Red Pencils and Running Shoes

 

Last year I met a friend of mine for lunch on my birthday.  We hadn’t known each other very long, and I’ve never much liked being the center of attention, so I hadn’t exactly been walking around announcing “tomorrow is my birthday!” to everyone I met.  When I met my friend for lunch, I whispered to her: “I have a secret… today is my birthday!” 

This year, the same friend wouldn’t let me forget that last year I ambushed her with my little surprise.   She and another one of my best friends from work started out Birthday Week last Monday at Mexican Post.  For those of you not well acquainted with Philadelphia – this restaurant does Mexican food RIGHT.  And when a girl has a craving for chips and salsa, there’s no better place to go.  Add a mango margarita, and some silly gossip,and you’ve got yourself a fantastic girls night.  I am so grateful to have these girls in my life… I honestly don’t know how I’d get through the work day without them!

Tuesday continued the festivities with a firm-sponsored Happy Hour after training.  Can I just mention how wonderful it was to have training during birthday week?  What a nice change of pace!  It was good to know that I’d definitely get out of work before 7:30 on my birthday

Thursday, May 13, was my actual birthday.  I turned the big 2-4, and celebrated with my family and fiancée at my new favorite place – Lourdas in Bryn Mawr.  Lourdas is the smallest little hole in the wall by the Bryn Mawr train station, and their food is to die for. 

(see how tiny and cute?! source.)

My parents were so generous – they brought me flowers, paid for our delicious gyros (and Melitzanosalata, an eggplant and pepper dip.  I could have licked the bowl of this stuff… so good!  And their hummus was incredible – even Robert was eating it.  That’s a huge compliment!)

The ‘rents also contributed to the “Cassie Wants a Garmin” fund, and my brother finished it off.  That night, I went straight home and ordered my new best friend… which arrived today!  So excited to take her for a whirl   hehe

Now Friday…. Friday was amazing.  Whenever we have training, it’s more or less understood that we get a half day on Friday.  But this time was different.  On this Friday, we only stayed until 10:45.  I took the 11:15 home, and read my book the whole way.  And got home and read my book in my pj’s until I finished it.  And grabbed another book and headed to my nearest outdoor dining establishment and did this:

With this charming dining companion:

Ok so maybe I just liked to pretend I was eating with that handsome fellow.  I want a puppy so badly!  But I consoled myself by doing more of this in Suburban Square after my lunch:

Reading in the sunshine by a fountain in my favorite shopping center?  Happy Birthday to me.  I took a break from my reading to do a little bit of shopping and get a mani/pedi at my favorite salon, and then Robert and I headed out to watch the Flyers make history.  (Unfortunately.  Rangers fans, remember?)  Things might have gotten a little silly after a few Yuenglings and a rockin’ DJ…

Clearly I needed sleep after that exhausting day   But not too much sleep – there was fun to be had on Saturday too!  Robert and I had promised each other bikes as an anniversary gift, and Saturday was the first time we’d had a chance to go shopping.  We ended up at Target, and took Robert’s little civic.  We assumed (yes I know what assuming does…) that the bikes would be sold in a box to be assembled at home, and we’d have NO PROBLEMS fitting the bikes in the car.  Epic fail.  Target was oh-so-kind enough to let you wheel their bikes to the register and buy them pre-assembled.  “Sweet,” we thought, “we’ll just pop the front wheel off and fit them in the back seat.”  Epic fail v2.0.  The brakes were on too tight to release the wheel, and we didn’t have the proper tools.  Luckily I saw this in the distance: 

We rode our bikes to Lowe’s, and after buying a $2 piece of 8ft molding, loaded our bikes into the Lowes rent-a-truck, and drove home. I don’t know what we’d have done without that beast of a truck! 

(Or lovely bikes in their new home. They are Schwinn Gateway Hybrid Bikes)

We got home just in time to get dolled up and meet some friends  out for dinner and drinks in the city.  Robert was a doll and organized all of my friends to celebrate my birthday.  I missed a few good friends, but I got to see a lot of my closest friends.  It meant so much to me that they came into the city just for me!

There were many Magic Hat #9’s, a great burger, and a lot of dancing – I couldn’t have asked for more!  I truly have the best friends in the world, and they helped make this the best birthday in a long time!  I hope my 24th year is just as good as my 24th birthday!

