My weekend, chapter style

This is going to be a mega post since it covers four days, so I'll break it down for you, chapter style:

Chapter One: Rest Day Kara is an Ambitious Little Bitch

I did my long run on Friday, but I picked out my route on Thursday. My rest day thinking was "Gee, I need more hill work! Let's do a hilly route tomorrow!". By mile 3, I was cursing Rest Day Kara. It was already a low motivation run day because I woke up at 5am to the sound of pouring rain. I'm ok with running in the rain, but I hate starting my run in the rain. My first mile for the run was 9:48, which shows how unenthusiastic I felt about the whole thing.

I don't know what got into me, but I just started speeding up each mile. It just felt good, so I went with it. I ended up running mile 17 in 8:18, so that's some hard evidence that my mood had changed from the beginning of the run. :) I did 17 miles in 2:32 which is a 8:58 average pace, which is very fast for me for that distance. Maybe I'll be cranky on the morning of Marine Corps Marathon and end up running faster than usual then too. :)

Chapter Two: Are You Old Enough to Abuse My Gums?

After my 17 mile run, I went to the dentist for the first time in over four years. Yeah, I know how to have a good time. When I got there, the girl who took me back for my X-rays looked like she was 16 years old and she even still had braces, but that wasn't as bad as when I met the dentist and I was pretty sure he was younger than me. At 28 I should be ok with that, but it was a first for me. I've always had old dentists. :)

It could have been a much worse visit and I only ended up having two cavities. Even back when I went every year, that would be a good visit! The perk of a young dentist is that he skipped the "Don't drink soda or eat candy" lecture that my old dentist gave me every time I went. I did have to promise my new dentist that I would swish my mouth with water and spit after taking Gu. :P

Chapter Three: Bald is the New Black

On Friday my in-laws drove down to us to stay for the weekend so my husband and I could go to his 10 year college reunion. Not only did they come to take care of our little monster, they even brought the stuff to cook us dinner on Friday night, including dessert! It was perfect fuel for my 10 mile run on Saturday morning. :)

My husband's reunion was pretty fun. In my mind, the most entertaining part of a reunion is seeing who let themselves go or went bald. In my husband's case, most of his friends have stayed in shape, but there are no exercises to strengthen hair follicles, so they were SOL in that regard!

School bus shuttle to the football game!

I had a "That's what she said" joke for lunch

These centerpieces are probably why the tickets were 90 bucks a piece

SUPA HORNETS

Run, plebes, RUN

The goats are my favorite part

We had great seats...right by the sno-cone stand

Don't go just halfway down, I'm watching YOU!

Living up my baby free day by wearing white pants

The only awkward part of the weekend was when the wife of one of the guys on the bus sat in the back while her husband caught up with my husband. I thought that was odd and my husband admitted to me later that she was one of the plebes that he hazed. Ah, military academy life.

Faith was really happy to see us when we got home, but Peanut had already changed allegiance to my father in law.

Never leave me

Ok Mommy, you can have one night off a year

Chapter Four: If It's Labor Day, Why I Am I Working So Hard On This Run?


On Monday morning I went to group run with the local running club. We started out the run at an easy pace, which was good because it was a hot and humid morning. We were doing an 8 mile loop, but I needed to do 9, so at mile 4ish I split off with two other people to get that extra mile. Those 2 other people are MUCH faster than me, so their easy pace is a challenge for me, but I managed to make it all the way back without crying uncle or vomiting, so that's a win. We did 9.25 miles in 1:24 (9:04 average) and then came back to the house of one of the women for cupcake time!

Sitting by the pool makes everything better

Teddy Grahams enjoying a swim

Oreos on top and Oreos in the cupcake? Yes, please.

A gift from Italy! I can't wait to eat this.

Chapter Five: Babies and Ghettos Don't Mix

My husband was too busy having a wild time cleaning up the mess of our flooded basement (from last week's hurricane) to join us for an outing, but Faith and I enjoyed a wild afternoon out a the "Spray Grounds" at a local park. I've been meaning to take her all summer, but it's in a ghetto area and I procrastinated to the point that yesterday was the last day for the year. :)

This is SO much more fun than bath time!

Mommy, what is that man in the Escalade waiting for?

I'm pretending I don't see that illicit behavior

 We only made it like 20 minutes before sketchy people rolled up in tinted Escalades and started going through the trash in the picnic area next to the Spray Ground. Yeah...maybe he just lost his retainer, right?

After standing in the hot sun watching her play, I needed a Rita's break:

Root beer ice with vanilla custard milkshake...YES

Week 6 of JFK 50 training is done! I ran 52 miles and had some fast runs this week, which will hopefully help me with the 5K on the 17th. Peanut ran a lot this week...22 miles! I think that's commendable for a dog. :)

Thus ends the saga of my long weekend. If you read to the end of this, my hat is off to you!