40K step day!

For those of you that didn't know, Lizzie and I wrote down a list of goals that we want to accomplish in our second year of marriage. We're over halfway through the year, but not quite halfway through our goals. I blame this mostly on my own lethargy -- I feel that if these were individual goals, Lizzie would probably have all of them done and would be working on a color-coded list for the next set of goals. But I'm not here to place blame or discuss our overall progress thus far. I am here to discuss one goal in particular. The 40,000 step day.

This was a goal that we both agreed on -- our biggest step badges on fitbit so far was 35,000 steps, and it seemed like a very reachable goal. For those of you that don't count your steps, a mile of walking in doug steps is roughly 2,000 steps. So to put this in perspective, we're talking about walking about 20 miles in one day.

Several times this year, I personally crested above the 39,000 mark. When we were in Alaska earlier this year, I had gone for a run in Anchorage that ended up a little bit longer than I planned. I mapped it out well enough, but I felt really good and just kept running. Later that day, Lizzie and I went for a long hike that involved escaping from bird-sized mosquitoes. When we got to the airport and all was said and done, I had 39,000 steps. Lizzie pleaded for me to sit down so that we could hit the goal together, and I obliged. We can't very well have a group goal that I accomplish on my own. Where's the fun in that?

The summer months came after we got back. Unbearably hot day after unbearably hot day. We never even entertained the idea of walking 20 miles in that heat.

In the last few months, though, I've been stepping up my long runs. I signed up for the Dopey Challenge in January. This involves 4 straight days of running. Thursday starts with a 5K. Friday is a 10K. Saturday is a half marathon. Sunday is a full marathon. 48.6 miles over the course of 4 days. Naturally, as the heat started to subside, I started to increase my mileage to prepare for this race. Admittedly, I'm nowhere near the level I'd like to be, but I'm not far off the mark. Over the last few weekends, as my mileage was increasing, Lizzie would ask me what my step totals were. I think when I hit 33,000 in a single run, she saw the writing on the wall, and once the weather cooperated and we both had a free weekend -- we went for it.

We started the day a little late. I had planned on going out for a long run in the morning, but sometimes the blerch gets the best of even me. We didn't roll out of bed until 10 or 10:30 that Saturday, but it was so pretty outside, I knew I was still going to go for a run. On the training schedule was a 17 miler, and as I was getting ready, Lizzie made the call to make it our 40,000 step day. She posted our plans on facebook in order to get some support while I was out on my run, and we took a couple of pictures before I took off toward the
city. The day was absolutely gorgeous. Lizzie definitely picked a winner to hit our milestone. I didn't map our my route, I just winged it based on some of my previous runs, but I clearly got the distance wrong. I realized I was only going to get 15 when I flipped, but rather than drag out a 2 mile out-and-back dogleg down St. Charles, I came straight back to get a few more steps in with the Lizzie. What's another 2 miles, anyway? :)

I got back in the middle of the afternoon, took a shower and watched some football for about an hour while Lizzie caught up in steps. When you're running, you tend to knock out the steps a lot faster than walking. I found I only get about 1,500 steps per mile at my run pace, but they get knocked out in 8-9 minutes instead of 2,000 steps in 15-18 minutes. So when I got back, I had about 33,000, but Lizzie only had 24,000.

(I might be fudging those numbers a little bit there, but it was close to that) I started marking down miles with her as the sun started to fade, and we kept walking until well after the sun went down. In all, it took nearly 8 hours to complete 40,000 steps with breaks for food, nature calls, taking pictures, and talking with new people. Lizzie will fill you in on the details that occurred during her walk as I hammered out my run in the city. From the stories she's told, she rarely had to walk alone.
I am happy to say that we did it, we did it together, and I am very proud of my wife for accomplishing this goal with me.

I'm not yet sure what the goals for our third year of marriage hold in store. A 45,000 step day? 50,000? The gift for the third anniversary is leather. Perhaps some leather toenails to replace the bruised ones that fall off after all those steps?

Behind a bit?

Why, yes. Yes I am behind on blogging.

Evidently October and November got away from me.  Good things have been happening and I start vacation on Thursday of this week. While I am off I plan to update the blog through the end of the year and beyond.

I will be back soon!

Love and Hugs, Lizzie

Happy Birthday Kit!

My sweet boy, Kit/Hoodrat/Pumpkin Pie, has turned 5 years old! Where has the time gone?

Beware-----this is an official cat lady post!

Look how sweet he was when he arrived in 2008. He had been found in a car engine. Part of his tail had been burned off and bone was sticking out. His little feet were all burned and scabbed up. On top of all that, he had a severe eye infection.

