Signing Off

One year ago today The Bitchy Runners blog was born.  This is what I wrote on that day as our bio.

Two 30 something mothers trying to become runners. We run for stress relief, we run for sanity, we run for girl time. However, we tend to do quite a lot of bitching along the way! Join us as we train for the Chicago Marathon on October 9, 2011. Should be an interesting journey!

And an interesting journey it was.  But that journey has came to an end.  A year full of miles, sweat, tears, poop, laughter and attractive pictures is forever documented on this blog.  January 9, 2011, I created the blog with hopes of motivating the gang and sharing our adventures with friends.  It turned into so much more.

Including today's final blog, there were 252 posts.  Randee posted a grand total of nine times, all in January 2011.  However, there is no shortage of her presence here.  She really was the main character of the blog and inspiration for the majority of my posts.

The blog has had 62,530 page views, from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Argentina, Spain, Ukraine, Russia and China.  October 2011 was our most visited month.

I must say "thank you" to Shut Up and Run, SkinnyRunner and Running Off The Reeses.  They sent the most traffic to the blog from their sites.

I got to meet Cely from Running Off the Reeses while in Chicago.  Remember Doug got drunk with her friend Brian.  The blog about how they (Doug & Brian) fell in love is one of my top 10 most read blogs!

The top five blogs ever were:

#5 - What's Next - This blog was written just after returning home from Chicago. I was still on my marathon high and ready to do it again.  Since then Randee and I have decided we would rather become swimsuit models versus marathoners.  We're very talented at looking good while laying by the pool  & sippin' wine.

#4 - Chicago Marathon Race Review - This post was written the evening after we finished the marathon.  I wanted to make sure all of the details were fresh on my mind.  Even though it slowed me WAY down, I'm happy I stopped at all 26 mile markers to take a picture and update my facebook status.

#3 - iFitness Belt Giveaway - I was so excited to have our first blog giveaway.  I felt like I was somebody real special to get a free hydration belt to review and then have a lucky reader win their own.  I loved the iFitness belt so much I bought a second one (non hydration) in Chicago for the marathon.

#2 - Pool Party Wrestling - This post was put together after a fun weekend of hanging out by the pool.  You know it had to be a fun day if I got this photo greatness.  I don't think it is my writing, but the search term that got so many hits on that post.

#1 - Warrior Dash Review - I took a disposable water proof camera and took pictures of every obstacle. This post gives a very detailed look at the event.  This post has 2287 page views so far!

 The Bitchy Runners blog has been found by all kinds of fun search terms.  Some of the most recent are:

Sexy Runners:  I mean really, who can argue with that?

Young Wrinkles:  I guess young wrinkles are better than old ones.

Nude Child Family - Well, my kids usually wear clothes,  However, I did post this awesome photo bomb picture taken in Spain.  My mom was just taking a picture of Audrie on a camel and a naked hands on hip boy showed up.

Peeing Squatting:  This one is all Randee.  Well, at least that's the only incident that has photo evidence.  I'll admit we squatted together behind a very skinny tree around mile 5 of the Chicago Marathon.

Wide Butt:  Well dang, I guess we can't deny this one.

Thick Legs:  Rude.  It was probably my husband using that search term.  It was him who looked at this picture and said, "WOW, look how much thicker your legs are at the top compared to Randee's."  Then I beat his ass.

Crawling on Hands and Knees:  That was us pretty much every time we did a Jillian Michael's video.

 I have posted a whooping 2287 photos on this here blog.  Just about all of them have been exceptionally flattering. Especially our yoga poses.

I don't have statistical proof, but I'm going to declare 'Whine and Wine Wednesday' the best damn idea EVER.

The purple section of the wine cellar is basically a world wide phenomenon.

People around the globe popped a cork on Wednesday's and got their whine on.

Whine and Wine Wednesday - The only way to survive marathon training.

The Bitchy Runners blog is coming to and end.  However, I will keep up the facebook page.  I would love you to join us there.  Click this link NOW so you don't forget!  I'm sure Whine and Wine Wednesday will make an appearance there, and I'll do my best to post as many unflattering pictures of Randee as possible.

