Post #20 part 2: The Great American Eclipse 08/21/17 + the Mother Daughter Road Trip

Day 4 - Tuesday, August 22nd
So the Bessey Recreation Complex was a nice facility. The bathrooms were clean, and the sky was so beautiful during the night. Mom and I chose to sleep in the car again because we wanted to leave early. Trying to take down a tent in the dark might have been difficult. Good thing we didn't because we ended up leaving at nearly 4 AM. We didn't intend to leave that early, but the campsite was next to the train track, and after midnight there were trains every hour, blowing their horns and waking us up. So we left Halsey and headed towards Mount Rushmore.

Left campsite and crossed into MDT.

Made it to Mt Rushmore

Funny thing, we left the campsite with a little over a half of tank of gas, well that was just enough to get to the next gas station. Mom and I made it to Alliance, Nebraska with 11 miles to spare {mileage: 5164 time: 06:00 CDT}. We were going through Alliance before the sun came up, so we didn't see Carhenge.


But we did get to Mount Rushmore {mileage: 5317 time: 07:45 MDT - 10:10 MDT} by 07:45 AM, which was great. TIP: If you are planning a trip to Mount Rushmore, GO EARLY!! We got there at 7:45 and there were no lines no waiting, but when we left around 10:10 there was a line from the gate all the way down to Keystone. Mom discovered, after we got there, that Mount Rushmore opens at 5 am. Had she known that beforehand we probably would have tried to get there earlier.

I'm serious, like the presidents

Mom with a picture of Lincoln, in front of Lincoln

Our time at Mount Rushmore helped us stretch our legs and get some cardio in. We had been in the car so much. I joked that we could jog the trail, mom took me seriously so that is what we did. We started jogging and stopped at each of the photo points.

Funny anecdote, at the very first stop there was a couple and the wife joked that she only runs when she is being chased, so we chatted a bit about the road trip and the eclipse. They were able to watch the eclipse in the middle of a field in Wyoming, but didn't get ay pictures of totality. Mom had, so I asked if they wanted me to share them. We did AirDrop, but what was funny is that the husband's information popped up on my phone, so I asked "Are you Kevin?" Well, I wasn't looking at his face, but mom said his reaction was amazing; shock and confusion. It was very entertaining.
We did two loops on the Presidential Trail, the first at a jog with stopping at photo ops and the maker's museum. We went into the little museum and the gift shop, and by the start of our second loop the main viewing area had started to fill up. Mom said that we would have to power walk the next loop. We did almost a full loop, making it to the top of the hill and back to the parking area, then we turned around and when back the other way. Going the other way meant we had to go UP all the stairs that people usually go down because they go clockwise from the entrance. It certainly got our blood pumping and sweat flowing. Good workout, aside from all the tourist getting in the way.



After Mount Rushmore we headed towards Wyoming. Mom tried to make me nix this part of the trip, but I was hell bent on getting to Wyoming. We crossed the border of South Dakota and Wyoming and stopped at their Welcome Center/Convenient Store/Post Office/Gas Station combo {mileage: 5403 time: 12:43 MDT}. We got some post cards and mailed them out - how convenient that they had a post office right there.




On our way back to South Dakota (we were getting to Campsite #3 by way of South Dakota), we stopped at their welcome center, which was a great idea because we discovered something interesting that was going to be along our route to Medora, ND: The Geographical Center of the United States, the real one that is out in the middle of a field, north of Belle Fourche, SD {mileage: 5457 time: 15:54 MDT}. That was a fun detour.
So from there we continued towards the Cottonwood Campground in North Dakota, following the directions from the AAA triptik. We were feeling good, we were actually going to get to a campsite early enough to walk some of the trails, although Mom wasn't looking forward to this campsite; no showers and only vault (non flush) toilets.
A right on to East River Road and we would be there. Well that right took us up a hill and no campsite was found. For no more than a half hour I though we were going the right way. We were driving through the beautiful Badlands. The strata you could see in the hills was cool toned, greys and reds. The prairie grass was a muted green and the road we are on was gravel. Our rental car was getting so dirty (bugs + dirt). There were beef cows grazing very near the road, within a cars' width of us. There were also a large number of oil pumps scattered alongside the road.
Mom and I were laughing most of the way, knowing we were lost and were not finding the campsite. But the sun was shinning and the views were unlike anything we had ever seen, all was well. It was as the sun was setting and daylight was fading did we really start to worry.

