Lack in Slack

I put the Lack in Slacker!! 

Seriously, I shouldn't even call myself a blogger...actually, I don't. But if I did, I would be a poor excuse for one. 

I have so many posts I need to publish: 

The continuation of our love story,

Our anniversary trip,

The baby shower I helped host,

Progress on triathlon training, 

Library Love reviews

and my new CSA adventures.

I have no excuse, except for completely filling my time with everything I love: Josh, my puppy, family, eating, running, traveling, and friends. 

I expect to publish a full post soon, 

but this post gives me a few extra days!

In the mean time,

look how cute my brother is.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 1 Year Anniversary 

to the most amazing man in the world.

Who knew life could be like this.

I love you.

Need to catch up on our story? The Beginning: Part 1 
Stay posted for the rest of the story!

The Beginning: Part 1

We are celebrating our 1 year anniversary this Saturday. Can you believe it?! One whole year of marriage. One whole year of laundry for two people. One whole year of waking up to your best friend. One whole year of happiness. 

Many people say that the first year of marriage is the hardest; if that is the truth then marriage is a breeze! I don't mean to brag or to seem cocky, but seriously our first year of marriage has been easy! I attribute a lot of it to the fact that we dated for 5 years before we became engaged. But let me back up a little bit and start from the beginning...

(I can't believe that this is a blog documenting my life as a newlywed and I have yet to write about the beginning of our relationship. Please accept my apology for this major oversight. But I digress... )

We started dating in 2004 after a senior trip to Florida with friends from my summer job. Josh and I had been working together that summer at an arcade-type place. I always thought he was pretty darn cute; I assumed he didn't know I existed. But during the trip we quickly hit it off and when we returned he asked me out on our first date.

2004-Florida trip

That fall I was beginning my freshman year of college just 30 minutes away from our hometown, so we would take turns visiting each other on the weekends and keeping connected during the week. Being so young (and me trying to live the college life), I'm surprised we didn't have more difficulty than we did. However, the toll of the relationship eventually caught up to us.

After my freshman year was over, I decided to spend 6 weeks in South Africa during the summer of 2005 then I left again during the fall to study abroad in Australia for 3 months. The distance affected our relationship and when I returned from my adventures overseas, it didn't take too long before we broke up: In January of 2006 I confessed to Josh that I didn't know myself without a boyfriend and I needed time to be on my own. During our month-long "breakup", I spent more time with friends and even more time with myself. I realized that I was happy with my life, but that I would be happier if Josh was there to spend it with me.  Josh made me complete. He made me light up. He made me happier than I could ever imagine being. Apparently, I just needed a month-breather to realize how special our relationship was. I didn't know if he would eventually be my husband, but I knew I wanted him in my life now. 

The next 4 years were full of plenty of laughs, a few adventures, and even a puppy!

2006-Pinnacle Mountain

2007-Bringing home Puppy!

2008-Receiving my B.A.

 

Summer 2008-USA soccer match

Christmas 2008-Mexico

 2009-My first half-marathon

And in December of 2009, Josh asked a question that would change our lives forever...

To be continued....

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. -Mark Twain

Inspirational, right? It makes me want to get off my couch and explore the world. I love to travel (but honestly, can't everyone say that?), and I am blessed to have done some pretty exciting things in my life:

 Attended a USA soccer game

Spread the Good News for 2 months in South Africa 

 Traveled South Korea

 Lived in Australia for 3 months

Skydived in New Zealand

 Watched the sunrise in Hawaii

 

Visited Central America multiple times

Spent a week in the British Virgin Islands

Ran not one, not two, but three half marathons

And married the love of my life

But I want to do more. I am itching to be spontaneous and 'catch the trade winds'. I think at 25, you are meant to feel that way- like your life is just beginning and there is still so much more to accomplish. 

I want to...

visit all 7 continents (only 3 more to go!)

step foot in all 50 states

hike the Appalachian Trail

buy a boat and learn to sail it 

learn another language

run a marathon

run a 200-mile relay

I've never created an official bucket list because I could never list all the things I want to do. We are only given a short time on this earth, and while I know my purpose is much more than traveling, that doesn't lessen my desire to experience everything I can.

So heres to throwing off the bowlines and sailing away from the harbor!

What will be your next adventure?

Rose Medals

Are you ready to read hear my exciting news?

TADA!!

Yes, thats right ladies and gentlemen. I, Alex Clark, have officially registered for my first triathlon! I've been eyeing this race for a while and finally worked up the nerve to register. This will be the perfect beginner-tri because:

1) It's a sprint triathlon consisting of 300m swim, 6mi bike ride, and 2mi run, 

2) It is completely indoors, at my home gym. 

3) It is a women's only race! 

And not only that, but instead of medals, they hand out roses! (get the pun: rose medals instead of rose pedals? I'm so clever.) It couldn't be more perfect!!

The race is 6 weeks away which will give me plenty of time to get ready. Here is my training schedule so far, which I adapted from Hal Higdon: 

Pink is planned workout, Green is completed workout, Gray Grey Gray? is missed workout.

I completed a run through on Saturday and, surprisingly, it wasn't a complete failure. I have no idea what a 'good time' is but I was somewhat happy with these results. The following times are close estimates, as I just had a stopwatch and nothing but my memory to record each time; the official end time was 55:37:

300m swim- 6:30 <----- Goal is under 6

Transition 1- 3:30 <-----will definitely be shorter on race day

6mi bike- 25:00 <----- Goals is 21:00
Transition 2- :10 <----my legs felt like tree trunks!

2mi run- 20:30 <----- Maybe under 18?

Total- 55:40   

Not too bad for my first attempt! Just imagine what 6 weeks of training will do! This will be quite an adventure -I'll keep you posted on my training! 

Weekend Recap

Hello Stranger! I have been MIA for over a week and a lot has happened here at the Clark Abode: I celebrated my 25th birthday!! I always thought 25 sounded so old, but my life is just beginning! I'm excited to see what my 25th year of life brings.

Josh and I traveled to Hot Springs where we spent the weekend at my family's lake house. While the weather wasn't ideal, who couldn't love waking up to this each morning?

Then sipping coffee in your favorite room; it's Ajax's favorite room too. windows=prime bird watching ability!

Friday evening, my mom and grandmother drove up from Little Rock and treated us to a birthday dinner! Then Saturday Josh and I went hiking at Hot Springs National Park.

In its entirety, Sunset Trail is 20 miles there and back, however, rain caused us to head back early, only allow us to cover 8 miles. We saw lots of this.

And some of that.

 And of course, Josh found gross boy-things along the path. Shedded snake skin, anyone?

Like father like daughter: Ajax could not figure this little guy out.

 

Sadly, I was SUPER sore the next morning; my poor ankles and calves were not used to the rough and hilly terrain. Needless to say, my 25 year old body was feeling the prior day's adventures. I guess I'm not as young as I used to be... :) 

Now, don't run off for too long because I have some exciting news to share with you... check back tomorrow for the reveal!