Sunday, March 13, 2016

Montgomery Half (WW # 32)


Welcome to the Weekly Wrap!


This linkup is hosted by yours truly and my good friend Tricia at MissSippiPiddlin.    The purpose of this link is to connect with and support other active women.  

You can summarize your whole week or just a small portion of it.  It's up to you!  Race recaps are also encouraged!  {See rules}  We hope you'll challenge yourself to come back later in the week and interact with more women.   It's a wonderful way to make new friends!  Don't forget to comment on all blogs you read and remember to support your hosts. 




Monday - Physical Therapy
Tuesday - 4 Miles
Wednesday - 3 Miles
Thursday - Physical Therapy
Friday - Rest (Expo)
Saturday - 13 Miles (Half  Marathon)
Sunday - Rest

Total =  20 Miles


For half marathon #38, I did more of a taper compared to 2 weeks ago.  I've run this race several times and know it's fairly tough with an elevation gain around 375 feet.  Much of that comes within the first two miles with a substantial hill at mile 10 and rollers throughout.  In addition, after stalking the weather all week I knew it would be warm and humid.  Good times!

The expo at Riverwalk Stadium
Tricia was coming for this race so I was super excited about that.  After her arrival, we went to Riverwalk Stadium for packet pickup.  We received a nice teal colored women's V-neck tech shirt. There was also a very small expo and we each bought a couple of items.  You can't turn down half price Feetures socks!  We carbo-loaded at our favorite Italian Restaurant, Mr. G's.  We could have talked all night, but went to bed around 11 p.m. as the race had an early start time. 



As expected, it was a warm 68 degrees and the humidity was 88%.   At the start line we found Debra from Happy Running Sole.  She and I live in neighboring towns, have run many of the same races, so I was very happy to finally meet her.  After a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem, Tricia, Debra and I started up the long hill together.  We passed by the famous cemetery that is the final resting place of Hank Williams, Sr. and continued our upward trek.


I struggled almost immediately to keep pace with them (stupid humidity) and in hindsight started too fast.  I paid for it later.  But, it was nice to run together.  They chatted and I mostly listened because talk was already too difficult given the incline!  We stayed together through Oak Park (4 miles).  But after crossing over the interstate and coming into the ASU campus, I realized we had separated.


This is still a young race and I was pleased to see there was more crowd support on course this year. I continued to struggle in the heat and humidity but I wouldn't say the wheels entirely fell off my bus. By mile 8 my pace had definitely slowed.  When I reached the killer hill at mile 10, I walked a little. The people around me that continued to run made no gains so I felt no guilt about it.  We had a couple of smaller hills during mile 11 and I knew there was a long downhill at mile 12 in front of the capitol building.  My calf muscles had been feeling tight for a few miles, but they had not cramped yet.  If I could just hang on, I could make up a little time on the downhill.

Dexter Avenue

The full blown calf and foot cramps in both legs started after reaching the bottom of the long hill coming down historic Dexter Avenue (mile 12).  Humidity is not my friend.  I'm grateful they didn't start sooner and can thank SaltCaps for that.  I lost 2 to 3 minutes in that last mile (you'll see why this is relevant in a minute).  On the bright side, all other body parts felt fantastic!
 
Friends, Fellow Half Fanatics, and Volunteers -- Valerie and Jenny

I came into the finish chute still cramping with a somewhat disappointing 2:16:04.  Although we separated, our original trio finished very close to one another.  Thankfully, my cramps did not linger.  We chatted with friends for a while and ate the delicious post race fare of eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage and biscuit before heading over to The Spa.  Tricia and I pampered ourselves in the whirlpool and with delightful pedicures.

Our pedicures.  (Some day maybe I'll have time to tell the story behind this photo!)

After returning home mid afternoon, we chilled in the backporch swing while being amused by PoPo and his stories.  We dined at Firebirds and our entertainment for the evening was the play White Lightning at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.  Because the story was based on bootlegging, the ticket came with free moonshine tasting.  Peach was my favorite.  

