Running in Memphis (and Other Fun Things to Do)!

Welcome to a special travel edition of Coffee, Scarves, and Running Shoes! Last weekend, we went on the road to travel to the other end of our state on a trip to Memphis. My husband traveled to a work conference, and I tagged along since we'd never visited the city.

Having never visited Memphis, we weren't sure what to expect and what fun things we'd find. As it turns out, we had a great time! I had no idea what Memphis even looked like, and I was excited to see a beautiful walking/running path along the Mississippi with a view of the city skyline, and beautiful wooded areas outside the city. While there, we took advantage of many of the sights and attractions, and found fun ways to fit in our running. Here's what we found:

The Fun

Beale Street

Admittedly, I'm not a huge listener of blues music. However, I LOVE almost any music live, so I was excited to check out Beale Street. The city has made a great effort to keep Beale Street safe, with traffic closed off and security officers present. The area was very vibrant, with lights and music everywhere. Our first night, we had dinner at a Cajun/BBQ restaurant and listened to a great blues performer. He played everything from covers of mainstream artists like Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, and Motown classics, as well as traditional blues music, so there was something for everyone.

Memphis Botanic Garden

While B was "conferring", I spent my second afternoon on my own in Memphis checking out the Botanic Garden. It was close to where we were staying, and made for a beautiful afternoon! It's very large, and contains many gardens - roses, hydrangeas, hostas, irises, desert plants, butterfly plants, you name it!

A couple of Christmases ago, B bought me an entry level Canon SLR camera. It's great, but I've only used the auto setting. My photography friends cringe at this fact. I took a photography book with me, Understanding Exposure, and my camera, and tried out some of the manual settings. I'm starting to understand the shutter speed vs. aperture concept. It look a LOT of trial and error, but I got a few good pics!

Graceland

I don't listen to a lot of classic rock'n'roll, but you have to respect The King! Unfortunately, B's conference overlapped with the times that Graceland was open to tours. We found out that the outside grounds and meditation garden was open from 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM daily, so we checked it out our last morning. The grounds were beautiful. The home looked exactly like it does on TV. Elvis' grave site, as well as several family members are found at the meditation garden. It was touching to see how many people still leave gifts and notes at his grave site. His father wrote the inscription, and I can't imagine better words being written about his faith, kindness, and contributions and achievements in the music industry. I hope we'll get to take a tour next time we're in town!

The Fitness

Our Rockin' Running Tour!

As I briefly mentioned in my Fitness Friday post last week, we found a guided running tour of downtown Memphis. The tour we found was offered by Rockin' Running Tours. It's operated by Mel, our tour guide and local runner. He offers tours in several areas in Memphis. We chose the Rockin' Downtown tour, a 4 mile loop of downtown Memphis.

It was the highlight of our trip! Because the route was short, we walked much of the route and Mel told us all about the city. He's very passionate and knowledgeable about Memphis. He told us about the rich Civil War history in the Memphis area such as famous nearby battles and shipwrecks. He told us all about socioeconomic trends that have affected the city over the years. He took us by many major attractions such as Beale Street, the Civil Rights Museum, the Orpheum theatre, parks, and landmark streets and restaurants. He can tell you which buildings are supposedly "haunted", why certain areas of town are thriving or re-emerging, his favorite restaurants from a local's perspective, the safest areas of town, and what attractions to check out.

He even took us through areas that we never would have found on our own, such as a beautiful gated residential community connected to Tom Lee Park and a beautiful greenway that went along the river. There were people on our tour that were from Memphis and didn't know all of the history and stories he had to share! Next time you're in town and are looking to try something new, I recommend trying a Rockin Running Tour!

Wolf River Greenway

One particularly rainy morning while B was at his conference, I set out to find a greenway to get my 2 mi run in. I Googled greenways near East Memphis where I was staying, and found out about the Wolf River Greenway. Based on what I've read on their website, this greenway will eventually run along the Wolf River from downtown to outlying suburbs like Germantown (east of Memphis). It turned out that an entrance to the greenway was very close to my hotel, so I drove over and hopped on the greenway for a quick two mile run. I always try to be careful when running alone. The area appeared very affluent and safe, and I kept my phone on me just in case.

The Furry and Feathered

The House of Mews

While strolling through midtown Memphis a few weeks ago, a friend of mine and fellow cat lover stumbled upon the House of Mews. It is a small boutique retail space that has been converted to a cat rescue! Unfortunately it was closed when we arrived, but we peeked into the windows. Inside we saw dozens of cats for adoption! They were sleeping in bins, playing with toys, and climbing special ledges on the walls. The space was funky and featured cat inspired art (some of it for sale according to their website). We'd love to come back another time when it's open and meet the cats!

The top left kitty is Coco's long lost twin!