No zoom necessary

We had plenty of gas at least, but our cell phones had no service. Mom suggested that we turn around. I thought we had come too far to turn around, we had to be getting somewhere, I suppose the real question was: Where? I made the mental decision that at a quarter of a tank of gas we could turn around, that way we definitely had enough gas to get back. But once we had enough of being lost I had my mom watch Google maps on my phone as I drove and tell me when we had service. I would stop and analyze Google maps to determine where we needed to go.
Disclaimer: Mom and I know how to read a map, if we had a map of this area we would have been fine.

The view on the left side of our dirt road

The view on the right side of our dirt road

Once we finally got out of the Badlands, and back on to paved roads we found a hotel, we ended up an extra hour or so north in Watford City, North Dakota. So we were supposed to end up at Campsite #3: Cottonwood Campground in Medora, North Dakota, but we failed and then ended up at Hotel #2 Little Missouri Inn & Suites, Watford City {mileage: 5734}. Once getting into the hotel and onto the wifi I checked... if we had turned left on East River Road we would have made it to the campsite. Also, the campsite was off interstate 94. Sigh.

Screen shot of the map when we had service

Screen shot of the directions when we had service

Post #22 13 by Halloween - October Project Pan INTRO

So my first attempt at a Project Pan did help. I decluttered, threw out, a bunch of old foundation and other makeup, stuff that needed to go. This 13 by Halloween Project Pan will be all sample sizes, so I should be able to get through them.

1. Make Up For Ever Ultra HD foundation, sample packet
2. Clinique Foundation Sample, small vial
3. Stila Stay All Day waterproof liquid eyeliner
4. It Cosmetics Hello Lashes!
5. Theorie Marula Oil Hair Serum - deluxe sample from ipsy
6. GlamGlow GlowStarter - Nude Glow illuminating moisturizer - deluxe sample from Sephora
7. Perricone MD H2 Elemental Energy Hydrating Cloud Cream - deluxe sample from Sephora
8. GlamGlow Volcasmic matte glow moisturizer - deluxe sample from Sephora
9. Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask - deluxe sample from Sephora
10. Mud Masky purifying recovery mask - deluxe sample from ipsy
11. Avene Mattifying toner - deluxe sample from ipsy
12. Nars Velvet Matte lip pencil, Cruella - deluxe sample from Sephora (Birthday gift 2015)
13. Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural N9

Nars lip pencil starting picture

Make Up For Ever starting picture

See my 13 by Halloween Project Pan INTRO video.

Post #21: Pan Project Update

Start Date: June 28, 2017
Update Date: September 30, 2017

Best part of this 'Project Pan' is that I was able to take a real look at all the makeup I have in my collection, and trash the old makeup that I had no business holding on to.

My List

Mascaras:

1. Clinique High Impact Mascara (2) [These I took from makeup that my sister was decluttering]
2. Elizabeth Arden Ceramide [I have had this one since 2012]
3. Smashbox eyelash Primer [I have had this one since 2013] DONE 08/10/2017
4. Makeup Forever Smoky Extravagant [This one I have only had for a little over a year, it is one of my favorite mascaras so I should be able to use it up easy enough]
The remainder of this section are trial sizes:
5. Makeup Forever Smokey Extravagant [This might be empty already, but I need to double check] DONE 08/31/17
6. Benefit's They're Real [My second favorite mascara, it is probably nearly finished] DONE 08/29/17
7. it Cosmetics Superhero [Just got it in my May Ipsy bag]
8. The Balm Mad Lash [couple months old - from an Ipsy bag]
9. it Cosmetics Hello Lashes! [got this one because I bought an it Cosmetic's set at Ulta]
10. Pur Fully Charged Magnetic Mascara [got this one in June's Ipsy bag, so it is brand new]
11. Makeup Forever Excessive Lash [got this one in August's Ipsy bag, so it is brand new]

Eyeliners:

1. Kat Von D tattoo liquid liner [turns out it was dried out, so I trashed it. Luckily, it was only a sample size.] DONE 06/29/17
2. Rimmel Scandal-eyes kohl in Nude, pencil eyeliner
3. Makeup Forever XL eye pencil in Black [sample size, from I don't even know how long ago]

