This one time, in Nashville … I ran a half marathon!

It was HARD, you guys. It was so freaking hot and sunny out, and so much of the race was on open stretches of road with no available shade … I thought I was going to melt into a puddle of sweat. But I kept dragging myself toward that finish line. I’d been planning on running eight miles and walking five, but at the last minute, my coach said that I could run up to 10 if I felt strong enough. So I did!

I took a couple quarter-mile breaks between miles 6 and 9, and then walked from mile 10 to mile 12. I was exhausted, but I forced myself to run the last mile so that I wouldn’t cross the finish line looking like a lazy slug! Just a few yards past the finish line, a group of volunteers was handing out medals. I was so happy to snag mine. IT’S GLITTERY!

I felt so lucky to be able to do this. I thought my knees were going to send me to the spectator area, but they didn’t even bother me for the majority of the race! No knee pain, no shin splints, no nothin’. Just some good old-fashioned exhaustion and soreness. We even got to see some sights in Nashville. Not all of ‘em, but enough for one weekend trip.

We went out to a bar called The Red Door Saloon near our hotel.

We went to the Country Music Hall of Fame (I’m pointing at that dude because my husband recorded him a few months ago).

I checked out Elvis Presley’s gold-leafed piano and desperately wished I could have it in my house.

We ate at 12 South Taproom, which had decent food but terrible service.

And we all ran the race! Brad, our friend Courtney and I ran the half, and our friends Matt, Kelly and Ed ran the full. This was Kelly’s first marathon, and she finished in 3:42. Frigging insanity.

I feel so badly that I’ve been such a bad blogger, but I think I’m still recovering. For now, it’s time to watch Game of Thrones. See you again soon!