The Ducks at the Peabody Hotel 

In the heart of downtown Memphis lies the historic Peabody Hotel. Even if you're not staying there (we stayed in a different hotel where B's conference was held),  it's definitely worth a visit for a drink, a meal, or even to just look around. It's a beautiful, grandiose, and luxurious. Furthermore, be sure to visit at 11 AM or 5 PM daily so that you can see the duck march. Yes, at those times, real mallard ducks come down the elevator and march through the lobby into the fountains. It's a longstanding tradition at the hotel, and fun to check out if you're an animal lover!

The Memphis Zoo

While I love the Knoxville Zoo, it's fun to check out different zoos that can feature different animals. The Memphis Zoo is quite big! We spent about 3 hours checking out many animals, such as various wild cats, birds including penguins, reptiles/amphibians, zebras, giraffes, elephants, primates, animals you don't get to see often like panda bears and polar bears, and even an indoor dark nocturnal animal exhibit! If you love animals, it's worth checking out! We got to see animals we don't get to see often and had a great time!

The Food

My personal philosophy on vacation is to keep healthy eating in check, but allow a little leeway to try the local cuisine. In Memphis, the local cuisine is all about barbecue, Southern, and even a little Cajun food! Our first night, we didn't do any research. We stopped in at a barbecue and Cajun place while walking down Beale Street called King's Palace. B got ribs (and I tried some - they were great!), and I went Cajun with gumbo and etoufee. Both were yummy! We also got to listen to a great live Blues performer while we were there!

For more Memphis barbecue, we went to Central Barbecue the next night. It was very low-key and authentic, and it was great! We both got pulled pork and great sides like mac'n'cheese. Yum!

Hey, I don't eat like this everyday! :)

When I visit new places, I like to find local, unique coffee shops. On this trip, I went to the Poplar Perk'n (can't find a website) near where we were staying and Java Cabana in midtown. Poplar Perk'n was a great little quick place to grab a coffee to go. I enjoyed my latte!

Java Cabana is a slightly funkier, artsier coffee shop. I splurged on a "Funky Monkey" latte (with banana flavor, I assume in honor of Elvis' taste for them). I relaxed in the comfortable, Bohemian seating area and enjoyed my latte in a real glass mug (a cozy plus), and a yummy bagel sandwich.

What We Missed

Unfortunately, B's conference conflicted with the hours the various museums were open. There's a lot of history to be found in Memphis. The National Museum of Civil Rights can be found there, as well as Sun Studio, the birthplace of Rock'n'Roll. If we have time next time we're in town, we'd love to go back and explore these museums.

That covers our long weekend trip! Have you visited Memphis? What fun and/or fit activities do you enjoy there?

-Amy

I was not compensated by any of these organizations for this post, nor is any organization affiliated with this blog. I am simply sharing my honest opinions and experiences. The views expressed in this article are solely my own. 

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Why Running is Awesome x 10!

Happy Monday!

To brighten your week and keep you motivated this Monday, I bring you something new! Two great blogs I've enjoyed following and connecting with recently, The Lady Okie Blog and Coffee and Macarons, are hosting a fun link-up:

Woo-hoo!

Over the last year I've become semi-obsessed with running. Overall the response has been positive. I've heard family members and friends tell me I've inspired them to get active. Others, however, likely get a little sick of hearing me go on and on about the fun social runs like my running photo scavenger hunt, how I worked out in the rain, how I've been sore for days after my 10 mile runs, or how frustrated I am with not getting down to my 30 minute 5K.

As entertaining as these topics are to me, I sometimes get a few blank stares.

Before I got into running, I didn't get it either. It felt miserable. Minutes felt like days as I attempted to run just a quarter mile. I thought I'd never get to a point where I could breathe while running. I felt so out of shape compared to others. I'd see other people chatting and laughing while running.

What was up with these people having so much fun? How could this be possible?

Finally, as I ran my first mile and first 5K, and much later my first half marathon, I slowly started to get it. I was accomplishing things I never imagined I'd accomplish. I was building bonds with people who had been in my shoes (well, not "my" shoes, but we all wear running shoes) and could advise me. We'd laugh as we tried crazy new workouts. Running slowly became an integral part of my life.

As such, it's hard to narrow down to just one reason. So I came up with 10.

