I'll see your 13.1 and raise you 26.2 (???)

Rob and I are back from our East Coast Adventure--as Rob perfectly named it. Last Friday night we flew to Providence, RI to visit Debbie, Noah and dog baby Milo. Their apartment is in a beautiful multiple unit historical building that looks just like a doll house. We spent our evening drinking tea--Rob asked for the Miller Lite flavor and was disappointed to know that it doesn't exist but I'm sure inspired to create it. Can't you hear it now? "For the man who loves beer but is forced to drink tea, we bring you Miller Lite tea. A tea that says testosterone."

In the morning we went to a local bakery for pastries and coffee--a subject Debbie knows quite well. And then I proceeded to buy the largest avocado known to man from a fruit stand on our walk back. This avocado traveled with us all weekend and even made it back to Chicago only to be opened Monday morning and, much to my sadness, realize size does matter. Big avocado = little flavor. Lesson learned, lesson learned.

We loaded up the car and dog baby Milo (who sat in the middle of the back seat between Debbie and I) and went to Brown University to check out the campus for a bit. What can I say other than, it's beautiful in Providence! I fell in love with the homes and the community. Seems like a great environment to learn and live.





We then returned back to the car and were off to Portland, ME! Noah's parents live in Portland and were so gracious to host all of us on Saturday and Sunday. Once in Portland, we went to pick up our race day numbers (1301 and 1302) and then we traveled downtown for some flatbread pizza, micro brews and window shopping. It was time then to head back home for some sleep as race day was less than 12 hours away!



Rob fell asleep quickly that night and I tossed and turned. For some reason, I had an overwhelming amount of anxiety regarding the race. I am not so sure what it was that made me so nervous. Would I forget how to run? Would I be the last one to finish? Would I be able to do it without my iPod (a serious concern)? All of this was of course very silly seeing as I followed my training to a tee and even exceeded the training guidelines but I guess there is something different in the air that night as all I could focus on was 6:15am when Debbie would "wake me" --which implies I was asleep--and then we would be off. No turning back.

The time came and Debbie knocked on our door to "wake" me. I stumbled out and we greeted each other with anxious smiles. I geared up, brushed my teeth and went downstairs, ready to finally attempt what we spent so long training for.

Finally, we were there. At the race. Ready to go. Or not. And *bang* the gun went off. Debbie and I were happy to get started as all the anxiety coursing its way through us had to get out in one way or another and also it was pretty chilly and we were happy to warm up. We missed Rob and Noah sending us off but did see Noah's mom yelling support. The initial miles were fun and just full of dodging faster and slower runners. Finally at mile two, we heard a familiar voice--Rob's! There were Rob and Noah at mile two sending shouts of support and love and encouragement. Rob even jumped in the race for about 50 fee to get an action photo of us.



I'm sure you can figure out what happened for the next two and a half hours---lots of running. I will not bore you with a mile-by-mile account of the race. But I can say that it wasn't as bad as all my anxiety made me think it would be. Having Debbie running beside me was not only comforting but wonderful. To come such a long way from running around the block in junior high (and being extremely out of breath afterwards) to chatting it up at mile 7 in our late twenties was an amazing feeling. To know that your body is strong enough to get through hills and valleys and 13.1 miles of foreign terrain is the most empowering feeling I have ever felt.

When mile 13 was at last before us, we took off in a sprint using energy that neither of us thought we had left. We crossed the finish line triumphantly and enjoyed a stinky embrace. Our husbands were there with flowers and smiles and they even hugged our sweaty selves---which is true love. After recovering, we went home to enjoy some fresh lobster the boys wrangled while we ran, a hike by Noah's house and of course, we recounted our race day experience for the rest of the night.








Monday morning it was time for Rob and I to head home as work and school were waiting for us. The flight was easy and once in Chicago, it seemed as though we had never left. The trip was wonderful. Seeing the east coast, spending time with Debbie, Noah and Milo, running the half, hiking and lobsters. So much fun crammed into such a short space.

The next adventure begins soon. Training for the Big Sur half marathon will start up again in May. Andy and possibly even Nicki have agreed to join me in that one. Coast to coast races is the way to go. Maybe it will even lead to a full marathon someday soon...