Search Results

Let's talk good food - I currently live in Nashville, TN but Knoxville's food scene is truly unbeatable. In this post you can find my top 5 go-to restaurants that I recommend to anyone visiting the lovely city of Knoxville, TN. Save and share for your next visit to The Marble City! The Tomato Head 12 Market Sq, Knoxville, TN 37902 Market Square, in the heart of downtown Knoxville is the home to a bunch of amazing restaurants (two of which are on this list). The Tomato Head is a cute little Italian bistro-like spot where you can get pizza, pasta and some other really amazing dishes (Vegan/vegetarian options too!!). The few times I have been I have gotten, pizza, calzones, and their Hummus Plate. This spot is sure to excite the tastebuds of everyone in the group - if you're anything like me Pizza is always top of my list. Tako Taco 235 W Depot Ave, Knoxville, TN 37917 Next on the list is another of my favorite genres of food - Tacos! Tako Taco was actually pretty new to Knoxville when I was living there last (Summer 2018) and I never pass up the chance to try new takes on the most beloved taco. Ask for the Adobo Chicken Thigh Taco and the Duck Al Pastor and you won't regret it! At $4/ taco you can try everything on their menu and would be hard pressed not to find something you enjoy. Cruze Farm 2721 Asbury Rd, Knoxville, TN 37914 Next on the list (of course I had to add it) Ice Cream! I make it a mission of mine in every state to try their local Ice cream. I love Ice Cream in general but there is something about it being local that makes it that much better. Cruze Farm is no different, with a variety of dairy items you get a good taste of country living and fresh carefully churned (with love) food. Try the "Sweet Cream" and the S'Mores Milkshakes. Truthfully it's been a handful of years since I visited Knoxville, but it stays on my mind. They have a way of packing a small town feel into a vibrant city. Now that I am in Nashville I can't wait to make the (short) trip back to visit all of my favorite places.

Am I crazy? I'm probably crazy. Not that I am the first ever pregnant lady to run a race but my last minute decision to enroll in the Rock 'n' Roll Running series 10k in Nashville was purely fueled by my horrible FOMO. Now, if you know me, you know there is no challenge I won't accept - the first challenge being staying active during my first pregnancy ("check"). I have not been nearly as intense as I planned to be but active none-theless and pregnancy has been great so far. Insert co-workers planning to run the Half Marathon... Prior to the Race This was no secret, my co-worker had been planning to run the Half Marathon for months, and I mean full color-coded calendar with training dates and the whole nine and an open invitation for everyone on site to join her. As the weeks went by (Starting in January) I kept saying to myself that I wanted to do it but I had NEVER done any running past 6 or 7 miles at once, not that I couldn't, I just was holding myself back - I am pregnant mind you and a running body pre pregnancy is very different than how I was feeling now (or so I thought). Fast forward to Packet pick-up/race registration day and my FOMO was in full swing, I went along with my co-worker to pick up her packet and ended up signing up to run the 10k (she ran the half). At this point I had 2 days to prepare, so I ran around trying to find a "bump support band" and anything else that I thought would help me get through it. I searched somewhere like 15 articles about running while pregnant and physched myself up about it. The FOMO must have gotten the best of a few others too because on the day of the race, 5 other coworkers had registered to run the race (10k, half, full, etc.) and there was a big group and some friendly competition! Race Day Bright and early on April 22nd, 2023 I woke up, used almost an entire roll of KT tape to tape the baby bump (for support), got dressed and I headed downtown to meet my buddy and get out my pre-race jitters. The 10k Race was before the Half/Marathon so I was wished luck as we parted ways. By 6:30am the street was packed with racers getting ready to start, shortly after we began the race. I usually run about a 10:30min/Mi and the weather was good and I had a good warm-up so to not have run more than 1 mile in months, I did pretty good for myself Finishing at 1:12:39 with an 11:44min/Mi. Now I get to add my first 10K Medal to my collection of holiday 5K medals that I treasure dearly. All of this to say - FOMO is real, you can do anything you put your mind to, and Running is always rewarding - Always. I have never regret a race and for sure have never regret a medal! I'm thinking that I will try to run the half this next year and see how much faster I am without the little Olive in my belly. Here's to running further and faster than ever before! LB