Sorry guys, if you only wanted one. Look on the bright side, you're now 10% of the way there! :)

1. The "Did that really just happen?" feeling - Often times, we feel accomplished in our work, school, or other responsibilities, but we rarely feel acccomplished in our personal lives. This was me before running. From the first mile to my first half-marathon, I had many moments where I thought, Who am I? This isn't me! The best part is that it never ends. As soon as you accomplish one thing, you're onto the next one!
2. My new lifestyle - I use this carefully as I believe "lifestyle" is often overused: "It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle!", "[Insert sport here] isn't a game, it's a lifestyle!" and so on. I feel like it has almost become cliche. Let me describe what I mean by calling running a lifestyle. Once I got my husband, Brandon, into running, it became as integral to our lives as working or sleeping. Our RunKNOX practices are "what we do" on certain nights. We see and interact with our running friends 2-3 times a week. Instead of sleeping in, our standard Saturday activity is to get up early, run, and enjoy breakfast together. It makes our lives fun and interesting!
3. Great friends - Don't get me wrong, I have a great network of friends, family, and colleagues outside of running that I care about dearly. However, I was so surprised when I met other runners who welcomed me, didn't judge me at my beginning state, and embraced me into the local running community. As they've all been there, they're a great source of information and advice. Not to mention they make running fun. We chat, laugh and joke, complain about our workouts, bond as we go through the challenges together, and cheer for each other's accomplishments. I never would have stayed with it so long if I hadn't had such great new friends!
4. There's a place for me (and everyone)! - When I first started running, I was afraid people would judge me for not being able to run far or fast. Luckily, that didn't happen (see #3). Additionally, when I went to my first 5K race, I was pleasantly surprised to see a wide range of participants -from  people walking to elite runners, children to senior citizens, all fitness levels, people of all shapes and sizes. Running is a place where you can jump in and grow from wherever you are.
5. An escape from stress and worry - Trust me, you don't want to enter the deep, dark corners of my mind, but the sad truth is that I'm often a pessimist. I'm trying to overcome it. I can make one mistake or one thing can go wrong, and suddenly I imagine I'm destined to be destitute, alone, and a failure. Cue the violin music. Luckily, none of those have ever come to fruition. I carry this worry and stress with me, and running helps me get past it. I remember a few months ago, I'd had a particularly stressful day and my mind went there. Despite my gloomy outlook, I went to run with my group anyway. As soon as I started interacting with my running friends and working out, I forgot all about the (non) issue! 
6. More confidence and less hang-ups and insecurities - Okay, I'll admit I'm not there totally yet, but running has helped. When I first began running, I felt insecure about my abilities and appearance. I'd put on makeup before running and worry about how my hair looked. Now I know it's not about the shallow things. Fellow runners respect me for the hard work I put in, and what I accomplish. They don't care about the little stuff, which helps me care less. This confidence has also carried over into other areas of my life, as I now know I'm capable of accomplishing more than I think.
7. The way I look - Well, there is one shallow thing I will touch on. Since I've started running, I've seen major changes in my appearance. Over the last year and a half, I've lost about 18 lbs (eating mostly healthy - admittedly I'm still figuring that part out). More importantly, however, for the first time in my life, I can see hints of muscles, especially in my legs! I still have a long way to go, but it's nice to get closer to looking the part of a runner!
8. The way I feel - Once I got past an initial lethargic stage when I first started running, I started noticing that I felt better in my day to day life. I have more energy, breathe better, sleep better, am less tired from daily chores like laundry or cleaning, and can handle taxing chores with ease. I can't imagine going back!
9. Seeing beautiful places - It's amazing I lived in Knoxville for 7 years before I really ever "saw" it. Once I started running, I saw views of the river I'd ignored when driving, greenways through wooded areas I never knew existed, side streets and neighborhoods I'd never traveled. It was like Knoxville was new all over again! 
10. The ability to help others in their journey - This is the best part! In RunKNOX and even my social circles, I get to meet people who are considering running, or new to running. Because I have been there, I have a point of reference to relate to them and encourage them to keep going! I've gotten to see people go from not being able to run a mile to running 5 miles or more!

That's it! Those are my 10! Be sure to stop by The Lady Okie Blog and Coffee and Macarons to see why they and others think running is awesome!

Why do you think running is awesome?

-Amy

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Fitness Friday: Summer Style!

Happy Belated 4th of July!

I hope you have had a fun and healthy holiday! This is one of my favorite weeks of the year. My wedding anniversary is July 2nd, and I love outdoor fun and festivities over the holiday. When I think of July 4 and our nation, I think of all of the things I love that I take for granted. Because I live in a free nation, I can pursue my dreams and accomplish my goals. If I put my heart into it and I work hard, the sky is the limit. It doesn't matter who I am or where I'm from. I know that freedom comes at a cost, and I am grateful for the service men and women past and present who have make this freedom possible.

As for this week, I started off my week in Memphis. My husband, Brandon, had to travel there for a work conference and I tagged along. While he was "conferring", I sought out fun coffee shops, beautiful places to run, the Botanic Garden to practice photography, and of course, shopping! During his downtime, we saw the sites - Beale Street, the Peabody hotel, Graceland, downtown, and the Memphis Zoo.