Eyeshadows:

1. Rimmel Quad Eyeshadow swatched and decluttered 9/10/17
2. Avon [one color] decluttered 9/30/2017
3. Maybelline Casual Look - Browntones decluttered 9/30/2017
4. Loreal Wear Infinite - Mocha Buff swatched and decluttered 9/10/17
5. Color Design [four set] decluttered 9/30/2017
6. Loreal Wear Infinite - Rose Petals swatched and decluttered 9/10/17

Concealer/Powder/Foundation [thankfully some darker colors, because I am currently tan]:

1. Clinique Airbrush Concealer DONE 08/16/17
2. Covergirl powder foundation - classic beige
3. Covergirl classic beige foundation Decluttered 09/07/17
4. Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder [I should try re-potting this one; it is all broken up] Re-Pressed 09/03/17, decluttered 9/30/2017
5. Neutrogena buff foundation DONE 08/19/17
6. Neutrogena buff pressed powder Re-Pressed 09/03/17, decluttered 9/30/2017
7. Sephora pressed powder Decluttered 09/03/17
8. it Cosmetics foundation medium [sample size] DONE 07/04/17
9. Loreal foundation sand beige Decluttered 09/03/17, it was smelling funny
10. Loreal pressed powder sand beige

NonMakeup

1. Herbal Essences Dry Shampoo DONE 06/30/17
2. Garnier Skin Renew cream - It was making me breakout so I stopped using it

Extras that I finished:

A. Maybelline Baby Lips 10 Peppermint DONE 08/26/17
B. Marc Anthony Nourishing Argan Oil of Morocco Conditioning Treatment DONE 08/16/17

Extras that I decluttered:

A. Kat Von D Magic Wand Decluttered 09/12/17
B. Clinique Even Better - Linen Decluttered 09/12/17
C. a whole bunch of foundations, press powders, and eyeshadows (decluttered 9/30/2017)

Post #20 Part 1: The Great American Eclipse 08/21/17 + the Mother Daughter Road Trip

States I have been to (BEFORE):

Eclipse Trip plan: Maryland -> West Virginia -> Kentucky -> Tennessee -> Missouri -> Arkansas -> Oklahoma -> Kansas -> Nebraska -> South Dakota -> Wyoming -> North Dakota -> Montana -> Saskatchewan -> Manitoba -> North Dakota -> Minnesota ->  Wisconsin -> Iowa -> Illinois -> Indiana -> Ohio -> Pennsylvania -> Maryland

PreTrip:
As of 08/10/2017: Predicted Solar Eclipse weather in Beatrice, Nebraska - BEAUTIFUL!

As of 08/14/2017: Predicted Solar Eclipse weather in Beatrice, Nebraska - It'll be okay...

As of 08/15/2017: Predicted Solar Eclipse weather in Beatrice, Nebraska - Nice

As of 08/16/2017: Predicted Solar Eclipse weather in Beatrice, Nebraska - Hot.

As of 08/18/2017: Predicted Solar Eclipse weather in Beatrice, Nebraska - Err...

Now to the trip:

Right before leaving, Mom and I with the Nissan Versa Hatchback

Day 1 - Saturday, August 19th
The rental car reservation started at 9 am, earliest available, we got the car with 3054 (0) miles on it. My mother and I left from my apartment in Laurel, MD at mileage = 3060 (6), time = 09:54 EDT, heading west.

Welcome Center - West Virginia

We took the route that would take us through West Virginia and Kentucky, instead of Virginia into Tennessee, because I have no memories of ever being in the state of Kentucky (my mother said we went, or at least drove through, there when I was a baby).

Welcome Center - Kentucky

We drove towards the World's Largest Collection of Teapots in Trenton, TN. The stops along the way included the Welcome Center {mileage = 3285 (231), time = 14:16 EDT} in West Virginia and a rest stop in Kentucky {mileage = 3493 (439), time = 17:29 EDT}.
Night number one we spent in Peducha, Kentucky, Hotel #1: America's Best Value Inn, mileage = 3847 (793), time = 11 CDT ish (Peducah was on the path of the 2017 Great American Eclipse, and [fun fact] it is also on the path for the 2024 solar eclipse.)

