So. Much. Driving.

There are about a zillion pictures in this post, I apologize.  If you have ever been interested in what it is like to drive across the US, I'm your girl and you are covered.  If you haven't, move along, you won't like it here.

I was heading west to meet Matt and some friends and drive his tour van back across Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and finally back to good ole' Tampa, Florida.  After a pretty sweet flight delay on Friday I got to Denver safe and sound. I started a game where every time the flight was delayed another hour I'd go get a beer, come back to the gate for updates, and get back out there.

Leaving Tampa and ready for Denver, wishful thinking.

Before losing count, Round #1

  

Delay announcement #25234254357.

  

Round #whoknows

The flight was delayed seven hours so it was a pretty dumb game to play alone and I forgot to eat dinner. Pinkberry was the only place open by the time I realized this which is fine with me.

I added blueberries for some antioxidants.  They cost $2 extra but I didn't know until I looked at my receipt the next day. 

 
Delta handled this really well.....we got vouchers to eat at the terminal, and we got an email that gave an apology and $100 towards our next trip.  We love Delta. 

The first morning I ran 5 beautiful miles in a park recommended by friends we are staying with. 60 degrees, no humidity, and mountain air. Thank you Colorado.

Our gracious hosts not only told me of the magical trail to run, they also brought us to the most delicious restaurant ever.  Watercourse Foods in Denver is a must-eat. 

I got the scrambled tofu with potatoes and green chili sauce.

Kailee and I after breakfast.

They also introduced us to a pretty awesome ice cream place in Denver, Sweet Action Ice Cream, and they had vegan ice cream.  We chose chocolate cinnamon which was great.  I'm itching to get out my ice cream maker and re create that miracle.

Kailee's fiance, Randy got us into the 19th anniversary party for Great Divide Brewery. 

So many breweries in Denver, so good.

After the brewery, we started our journey East and decided to only drive a few hours.  A few turned into four and a half, landing us in Nowheresville, Kansas.  We also passed through the most terrible storm, putting me on anxious tornado watch the whole time while Matt drove.  Kansas is so flat, you could see for miles.  It was really beautiful in a desolate, small town, farmy sort of way.

Nowheresville, Kansas had two hotels, this being the nicer of the two.  We were so happy to stop driving, it didn't even matter.

We had a long day of driving ahead of us the next day and I needed to work out to remain sane.

 Problem though with that....was this.

You see, I watched Children of the Corn and nothing good comes to the runner alone on a highway.  Thank goodness for some amazing ladies who post workouts you can do in a hotel/motel/Holiday Inn parking lot.  The 30 minute workout I picked left me sweaty, tired, and ready to sit for 11 hours (kind of, really, who is ever ready to sit for 11 hours?).

We stopped for some snacks which turned out to be a very  bad idea.  I can't handle snacks so badly.

 I want all of the snacks.

 After I tore through two bags of gummi worms, I realized I need to surround myself with healthy snacks or no snacks.  And with 28 hours of driving, "no snacks" was not a good idea.

Three gummi worms for every piece of fruit.

Matt found an app that tells you where some "must see" road side attractions are.  Obviously, we needed to visit Wilson, Kansas, home of the World's biggest Czech egg. 

A couple of miles down the road we stopped in Lawrence, Kansas for a Mediterranean lunch buffet which was a perfect spot to get out of the car.  Fresh falafel, pita, and hummus?  Done, done, and done.

After another couple of hours of driving we stopped at Trader Joe's in Missouri for healthy snacks.  Lots of dried bananas, mango, trail mix, coconut chips, popcorn, apples, peanut butter, jelly, and bread later, it was back in the van for another few hours. 

We finally got to our hotel in Paducah, Kentucky......so ready to sleep.  I don't know why sitting in a car all day singing along to your favorite songs from high school is so exhausting.

I was so excited our hotel had a gym and I wouldn't have to die outside in the heat but the treadmill was broken so I took to the Kentucky highway for 4 hot miles.  Even though I got up at 7am, the sun comes out full force then and I got sunburned.  It was so hot there.  Our hotel had a pool though so I jumped in with my running clothes on, really classin' it up.  I'm sure hotel pools are cesspools of germs from all over but they just remind me of vacations with my family when I was younger. 