Look for an expanded post soon on all of the fun things we found to do in Memphis!

Upon arriving home, we were thrown right back in the swing of things! We went back to work, celebrated our anniversary, and ran the Fireball 5K here in Knoxville last night.

My advice for the week: Get outside and have FUN!  It could be something new you've never done (hiking for me), finding a new running destination, playing games like badminton with friends, or water activities. In any case, summer is the perfect time to add some fun variety to your routine.

Here's how my week went:

Friday: "Making my Own Sunshine" on my 2 mi. Greenway Run

We had just arrived in Memphis the night before, and B had to get up early to go to his conference. I decided to get up at the same time and find some coffee and a fun place to run. It was raining, but I found a little coffee shop near my hotel called Poplar Perk'n. As I walked out with my skim latte, a woman passing me said:

We're making our own sunshine today!

After hearing such a great attitude, I was determined that despite the rain, I was going to get my 2 mile run in. I Googled greenways near East Memphis where I was staying, and found out about the Wolf River Greenway. Based on what I've read on their website, this greenway will eventually run along the Wolf River from downtown to outlying suburbs like Germantown (east of Memphis). It turned out that an entrance to the greenway was very close to my hotel, so I drove over and hopped on the greenway for a quick two mile run. I always try to be careful when running alone. The area appeared very affluent and safe, and I kept my phone on me just in case.

The greenway went through a beautiful wooded area along the river and I enjoyed the views as I pushed to complete two miles at approximately 10:30 per mile. Done!

 

Saturday: Walking (and Running) in Memphis

On Saturday, we got up early to take our first guided running tour by Rockin' Running Tours of Memphis. We weren't sure exactly what to expect. Our tour guide, Mel, who also operates the business, was friendly and informative. He took us on a 4 mile loop of downtown.

As it turns out, Mel has lived in Memphis for many years and knows a lot about the city! We ended up walking most of the route so that he could tell us all about it. He said that on tours 6 mi or longer, there is more running involved.

I'll share more about the tour in my Memphis post next week, but we learned a LOT of the city's history and socioeconomic trends, and stories behind the streets, parks, and buildings. It was a fun way to see and learn about the city, and get a workout in. If you're in Memphis for work or fun, I highly recommend booking a Rockin' Running Tour!

Sunday: Off Day

I will note that we spent 3 hours walking through the Memphis Zoo. That counts for something, right? :)

Monday: My First Hike!

We had just arrived home the night before. Since we had to go back to work on our anniversary (bummer!), B planned a pre-anniversary activity for us as a surprise, since I'd never really been on a hike.

Well, I had taken small walks through nature, but I seriously doubt they counted as hikes.

I really didn't know what to expect. I didn't understand the point of hiking.

Isn't it just walking through nature with boots on?

I didn't have boots, but I learned it was MUCH more than that! Holy moly! We went to House Mountain outside of Knoxville. When we got there, the sign said that it was only 0.8 miles to the top.

0.8 miles? That's child's play!

The only problem? They weren't kidding when they called it a mountain. This supposedly easy 0.8 miles was all very STEEP uphill. When we got closer to the top, the trail became less of a "trail" and was more of a tiny path between GIANT rocks that we had to climb.

What did I let B talk me into????

I'm afraid of heights, so this isn't my cup of tea. I was REALLY slow. I very carefully took each step at a time, finding a solid, non-slippery place to land my foot. This supposedly easy 0.8 miles turned into 45 minutes! I thought I'd never see the top! Finally, we made it, and stopped for a little picnic while looking over the mountain.

The only problem? What comes up must come down!

This was even harder! I constantly felt like I was going to fall. I clutched trees for dear life, holding my balance as I made my way down the rocks. I fell once, but wasn't hurt. After another (even more stressful) 45 minutes, we made it down the mountain. It felt so nice to walk normally instead of looking for solid ground on each step and using all of my leg muscles to stabilize myself.

The verdict: It was fun, and I'm glad B introduced me to this experience. However, it was hard. Really hard. I will never make fun of hiking again! I might do it again, but on a less treacherous trail!

Tuesday: Back to RunKNOX!

It felt like forever since I'd done a RunKNOX workout. Yeah, we ran in Memphis, but not at the intensity of our practices. Luckily, as many of us in the group were racing the next day, the practice was light. We jogged about 1.5 mi to the track, did a quick workout of 6 repeats of 200m at our 5K pace, and a light jog 1.5 mi back. Easy peasy.

Wednesday: Fireball 5K!

A popular pre-holiday running tradition in Knoxville is the Fireball 5K. It was at 9 PM Wednesday night - my first night race! The race runs through a relatively flat part of UT's campus on Neyland Drive. The last two 5K's I've ran have been hilly, so this was a welcome change. The good news was that it was relatively cool for this time of year - only about 70 degrees. The bad (or good, depending on who you ask) news is that it was slightly raining. I'm still trying to get over my aversion to running in the rain, so this was a good challenge for me. Luckily, it didn't rain too hard during the race.

