fitter, happier, more productive

Now that I'm in my late twenties and I sit around working on a computer all day, I decided I should probably be more intentional about getting some regular physical activity. That, coupled with the inspiration of watching my friend Billi run the New Orleans marathon in February, convinced me that maybe if I committed to running a race, the goal would give me the drive I needed to consistently get out and do some running. So I told Billi that MAYBE I would run a half-marathon with her. Luckily, my friend Johnena also wanted to do more running, so we have been training together for a 10K...and maybe for that half-marathon down the road.

Last weekend, Johnena and I ran our half-way race -- a 5K held here in Fort Walton Beach, and sponsored by the Red Cross. It was insanely hot and humid, so it was a tough 3.1 miles, but we persevered! (We usually run at 6:00 a.m., but this race started at 7:30...even that hour and a half made a huge difference in the temperature!)



I felt so official with my race number. Go 52!



Leave it to the Red Cross to supply ponchos for hurricane season instead of the typical race T-shirt. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed, but we had fun laughing about it and taking our picture in our sweet new rain gear.



The sole reason we took this photo was to record the presence of Mrs. Florida at our race (standing in the sash behind me). We had been e-mailed a press release by the Red Cross saying that Mrs. Florida was "supporting the Red Cross by participating in the 5K." We, of course, thought that meant she was running in the race. We totally almost wore sashes and tiaras to make fun of it, but then we realized that she wasn't actually running...she was just handing out race packets. Lame.



Chugging along in the heat...



The home stretch!



If only this picture did justice to how hot and sweaty we were!

We'll be done with our 10K training in just a couple more weeks!!