Alabama Shakespeare Festival


On our way home, I received a text from a running buddy named Lisa.  After posting my worst time ever for this race, only having a 9th place finish in my best year, I was floored to read I had placed 2nd in my age group.  Lisa, who passed me during the final mile as I walked with cramps, had beat me by 1 minute and placed first.  She earned it!  After being a little disappointed with my performance, I'll just shallowly admit this news lifted my spirits.  {Humidity, you can kiss my boo-tay.}

The age group medal puts the finisher's medal to shame!
Tricia and I did a little sightseeing and Waffle Housing Sunday morning before she left.  We had a wonderful time this weekend.  We took so many pictures and there is so much I could say but it would just go on forever.  And yes, we've got another half in the works.  You didn't think it was over, did you?

And that's a wrap!

Would a age group trinket help your feelings?

Tell me about your week!  Did you race?




100 comments:

  1. Congrats on your second place age group finish! A similar thing happened to me last year at ZOOMA Annapolis when I thought I'd done terribly, but placed third and missed first by only a minute - if only I hadn't taken those walk breaks, but the humidity was killing me!

    It sounds like you and Tricia had a great time! Did you two know each other before blogging?

    Thanks for the link up!

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    1. I didn't even think to check the results before I left! Tricia and I met last winter at a half marathon. I had just started reading her blog at the time.

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  2. Congratu-fricken-lations! Your age group medal rocks and heck yeah that would make me happy. To think that no one else in your age group could keep up with you...besides you friend-double yeah- and only by a hair. I love that top picture of you two...our lovely hosts :)

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    1. It helps so much to be rewarded after really struggling in a race! It was a total surprise.

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  3. You are amazing! To not feel well, cramp up, be disappointed and then get 2nd place! I'm impressed, and this reminds me to never give up in a race. I loved seeing all the pics of the race on IG. So cool that you have a great friend to race with.

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    1. You never know. In my wildest dreams, I would have never thought I placed. I worked hard to catch up to Lisa and pass her. But, she got me at the end! LOL.

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  4. Great job on placing!! Any trinket would make me feel better! I think that is so awesome that you guys race together!

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    1. Having Tricia there made an extra tough race feel much better. We had fun.

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  5. Wow congrats on your age group award - that is amazing!!

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  6. Great job on the AG award! I too struggled in the heat and humidity at Sarasota today, and even with my 2:08 finish, came in 22nd in my AG! Out of 144. There are some speedy old ladies out there!

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    1. Obviously, this was a smaller race. I usually don't place because of the speedy old ladies. Between the hills and the humidity -- honestly, I just lucked out this time.

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  7. Thats awesome that you got an AG award! Congrats! That always makes me feel better about a race that doesn't go as planned. Looks like such a fun race weekend!

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    1. My first thought was I didn't deserve an award. But then I thought about those killer hills and humidity -- um, yes I do!

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  8. Congrats on your AG award! Isn't it funny how sometimes our most competitive races are the ones where we didn't have a great personal performance?

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    1. You know, that is the way it usually is. My best performances never get me anything but personal pride.

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  9. Kudos to you for doing this race multiple times knowing how challenging the hills could be!
    I think after every race there is that feeling that we could have pushed just a little harder (to come in just a minute or 2 earlier) but at the time it seems like we are already giving all we have! Anyway, I thought you had a great time and YAY for the age group placement.

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    1. I had nothing left at this one, except calf cramps. This is one that I've yet to experience really nice weather at. Maybe one day.

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  10. Well, of course an AG would lift my spirits but I didn't get one at my half. I didn't train for hills and I really suffered. I didn't even attempt to run up them. Looking forward to December. I'll have to step up my pace to keep up you - not used to humidity either. Can't wait for our girls running weekend.

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    1. That December race can go either way. Let's keep our fingers crossed for low 50s and a little breeze, not just socked in with fog like it was one year. I don't like breathing rain clouds!

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  11. Sounds like even thought it was a tough race for you it all worked out in the end!! Humidty is so hard to run in for sure!!

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    1. It always shocks me how much of a difference it makes in my pace. I wish it didn't!

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  12. Congratulaitions! The AG place proves that you did well on a tough course, even though it was a struggle.

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    1. I'm not going to lie. That news lifted my spirits tremendously.

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  13. OMG, don't you just love surprises like that? Big congratulations on the AG award (and heck yes, that's a nice medal)!!!