Running so late was a new experience for me. I wasn't sure what to eat before. After lunch and a snack at work, I came home around 6 PM and had a PB&J on whole wheat bread. That sounded like a good choice - protein and carbs - 3 hours before the race, right? Then right before the race, I had my usual pack of "magic" running jellybeans (Jelly Belly Sport Beans) for energy.

Then in the dark and slight rain, we were off! I surprisingly felt very energetic. I was running slightly faster than my last two races (avg. 10:17 per mile). Unlike the last two races, however, I didn't feel like I was about to die or throw up during or at the end of the race.

That's a win, right?

I ended up running the race in 32:46. Not a PR, but 10 seconds faster than my last race. Furthermore, upon talking to my coach, Darren (who of course won the race), I found out that the course was slightly too long. My watch showed 3.17 miles (should be 3.12). Others in my group saw anywhere from 3.14 to 3.20 on their watches.

Still not a PR, but progress!

Thursday: 4th of July Core Class in the Rain!

It just so happens that I work in a 24/7 industry in which holidays off aren't the norm. We have the option of using vacation days, but I didn't have any particular reason to take off the Fourth of July. My plans with friends after work to go see a movie fell through.

Plan B? Go to Core Class!

Several people in RunKNOX had mentioned they still wanted to attend our Thursday night core class, and our coach, Darren, was available to hold the class. Unlike me, B didn't have to work that day. I asked him if he wanted to go, and he was like "Blah, blah, blah...I'm tired...my leg hurts...I don't want to go".

Fine, I'll go without you!

To our surprise, the building we usually use for the class was completely locked up for the holiday. So we did the workout outside in the parking lot. It wasn't too bad, but then it started raining. Like seriously raining. My hair and clothes were completely soaked!

It first, it really irritated me. I couldn't believe I was out here getting drenched on a holiday and B was relaxing at home. Then, I found it absurdly hilarious.

It's the Fourth of July, and I'm doing push-ups and lunges in the rain. There probably aren't many people who can say that, can they?

Admit it, you're jealous.

With that spirit in mind, I started having fun and enjoying the workout. I took some pics with my iPhone (in my Lifeproof case!) and thought about all of the bragging rights I'd earned. B was going to hear about this.

After the workout, I went with the group to dinner at a nearby barbecue restaurant and B joined us for dinner.

He wasn't too tired for that!

Everyone gave him a hard time, and even suggested he should work out in the parking lot while we enjoy dinner! :) I have to say it was the most unique Fourth of July I'd ever spent!

In closing, I reiterate my advice for this week. Have fun. Use the summer weather as an opportunity to try something new outside!

What's Next?

With the clock ticking and only 7 weeks until I turn 30 (yikes!), it's time to buckle down and work hard towards my 30 minute 5K goal! Still a lot of work to do, but I'm up for the challenge!

What are your favorite fun and active summer activities? Have you tried anything new lately?

-Amy

See what others around the web are doing with two great Fitness Friday communities:



I was not compensated by RunKNOX, the Knoxville Track Club, Rockin' Running Tours, or Wolf River Greenway for this post, nor is any organization affiliated with this blog. I am simply sharing my honest opinions and experiences. The views expressed in this article are solely my own. Also, I'm not a health or fitness professional of any kind. See my Terms and Conditions page.

Want more? Follow the CSRS Blog on  Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or CoffeeScarvesandRunningShoes on Instragram for the latest updates, articles, and more!

A Special Day...

First off, let me begin by saying this is not an advice article. This is simply my story through my own lens. I hope it will help you understand a little more about me.

Besides being candid about how I felt or reacted to the challenges of running, I haven't gotten too personal in the blog so far. However, when I read blogs, I enjoy learning about the person behind the screen. Since today is a special day for me, I feel it's an appropriate time to share a story that began an integral part of my life: my marriage to Brandon.

Today is our 8th wedding anniversary, and I'd like to share a little about how "Bramy" came to be.

The Beginning

In some ways, we're a small town stereotype. We met in high school. My family had just moved back to Tennessee, and I was the new kid. Despite my shyness, I slowly started to make friends and forge my way into the social landscape. Coming from an even smaller school in Wyoming (about 20 or so people in my grade), I was new to the social dynamics that came along with a bigger school, especially cliques. I didn't understand the concept that people fell into different groups, or had to wear certain clothes, or act certain ways to fit into those groups. I had a similar experience adapting to (small) city life, where many more socioeconomic factors come into play. A story for a different day.

I think that's why Brandon was so interesting to me.

