Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon Race Weeked & Recap

The weekend of June 2nd, I piled in the car with some of my girlfriends and we headed to Virginia for a weekend full of running, wine, good food, and great company!!

We left Thursday around lunchtime and arrived in Loudon, VA! It was a pretty uneventful trip with only a few stops along the way! We grabbed a bite to eat, had a few beers, and hit the sack! 

Friday morning we got up and went for a short 4 mile run around the hotel we were staying. We hopped on a run/bike trail which was very nice and pretty. I wish our hometown had more of these and respected runners and cyclists more than what they do!

We went to the expo and picked up our bibs and waited for the rest of our group to arrive and then we hit Panera Bread for lunch! We also detoured to the outlets by our hotel to get in a little shopping!

Waiting around at the expo at Landstowne Resort. It was such a beautiful place!

We went to an early dinner and then got in the bed pretty early for our 4:45 wake up call! 

The race was about a 20 minute drive for us so we all piled in the car. It had rained on us a good bit the day before so the winery parking was flooded and very muddy. This held up traffic and backed things up a bit. We were nervous we wouldn't make it to the start. Thank goodness we are planners and left early enough!

A few of us before the race!

The race was delayed about 30 minutes because of the traffic back-up and late shuttle buses from the hotels. This made me pretty antsy I will admit.

The race finally started and my first two miles hovered at around a 7:30 pace. This was right where I wanted to be. There were hills in this race. I knew there were going to be hills. I was not prepared for the whole race to be rolling hills, which it was. I started to really feel the pace getting to be at about mile 8. I few miles around this point too were on gravel roads. I hate running on that type of surface. I blame the gravel for slowing down too.

I kept thinking as I started getting towards the end of mile 10 that I could not wait for this race to be OVER! I don't know that I have ever felt that way, not even during my first marathon. 

It was a tough course. I didn't run my best. It was my first time traveling that distance (7hrs) to a race. I had a terrible upset stomach that morning. These are all the things I blamed my not so good race on! 

Official Time - 1:42:35

We all have those races and we are not all perfect! This was one of mine. After the race was over, we waited for everyone to finish, went and got our super cool wine glass and hit the wine tasting area!!

Our crew after the race!

After we left the race, we hit up this local pizza place and it was delicious. I drowned my sorrows into this huge veggie calzone that was out of this world good!!

We got back to the hotel and hit the hot tub with snacks and beer in hand!

We hit the town for dinner and dancing for a while that night and sadly I did not take any photos! :( 

We got up early on Sunday and had breakfast and then hit the road back to Flo-town! It was a great trip!

Our First Anniversary Weekend

 I have been so horrible at blogging! I am trying to catch up. So, I am backing up to May! :)

May 19th marked the beginning of our anniversary weekend! I started it off with a 10k race and the husband started it off with class. Great start for me and not so great for hubby but ya gotta do what ya gotta do! 

He met me at the wedding and I rode with my parents! We stayed at The Wilcox House in downtown Aiken, SC! It was a very cute, historic bed and breakfast! The reception was also at the Wilcox which was nice!! Congrats to Laura and Jason! We had a great time at the wedding!!

On Sunday Morning we got up and enjoyed a yummy breakfast at the Wilcox House before hitting the road to Lake Lure, NC for a long weekend to celebrate our anniversary.

We arrived on Sunday around 3:00ish and settled in before heading out to dinner. After dinner, we just relaxed on our balcony overlooking the lake.

Monday morning we got up early and made our way to Chimney Rock to do some hiking! We have been wanting to go hiking for a while but this hiking was not quite as we expected.

One Word...Stairs!

We got in a pretty decent workout climbing all those stairs! I used muscles I didnt know I had! Here are some views from our hike.

 We took this photo of the beautiful American flag because it reminded us of our dear friend Chad who is serving his second term in Afghanistan. His company recently was attacked by a suicide bomber and he lost three of his soldiers. We have been saying extra prayers for him and all that were affected. Love ya buddy and can't wait for you to come home!