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    1. What a shocker! I didn't even check results before I left the race. Why bother? I can't believe the AG awards is so much bigger than the finisher's medal. I think somebody messed up with that.

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  14. Congrats on finishing your race. I hate the humidity. It is not my friend either. It's sounds like you had a nice weekend

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    1. Tricia and I had a very nice visit. Unfortunately, the humidity will probably be a factor now for a long while.

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  15. Heck yeah an AG trinket is a total spirit lifter, IMO! Congrats girl! This course sounds tough under perfect conditions and downright brutal in the heat. Good for you for pushing through. How fun to hang with Tricia Thelma and Louise style!

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    1. I really wish they would move this race to January to at least eliminate one of the things that makes it tough. We tried to pack a lot into a short amount of time.

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  16. Ok, can I just say that's enough about you an Tricia ;-) I am SO jealous!!!! Ya'll need to hop in her RV and head west! Congrats on the AG award!!!!

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    1. Her crazy matches mine! Anytime you are headed south...just let me know.

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  17. Congrats on the AG award! Humidity is so not my friend - great job pushing through tough conditions!

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    1. Thanks. It's just too early to be dealing with that already.

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  18. I totally wilt in humidity & it's not often humid up here, so it's even worse! So yeah, you can expect a sloooooow time from me in PCB if it's hot & humid. But I know FL is unpredictable!

    Congrats on the AG award -- having never won one & being unlikely to EVER win one -- yeah, that would make me happy. Probably ridiculously happy.

    I've never had do deal with cramps during a race, but I sometimes get them after -- like yesterday (which was basically perfect running weather); which was my fault for forgetting to bring a salty snack for after the race.

    Great job & I wanted to hear the stories you hinted at!

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    1. I had cramped during the night before the race, so I should have known it would happen. I haven't figured out why I occasionally do that. I know salt caps help though. FL in December is iffy. Maybe we'll land on the lucky side! No hills -- whoot!

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  19. Congrats on the age group award! That's awesome. Man, just a few minutes behind? You're amazing!

    Sorry about the cramping. That's the worst- at least you know what caused it.

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    1. It took me forever to catch up to Lisa and pass her. I had a good lead on her, that I gave back when the cramps started. It's all part of it.

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  20. Holly I am so impressed with your race dealing with horrid heat and humidity. I struggle mightily with those conditions too and how exciting to hear you placed 2nd in your age group. Way to go. I've never tasted moonshine but it would have to be flavored for me to give it a try!

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    1. I'm not sure I can say I'd ever tasted moonshine. This was the legal kind, by the way. They also had an Apple Pie flavor that was very tasty.

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  21. Congrats on your age group placing! That medal is so cool. My half this weekend had some serious hills, but at least we weren't dealing with heat and humidity!

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    1. Yeah, we had the double whammy. I loved the medal you received for RnR DC with the cherry tree branches. Cool.

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  22. Congrats on placing 2nd in your age group! What a great accomplishment after those cramps. Receiving that news must have really turned your day around after how you initially felt post race.

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    1. I had a lot of fun -- always do because I love to do this, but was disappointed with my performance. So yes, the news of the AG award was very uplifting.

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  23. Humidity's not my friend either, and way to go on the age placement. I learned from my last humid race and will make sure I get salt for the future.

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    1. I cramped much worse the first time I ran this race (with the same conditions). This was mild compared to that day. I've been using salt capsules ever since.

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  24. Humidity and I have never gotten along. I don't think trinkets would help with my feelings.

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    1. Humidity is certainly a game changer. I'm envious when I see people it doesn't appear to affect.

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  25. That's so cool that you are able to run so many races with Trish and other blogging buddies - isn't that the great thing about the blogging community?! I also love that you travel to so many new places for races! Congrats on the age group placement!!

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    1. It's like we are already friends and share so much in common before we even meet!

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  26. Sounds like a great weekend! Congrats on the age group place! An age group trinket would definitely lift my spirits. Very cool you ran with Tricia and Debra!

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    1. It was fun to run the first miles together. You should have heard them chattering away while I was struggling to speak. LOL.

