New Balance Baltimore Women's Classic 5K

This past Sunday morning (28 June 2009) the girls in the neighborhood woke up bright and early, around 6am to all sleepily head over to the Museum of Industry for the Baltimore Women's Classic 5K run hosted by New Balance. It is a run for women's health initiatives, so it was for a great cause, and all effort and organizing was done by Heather H.! Months ago she asked us all to participate and I personally did so dragging my feet HEAVILY but she did use her birthday brunch and celebrating as great lure. (smile). Heather even got the team "Patterson Pagoda Princesses" matching purple wick bands (so cute) so that we could all match up! Once we got there there were swarms of ladies - I believe the grand total ended up being about 1845 women who participated in the run/walk! It was fun and the vibe was amazing.

Being stubborn I told myself if I were to ever actually sign up for a 5K I would try and run/jog it the entire way, just because I was paying to do this! The energy really was great though (some of the running girls had been telling me this days ahead everytime I whined...which was a lot) and it really did make a difference! Okay you girls were right. At mile 2 marker however, I screamed in outrage (with an Fbomb) thinking we were JUST starting 2, and thought I was going to die already but somehow managed to keep moving (although slower and slower) and got a little push (in my head at least) at the finish line! All I can say is those cold towels at the end were a LIFESAVER and probably was the only thing that kept me from passing out or puking. I could have dunked my body into those icey tubs! I couldn't even bend over bc I was to pull off the tag on my shoe because I was hyperventilating so bad, and some random guy did so for me.

The end was horrible, that last mile felt like 3,000 miles but luckily I had familiar Patterson Park girls around me! High fives, and random "what/why!?!?" screams! After finishing, I wandered wobbly over to get food (which I continued eating all day as if I had run a full marathon...) wondering why I put myself through this! and then realized it had been for a great cause and it was really nice having all the girls together to support such an important cause! I can now finally say I have done a 5K as painful as it was and I finished in 31:03 for the first time! I am super happy that I jogged/ran the entirety, and although I am completely on the fence about ever doing one again, it was worth it!

phew!

So the house was completed, and then we realized the little itsy bitsy things had to be done, such as cleaning, de-dusting, and things you don't think about when you sign up for a rennovation! So, slowly, the boxes have been unpacked, and these next two weekends, we'll have the rest of the painting done (1st floor is good...now onto the 2nd!)

We just got back from two weeks in Taiwan - which was fabulous! All of my family basically lives all over and so Joe and I were really lucky, and were able to see the entire island and do a lot of very authentic things (ie: Japanese style hot springs...)! Many many stories...! There are over 450 pictures so those are best left to be sent rather than posted! haha! We came home though to Thanksgiving and spent that in Baltimore for the first time as well which was lovely, as our friend Summer cooked a huge feast for all the "orphans" who chose to stay in the city! THANKS SUMMER! it was fabulous and I can't even go on about how ridiculous the food was!!!

It's been a quick fall (entering winter...brr) with the trip and festivities and house painting/cleaning/etc! Joe finished his first Marathon in October as well which was exciting because it was the Baltimore Marathon so we were home and he had our amazing friends around to cheer him on, and ran with a few of them as well! Thought after running that far, a picture was well deserved! Blogging is kinda fun every once in a while, so perhaps this little thing will keep going...heehee! As if another reason to procrastinate online is needed...

Baltimore Marathon 2008!!!