Last week's half-marathon training was off for good reason: I took a road trip down to Louisville, Kentucky, from Chicago with two of my favorite people, Charlsy and Graham. We packed so much into one weekend that it's difficult to put into words, so I created a video instead! Highlights of the trip: Hanging out with friends and family in Louisville. RecBar, an arcade bar and restaurant in ... Read more
Thanksgiving in Louisville, Kentucky
My weekend in Kentucky in (mostly) photos:I finished one of the last items on my fall bucket list when I baked an apple pie for Thanksgiving. I used a recipe for Grandma Ople's apple pie that I found on AllRecipes.com. It's published with a video, which is a tremendous help. The pie received rave reviews at Thanksgiving dinner. I highly recommend it!Grandma Ople's appie pie from Allrecipes.comI ... Read more
My First Marathon
My first 26.2 mile race was the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon in Louisville. And it was in the rain. Despite the weather, I loved the experience. I awoke at 4:30 a.m. after about three hours of sleep. My heart was racing already. I made myself two packets of oatmeal and forced myself to eat. I also ate part of a banana and half a bagel with peanut butter. The anxiety made chewing ... Read more
Marathon Playlist
Do you ever wonder what runners are listening to? I do.My first marathon, the Kentucky Derby Festival race, is in less than two weeks, so I'm now finalizing my playlist for the big day. I'm estimating it could take me up to five hours, which means I'll need plenty of songs on my list.Here's what I've been listening to on my training runs lately:"See You Again," Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth. ... Read more
A Sunday Morning in Louisville
This weekend I drove down to Jeffersonville, Indiana, for my future sister-in-law's beach-themed bridal shower. Everything was so lovely, and I was grateful to spend time with my mother-in-law. On Sunday, my brother- and sister-in-law took me to the "NuLu" part of Louisville, which had all sorts of trendy, unique shops and restaurants. My sister-in-law added her wish to the wall that asks what ... Read more
A Wedding at the Red River Gorge, Kentucky
I was lucky enough to be invited to a wedding in the Red River Gorge of Kentucky last weekend. I knew it would be scenic but what I experienced surpassed every expectation. The Gorge was about a two-hour drive from Louisville. Luckily our rental, a Prius hybrid, boasted almost 50 miles to the gallon. We pushed buttons and more buttons trying to figure out how to turn it on, and after a few ... Read more
A rainy trip to Louisville, KY
Louisville is a beautiful city. I love visiting any chance we can. Soon, the clouds took over, but as a Phoenician who doesn't see much of it, I didn't mind. Driving back from Indiana. We visited Louisville's Slugger Field, home of the Louisville Bats, for a behind-the-scenes tour. Any baseball lover would enjoy a game at this field. I would love to do more exploring of downtown ... Read more