Day 2 - Sunday, August 20th

Largest Collection of Teapots, Trenton, Tennessee

Leaving Kentucky and heading to Trenton, Tennessee. Mom and I left from our lack luster breakfast at the hotel around 06:30 CDT. The road down to Trenton was a country road, with crops growing on either side. Trenton, TN is known for two things on the Roadside America website: 31 mph speed limit and the largest collection of teapots. The 31 mph speed limit was amusing to see, and from the internets I read that the speed limit was to one-up the neighboring town.

8AM CDT outside the museum

The teapots are housed in a room that is connected to the police station, so was available for my mother and I to view at 8 am on a Sunday. The doctor who owned this collection had the requirement that the exhibit be viewed for free forever. Mom and I donated because Trenton does a lovely job of presenting the collection, complete with a video explaining the history of the exhibit {mileage: 3938 time: 08:02 CDT}.


From our brief stop in Tennessee we continued into Missouri, crossing the Mississippi River for the first time. Rt 60 in Missouri was not the most picturesque roadway, and mom wasn't particularly excited about all the 'casinos' we saw along the way. It was while we were in Missouri that we switched the music over to Sirius XM, which we used for the remainder of the road trip.

Arkansas

Missouri

Oklahoma

Our next stop was the Tri-State Marker in Sulphur Springs, Arkansas. It was at this marker that I stepped foot into Oklahoma and Arkansas for the first time {mileage: 4354 time: 15:28 CDT}. We made a brief stop in Fort Scott, Kansas for Dairy Queen {mileage: 4464 time: 18:07 CDT}. From there it was off to Campsite #1: Tuttle Cove in Manhattan, Kansas, mileage: 4668.

Pony Express Historical Marker

Day 3 - Monday, August 21st
Mom and I left the camp grounds in Kansas at around 5:30 am CDT, setting out for our target, the Homestead National Monument in Beatrice, Nebraska. While traversing northern Kansas we identified a Historic Marker. Turns out this historic marker was a stop along the Pony Express (Mileage: 4724, Time: 06:38 CDT).

CORN!!

Matching Shirts I made for Mom and I

                               
At 4764 miles from 07:32 - 14:16 CDT Mom and I were at the Homestead National Historic Site with tons of other people. We got a schedule, and walked around the museum. During our first hour there we discovered a special guest was going to be in attendance, BILL NYE, the science guy! We had no idea, what a great surprise. He spoke on a panel and gave interviews, and then during the time leading up to, during, and after totality he was narrating what was happening. Of course his presence there was targeted to the grade schoolers instead of the ones who truly appreciated his presence (ahem, me and the other nearly 30s that watched his show growing up).

The Homestead location even had a mobile post office on site where people could buy the Eclipse Stamps, and mail post cards with the special Eclipse Postmark.

BILL NYE!!

As my time mark shows, we stayed for about an hour after totality, waiting for some of the traffic to die down. Unlike the majority of my friends, who were also on the path of totality, Mom and I didn't get stuck in ANY traffic when we left. We were headed further west, towards out second campsite. We stopped briefly in Grand Island, NE for some dinner (Olive Garden Salad and Breadsticks), then continued to Campsite #2: Bessey Recreation Complex in Halsey, Nebraska, getting there at 20:59 CDT at mileage: 5027.

More adventures to come.

Post #19 gearing up for AGU 2017 Fall Meeting: New Orleans

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting is in New Orleans, Louisiana this December. This is a change because typically it is in San Francisco, California. The Moscone Center (the conference complex that holds the 25,000 scientists for the meeting) is under construction, so AGU had to find somewhere else.

This December we are in NOLA, and next year we are in Washington, DC. AGU has had meetings in NOLA before, but after so many years at the Moscone Center in San Fran, it will be interesting to see how, and if, the conference has a different feeling in NOLA.

What is good about all the destinations for AGU is that I have been to all of them in a non-conference capability, albeit had been 5 years between my first time in San Fran to my first Fall Meeting in San Fran. I went to NOLA for Easter 2016, so I am familiar with the area. Washington, DC has been my home for the past 5 years at this point, so it's safe to say I know where I am going.

