Country Music Half Marathon - Personal Best

That's right! A new personal best for me - 3 hrs 16 min 37 sec!

OK - so the Kenyan finished the full marathon in 2 hrs 14 min 25 sec - I know, I know! I am totally in awe of these elite athletes. I will probably never finish even a half marathon in this time, but I am just honored to walk the same path with them, and every time I improve my time over the last race, I feel like I have accomplished just as much as if I had won the race. In the final analysis, it is really a personal victory for me.

The day started out with a line of thunderstorms that moved through Nashville at 3:30 a.m. When we left for the start line, it was still raining. By the time we got to Centennial Park, there was a light drizzle which stopped just as we crossed the start line. The temperature was in the high 50's and never got out of the 60's for the entire race, and the overcast conditions persisted until I crossed the finish line. Absolutely perfect conditions for racing!! Not having to fight heat and humidity enabled me to concentrate totally on my form and pace, and I believe that is why I had a personal best time.

As always, Jim was there reassuring, supporting, helping - making sure that I had everything I needed, making pictures, bringing me sport beans at mile 9 and cheering at the finish line. He absolutely makes all this possible for me, and I am most fortunate to have this man as my husband and partner.

Marci & Ryan were out on the course early at mile 2. Ryan knows Music Row very well and had picked the perfect spot there to view the race. They were also there at mile 9 (also on Music Row) and at the finish line at LP field, home of the Tennessee Titans.

I'm always looking for buddies to do this with me. If you are interested, the Country Music Marathon is one of the most fun races to do - please come join me!!

Raising Sand

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were in Chattanooga's Memorial Auditorium last night. What a concert!! Thanks to Jimmy, who stood in the ticket line early in the morning, we had great seats on the 10th row, center. I don't know what I expected, except that I was fascinated by the idea of these two being on the same stage together. The show, honestly, was pure magic!

Alison Krauss, who has one of the purest voices in any music genre, combined with Plant's intense but now more mellow style produced moments that were really haunting and breathtaking at the same time. Take the "grass" out of bluegrass and add a little gospel to Plant's heavy metal, and you might get an idea of what this collaboration produced - bluesy, spiritual and honky tonk - amazing. This is clearly two seriously seasoned and talented musicians comfortable enough in their own skin to venture into new territory.

The other pleasant surprise for me was that T Bone Burnett was on the stage. He produced their album "Raising Sand" and, at age 60, is going strong and clearly in charge of the band of equally talented musicians including Buddy Miller, Stuart Duncan (who played with Alison as part of Union Station), Dennis Crouch on bass and Jay Bellerose on drums - and, oh by the way, Alison Krauss on fiddle!

The high point of the night for me was Alison singing "Down To the River to Pray" from O Brother, Where Art Thou along with Plant, Miller and Duncan as the backup trio. I could have listened to that one song over and over again.

I'm definitely getting this CD - check it out!
http://www.rounder.com/index.php?id=album.php&catalog_id=7038

Back Home and Jim's Golf Score

How wonderful it is to be back on our mountaintop! Yes, you can "Go Home Again." Up here, the trees are just beginning to turn green, and the dogwoods and redbuds are beginning to bloom. I went to bed last night listening to the waterfall pouring off the mountain. We have finally had enough rain to fill the streams - may it continue throughout the summer. The birds were singing as I woke this morning and there isn't a cloud in this big blue sky.

Jim thanks each of you for voting on his golf score. He is, however, disappointed that no one had the confidence in his game to cast a vote for one of the scores in the 70s!! It turns out that you probably know his game all too well. The correct answer was 86 - which 60% of you chose. Thanks for playing!!

I'm out the door for my morning workout - 4 miles today. The Nashville half marathon is Saturday, so I'll be doing enough this week to keep myself ready, but not too much to exhaust my energy. Nashville is forecasting a high of 69 for the race - should be just perfect for the 30,000 runners who will participate.

