Memorial Day - 5k

co-workers and Matt hanging out before the race

and families!

Matt with Jordan. My co-worker Melissa's dog - he frequents the office as well and is friends with Reese!

He got soooo many pets and hello's before the race, during the race and after the race, it was crazy! Such a cute face, how can anyone resist? :)

We even found his almost double! 

both rescue dogs, both unknown mixed breeds

but so sweet and friendly!

After we finished the race and made it home again (I beat my best ever training time by 5 min!!) we feasted on a grilled dinner of burgers, the first corn of the summer, and some lovely dill pickles.

MMMM! black bean double burger with muenster cheese and lettuce and tomato

the fresh corn - which was grilled and then shucked afterwards - sidenote: TOTALLY easier to shuck corn after it's grilled than before!

Matt's double turkey burger with lettuce, tomato, sauerkraut, mustard, and ketchup.

Reese stayed home while we were at the race in Portsmouth, but he got  to race around the yard before dinner with Tucker from next door (Tucker is a terrier, also a rescue) so he was tuckered out - LOL!

All in all - a tiring but great day! Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Can I really run a 5k?!

I've never been much of a runner. I tried in high school for a while but my knees started hurting and after a Dr's visit, x-rays and finding that my knees will never allow me to really be a runner.... I went back to the pool.

But here I am. 8 days away from my first (and maybe last) 5k for charity and part of the office 'gang' running. jogging. walk/jogging. yep. more accurate that way :)

I've been working up to it on the treadmill and elliptical at the gym. And I've been making progress! My last 5k on the treadmill I managed 42min. Not wonderful, but again, I'm not a runner. So if I'm totally honest? I'm proud of anything under an hour! Today I walk/jogged the course with Reese as my jogging buddy. He did very well! I made it in 45min! woot!

Here I am on my way home to shower. Yes, I got sunburned because I forgot sunscreen. sigh. I was trying so hard to tell myself I could do it, that I forgot. Luckily, I wasn't out there that long and so once my blood pressure went down I'm nearly so pink!

My First 5k! eeek!

I have officially signed up for my first 5k. Memorial Day weekend. It's sponsored by Redhook Brewery in NH. Almost everyone in my office has signed up. Pardon the short sentences but I'm kinda freaking out! I'm not a runner - HA! I'm not really even a jogger! I told my boss I would swim it though. She said that wasn't an option :(
So Matt and I have signed up for the 5k. Gotta love the supportive spouse that will most likely help me walk over the finish line!
BUT! My some of my office participated last year and more this year - almost everyone and their families.... so what's going around the office this week? The Couch to 5k Program!
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

I am slowly working my way up! Wish me luck!

Reading

I just got back from a local school who participates in the Everybody Wins! Program which allows busy working adults to donate 30 minutes a week to a child through reading.

While I cannot share pictures of my little second grader Briana, I have to say we had a great time! She loves scary stories, which I do not, so thankfully the short stories we read were not all that scary! It was a great way for me to get out of the office and spend some time on not myself if that makes any sense.

Check out the local branch http://www.ewmb.org/ but know that they are all over the country having started in NYC and DC. Its a great program that allows you to give back within the more structured world surrounding children in schools now. In the past, a volunteer might be able to just walk into a school and donate time, now there are background checks and questionnaires to go through first. Of course, for the safety of the children and the school. This organization walks you through those steps easily and efficiently!

So get out there and share your love of reading!