Long Run

Lera and I did the Runner's World Half Marathon in Bethlehem, PA Sunday. Great weather and fall colors. I'll say it again, I love this time of year. We checked out the "athletes village" on Saturday--lots of happy people dressed in bright colors purusing shiny new shoes and reflective clothing in the middle of an old rusty steel manufacturing campus. I faced off with Dean Karnazes (ultramarathonman) for cheesiest expression and then hit a local brewery for Irish coffee and pumpkin beer. Race morning was crisp and good. We started smooth and stayed within our pace, which made the 13.1 miles actually enjoyable. We annihilated several gu's at about mile 9 and pushed the last few miles to finish ahead of the goal we'd set. Lera smiled all the way till business time at the end where we sprinted the long final stretch. Didn't stay for any Mich Ultra (if they'd had Yuengling...) and made it home in a sort of exhausted haze. Our bodies are still sore, but it was worth it. Her first half, and she's planning for another. Phone pics follow. Cheers.