it. My dad joined me for the first three miles, which was awesome, but he wasn't quite up for 12 so I took off on my own.  Poor guy ended up tripping and falling after I left him (although as he later proudly described it, he "caught himself in an 'ai ki do roll' and everyone around him was quite impressed").

People in Atlanta are SO NICE.  I was hella thirsty on my run and all the Team in Training people kept offering me water at the water stations they had set up for their training run, even though I have a guilty conscience so I kept telling them I wasn't with them.  Not only that but people smile and wave at you when you pass them.  Ah, the things I miss about the south.

The next day, with some pretty sore hamstrings, I went back with more of the family to do a much shorter, more relaxing run. My brother and I ended up paired off and he took off at something pretty darn close to a sprint in my book (he used to play college soccer). So much for relaxing. I summoned up my energy and willed myself to ignore the throbbing in my head (a result of Saturday night's festivities - although, seriously, I went to sleep before my parents).

Long story short - I schooled him. The four mile run ended with him in the dust and me doing a victory dance.  How about them apples?

Reenactment (we're big on these in the south)

Version of my victory dance

Overall, I call it a successful weekend with a total milage of about 15.

Brother and I after I kicked his butt.

The boys...Dad doesn't look like the fall did too much damage