Wicked 10K

After a few weeks of training, I was able to run my first 10K! The race was held on Halloween down at the oceanfront. Check out some of the costumes people actually ran in!

Here's a fish... and Elvis...and the Wizard of Oz...and what did I dress up as for the race you may ask? I went disguised as a runner (haha)...and there I am getting ready to cross the finish line and get my medal!

(Can you see me? I'm right beside the clock the race's black shirt and black leggings.)I ran with a couple of ladies who help out with our youth group!

Way to go Mary Ann and Lisa! We did it!Yay for completing 6.2 miles. That is my longest run yet.

I'll let you know what's to come when I decide what distance to tackle next, but for now I am thrilled to have completed a 10K!

More posts coming soon...

Well we are all moved in!!! What a fantastic birthday gift for my 26th birthday! It took exactly two months and the place was complete and I will have many pictures to share very soon...(due to the move, I've had trouble getting my camera and a computer in the same place to upload the latest and final renovation shots before pictures are taken of the place completed and decorated). We're almost completely out of boxes (though they're lining the front porch until they can be gotten rid of). Sunday night we slept at the house for the first time and I had forgotten how WONDERFUL our bed is! I slept like a rock...I am really spoiled by our mattress. It is really beginning to feel like a home with art on the walls and pictures on display and we can't wait to have everyone over to visit and create new memories. I'm hoping to have a house warming in November to celebrate and I'll let you know when it will be soon! We never got to have one with our place in Mass. because we didn't know anybody when we moved up there, but now hopefully many will come out to celebrate with us!

I have some other updates to post about too...

1. Adam and I went to the Redskins home opener. We tailgated and had a great time at the game. The stadium is massive! (Pictures coming soon.)

2. Since my 5k with Thais this summer I've been wanting to sign up for a longer race, but wasn't quite ready for the Rock'n'Roll half. I've been reading as a couple friends, Shelby and Laura, are training for races as well and I got inspired, and I signed up for the Wicked 10k on Halloween and I've begun training...at 5:30am! I've done it two mornings this week and wow I had so much energy the rest of the day! Not only that, but I had never run over 1.5 miles without stopping to walk for 1 minute to catch my breath and then keep going, but the past two times I've run with Paul, Brian and Lisa who are Middle School Leaders with us at church I've run 2.5 miles without stopping! I am so excited! I can't wait for the race. Hopefully my time and distance will continue to improve with each run.

Check back soon because I promise to post pictures of all the progress!!!

My first 3 mile run!

For many a three mile run is no big deal, however, for someone who has never run that far before I was pretty thrilled! Who knows maybe my desire to actually run a half marathon could someday become a reality.It was nice out Friday so I decided to jog down at the ocean front on the boardwalk. I figured the sound of the ocean waves crashing along the shore would be a perfect distraction from my pounding heart and heavy breathing. Indeed it was! I kept up my pace and ran an entire three miles! I was so excited I thought I'd share, and hopefully by sharing it will force me to continue running that distance and further. I'll keep you posted...there is a Shamrock Shuffle half marathon here in the spring, maybe I'd be ready by then. Guess we'll see!

Chicago with the Carters

So after the first week back at school...it was already time for a vacation. Not really, but we hadn't been out to Chicago in THREE years! Can you believe that, I certainly couldn't. I had missed an entire Carter apartment (tear). Well at least I got to see their new place, which I absolutley loved!

We got in late Thursday night and made our aquaintance with Violet, the new puppy. Very cute!

Friday (Day 1), Thais had to work so we had one on one time with Heath. Heath gave us our very own walking tour on Chicago's architectural highlights. Then we got to tour parts of Chicago's UNDERGROUND when we went to pick up their car, which has been towed earlier, from the Autopound! While we were "underground" we learned that parts of the new Batman movie are being filmed around Chicago's underground. You may not believe it, but we even caught a glimpse of a Gotham Cab. Check it out! That night we ate at a fantastic Italian restaurant, Dinotto. Yum! And we finally made it to a Second City Show. Hilarious! I loved it! Jess wants to know where she can audition?? Saturday (Day 2), Jess slept in while Adam CHOSE to go for an 18 mile run with the Carters who have been training for the Chicago Marathon that's coming up in October. The question everyone keeps asking, "Has Adam been training for a marathon?" The answer: "NO, but he has been running." Well he DID it! He ran all 18 miles and still had a breath to spare! So after some recovery time and a proud pat on the back from his wife, we were off to Gino's for deep dish pizza (a well deserved treat for the runners for sure). That night we all just relaxed around the Carter's new place.Sunday (Day 3), After visiting the Carter's church and seeing all the exciting changes that are going on there, we were off to Michigan for their friend, Lisa's 30th birthday celebration. This is the part of our trip that Thais says "broke the tourist mold" and it did! We got to stay at a beautiful cabin on Lake Michigan where we slept four to a bed. Man do I wish I had a picture of that. We were like pigs in a blanket lined up on a breakfast plate. We even got to listen to a REALLY rockin' folk band, The Corn Fed Girls.

Monday (Day 4), As we made our way back to Chicago for our 9 o'clock flight back to Boston, we took a detour through Grand Rapids where we ate lunch at an Irish pub, McFadden's, followed by a beer sampling at the Founders.
We had such a great time and we can't wait for our next big city adventure! This trip will definately be a hard one to beat.