Brandon was very unique in that despite his quiet demeanor, he seemed to get along with virtually everyone at school. He was valedictorian of his class and hung out with the studious kids. He played basketball and hung out with the jocks. He liked rock music and had metalhead friends. He strolled casually through the halls dressed in shorts and a T-shirt all year round (don't worry, I've helped him with fashion since) like he just didn't care. He really didn't care about what people thought of him, and seemed to accept everyone for who they were.

Even me, the new girl.

I got to know Brandon (of all things) in an anatomy class while I was a junior and he was a senior. We were lab partners, and chatted quite a bit. We dissected a cat together (which I hated and he loved, so it was perfect). We got to know each other, and he quickly became a good friend. We started to develop inside jokes. He'd do something silly like throw something into the ceiling fan to see where it flew, and I pretended to roll my eyes. He shared his Discman headphones with me on a school trip. And I quickly developed a crush on him.

This led to the bright idea that I should ask him to the prom. And despite the fact that this is the most terrifying thing you can do when you're 16, I got the courage to do it. I stalked him between classes and found him at his locker. I honestly don't remember how I asked him. It was probably the most awkward thing ever.

Oh hey..so...um...I was wondering...if you were going to prom? 

And....he said no.

I'm not kidding. Being against high school social rituals, he simply didn't want to go. He was very nice about it, however, and asked if we could still be friends. I was so shocked by his kindness, I couldn't say no.

As for the prom...don't worry about me. I went and had a great time.

Before junior prom. Yowza - it was the first time I'd gotten my hair and makeup done, and I let them go too big and too heavy!

Here's a picture more representative of what I looked like back then (sans big hair and tons of makeup).

Once B graduated and went to college, our friendship continued over email and MSN Messenger. I'm really dating us here. There was a world before Facebook! We chatted online regularly and would catch a movie when he was in town every now and then. This continued through my senior year of high school and even as I went to college (2 hours from the college he attended).

From Friends to Dating

Our friendship got deeper and deeper over time. It got real on MSN Messenger. We'd talk about our days, school, our thoughts and feelings about our lives and futures. We discovered that we both had similar outlooks on life. We both had a world view different than most people where we were from. We'd laugh about the most ridiculous things. Despite the fact that I was in relationships off and on during that time, he was the constant friend in my life I could count on. On the surface, I'd written him off as a friend, but I think I always held on to the possibility that it would lead to more.

I wasn't the only one who thought this way.

I didn't know this yet, but as our friendship developed during college, he was starting to realize his feelings for me. Finally later that fall, during my sophomore year, he finally asked me to go out with him. I had just come out of a particularly difficult break-up, and had to tell him I wasn't ready for a relationship at that moment. That didn't go over very well, as you can imagine. In fact, it led to our first fight. And our first make-up.

That Christmas, we resumed our friendship and spent the entire break together. We went to movies and drove around aimlessly talking. He even got me a gift set from Bath & Body Works (so cute of him!) for Christmas. I could be open and relaxed with him and we could talk about anything. Which of course led to the conclusion that I should give this relationship a second thought. And so, January 5, 2003, over MSN Messenger, we officially became "Bramy". 

We still did all of the same things we did before - only in the context of dating. We went to more movies (there wasn't much to do in my hometown), we went bowling, we went to dinner. We got to know each other's families better. He took me out to Knoxville for our first Valentine's Day and got me flowers and a Build-a-Bear.

Valentine's Day 2003. Look at our hair! Why did I think highlights were a good idea?

And I have to say, everything was going great!

I'll be honest. I was NEVER good at dating. The whole "you have to wear this", "don't call or text for X number of days", "Don't say this", "Don't act too interested" was so complicated to me. I don't know how to flirt. I was never one of those girls who had 10 guys blowing up my phone, and I don't know what I would have done if I had. I don't understand why there has to be such a complicated code.

With Brandon, everything made sense (and still does). I don't have to worry about that stuff. He doesn't care about that stuff. We can just be honest and open and silly and ourselves. We even have silly nicknames. We quote shows like "How I Met Your Mother" or "Family Guy" to each other. We get into silly "fights", like an epic water battle that led to his pillow getting soaked and me getting thrown into a pool. I promise it was all in good fun. 

I'm sure some wonder, how could I possibly be sure about a relationship at such a young age?

The transition from friends dating to was seamless and natural. It was like before I had been struggling to navigate this crazy world, and now everything clicked together and I knew exactly where to go.

That's why, 6 months after dating, at 19 years old, right before my junior year, we got engaged. I was 100% sure I loved him completely, he loved me completely, and it was the right step for us. My life was happy, fulfilled, fun, and made perfect sense. Living this way the rest of my life and growing old with him sounded wonderful.

