Local Running Buddies, ROCK!

I have had some great runs with some local friends.  I have been sacrificing my sleep to do it, which I thought would be hard, but I'm getting used to it and really starting to love the early mornings with my running friends. Plus getting it done in the early morning gives me the rest of the day...PERFECT!  Some of you have read in a previous post about my fear of running with people and I am so happy that the last 6 months I have overcome that! I used to be so in-secure about my lack of speed and didn't want to slow my running buddies down, but I am over it.  For so long I didn't have many local runner to run with but lately I have found some local running buddies.  Both are training for upcoming races.  Jamie is training for her FIRST MARATHON and Rachel is training for her first Half Marathon, You Go Girl.  Its so fun running with people who are training for something that they have never done before.  I love it.  So excited for them to achieve something BIG like a HALF and Full Marathon!  GO LADIES!

Before our 11 miles!

Jamie and I had a FABULOUS run on Friday morning.  She had 11 miles on the schedule so I figured what a great way for me to get my long run in too.  We started early and the miles seriously flew by!  I felt like we had gone 5 miles and we were almost done with 11...that's the best.  We ran up Mile-Long and Nice Hill, but go to finish down hill...it was LOVELY!  She is a great runner and takes HILLS like nobodies business.  She faces some serious hills on her daily runs, I do too, but she runs steeper and longer hills than I do.  I'm looking forward to more long runs in the months to come.  She is going to do great at the SEATTLE MARATHON.

8:30 am and done with 11 miles!  SWEET!  We look a little more awake then the first picture.

My next run was with Rachel who had her long run of 7 miles schedule for Sunday.  I was so excited when I realized I would be able to run this with her.  I usually don't run early on Sundays with church happening, but we left early enough to make it happen.  She chose our route for this run and I was glad she did.  It's a route that I have never ran because the hills looked too long.  The first part is downhill but after the first 1.5 miles it's an uphill climb.  The beginning felt great and then the climb began...it was long and steep, but we took each hill one at a time and made it through.  We had to run up nice hill before our down hill finish.  Nice hill...SUCKS!  We made it to the top, but it was HARD.  Luckily after Nice Hill it was mostly downhill for the rest!  Downhill is so nice after a hilly run.  Felt good to finish 7 mile in the early morning with a friend.  (No pictures of Rachel I since I didn't have my phone...next time!)

Now time to get ready for my vacation with my 2 boys and my mom!  I am so excited, but have a ton to do before we go!