Wag the Dog

I ran a new 5K this morning, the Walk, Wag N Run 5K.
This race in Brookhaven benefited Ahimsa House, a domestic violence shelter that allows pets. I'm so glad I ran this race and helped this cause. I believe this race will make my list for years to come.
I met up with my friends Ellie and Dave and their dog, Zaxby.

Me, Ellie,Dave and the Zaxster!

Zaxby meets a friend!

The race was in the Lenox Park part of Brookhaven and had a few hills. But I was very surprised that I did so well. I came in at 38 minutes flat! I slowed down the third mile, but until then I was running 11:30 minute miles! Yay, me!

Coming in to the finish

These are definitely the dog days of summer, but I was very happy to help doggies, kitties and their humans get out of very bad situations. Until next year, ruff!

Getting Back on My Feet

I feel like I've taken a longer than usual break from running, but that's not the case.
Still, Saturday's Back on My Feet, Meaningful Miles 4-miler made me realize I HAD taken a break.
This is my second year running this race and I just love the event. Not the course, just the event!
The race takes place in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward neighborhood and the race literally starts uphill.
That North Avenue hill at the start is no joke. I thought I could run slowly up it, but ended up walking almost right away.
Still, it's a great race, benefiting Back on My Feet, which helps homeless men and women learn self-discipline through running.
I ran this with my friend Kellie, and it was great to see her again.

Getting Back on Our Feet

The race also marked the return to half marathon training. The Baltimore Crab Festival half marathon isn't that far away. I'm looking forward to it, and to fall weather for running.
I'm looking forward to getting back on my feet.

Jog Days of Summer

I ran this hot, hilly 5K today at Chastain Park and what made it far more tolerable was my friends Joy and Sasha who wanted to do it with me.
My Atlanta Track Club membership came in handy, because one of them got to use my guest pass. I was hoping both of them could use it, but one of the codes didn't work. Oh well.
I think every year I consider NOT running this one. But since it is a free to track club members race, it's hard to skip it.
Sasha and Joy are both stronger runners than I am. They got ahead of my shortly after the start. I caught up to one or both of them at some point on the course, but in the end they were about a minute ahead of me at the finish.
No matter! It's more fun to do these races with friends.

Sasha, Joy and me

Sasha, Joy and I have run that crazy midnight race together, too, and this morning we decided we would do it again this year. I'll try to remember I agreed to do it happily when I'm waking up at midnight that night to go run a race! ha!
This race was hot and hilly (although not as humid as it's been in other years). What makes it more fun for me is doing it with running buddies.
I am so thankful I have various friends who do races with me. I'll be doing a race next week with Kellie. And the weekend after that it's one with friends Ellie and Dave.
I'm signed up to do a half marathon in April in Kentucky and my friend Peggy asked if I wanted company. I surely do! So we're doing that one together. We ran Seattle together earlier this year.
Running + Friends = Happiness. Even in the dog days of summer!

Heating up summer running

Remember how wet I was for the Peachtree Road Race?
Just two weeks later I ran the Atlanta Track Club's Decatur YMCA 4-miler and wished it was raining! What a hot 4 miles!
My friend Angela joined me on this one, too.

Angela and me at the finish

Here we are at the finish, looking all sweaty. This one is not too far from my house, and after the race Angela and I went out for breakfast. I can assure you I ate back every calorie I burned on this morning's run! Oh well. Sometimes it's not all about the run, but who you are doing it with.
I'm so grateful to have a host of running buddies in Atlanta, and outside of Atlanta, too. More on that next time.