Race for Hope - D.C.

My first 5k has come and gone . . . and I loved it!  I wasn't sure that I had really trained enough for it; indeed, I hadn't done any running the entire week before the race, and I barely slept the night before.  This turned out to be a great strategy.  Once I got going, I didn't want to stop.  I had two goals for this race:  (1) to run/jog the entire way -- no stopping, no walking, and (2) to finish in under 45 minutes (I know that isn't fast at all, but it was a reasonable goal for me).  I was so happy that I met both of those goals!

Now, I'm not saying that there weren't times that I wanted to just walk for a minute or two, because the thought crossed my mind more than once.  But each time I thought about it, I would simply take a look around me and see:  little kids just whizzing right on by me, older people who were probably in their 70s, or seeing people in wheelchairs, people who were survivors or who were themselves battling a brain tumor -- did I really need to stop or walk just because I was tired??  No, I did not!

I also thought of my beloved mother, and the memory of her being my biggest cheerleader.  In my mind, I could hear her saying, "You can do it!  It isn't much further, just keep going!" 

Those are just a few of my memories of May 1, 2011.  I didn't have my camera with me (I don't think I can run and take pictures at the same time!).  But when I got home, I did take one picture of the memory of my first 5K that I will treasure the most and take great care of:



Penny, our team captain -- and Tyler's mom -- handed out these paper seed bibs to everyone on Team Tyler.  I will be planting this soon . . . pictures to follow . . .

all creatures GREAT and slimey . . .

more shots from Alabama . . .

all creatures GREAT and small

Okay, I know I said next up would be creepy crawling creatures...but I changed my mind!  Instead, starting off with a few photos from Tigers for Tomorrow at Untamed Mountain, located in northeastern Alabama.  Tigers for Tomorrow is an awesome rescue place for all kinds of animals, not just tigers.  Check out their website here:  tigersfortomorrow.org.  They also have a Facebook page - Tigers for Tomorrow at Untamed Mountain.  If I lived near there, I would be volunteering as much as I could.

all creatures GREAT and small . . . continued

Tigers for Tomorrow is also home to these wonderful creatures . . .

Can't wait to visit again!

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~ W-H-O-O-S-H!! 

Once again, another night is getting away from me.  I still have pics to post from my trip to Alabama and two 5ks (ran one and walked the other).

Well, here we go...a few more from Alabama...I had never had boiled peanuts before this trip.  Mushy peanuts are a little weird at first, but then they were addicting!  Next time I'm getting the cajun ones!

 

next up . . . more creepy, crawly creatures