perfect 10 miler.

today i participated in my longest distance race to date! the perfect 10 miler. 4 months ago it was something i didn't even consider. after doing the 10k's, i decided this would be a good challenge to work toward. it was my summer goal and a "practice" for the half marathon this winter. and i did it. and it was hot. and hard. i was good until about mile 8 and then the struggle began. at about the 9 1/2 mile mark i had to stop twice and walk for a few seconds. but i made it to the end, alive and standing up and running, even able to sprint to get ahead of my time goal! did i say it was hot?! some people on the route held their garden hoses out to us runners to cool us off.....the mist was most welcomed! it was fun as i crossed the finish line that my name got announced. my olympic moment seeing as it was on a track too! it was a fun race, regardless of the heat and the short walks. thanks to my mama and my aunt for coming out to root me on. loved the sign! ::1:43:28::

august 10.

happy birthday, dear grammy!!!

beach bum.

today i had a nice date with myself. something i needed to do. no phones, no kids, no voices, no computer. just me. and the beach. i've been trying to get there this whole summer, and either time didn't allow or the weather did not want to cooperate. it was a nice sunny day. seeing mr. old man in a piece of "dental floss" didn't help though. i felt like telling him we are in northeast ohio, not miami, buddy. plus, it was just not a pretty site. if you want to wear a piece of dental floss as your bathing suit, please tone your body appropriately. at least coverage was sort of ok in other areas.....but i am glad i didn't have my glasses on and for once was thankful for my nearsidedness. the blur was more than enough. otherwise, i had a lovely date with me!

a shot in the dark.

so last weekend was a shot in the dark. it was a 4 mile race, as well as a 2 mile race, sponsored by the winking lizard. they have yummy food. anyway. although the race was not in the dark (it would have been fun if it were!) it was a nice time. the weather that day was nuts, and literally we were blowing away waiting for the start! my mom, sister, and aunt even participated in the 2 mile walk. it was fun to have them along, although we were on different routes. mother nature held out for us, the wind died down and no one blew off the bridges of downtown, and the sun actually popped out. afterward we grubbed on our free food from the winking lizard and our "discounted" beer. my time for this race was 38:15.

mom, me, and kim trying not to blow away beforehand

kim, me, and julie mom, kim, and aunt linda grubbing down on the food

10.

10. that is what i just ran. 10 miles. are you kidding me?! i can't believe i just ran 10 freaking miles. these training plans kinda do work, i would have to say!!! only 3 miles more and it'd be a half marathon. it is amazing what you can do if you put your mind to it. i never in a million years thought i would do that. furthermore, this morning as i am getting ready to start this intimidating run of 10 miles, i discover my ipod battery is dead. it must not have been turned off and it ran out from the last run. so now i am a little worried at the thought of 10 miles. with no music. never did 1 mile without music, so i am thinking, how the heck am i going to do 10?!!! but i did, it wasn't horrible. that was a feat in itself, having no music to help me forge on, especially when i am tiring out. i do have to say though, it was nice at that EARLY hour to just hear the creek flowing and the quietness as the world woke up. i did miss my tunes by the end, but the solitude was much needed. maybe that ipod ran out for a reason today! anyways, i definitely need to keep "practicing" this longer distance, but wow. i am kinda impressed with myself. amazed to say the least. who woulda ever thunk it?! not me.