So, it is with a heavy heart and literally tears in my eyes that we say our final "see you later".  (I don't like goodbyes.)

Cheers!

Keep on running.  Keep on bitchin'.  Keep on being YOU!

Then We Raced

Thanks for all the love over our Bitchy Runner Blog Eulogy Part 1.  It made me a little sad and nostalgic.  Glad to know I've made at least a couple of people smile with our stories and beautiful photography.  It really has been a fun journey.

Yesterday my alarm didn't go off and I missed P90X Yoga.  Dammit.  The rest of the gang somehow managed to do it without me.  When I finally dragged my lazy butt out of bed I discovered, after a week of P90X and the elimination diet, I gained a pound.  Isn't that nice.  My energy level is up.  I'm feeling great.  I have to do the wiggle dance to get into my pants and suck it in to button em'.  Listen here body....we are NOT going to gain any more weight.  Capiche?

**Drum Roll Please**

The Bitchy Runners Eulogy Part 2 - Then We Raced

Originally we were planning to do a race per month in 2011.  We almost succeeded. 

 Jiggle Butt Run - 5K

This was a fun women's only race where we wore camo and tutus.

We won first place for the largest..in numbers not butt size...team.  WOAD...Weapons of Ass Destruction.

In late January we did the Too Cold to Hold 15K.

This was a fun race day.  We started with coffee.  I ran even slower than usual due to a hamstring injury.  We finished with massages and then greasy hamburgers and fries.

In February it was time for the Cowtown 10K.

Our first start line self portrait...a tradition was born.

March was the Rock 'n' Roll Dallas Half Marathon.

We decided we were cool enough for compression socks.

Randee's first half and my half PR.

April brought the Warrior Dash!  Are you ready to get muddy?  My Warrior Dash Review is the all time most visited post on the blog.  Warrior Dash is also one of the highest search terms.

So. Much. Fun.

Notice no Randee.  She does not do mud.  The rest of us are way cooler than her and had a fantastic time.  Even Ms. Thang Talia got all dirty and enjoyed it.  I'm planning to do this race in 2012 in my actual wedding dress.  It's 'trash the dress' 14 years (almost to the day) later!

In May we did Heels and Hills Half Marathon.

Entertaining ourselves while waiting in line for the port-a-potties turned out to be the highlight of this race.

This race was all kinds of horrible.  The path is BORING.  Oh yes, and there was rain and a shortened distance due to severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings.  Good times.

I also did the Mom's Run 5K with Trent in May.  It was our second year and we finished in under 30 minutes.  I was so proud of him for pushing through till the end.

The sad thing is there website is no longer working.  I'm thinking they may not do the race in 2012.  I'll have to find us another Mother's Day race to continue the tradition.

June was when we did our one and only bandit run.  We crashed the party of the Wounded Warrior race and ran our 9 miles scheduled for marathon training.

Three out of four of us were very hung over in this picture.  It doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to figure out which one of us didn't party it up the night before.

July was the Too Hot to Handle 15K.  And dang if it wasn't hot.

We all about died 189 times, but the ice cold rags at the finish were nice.

We didn't race in August.  Losers. It was only 187 degrees.  What was our problem?  I really think it was the fact we were running 16 - 20 miles every freakin' weekend getting ready for Chicago!

September we did the Heels, Hills and Him Half Marathon.

I hate when I look so much cuter than Randee on race day.  This day she was in rare form and I about kicked her butt out of the car before we even parked.  Lucky for her I found my inner happy place and put up with her for 13.1 miles.

Then you know what happened in October?

We won the Chicago Marathon.  Well maybe not won...but close.  We finished.

I loved the race.  I loved the long weekend we spent there.  I loved the company I went with.  I just all around loved it.  Heck, I even enjoyed Randee.

In November Talia and I lost our damn minds and ran the Fort Worth Marathon 20 miler.  Worst.  Race. Ever.  I disliked it so much I never even blogged about it or posted a picture.  That says a lot.

It was hot.  We were sad.  Our first race with just the two of us in over a year.

Talia and I ended the year with the White Rock Marathon.  It's a close tie.  I'm not sure if the 20 miler or this race was the worst.  This was definitely the hardest mental race I've EVER done.