We didn't have a ton to drive and it was broken up into fun stops.  I was so pumped to head to Nashville for these popsicles.  Las Paletas was every bit as delicious as I imagined.  Matt and I got two and switched when we got through half.  Chocolate with chili and Tamarind with chili were both stellar.

We also got to see our friend Kyle who is recording part of his record in Nashville.  It was a good break from the road.  Our next stop was about two hours away.....

Lynchburg, Tennessee, home of the Jack Daniel Distillery.  We'd had good weather all day and right when we pull up for the tour, it started thundering, lighting, and pouring.  They go hard at Jack Daniel though and said we'd do our tour (walking) anyways.  It was so great, and I highly recommend the tour.  The whole facility is beautiful and the people that work there couldn't be nicer.  The distillery is in a dry county though so we couldn't try any and you can't even buy it.  Fun fact.  Every single bottle of Jack Daniel whiskey still comes out of the Lynchburg distillery.  There are no other plants that make it. 

About two hours later we made it to Atlanta for dinner and Matt had been talking about this place he goes on tour whenever he's there called "R Thomas".  It was every bit as incredible as he made it sound.  I got the vegetable plate with nori rolls, seaweed salad, cauliflower tabbouleh, and a broccoli mix.  So so so good.

Yesterday morning, I was sore from sitting in a car so much and didn't want to run but I made a deal with myself that if I ran for 20 minutes, I would swim afterward.  Laps in the pool were perfect even though I am pretty sure one regular lap amounts to 6 laps in the miniature pool.  I smelled good and chlorine-y when I got out.

We only had 6 hours to drive yesterday which seemed dream like but we were so ready to not be driving. 

We stopped at the world's largest peanut monument for some PB & Js of course.

And we'd already drank the bottle of Cab we'd gotten on our last TJ stop so we picked up two more at their Gainesville location.  People are nicer to you there when you wear stuff with reptiles on it in Gainesville.  Weird.

And finally.......home sweet home.

We didn't have much stocked in the fridge and we both kind of wanted vegetables so I made some kale soup.  It was great, a little too hot for summertime though.  Nothing is worse than playing out in a beautiful summer day only to come in for some hot soup.  Blech.  Good thing we were in a car all day and it paired nicely with Arrested Development. 

Song of the South

Tallahassee was great.  I love it up there and realized it had been over two years since my last visit.  Far too long.  After this weekend, I’m 100% sure I am destined to live in a commune.  The buzz of a full house is just addicting.  When I got home, the quiet of a house with just me and my dog was odd.  I love the chaos of lots of people living in the same house. 

Some highlights….

Where else can you find dog/cat repellant?

I found these on the kitchen table.  The smell could possibly be toxic.  My grandma said that gin soaked raisins help circulation.  I’m pretty sure she made that up.

My grandparents own a ton of land and grow lots of fun things including the best kumquats I’ve ever tasted.  Sorry, Granddad for eating the rest of them.

These camellias were beautiful, I don’t think they had really bloomed yet but I cut them for the kitchen table anyway, they reminded me of ranunculus.

The house my dad grew up in….

85 years young, however, people live to 100 regularly in our family.  Good genes. 

My aunt perfected the potato salad.

My grandfather built this apartment on top of his work shed for his family to stay when they visited.  He is amazing.

My grandfather said he saw an animal in the field across from the house.  These kinds of things are very exciting in these parts so everyone needed to see it.

After a big southern-y lunch we headed to the woods for a family hike which included timber yards, stocked fishing ponds, hunting perches (?), ticks, barn exploring, and of course, laughter. 

My dad and I went for a run one morning.  Holy hills Batman.  The sunrise was lovely though, and I needed to run.  Obviously, my aunts’ honey bun cake and homemade dinner rolls were the reason why Bob Harper’s plan took a backseat this weekend.  Oui vey.  I probably should have run 14 miles but Dad and I stuck with 4 hilly beautiful miles through rustic homesteads and farms.

I've no idea why this bathroom towel is here.  Our family's name is "Mahaffey" and not one person's name starts with a "T". 

I can’t wait to get back this summer and pick all of the blueberries before my aunts get there.  They love arriving to bushes that have been picked clean. 

