Charlottesville Ten Miler

Yesterday I ran in the Charlottesville Ten Miler, and it was great! It was 37 degrees, but it wasn't so bad once I started running. My goal, which I wasn't so sure I would make, was to finish in 1:30. But I made it in 1:26:10! Josh had his bike and his camera, so he pedaled all over the place to take pictures and cheer me on, and you can thank him for these.


The hard core guys getting ready to start.


Me, cold, headed to the start.


It begins! There were over 2,200 runners.


So far so good.


Looking intense.


Coming into the finish line.


Got my medal and headed for waaaater.


Apparently I still had the energy to jump.


What a guy.

Brrr

Forecast for temperature at race time on Saturday morning: low- to mid-30s.

Ugh.

still running

So next weekend I'm running in a 10 mile race. I really liked training for and running the half marathon last year, and this year I chose this race instead since I don't have as much time to train anymore (plus the 10-miler is a lot cheaper). I've only been running three days a week, with medium runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays and a longer run on the weekend. Today I ran my last long run before the race, 8 miles. I haven't been getting a whole lot faster than last year, but I also haven't taken the time and effort to actually work at getting faster. But that's okay. For now.

As soon as the 10-miler is over I will begin training for the same uphill 5k I did last year. Josh decided he would do it with me again, so we are going to work at the gym on things that will make us good at running straight up for a mile. It'll be hard core.

Arizonan litter

Look what Ryan found!

Thursday night show

Thursday night Josh Ritter (my favorite) came to town. I wasn't sure I'd have time to see him, what with reading to do and the gym to visit and cookies to make for Retirement Day, but Josh (not Ritter) had actually showed some enthusiasm the night before about the show and I couldn't turn that down, since Josh (not Ritter) doesn't really like Josh (Ritter). So we went.

Josh (not Ritter) was feeling pretty sick with a cold, and we probably shouldn't have bothered going out, but he pulled through. After being fortified with pizza at Christian's on the downtown mall, we made it to the show at 10 just as Josh (Ritter) took the stage. It turns out the show was part of the same tour Josh (not Ritter) and I saw last summer in Richmond. But it was still good. Because Josh Ritter is always good. In my opinion.

Josh (not Ritter) said the vibrations of the bass helped clear his chest, and I say the music also cheered him up, and overall we had a very fun time.