This race had it all.  Rain.  Freezing temps.  26.2 miles.  What else could a girl ask for in a race to finish out such a fantastic year?

At least the medal is super awesome.

WOW!  Going down memory lane makes me want to sign up for a race!  Nothing in January this year.  Cowtown 10K in February will most likely be my first race.  Randee still swears she is never running again.  I must admit I feel a little sad to think our regular running adventures are coming to an end.  We were an unlikely quartet, but dang if we didn't have fun when we were together.

Randee The Bitch.  Photo greatness just pours from her palm tree hair.  She may be small, but she is feisty as hell.  No one has ever liked her the first time they met her, and she probably won't like you.  If you work at Starbucks there is a 99% chance you will make her coffee wrong, and dang if you misspell her name on the cup you better run for cover.

I' m the organizer and planner of the group.  Some might call me bossy, I call it helpful.  I'm sweet as pie and have nothing but nice things to say about everyone all the time.  Maybe not so much.  If I like ya, then you're golden.  If I don't, then just go away.  There is a 100% chance you will know how I feel about you.

Ms. Thang Talia is the girly girl of the group.  Full makeup and jewelry are required for all events, including marathons.  A little gangster.  A little couture.  Very high maintenance.  There is a 110% chance this girl will look good no matter what she is doing.

Little Brittany was the baby of the group.  Always giggling.  In the end faster than all of us.  She is also the only one that ended the year much skinnier than when it started.  Bitch.  There is a 1% chance I will ever beat her at a race.  I will have to hire someone to keep tripping her at every water stop so I can catch up.

Brittany + Angie + Randee + Talia = One Hell of a Good Time!

In the beginning....

P90X - Day 5 - Today we did legs and back.  It had me sweatin' and cussin'.  No pain no gain...right?  My diet is going good.  My energy level is up.  My bowels are constipated.  That's me in a nutshell. 

Today is party 1 of .....The Bitchy Runners Blog Eulogy.  Yes, I have made the decision to sign off on January 9, 2012.  It has been one hell of a year.  However, the time has come to move on.  I'll still keep the facebook page for those of you interested in our P90X success and other workout adventures.  I'll also continue to stock the blogs I love as time allows.

So, without further ado...

IN THE BEGINNING:

January 9, 2011 the Bitchy Runners Blog was created.  Randee and I both were loving running, but found ourselves doing a lot of bitching as we pounded the pavement.  We would document our journey to training for our first...and supposedly...only marathon.  We were so naive and innocent.  We never knew we would...

Run in freezing temps and snow!  We live in Texas for Pete's sake.

Train for a marathon in the hottest summer on record in Texas. 

Suffer constipation.  Have to poop in the woods and wipe with leaves.  Have to poop on the side of the road after a race and beg your running buddies to find napkins.  Have to poop after the freaking marathon in a port-a-potty and rinse with a water bottle since all the toilet paper was long gone.

Grow to DREAD running.  No more running.  No more running.  No more running.  Ever. Again.

But we also didn't realize....

What a great friendship we would build along the way.  You REALLY get to know someone when you spend endless hours with just them and the pavement.  We had days we wanted to punch each other in the face.  We had days when we chatted nonstop.  Randee was my cheerleader when needed.  I told her to get her shit together and keep running when she needed it.  I think we made a pretty damn good team.

We were loud.  We were obnoxious.  We were dedicated.  We were THE BITCHY RUNNERS!

Ms. Thang - Damn you!  I never could get an unattractive picture to put to good use on the blog.  I love you and your obsession with  boobs and Twilight.  I also want your calf muscles. 

Little Brittany - It was fun getting to know you as an adult.   You've turned yourself into a damn good runner.  Keep it up!  And by the way, you're looking amazing!

Randee - RAN-Dee.  What do I say to you?  Thanks for all the photo greatness.  For letting me do what I pleased with your face and your poop stories.  For listening to my endless chatter and horrible iPod music.  And for getting your shit together and finishing the damn Chicago Marathon!

Stay tuned tomorrow for THE BITCHY RUNNERS BLOG EULOGY - PART 2!