Running with someone new...

Kelly and I after a hot run

I'm a huge fan of training with people. And to be honest, I can not even tell you the last time I ran or biked alone (swimming does not count - you can't chat while you are underwater!) So when a new runner moved into town (not far from the new condo) and expressed the idea of wanting to join our group - we where excited. We like to call new people that train with us - or the ones who show up randomly - as guest stars and it's always exciting to have someone new in the mix.

Anyway, she lives in my new stomping grounds in Panama City Beach, and we decided to run this morning. Seven easy miles. And I was kind of nervous. Hadley is aiming to run a 3:10 marathon in Chicago. Wow. So we met at my place around 6:30 this morning. It was a great route that was pretty much the IMFL running course right along the beach. We just ran along and chatted. Stopped to check out the gulf and decided to run around a mile right long the waterline. The water was so beautiful - bright blue and flat with thunderheads in the back ground. Then we made our way back to North Lagoon and before we knew it - back at my place. It was a great run. According to good old red Garmin - at a 9min average pace.

Tied with the amazing 12 mile run I ran on Saturday with Kelly and Lisa - my running is feeling awesome. I think I've made it over the mental hump of holding back on my long runs. Thinking that I'll fizzle out if I go too fast. Leading me to believe that I might actually have a shot of qualifying for Boston in January. And it's all because of the people I train with. They know what I can do - and are willing to push me to reach my goals. Awesome. I feel so fortunate to having such great friends!


'Recovery' after the 12 miler on Saturday


IN OTHER NEWS:
New job is awesome. Love it. And I've been working on mastering the craft of using my Iphone. Feel free to forward any helpful apps that you might have!! And once I figure out how to move pictures from the phone to my computer - be preparied for random photos!

And now - I'm going to gripe a moment about football season. More specifically - Southern Football. I know nothing about it. I did not go to school at UGA or Florida State. So PLEASE DON'T PULL ME INTO THESE HARD CORE CONVERSATIONS and make take sides for something I could care less about. So, people at the bar, at work, at grocerie store, let me be....as I'm watching the FSU/Miami game right now. Ugh. Tis the season. :)