run at the rock 2009

the setting:

the inspiration:

everyone needs a preston. someone to inspire them to set high goals, who will support and encourage every step of the way. since 2007, preston has run the run.at.the.rock 7 mile trail race. last year, i cheered him on with one hand up in air pulling for him while the other rested on my preggy belly. in the car on the way home i told preston i wanted to run "next year" (2009) with him and he never doubted my ability.
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the race was yesterday!
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everyone needs a mandy:

a running buddy with benefits! when i proposed training for this race together, i didn't know mandy very well but was in much need for a burlington buddy. she accepted my proposal under the condition that as soon as possible after the race we would be lying face down on a massage table getting a professional massage. what a reward!! we're in!!
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mandy and i ran through painful injuries, on pretty days, ugly days and during a hurricane. the night we ran in the hurricane, i turned to mandy and said, "the likelihood that the weather will be this bad on race day is slim to zero."
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race day. 39 degrees and plummeting. raining again after a two inch deluge two days before. looks and feels like "slim to zero!"
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no turning back.
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no regrets.
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there was a lot of this... ...(minus the sun...we went back today to snap these shots since the weather wasn't picture perfect yesterday)
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...plus a lot of this...
...so we slipped, slided, plunged into mud and surmounted stumpy hills and valleys to conquer this trail. and conquer we did!!
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here's the muddy proof...

the thrill of completing such a tough race has us searching out our next challenge already. look out!!

yup.

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and off to the spa we went...