I didn't know how to approach my family and friends about it. Fortunately, they were all very supportive, assuming we wait to get married until after college (which we did).

Sadly, when I share my story these days, I'm often met with shocked expressions. You got engaged as a teenager? You got married at 21? I know that's very young by today's standards (especially outside of small towns), and that it's not the right choice for everyone. It was the right choice for me, however. I sometimes wish that instead of the shock factor, I could get the "oohs" and "awws" like others get when sharing their engagement stories (I do sometimes). I often find myself on the defensive, saying something apologetic like "well, we had been friends for a long time first" to try to explain. In fact, I almost wrote this article from that perspective. I shouldn't have to defend my choices or relationship.

The Wedding Day

We were engaged for 2 years so we could finish school, until July 2, 2005. I was just out of college and had started my first job, and he was done with classes and headed into a semester of student teaching.

It was a wonderful day. We're both low-key, so we had an outdoor ceremony at the amphitheater at the college I went to undergrad close to our hometown.

And Beyond...

While some may believe that marrying early could hinder one's education and career progress, I have felt the exact opposite. The wonderful thing about being married is that we each have a full-time supporter and we help each other reach our personal and career goals.

While married, he graduated with his undergrad and later me with my MBA.

That's not to say it was all easy. Early in our marriage I realized that my job wasn't the best fit for me, so I left it to pursue my MBA full-time. Soon after, he realized teaching wasn't his calling, and left the field, eventually finding his place in the medical field. We supported each other through the difficult transitions. We've helped each other through major car break downs and repairs. We purchased a house and deal with the occasional headaches together. He can't stand how clumsy and haphazard I am. I can't stand that he leaves his keys/phone/receipts/wallet/shoes/etc all over the living room when he arrives home.

For the love of all that is holy, why does he do that?! To slowly drive me insane?

But through the hard times, when I'm REALLY annoyed with him, I just remember:

This is the guy you chased after through high school, and you would have been THRILLED to no end if you'd known you'd end up with him.

This is the guy who chased you through college and didn't give up on you, even when you'd almost given up on him.

This is the guy who is your best friend, and would do anything to make you happy, even if it involves silly nicknames or singing a song, or doing a silly dance.

This is the guy who has taken care of you when you were sick, even recovering from surgery.

This is the guy who will go along to any social event, any destination, even dress up like Snooki and Vinnie from the Jersey Shore if you ask him to.

I knew you'd want to see this.

This guy could have chosen to be with anyone, but he chose YOU.

And I can't get mad anymore.

But let's not forget about the good times!

We've been on great trips...

We love living in Knoxville...

We've adopted two wonderful kitties...

We love running together...

And here we are today!

In closing, I repeat that this is not an advice article. Don't worry, I'm not making the case that marrying young like I did is for everyone. I'm in no position to tell someone when, who, and how they should marry.

But as for me, it has been a wonderful 8 years, and I look forward to many more! Happy anniversary, B! 

-Amy

Don't worry - I'll be back to my regularly scheduled programming of running posts soon.

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Fitness Friday: Shaking Things Up!

Greetings from Memphis!

  by  terri_brown 

I promise I'm here, but my pictures haven't turned out so great so far.

It just so happened that B has a conference here for work, and I decided to tag along and keep him company. Even though I've lived in Tennessee for 15 years now, I've never ventured to the other end of our state. While we're here, we look forward to seeing Beale Street and other sights. While he's "conferring", I'm checking out local coffee shops, shopping, and of course, RUNNING! In fact, we even have a guided running tour scheduled tomorrow to see the sights while running! More on that later...

As for this week, it has been a short, but busy! With a race and social outing over the weekend, a particularly intense running practice Tuesday, and a busy work week to prepare for being out of town, we haven't stopped!

This week, we also enjoyed some new and renewed experiences to keep fitness exciting. We helped reintroduce my father-in-law to running, played badminton for the first time in years, and tried a completely new running style (for me) - sprinting! Here's how it all went down...

Saturday Part 1: Another 5K + Helping Reintroduce Someone to Running

Since RunKNOX wasn't meeting this week, we had the opportunity to run a 5K  outside of Knoxville, not too far from our hometown. 

As a very special treat, we were excited that B's dad was able to join us! Side note - his Dad was assistant principal when we were in high school. Unlike the stereotype about principals, he's well respected and well liked among students and community alike. 

As an avid lover of sports, veteran, and educator (who has been involved in athletic programs for years), he's no stranger to performing athletically. He's just getting back into running in his retirement, and we were excited he decided to kick off his first race with us!

The race was around a lake and through a wooded area, which provided a lot of shade. It was only about 70 degrees that morning, which felt fabulous!

