Bring it On!

This morning I ran with the Bob Roncker's running group. Started at 7.15am and finished just after 10am. Yes, I ran 18 miles and felt really good.

I can now see why the running schedule week after week is worth sticking too. The hills are getting better and it's really good running with 1-2 others to keep you going.

Love it!

Eating Cookies For Charity

After talking to my niece over the week-end I felt obliged to buy a box of Girl Scouts cookies.

Apparently this is an annual event. Two commercial bakers are licensed by the national Girl Scout organisation to produce the cookies. Girl Scouts sell them during a limited period of time, with about 70% of the proceeds going to the local Girl Scout council to help with their resources.

As I've given up chocolate for Lent, I bought a box of shortbread!

The Furthest I've Run!

This morning, at 7am, I continued my marathon running with the Bob Roncker's running spot group.

A lovely morning for a run (no rain or snow that we've been having earlier in the week thank goodness). There were a number of different groups running (I reckon there were over 300) in different directions! There were a number of water/Gatorade/GU energy stations (only in America would it be so organised) which really helped.

Well, I ran 15 1/2 miles and am still walking (even though I have one big juicy blister on my right foot). I just hope my shin splints go away soon!!

Cleopatra Exhibit

Yesterday afternoon I went to the Cincinnati Museum Center with friends to see "Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt". The exhibition featured nearly 150 artifacts from Cleopatra’s time and explained the current search being undertaken to further understand the elusive queen (from the sands of Egypt to the depths of the Bay of Aboukir near Alexandria).

We topped the visit off by going to the OMNIMAX presentation "Secrets of the Pharaohson Mummies".

Then went onto The Rookwood at Mount Adams for dinner, overlooking downtown Cincinnati. Apparently the building was used to make art pottery, explaining why you could eat/drink in one of the kilns!

10K Run in Cincinnati

Yesterday morning at 9am, when it was raining, I ran my first official race in Cincinnati.

As part of the running programme that I have joined through Bob Ronckers, I was entered into the Food on the Run 10K (money raised to help prevent childhood obesity in the Greater Cincinnati area, sponsored by the Benefits Nutrition Council).

I obviously didn't push myself too hard early on, as I seemed to have a lot of energy in the last 1-2 miles and began over-taking everyone (Paula Radcliffe watch out, NOT!). I don't know my official time, but I was running well under 9 minute miles.

Breaking news.... I came 163rd out of 614, running 10K in 53min 18sec (average 8.36/mile)!