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SO Sunday was the big day.  No – not the wedding!  On Sunday I participated in the Broad Street Run.  But before I explain, let’s back up and look at some history.

2007:  I learn about the broad street run.  I think "damn that’s a long way to run, but it would be freaking sweet if I could do it."  I begin the Couch 2 5k program in hopes to at least run a 5k.

2008:  My favorite professor tells me about his running endeavors.  He tries to convince me to run Broad Street, and every time he asks, I have t o admit I can only run 2 miles at a time.

2009:  I see my professor at an alumni event 2 days before Broad Street.  I’m resigned to admitting that I’m still only running 2 miles at a time.

2010:  Just like all the other sports teams in Philly, I say to myself "This year is my year!"  Except I’m still running on the treadmill, and when I transition outside, my magic 8 ball says "Outlook not so good."   I resign myself to walking/running Broad Street here.

So I did it!  I met up with Vinny down at the stadiums on Sunday morning and we took the free subway ride up to Olney. I was so nervous!  And I was drinking my water the whole time, expecting there to be water coolers and port-a-potties in a location close to the subway… but no dice.  By 730 my water was almost gone (I’m a nervous drinker), and I had to use the restroom in a serious fashion.  Thank goodness for the wave start (and being in the pink/last corral!)  so I could hit the port-a-potties closer to the start line.

We hit the starting line approximately 30 minutes after the race start.

We had a few mini goals.  Mine was to finish the first mile without stopping.  Vinny didnt want to be last lol.  I’m happy to say we beat both goals!  The first mile never seemed to end, but I was proud of our two undertrained souls.  And the scenery and the people were quite entertaining.  There were a few people running together with shirts that said “In my mind I’m a Kenyan.”  And “I may be slow, but I’m faster than you.”  I loved it!

I couldn’t believe just HOW MANY people there were…

The race seemed to drag on until about the half way point.  Part of the reason was the spibelt  I bought the day before.  I had put my camera and my phone in it, and it bounced like crazy.  When I took my camera out to take pictures around City Hall, it was so much better!  I ended up running the rest of the race while holding my camera.

 

We hit city hall around mile 5.5, and with City Hall came Robert!  It was so so good to see his face.  I grabbed a quick kiss and kept on running.  Seeing him was so nice though, and it helped us power through.

Another major player in helping us finish were the fire hydrants that they opened to cool us down.  I haven’t mentioned how freaking hot and humid it was that day – I think the temp was 87, and was a new record for the Broad Street Run.  The hydrants were so fun – I felt like a kid every time we ran through.  I should also mention my appreciation for the water stations – the cutie little kids just filled up my water bottle whenever I was running empty.  Much better than little tiny cups!

Miles 7-9 were amazing.  We ran through South Philly which was chock full of bands and gospel choirs and water booths with girls dressed as super heroes.  It was awesome to feel so much energy.  A woman was even giving out free puppy kisses from her three dogs!

The best part of the race was a barbeque by the stadiums,where they were blasting one of my favorite jock jams. (Silly, yes, but tell me this doesn’t pump you up!)  We ran like crazy at this point until we couldn’t hear the song anymore.

With one mile left, a friendly face came bounding out of the crowd!

Despite going the wrong way on the subway, Robert found us and ran with us for the last mile.  I was so excited, and made him take a few pictures of us (and maybe some boats in the navy yard too!)

And soon, there it was- the promised land – the finish line!  2 hours, 27 minutes and 43 seconds after we started, I crossed the finish line of the Broad Street Run for the first time.  (And beat Vinny by 1 second! hehe)  Robert got one picture of us before he got chased off the course by a Marine for not wearing a bib on the course!  Too funny

It might have taken me 3 years, 2:27:43, but I did it.  And it felt awesome, even if it was hot as blazes.  I might be rocking a sweet knee brace tan line, but I was on top of the world.  What a great day!

PS: Next time, remind me of the one-mile “cool-down” walk they have you do from the Navy Yard back to your car at the Stadiums.  I wasn’t quite as excited about rawlking 10 miles after that hike!  

 

What’s next you ask?  Stay tuned for the details   Until then, it’s time for bed!  Goodnight loves!

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