While I was consuming salt for two glorious days (oh the salt I consumed....I think my feet are swollen), I asked my parents to stop for some boiled peanuts.  Boiled peanuts should come from places that look like this. 

So that bourbon is not for me?

Day three of Bob Harper’s plan and I feel good.  I forgot to mention an important part of this three week boondoogle. 

No alcohol. 

At all. 

For three weeks. 

I’m being dramatic, I know.  This isn’t as terrible as I’m making it out to be…..or at least that is what I keep repeating in my head. 

So no more of this girl for three weeks….

Mr. Harper is getting some slack from many on social media…I saw one hashtag that read #jumpstarttostarvation.  I get it, 800 calories is very crazy.  Many called it dangerous.  But I take Bob’s invitation to eat as many vegetables from an extensive list very seriously, and whatever way you look at it, vegetables have calories, which supply energy.  So I haven’t been hungry and have been getting plenty of calories. 

 I do kind of want to stick a straw in a packet of soy sauce though.  I want salt so badly.  To make sure I’m not dangerously low on sodium (I honestly think I am getting enough in the food I eat but to be safe) I’m drinking 16 ounces of no added sugar electrolyte replacement drink (I am using the brand, Nuun because it is the only kind I’ve been able to stomach) each day as well. 

That is in addition to water.  You could probably roll me down the street, I'm so full of water.  So much water. 

Last night’s dinner was roasted broccoli, tomatoes, and Brussels, some of my favorite vegetables that somehow turn into not my favorite vegetables without salt.  I’m going to buy lots of fresh herbs today to spice up the flavors a bit, my dried collection isn’t going to cut it.  I have noticed that after a couple bites, I have not minded as much, it is just the first bite that makes you wonder what you cooked for yourself.

I am so pumped for this weekend.  I get to see my family!!!! We have skipped Thanksgiving in Tallahassee two years in a row and I haven’t seen them in a long time.  I’m so excited. 

Not really excited about bringing this diet to the land of the holy trinity of salt, butter, and sugar. 

Boo hoo.    

Route 66 bound

The moon was incredible this morning.  My iphone let me down though and it doesn't look that great. 

Such good news!  Matt's schedule is crazytown and is always changing so it's hard to find good places to meet up with him when he's traveling.  Yesterday though, there was a meeting being scheduled at my office and I HAD to know if I was going to be able to attend so I laid down the law and made Matt nail down a date for when we were going to drive the van (our van) back from California. 

And it is so nailed down. 

Cross country road trip 2013!  Nothing like spending 24 hours a day with the love of your life to celebrate 5 years of marriage.  I might have preferred a sandy shore with a palm tree and a beverage served in a pineapple but we can't win them all. 

We have a week to make our way across and we need "must see" places!  The week long time frame is non negotiable because TSwift is playing in Tampa on Saturday and this girl has tickets.  I don't joke around when it comes to a Swift show.  We will be there, sleep deprived possibly from a long night in New Orleans, but I will be there.  With glitter everywhere.  I don't mess around with glitter either. 

Possible Schedule:

Day One- Los Angeles -> Zion National Park with a stop in Vegas so I can lose win us some money and have Elvis renew our vows.

Day Two- Zion Exploration Day where I magically turn into an amazing rock climber with killer arms.  Drive as far as we can after being so active.

Day Three- Denver Ho!  We have to drop off the band's gear and visit ever brewery in the area so you know, we'll be there for a couple days.  Just kidding, I've got tickets to Taylor Swift. 

Day Four- Denver -> Wichita, KS  This is a 7 hour stretch of not a whole lotta.  Need recommendations.

Day Five- Wichita, KS -> Dallas, TX  I've never been to Dallas but it sounds very Texas-y. 

Day Six- Dallas -> New Orleans/Mobile  I've only seen the French Quarter part of New Orleans and it was at night so it was sketch city.  I want to sit in a jazz bar and drink cocktails and eat beignets simultaneously.  Then to Mobile for the best BBQ (Moe's) I've ever had.  I guess since I don't eat BBQ that means a lot. 

Day Seven- Drive to Tampa while stopping in Tallahassee to eat lunch with my awesome family then home to glitter up for the Taylor Swift show. 