Shopping and Goodbye

Did I mention the great outlet shopping in Destin?? Lisa and I had a shopping fix yesterday - shoes, of course, and a few other things. Will went with us and found the perfect Super Hero "glow-in-the-dark" t-shirt and a Super Hero book. We stopped for pizza for lunch and then continued shopping. Will told us he was getting tired, and we promised that we would be finished in just a "few" more stores. Then we heard this little voice behind us, "I just can't take it any more!" I promise it must be passed down through the male genes.

Today was leaving day for Jimmy, Lisa and Will. Will was wearing his Super Hero shirt (he also slept in it) and holding tight to his Super Hero book. They were on their way by 7:30 a.m. and back home by 2:30 this afternoon. We had a great week with them, and we will be on our way back home tomorrow.

By the way, we did go to AJ's http://www.ajs-destin.com/ tonight and had a very nostalgic meal at sunset. It is somewhat expanded now and there is a high-rise condiminium building just to the right of the sunset view - but still a charming and nostalgic place that holds great memories for us.

At the Beach

I had forgotten just how beautiful these beaches are - pure, fine, white sand and azure blue water!! We have had relatively cool weather - in the high 60's, low 70's - but when the sun is out, as it has been most of the time, it feels just perfect.

Will ventured into the water only up to his knees and declared that the water was much too cold to go any further. He built a rather impressive sand mountain from which he had a glorious view of the waves and immediately assumed the position of "king of the hill."

Meanwhile, his architect dad was creating a replica of Mont Saint-Michel while mom soaked in the rays. Gigi (me) and Big Poppa walked the beach and made pictures - what else are grandparents for??

Last night we had a really scrumptious meal at the Melting Pot. I am amazed at the commercial development here.

Years ago, when Marci & Jimmy drug us down here for every spring break, it was mostly beaches and vacation condos with lots of land in between and our favorite reggae bar was A.J.'s Seafood. A.J.'s is still here, but totally surrounded by every chain restaurant known to man as well as huge outlet shopping centers, chain stores, and big box retailers (yes, even WalMart and Home Depot). I feel very nostalgic for the "good ole days"!

We may try to get back to A.J.'s just for old times sake. I'll let you know.

Jolee Island Cookout

On Wednesday, we heard about a "pirates' roost" on Jolee Island and went to investigate. What we found was a beautiful little island just across a bridge from the mainland in Choctawhatchee Bay. The island does indeed have a pirates' roost, which Will immediately climbed up and into the lookout perch. There were also porch-type swings strategically placed around the beach which were accessible by cleared trails around the island. We also found picnic tables and grills, and decided to come back the next day for a cookout.

A quick trip to the grocery store for hamburger and hot dog fixin's and, of course, marshmallows for toasting, and we were ready to go! The bridge to the island is a walking bridge and it is beautifully designed. We rolled our cooler across, picked out the perfect location and Jim set about lighting the fire while Jimmy and Will once again explored the island. Surprisingly, there were very few people on the island and you could almost believe that you had found Treasure Island.


The hamburgers and hot dogs were delicious - why is it that food cooked and eaten outside always tastes so much better?? We found a perfect 3-pronged stick for toasting the marshmallows which was the perfect dessert.

As we left the island, we were treated to a beautiful sunset and the rising of an almost full moon over the bay. The perfect ending to another wonderful day!

Welcome to my blog!!

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks!! I've enjoyed - even envied - the blogs created and shared by my younger friends. I suppose it was only a matter of time before "peer pressure" caught up with me.

All those pictures I send when we travel, now I'll just post to this blog. And, the next time someone wonders "Where in the world is Lenda?" - well, now you will know!!

Right now we are in Florida - for the second time this year. I completed the Disney Marathon in January, then went to Montana for skiing, and came back to TN in March. After doing the Knoxville Marathon as part of a relay team, we were off to Florida again for a visit with Martha and Jim Fallis in Florida (and some great bird watching), and then up to Destin for a family vacation with Jimmy, Lisa and Will.

We will be back in TN on April 22 just in time for the Music City Marathon in Nashville and a visit with Marci and Ryan.