the Bedford 5K and Fall Festival

I ran my first 5K on Saturday, November 8th. It wasn't "real" in the fact that you didn't have to register, you didn't get a number, you weren't timed, etc... BUT, it was real to me. I still had to run 3.1 miles. :) My friend Jen invited me to run with her. Her neighborhood puts on a Food Drive, 5K, and Fall Festival each year and her husband Bennett ran it last year.

I was so proud of myself for reaching this goal! I ran it in my fastest time to date, 33:30. That is roughly an 11 minute mile. I've made a lot of progress in my time. I started out at a 12:30 minute mile. :) It was pouring when we started. I don't think Jen would have come out on such a yucky morning if I hadn't been dead set on doing this! She was a GREAT encourager to me! Her neighborhood is very hilly and it just so happened we had to run "heartbreak hill" during the 5K. I was so afraid I would have to start walking but she talked me through to the end and I don't think I could have finished so well without her! THANK YOU JEN!!! I hope to sign up for the Jingle Bell Run 5K in downtown Raleigh this week. It is December 6th and will be "REAL". I'll get a number, it will be timed, and I'll get a shirt.... Very exciting!

Please forgive the gross pictures. I look pretty rough but it was pouring and really, what can you expect from the "after" pictures. I was feeling very yucky! :) Anthony brought the boys (Addison stayed home with the Maggiores and Jessica) and they played in the rain with Jen and Bennett's girls Mary Claire and Elle. They had a blast and it was so wonderful to hear their little voices yelling and cheering for us as we came to the end "mommy, mommy, mommy..."!!! We both loved hearing that! :)

Me and Jen - the before picture

standing and waiting in the rain - when they started us off, the bunch just took off so fast!!! thankfully, Katy had cautioned me to stay focused and to NOT follow the crowd!!! it was mostly men and they were going SO fast. it played with my mind, made me feel like such a slow poke to hold back but i'm so glad i did. i still finished fast for me but i would have been really in a mess if i had gotten started off too fast!!! i know this will be very helpful to me in Dec. at the next race where there will be SO many more people. it was great to get my feet wet...literally :)...before the run in Dec. i'll feel so much more prepared.

our cheerleaders!!! Mary Claire, Jackson, Harrison, and Elle

here we come....not too much further!

we did it! this was an AMAZING first for me. i know to many this is nothing, but to me it was a very big deal!!!

after the race we met our company, the Maggiore Family and Jessica & Cody at Chick-fil-A for breakfast. The boys had a UNC/Georgia Tech game (a November Tradition) that afternoon so they took off real quick! We headed back home to relax and then went back over to Bedford that afternoon for their Fall Festival. Everything was free and the kids had so much fun! It was a great weekend with dear friends! I only wish I had more pictures to show you! You'll have to check their blogs to get what I didn't catch!!! :)

A horse carriage ride - a first for all the kids and Jen and myself


i hope these kids will be life long friends, just like their parents!


super fun inflatables!

Addison was so excited to be out and about!

and she LOVES her elephant from Aunt Vonda!

sweet Anna!

come back soon, y'all!!! we loved having you! oh, and we missed you Chris!!! next time lets make sure your hunting trip and the game don't conflict!!! :)