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  27. Boom!!! congrats on the finish and on the AG win!! That is awesome!!! Take that humidity!!!

    So neat that you got to hang with Tricia all weekend...that could only equal SUPER DUPER FUN!!!

    Cute toes!....I hope we get to hear the story!

    Hmmmm peach moonshine....sounds tasty!

    Have a great week!

    Oh and yes...a AG win would totally make everything alright!! ;)

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    1. Knowing NOTHING about moonshine, I didn't know they made it in flavors. It was the legal kind, by the way. Yeah, that big old medal smacked humidity upside the head.

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  28. It's great that y'all were all able to meet up. That sounds like an all around fun weekend! Humidity really sucks the energy out of you, but I think scoring an age group trinket would make up for it a bit. Congrats! I hope you get the time to tell the story behind the pedicure photo sometime - I'm curious :)

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    1. I think in my case it was climbing those first hills too. A double whammy. I was wiped pretty early on.

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  29. Congrats on the 2nd place age group finish! That's awesome, especially with the cramping. My calves cramped up at the end of my half too, and I wasn't sure why. The spa sounds like a perfect way to celebrate after a half marathon :)

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    1. It may possibly have been the hills that cause both of our cramps. Wasn't RnR DC a hilly race too?

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  30. Yay! Congrats on your AG finish! An award always lifts my spirits! You did great despite the humidity. Sounds like a great weekend with Tricia too!

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    1. It was fun hanging out with Tricia. I hope we'll be able to do another race (or more) this year. She likes the half marathon distance as much as I do.

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  31. Fantastic news on the AG award! Humidity is the worst, but I think you had a fantastic finishing time with hills and that weather! I ran a race with similar elevation and weather last May and found myself walking up some of the rollers. Tough! (But it was nice to see other runners around me doing the same...) Anyway, your weekend sounds lovely and your photos are great. Have a good week!

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    1. The older you get, the smaller the age groups become and your odds of placing become much greater (especially in smaller races). I guess that's one perk of aging. ?? Or, I was just lucky all the fasties stayed home!

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  32. Congrats on the AG award! Unexpected surprises like that always changes the mood of a race that wasn't the time hoped for. Looks like you had a fun time regardless- the AG placement was just icing on the cake! Btw I've linked up for the weekly wrap. My first time attempting so bare with the glitches
    : )

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    1. http://melissacunninghamifpapro.blogspot.com/2016/03/march-7th-13th-training-and-5k-recap.html?m=1

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    2. It was definitely a surprise. Previously, my best performance at this race got me a 9th place finish. And now my worst got me an AG award. You never know. The first rule is to show up!

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  33. You two are just awesome!!! Congrats on your AG award, and I agree humidity blows!

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    1. You are too sweet. Her half crazy matches my half crazy.

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  34. I love how you guys are running so many races lately, so much fun. I am a bit jealous!
    Love all the pictures, that is a cute one of you and Tricia. How much more fun that you guys meet up and run the races together.
    Congrats on your finish, but also the award!!!!

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    1. She loves a half marathon as much as I do. I've got some catching up to do after my injury. Unfortunately, it will soon be too warm around here to run races. I was sidelined for much of our "good" weather.

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  35. 1/2 price Feetures, a teal race shirt & THEN an age group win would easily put this race at the top of my list. It's pretty much a goal of mine to one day win an age group award. CONGRATS!

    And going to look into Salt Sticks // Caps. You & several others always seem to mention them & I feel like they're worth a look. I am a sweaty exerciser.

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    1. I swear by SaltStick. Even in great conditions, I take a couple. The first time I ran this race, I cramped all the way to my buttocks, in both legs, from mile 9 to the finish. It was the same weather conditions. I did much better with cramping this time.

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  36. Dear Ms Hoho - I have only known your link-up for about 3 weeks now and every time I come back t your blog you completed another Half- Marathon! Simply amazing! Running in high humidity is really hard. You feel like you're not even moving. Congrats on the AG award! That must feel good!:):) Have an awesome week!

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    1. Ha! It's my favorite race distance and I admit I tend to go overboard with them. I always feel like I can't find the air when it's humid.

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  37. Wow! How cool that you guys placed! That is awesome!