So I decided I would keep in for a few weeks to let him heal up and then I would find him a home….

then he got cuter and cuter. Then he started sleeping on Doug….

and then there was no way I could ever let him go. 

He just got cuter in 2009…

   

He loved all the wedding presents Doug and I received in 2012…

Maybe he is getting wacky in his old age (circa 2013)…how is this comfortable?

But all in all….he is adorable and my sweet boy!

Happy 5th birthday kit! We love you. :)

Love and Hugs, Lizzie

Sarah’s Birthday! The whole day party…

Sarah, Ashley, Andrew, Doug and I celebrated Sarah’s birthday a few weeks ago! She and Ashley had planned out the entire day.

It started with donuts from the Buttermilk Drop Cafe!

   

We especially liked the Buttermilk drop man and the ceiling decor:

We took our donuts to go and killed them in the car… 

and again at home…(see her decorations in the background)…    

Then Sabrina called!!! Yay! They chatted for a bit.

Then Sarah and I went to get pedicures…

and lunch at Reginelli’s.  

From then I had to head to a conference. Sarah went to get a massage and then a group of celebrators went to Ninja for sushi birthday dinner.

I think she had a pretty good birthday. We had fun so I hope she did too.

Love and hugs, Lizzie

Saints Game Day – Season Opener

Sarah was offered Suite tickets for the Saints vs. Falcons game. Clearly, she accepted and asked me to go with her! I said YES! Duh.

The game started at noon. We left the house around 10 am and headed downtown. We arrived to see the party in full swing.

Champions Square was booming. We decided to head into the Dome to get our seats in the Suite.  

We arrived in the suite and chose seats on the second row. There were snacks, drinks and the bathroom was across the hall. It could not be more perfect.

During pregame, lots of things happened. They thanks Jerry Romig for his years of calling the Saints games. It really was sweet. When they brought him out on the field. he waved and shed a few tears. It was truly touching.

Then TIGERBAND took the field and played pregame. It was freaking awesome!

Then Steve Gleason came out on the field. Scott Fujita was also in the house.

Right before the game started, Steve Gleason and Sean Peyton started the “Who Dat” Chant. It was so touching and amazing. You really had to be there to understand, but WOW. Intense.

Then the game finally started. :) We had such amazing seats. THANK YOU SARAH! 

All of a sudden, a familiar face comes into our suite – Aunt Donna! Evidently she was in a suite a few doors down and saw me as she was walking down the hall. I snapped this little picture with her. 

I did go see Uncle Robert as well, but forgot to get a picture. The suite level rocks. Oh, and did I mention this was on my bucket list! I checked “watching a Saints game from a suite” off my list. SARAH ROCKS. 

Here is a view of the whole suite. You can see Sarah on the other end of the box. 

The Saints gave us a few heart attacks, but overall the game rocked. They won and it was so sweet to beat the Falcons. We took this last one as the game ended.

What a game. What seats. What a great friend. Thank you Sarah for inviting me to sit with you in the suite. It was amazing. Every second.

Love and Hugs, Lizzie

Tulane Band Day (Tulane vs. USA)

Doug mentioned he wanted to go to Tulane Band Day. As I had never been to a Tulane game, I was in. We got tickets and arrived at the Superdome a few minutes after kick off. We got rockstar parking next to the dome and headed to security. Of course, they did not let our bag into the Dome so Doug had to bring it back to the car – thank goodness we were parked close.

After many misunderstandings, we finally found each other and went to sit down.

We watched as Tulane was playing really well. A little while later we had a special guest come to find us…Leon!

It is always great to see the Leon. I was looking at the players and I noticed a player named Van Hooser. I happened to know is dad pretty well through work so I texted Dr. Bill and found him during half time. Check out his pants! They were awesome.

Then I watched the “band day” part of the game:

Doug got this awesome picture of Riptide the Pelican… 

and this awesome picture of Joe Montana…
 

Can you see him? haha. Me either..:)

As the game progressed, Doug and I made some new adorable buddies…
  

Sadly, Tulane lost in the last few minutes, but they played an awesome game. I really did enjoy going.

Once the game ended we started walking to the car. On our way we passed the “Rebirth” sculpture. It really is amazing. You may or may not know the Atlanta Falcons will not allow any logo or name on the Falcons player in the sculpture. Clearly, some New Orleans fans have taken care of that…

   

The following day was the LSU vs. Saints game. I liked how they decorated the sculpture just in time. There was also a sign on the jersey explaining that the Falcons would not allow their colors/logo/likeness.

Fun day….I am glad we went.

Love and Hugs, Lizzie