Enough about the past and future meetings, this is about gearing up for #AGU17. Abstracts were due on August 2nd, I got mine in before then, but there is a lot of work to get done before December.

My topic is generally the topic I have been focused on since early last year, see Post #3 and others scattered. More FTE analysis and more cold ion analysis. I can't share too much on this topic, but I will post a more comprehensive post on AGU after it happens.

Post #18: 100 Days of Lipstick

100 days, 100 lipsticks, 1 woman.

Back in April (April 7), I was a little over a month removed from my ‘#28shades’ challenge I did with one of my friends. The month of February was so fun; in forcing myself into a different color of lipstick each day, I was able to push myself. A late night of Instagram browsing had me stumbling onto my newest challenge. So when I decided to do the ‘#100daysoflipstick’ I, myself, thought I was crazy. I didn’t want to believe that I had that many lipsticks. A quick count one evening revealed that I had at least 107 lipsticks (bullets and liquids and stains, oh my!). I added at least 15 to my collection since starting the challenge.

It isn’t just the catalogue of my lipsticks that I am getting out of this adventure. I am using Instagram to promote my self-love. I don’t spend hours taking the perfect selfie, at most I take 3 or 4 before posting one. Typically, I post the first one I take (my only criteria is that the lighting shows off the lipstick). The practice of not taking hundreds of pictures has built my confidence. I know how I look and I love myself, I am not afraid to share the photo if it isn’t perfect, because I am not perfect! I have bags under my eyes, I have chubby cheeks, I have acne, but I also have confidence and joy. I am happy to share with the world my love of lipsticks. See my YouTube video to see all the colors (link at the end).

As of August 2, I have 173 lipsticks. Which might seem extreme, sorry, not sorry. As of August 6, I have 136. I decluttered 39 lipsticks either because they were colors I would never wear (oranges and pale pinks), or the formula was not good (patchy).

1.  Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid: no. 55 Sinful Stone [April 7th]