    It is WAY too early in the year to be dealing with this heat and humidity. Blah. Way to stick with it! :)

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    1. I'm not ready for the humidity. I already have to deal with it for way too many months out of the year.

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  38. That sounds like such a fun weekend for you too! We had the same humidity down here and I was not as prepared for it as I should have been. It does make a soul feel good when you find out you weren't the only one that struggled :) congrats!!

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    1. I think it was the double whammy of hills and humidity that got me. I'm barely back to running and certainly have not trained on hills.

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  39. I love that picture of the 3 of us before the race! You need to send it to me I didn't get one. It's funny you say you couldn't keep up with us at first, I said the same thing. I think each of us was not wanting to be the one who was left and in turn it pushed all of us out too fast. Looking back it was hard as hell but great fun to be together! We just did not have enough time to do all we wanted! I do have a feeling this won't be the last!! ;)

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    1. I enjoyed our little running trio. It certainly propelled us up those first hills! You and Debra seemed to chat effortlessly and I was struggling to get out one word. LOL. Of course it's not the last!

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  40. Congrats on that great age group finish! That humidity sounds miserable so I'm glad you were able to pull out such a fun win. I LOVE that Waffle Housing is a verb. :) We don't have Waffle House in Nebraska and my husband and I have to hit it up any time we're down south with access to one!

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    1. Well, since Waffle House is such an experience...maybe it should be a verb.

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  41. How fun to spend the weekend with Tricia and meet up with Debra !
    I feel for you with the heat & humidity. I did a long run Saturday in the Florida heat and thought I was going to die. Like running through cotton or something. I much prefer my 50 degree Paris weather !
    Congrats on your AG finish.

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    1. To me, it's like the air is missing! Add hills and it's a recipe for disaster. LOL. But, hey -- it's a race so I enjoyed every step.

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  42. Congrats on your AG award! It was great to finally meet you and run with you for those first few miles until I could no longer keep up. I look forward to seeing you at more races soon. I love the pics of your medal downtown. Glad you and Tricia enjoyed yourselves. You should be a trip advisor. You planned some fun stuff while she was in town.

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    1. Great to meet you Debra! I'll see you again in a couple of weeks. I struggled to keep up with you and Tricia. Y'all seemed to be running effortlessly while chatting away. If she comes back to town, there will be nothing else to do! LOL.

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  43. Congrats on the AG award and it really is nice and big!!

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    1. I was shocked to see the size in relation to the finisher's medal!

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  44. That post race fare sounded AMAZING and right up my alley! Congrats on second place! That's AWESOME! I loved all the pics on Instagram, it looks like you and Trish had a great time. You'll definitely have to tell the tale of the pedicures!! :)

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    1. I love to eat eggs after a long run anyway. So yes, that hit the spot. The biscuit was extra yummy.

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  45. Half marathon 38! Wow! So many congrats to you on a great race!!

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    1. #39 is schedule in a couple of weeks. It's a sickness. LOL.

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  46. Congrats on placing 2nd in your age group - especially with the heat and humidity, which always takes away my energy! This week, I signed up for a 25K trail race.

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    1. I'd like to get into more trail races. I've done a few short ones. The first thing I would need is the proper shoes!

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  47. I wish that race was sooner! It gives us all a lot of time to train hard through the nasty summer, I guess. And you time to get back on your feet. That's the first pedicure I've had in probably 1.5 years. My feet were pretty pitiful.

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  48. Congrats on HM #38 and the AG award (especially with the heat). Love the pic of Dexter Avenue.

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    1. That picture doesn't really show the elevation change. It's actually pretty dramatic.

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  49. The only way I would get a medal in my age group would be if I was the only one in my age group running! LOl Congrats on the second place finish!

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    1. Never say never! Age helps with that too. One perk of aging, perhaps?

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  50. I'm joining in with your Weekly Wrap link-up for the first time! What a great community :) I'm a fan of running in the rain... but not a torrential downpour. More like, a sprinkle or a light rain. Great workouts this week! Running along the beach would be amazing right now.

    Amy @ http://www.livinglifetruth.com/

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    1. It's a wonderful group of women! We are so glad you joined us!

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I enjoy reading your comments. Thanks for taking the time to leave one!