We may have to cram more driving in the beginning of the trip for every adventure we have planned.  Also, there is a possibility of going through Nashville instead of Texas but we haven't decided.  I need help!!!  I need suggestions! 

Gasparilla re-cap and I love you.

Race day was great.  There is just something about sleeping terribly before a race that makes it special- I need tips on pre-race day sleeping, I just can't even wrap my brain around it- file that under a lot of other things (quantum physics, calorie free french fries, a world without Sweet Tomatoes....the list goes on and on...).

I'm so thankful for my Team FCA teammates and sponsors.  You all rock my toe socks off.  I'm so blessed with amazing friends, old and new, who took time this year to train, donate, pray, and read about this organization.  I can't even express how incredible you all are.

It doesn't look like I love them but I loved them enough to distance my "just ran 9 miles funk" a bit.

It was so hot on Saturday, for those of you who donated to my race, please be content in knowing I definitely got my sweat on for those dollars.  I raised over $400 for FCA and you should know I kept repeating "people paid money for you to finish this" over and over throughout the race.  It was tough, I've never run in temps that hot and it was brutal.  I'm a total running wimp when it comes to heat.  You'll see me running in the gym and spinning around the end of March when running outside in Tampa gets swampy.  At the end of the 5K there were volunteers handing out bags to throw up in, it was that miserable.  Thankfully the sun wasn't out and it was cloudy, otherwise I may have taped my bib to another runner to kill it for me.

From the starting line......

A morning run with 5,000,000 of your friends.

Camille and Rachel C. 

Meet Camille, my office mate and all around amazing person.

Camille: "Make a strong arm" Rachel: "I don't know what a strong arm is and I don't have one"

Camille and Tiffany before the race and I hadn't finished changing into my shirt.  Gross.

I've known Rachel for 13 years.  That's crazy.  If she wouldn't kill me for it, I'd post her finish line picture.  It's amazing.

Last year I ran just the 15K and I don't remember it being as crowded as this year, but it was packed.  It took about 5 minutes after the start to actually cross the starting line, there were so many people running.  For the first 4-5 miles, there was hardly any room to move and control my pace- it was a lot of stop and go and lots of being cut off which wasn't very fun.  I think there is something to be said for getting there early for a spot closer to the front.

So many of our runners for FCA were running their first 5K and I'm so proud of them for showing up, raising money for us, and giving their all.  It brought tears to my eyes to see them running on the course and doing something they didn't think they'd ever be able to do.  If you've never run before I challenge you to complete a 5K.  From children to the elderly, they were all represented.  I saw some pregnant women running which is unreal.  I don't like running with my car keys because it hurts my arm with extra weight.  I can't imagine a baby.

My next race is a trail race at Hillsborough State park if anyone else wants to join in.  It's April 13th and a 10K but the entry fee is less than what I spend on lunch downtown and it's through the woods so it's cool and a really small race with awesome people.  I did it last year.  If anyone is up for it, let me know.  The sign up is here.....

http://www.active.com/10k-race/thonotosassa-fl/river-n-rapids-10k-and-fun-run-2013

Saturday was an all around awesome day because Matt and his drummer, Nate, got to come home (home for Matt, not for Nate) for the weekend to preform at a festival in Downtown Orlando so I got to pick them up from the airport.

My second home.

We went straight to pick up our new van and Matt and Nate agreed to fulfill my cravings for Sweet Tomatoes which was nice.  Big high five to me for showing Nate the "best of" Tampa's local culinary scene.

The show downtown was great.  I don't know if this is a monthly thing but I wish Tampa would pull off something like this.  Andy Grammar and All American Rejects also played, there were tons of local restaurants, a brewery, and wineries to sample from.  It was awesome. 

It was overcast so the heat wasn't unbearable but it was fun watching Matt perform songs from the new album.  Free food, beer, and wine wasn't that bad either.  We also got to see our Orlando friends and attempt to convince them to move in next door to us so we can be neighbors.  Friends for life.

We did get to Taco Bus so Nate got to experience at least one local gem.

 He doesn't look like he is enjoying it but he knows he did.  He's from California so taking him out for Mexican was a bit of a gamble but he wasn't too pretentious about it.  He only brought up San Diego shrimp tacos once.  We'll forgive him.  And he didn't judge me for downing one bottle of Taco Bus hot sauce.