 Hot and tired at this point!

A beautiful waterfall to end our hiking adventure! We headed to the small shopping center at the base of Chimney Rock for some cold icecream!

That night we went to a nice italian dinner before heading home on Tuesday morning! My wonderful husband took an alternate route on the way back and we made a pit stop for a few hours at Southpark Mall in Charlotte! We enjoyed some shopping and froyo before heading home to Flo-town!

We didn't pull out our wedding cake top until a few days after we got back. It was still just as good as it was in May of last year!

We had a wonderful anniversary and are looking forward to many, many more!!

2012 Race for Taylor 10k

On Saturday, May 19, I ran the Race for Taylor 10k in my hometown. I did this race the first year they had it but missed it last year because it was on my wedding day. I was thrilled to be able to participate again this year because it is such a special race put on by a very special family in memory of their 17 year old son who was tragically killed in a car accident To read more about it, go here. 

I got up that morning bright and early to down some coffee and a cliff bar and a half a banana. The husband took me to the race because he needed my car to drive to Columbia for class and then to meet me in Aiken for a wedding.

The weather was absolutely perfect for racing, surprisingly not too warm.

I felt pretty good that morning and was eager to start the race.

There I am in the far left corner with the pink tank on! :)

I am blogging so far after the race that I don't remember my splits but I do know that my first two miles were under 7 minutes each. Whew! 

The race took us through several neighborhoods to which I forgot had a few rolling hills. It was not an easy course but a very good course!!

The only thing I did not like was that a bunch of walkers were still on the course as I was finishing and I had to weave in and out of traffic people but it was all good!

I hit the finish line with a time of.....

43:19!!!

8     343   Britton Yarborough     08:09:15   08:52:34   00:43:19   6:59

8th overall out of 57 people

1st overall female

I was very proud of this time. I knew I had gone out too fast but I didn't completely fizzle at the end like I

 thought may happen!  

 Here I am approaching the finish!

 Whew!

Hugging Belinda as she gave me a bobblehead trohpy and $25 cash prize!

I now hold the course record for the females for this race course! 

Excited and proud of how I ran this race but I am wondering if I am leaving myself 

room to get any faster?!?! I hope so!!

After the race we were off to Aiken for a wedding and then from their to Lake Lure,

NC for our anniversary weekend!

Life as of Lately...

It has been a while since I have blogged, especially about life in general! Cheers to catching up a little bit!

I am still on the job hunt. I graduated last May with a Masters (Educational Specialist) degree and did not find a job right out of school. I have worked retail off and on parttime just for something to do. I have had several interviews for various jobs that weren't exactly what I wanted and was overqualified for. I feel though that something is going to come along that is meant for me.

I interviewed this past Monday and I felt better about that interview than any other so far. They made me feel comfortable and actually acted interested in me and who I was. I am keeping my fingers crossed but trying not to get my hopes up. If it is meant for me, it will happen.

In other news, I will soon be celebrating my one year anniversary! I mean, really?!?! Where did that year go? We survived the "dreaded first year" of marriage and with a little room to spare! :) The husband planned a long weekend in the mountains to celebrate and I am super excited about getting away!

This was the husband and I close to 6 years ago celebrating our first Christmas as a couple...

Wow is all I can say. This photo is quite embarrassing! We have come along way in our journey to both living healthy lifestyles, that's for sure!

This is from Christmas 2011...

Our furry baby is almost 4th months and he is growing so fast! He is already 4.7 lbs! Hopefully he will only gain just a few more lbs before he maxes out. Here is what he has been up to lately!

Playing with my friends

 After my first haircut! You can finally see my eyes!

Pattie and Mommy

I love visiting my Grandma's house and finding things on the floor that get dropped...like my auntie's undies!

Last, but certainly not least, I have an important announcement to make! No, I am not having a human baby but I do have a new baby that is on it's way to me and I couldn't be more thrilled! Introducing...

DA NEW RIDE!!!