2.  Ciaté London Liquid Velvet: Pin Up (from Ipsy)

3.  Nabi Lipstick: NLS 23 Hot Pink

4.  Nabi Matte Lip Gloss: MLG1 08 Mauve

5.  Nabi Lipstick: NLS 12 Baby Pink

6.   Nabi Lipstick: NLS 85 Lollipop

7.   Nabi Lipstick: NLS 35 Baby Orange

8.   Nabi Lipstick: NLS 84 Baby Orange

9.   Nabi Lipstick: NLS Lavender II

10. Nabi Lipstick: NLS Cute Pink

11. Nabi Lipstick: NLS Pastel Orange

12. Revlon: 440 Cherries in the Snow

13. Sephora Wonderful Cushion Matte Lip Cream: Wonderful Purple

14. Lipsense: Fly Girl

15. Nabi Lipstick: NLS Garnet Red

16. Lorac Alter Ego: Bombshell

17. Lorac Alter Ego: Visionary

18. Lorac Alter Ego: Hot Shot

19. Maybelline Super Stay: Pink

20. Nabi Matte Lip Gloss: MLG1 42 Rose Pink

21. Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid: no. 02 Grey Envy

22. Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid: no. Electric Pink

23. Lorac Alter Ego: MUA

24. Sephora Wonderful Cushion Matte Lip Cream: Wonderful Red

25. Nabi Matte Lip Gloss: MLG1 13 Orange Red

26. Loreal Colour Riche: Classic Wine

27. CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte: Cat Call

28. CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte: Cosmic Cat

29. CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte: Catoure

30. Caked Lip Fondant: Low Key (from Ipsy)

31. Maybelline: 691 Rich Ruby

32. Lorac Alter Ego: Celebrity

33. CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte: Sphynx

34. Nabi Matte Lip Gloss: MLG1 66 Indigo

35. CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte: Coral Cat

36. Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream SMLC 18 Prague

37. Sephora Wonderful Cushion Matte Lip Cream: Wonderful Magenta

38. Lorac Alter Ego: Secret Agent

39. Lorac Alter Ego: Free Spirit

40. CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte: Magenta Minx

41. Nyx Lingerie: Lipli

42. Loreal: British Red

43. Shany 07

44. Nabi Lipstick: Cherry

45. Rimmel Kate Moss: 01

46. Nyx Lip Butter: Ripe Berry (from Ipsy)

47. Rimmel Kate Moss: 10

48. Lorac Alter Ego: Show Girl

49. CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte: Kitty Purry

50. Nabi Lipstick: NLS Matte Orange

51. Lorac Mod Lip Cream: Tres Chic

52. Lorac Mod Lip Cream: Savoir Faire

53. Revlon: Stormy Pink

54. Nabi Lipstick: NLS Spice

55. Lorac Mod Lip Cream: True Beauty

56. Nabi Matte Lip Gloss: Plush Red

57. CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte: Crimson Cat

58. Nabi Matte Lip Gloss: Peach

59. CoverGirl: Seduce

60. Nabi Lipstick: NLS Lavender

61. CoverGirl: Spellbound

62. Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid: Berry Boost

63. Rimmel Kate Moss: 104

64. CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte: Pink Paws

65. Nabi Lipstick: NLS Shining Pink

66. Shany 01

67. Nabi Matte Lip Gloss: Pink Red

68. Nyx Whipped Lip and Cheek Cream: Pink Cloud (from Ipsy)

69. Nabi Lipstick: NLS Red Red

70. Lorac Alter Ego: Beauty Guru

71.   Revlon Infallible: Red (decluttered)

72.   Crayola Crayon Blue (not real lipstick, I made it myself)

73.   Lorac Mod Lip Cream: Belle-ieve

74.   Lorac Mod Lip Cream: Red Rose

75.  Shany 04

76.  Nars Velvet Lip Pencil: Cruella

77.  Urban Decay Vice Lipstick: Bad Blood

78.  Nabi Lipstick: Nude

79. Nabi Lipstick: Red

80. Revlon: Wink For Pink

81. Winky Lux Double Matte Whip: Angel Food (from Ipsy)

82. Maybelline Metallic: Copper Rose

83. Lorac Alter Ego: Dominatrix

84. Maybelline Bold: Midnight Blue

85. Urban Decay Gwen Stefani: Rock Steady

86. Nars Satin Lip Pencil: Rikugien

87. Icing: Pink

88. Makeup Forever Acrylips: 501

89. Tarte: Delish (from Ipsy)

90. Icing: Red

91. Loreal Infallible Lip Paint: Domineering Teal

92. Tarte: Birthday Suit

93. Makeup Forever Sample

94. Maybelline Metallic Matte: Serpentine

95. Maybelline: Espresso Exposed

96. CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte: Maroon Meow

97. Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid: Wicked Berry

98. Maybelline Metallic Matte: Gun Metal

99. Maybelline: Sapphire Siren

100. Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream: San Paulo [August 8]

Be sure to check out my video that is the slide show off all these selfies from Instagram: LINK HERE.

So my next step is to start using up some of the lipsticks I have. I considered doing just one color until it was gone, but a very smart friend said I would probably get bored, and she is right. So I am thinking of picking 7 and rotating through them.

Until my next post, thanks for reading.

Post #17: Run Suzanne, run!

I am going to run a marathon!

So contrary to what I wrote in Post #13, and then again in Post #15, I have decided to run a marathon. The decision was thanks to a podcast I listen to: Not Real Runners. The two hosts have made running a marathon seem accessible, and after episode #34 I decided. So, as soon as the registration for the Little Rock Marathon opens up, I am registering. I think having this goal will help me stay on track with my running.

As of right now I have a couple goals in mind:
1. Finish the 10k Trainer by ZenLabs by the end of October
2. Pick up with the Marathon Trainer, also by ZenLabs, after completing the 10k Trainer
3. Take at least 57,000 steps on one day per week from now until March (when the marathon is)

After completing that first goal, I am going to go and get myself a real pair of running shoes, getting them fitted and everything, that I use just for running.

I worked on my vision board for this plan over the weekend, and I am almost done with it. The only thing that is missing is the marathon theme. The race directors have not released the theme yet. This is important because it will be the theme my costume is based on. When it comes to my vision board half of the content is the training for the marathon itself, and the other half is brainstorming my run costume.

A back of the envelope calculation, with running 3 miles/walking 1 mile, has me finishing 26.2 miles in 5 hours, 38 minutes, and 24 seconds - which is a 13 mile/minute pace, totally realistic - I think.