My race started off promising, as my first two miles were about 10 minutes each. However, the last mile was in the sunniest, hilliest part of the course. I unfortunately lost energy (despite my magic jellybeans) and slowed down to finish at 32:58, only 10 seconds faster than my last race. After training for four weeks, I was expecting more improvement. Just means I have more work to do.

Brandon achieved another 24ish minute 5k, nothing new for him. His Dad did great! He ran/walked the race and finished in about 36 minutes! Even more importantly, he loved the experience and wants to keep going!

Saturday Part 2: My Bad-Minton Skills

  by  chipmk 

After lunch and some down time, we went out that night to a cookout hosted by friends. There was a variety of yard games for our enjoyment - bean bag toss (I have a hard time using the word "corn****" outside of friends and family, even though that's what it's called), horseshoes, and badminton. I'm terrible at the first two, but badminton was right up my alley!

You don't know this, but I used to have big time volleyball skills in junior high. Actually that's not true, I was terrible. Nonetheless it was fun and I learned a lot. So much so, that volleyball memories came back as I was playing badminton. I remembered the pressure I used to feel to NEVER take my eyes off the object coming over the net, identify and communicate if I can get to it, and rush as fast as I possibly can to get to it.

I may have gotten a little too intense for the yard game crowd. It got real.

Everyone else was goofing off having fun, and I was yelling "Mine!", running all over the grass in my bare feet (after realizing my flip-flops were a safety hazard), and jumping or diving if necessary to get to the silly shuttlecock. Sadly, I still wasn't very good, but I felt like I was doing my best and having a lot of fun!

I highly recommend utilizing summer by doing fun, active things outside!

Sunday - Downtime

After all of the excitement Saturday, I needed some rest, and my house needed some work. So, I went out get a mani/pedi, ran some errands, purchased groceries, and beautified my home a little.

Monday - The Usual

Elliptical + Body Pump class at the gym. The class incorporates all different exercises for a full body workout. Each individual component uses a different weight amount (which we choose based on our fitness level). I hadn't changed the amount of weight I use in a few months, but decided to up my bicep curl weight from 5 lbs. on each arm to 8 lbs. on each arm. It felt easy before, but now it's definitely NOT easy! Hopefully I'll get used to it and look better sleeveless!

Tuesday - Sprinting? What?

  by  Nils Geylen 

At RunKNOX, we tried something new. Sprinting. Honestly, it's a little out of my comfort zone. Why? Because while I've ran close to the fastest of my ability, I don't know that I've ever ran to my limit. That's just scary.

Not to mention, I learned there's more to sprinting than just running fast. We were taught to run with our knees higher and stride longer. And yes, run fast.

For an uncoordinated klutz like me, this was quite a bit of multitasking.

Perhaps I should juggle chickens or something while I'm at it? 

I tried to focus on everything at once while running in 100m intervals. This is only 1/16 of a mile, but feels surprisingly long when sprinting. 

The problem was it felt all wrong. I didn't feel like my knees were high enough, or I was very fast. The more I focused, the more out of whack I felt.

I attempted to ask my coaches, while sprinting, if I was doing it right. The unfortunate side effect was that as I asked, I could barely breathe from running and my question came out sounding like I was having a panic attack (which I wasn't).

Classic weird Amy. So embarrassing.

Fortunately, they walked me through correct form and then it started coming more naturally. 

Funny thing - once I started doing it right, it was really taxing physically! My heart was flying away! It took me awhile to catch it. I never knew such a short distance could feel so long! And just to top it off, we ran up and down every single staircase in the stadium around the track. 

Just to keep it interesting! 

I'm curious to see how this affects my running soon. :)

If you're interested in trying sprinting or varying up your running, I recommend finding a coach or trainer to help you if you've never tried it. It's not easy! However, it definitely breaks up the monotony of steady runs and will hopefully lead to faster results. I'll let you know!

Can't Walk Wednesday!

Holy moly. I woke up on Wednesday and my entire legs were sore. I didn't think a short workout could do that. I was wrong.

It hurt to walk.

It hurt even more to walk upstairs.

It hurt the most to walk downstairs.

So yeah, didn't work out on Wednesday. I did try to do a few stretches, though.

And we're out!

After a 6 hour drive yesterday, I'm ready to get out, run, and have fun! I hope to scope out a great place to run today, and can't wait for our running tour tomorrow. Check back next week for a special travel edition of Fitness Friday where I'll share how I'm staying active while in my trip!

I hope you're off to a fun and active summer! Have you tried anything new in your running, like sprinting or faster intervals to shake it up?

-Amy

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I was not compensated by RunKNOX or the Knoxville Track Club for this post, nor is either organization affiliated with this blog. I am simply sharing my honest opinions and experiences as I began running through the program. The views expressed in this article are solely my own. Also, I'm not a health or fitness professional of any kind. See my Terms and Conditions page.

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