I got an amazing deal on this through ebay. It was shipped yesterday and I have tracked it every thirty minutes since I got the tracking number! Stalker much, No?

I  can't wait to learn more about cycling and how to ride! Luckily I have some great friends who ride who are willing to help! Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Hopefully I will be a better blogger but I just have been in a rut! I am sure that when my new baby gets here I will have lots to talk about! In the meantime I am going to go figure out how I am going to fit in a husband, a job, a furry baby, running, yoga, crossfit, and biking! Whew!!

I am off to watch Survivor and cheer on Chelsea who is from my hometown and who I went to high school with!! Get it girl!

*britton*

1st Annual Run For Brighter Days 10k Race Recap

On Saturday, April 21, 2012 I ran the first annual Run for Brighter Days 10k trail race. This was a small race but I love small races in my area! They are all usually well organized and supported by the local runners, and this one was no different.

Can I just go ahead and say up front that I do not like trails. There, I said it. I don't really know why, but I don't. I love the surroundings that trails usually bring but I just don't enjoy running on that type of surface.

The morning started out bright at early at 6:00am after the husband woke me up as he was making noise getting ready to go turkey hunting. I don't know why putting on camouflage has to be so noisy. 

I couldn't go back to sleep so I got up, fixed me a 1/4th a cup of coffee and played around on the computer. After coffee I got my things together that I needed for the run and woke up the furry baby and took him out. We played for a few minutes and then I got dressed and ate my banana and Luna bar for breakfast.

The race didn't start until 9:00 so I had plenty of time. I would rather they start early, but that's just me. Lauren came and picked me up at my house around 8:00 and we said bye to the pup pup and we headed to the race. We got there in plenty of time and walked to the registration area to get our bibs. Neither one of us got the right size shirts because they had already run out. Not that I don't have enough race shirts already, but this is probably my only complaint about this race.

We walked over and chatted with G and B of Carolina Running Company. They do such a fabulous job timing the local races around here! I left them and hit the trail for a little warm up before the race started!

The race started promptly at the said start time. I almost forgot to start my watch. That's me up there scrambling to find satellite before the gun went off.

The begining of the course took you downhill and the back uphill on gravel terrain. That was tricky! 

I went out way too fast, as usual. I have been working on this so hopefully I will continue to learn how to start a bit slower. My first mile was 6:57 so I knew I had to slow down a bit.

Here I am coming back up the hill near the end of the first mile.

After the first mile or so we split off from the 5k runners and I was pretty much on my own. There were only a few guys in front of me and after a few turns they got out of my site. I had no idea where anyone else was or how close anyone was behind me.

I started cramping at Mile 2. I slowed down a little bit, let the cramps do their thing and thank goodness they went away. Mile 2 was the slowest mile at 7:45 and then I picked it back up.

There were a good many turns and the signs were small so I had to look close to see where to go. I don't like having to do that. It takes extra work. I would rather just follow the person in front of me!

Mile 3 all I could think about was how I was going to be able to hold on to my pace. It was hot, I was on a surface I didn't like, and there was nothing but open fields around me with zero shade. Enter positive self talk. It works, people!

The next few miles were tough. I only took in one little bit of water and kept trudging. Only once did I suspect I had made a wrong turn because the sign was not visible and there were 5k walkers coming at me from two different directions. Luckily, I made the right turn!

I don't know my last few splits because I can't find it on my Garmin. I do know they were pretty fast.

I will say that I love to finish a race strong and totally out of breath. Mission Accomplished!

Yes, those ladies behind me are 5k walkers. I finished about 5 mintutes in front of the next girl.

Official race time = 44:58
3rd place Overall out of 38 runners
1st Place Overall Female

A 6 minute PR for me on a trail course, I'll take it!

I won a Dicks gift card and a gift card to the spa for a manicure! WOW! Definitely best award I think I have received from a race! That was very nice and much appreciated!

If I am able, I will definitely do this race again next year! Hopefully I will be up for the challenge!