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Running - Aerobic	0 miles 00:00:00	Height: 5'7

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Running - Aerobic Deathmill	6 miles 01:00:20 (10:03 min/mile)	Shoe: BluGraySaucony10 0 miles on shoe Height: 5' 9

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Running - Aerobic David City	5 miles 00:47:30 (9:30 min/mile)	Shoe: New Balance Zante v3 0 miles on shoe Height: 5'10

WINDY AF

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Running - Medium Run Treadmill Weather: YMCA	5.75 miles 00:00:00	Shoe: Mizzuno Wave Inspire 14 0 miles on shoe Height: 6'-2 Weight: 185

2 miles easy, .5 mile and .25 mile repeats

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Running - Race Pi Day River Rotation Half Marathon Certified? No 9:00am	13.47 miles 01:58:20 (8:47 min/mile)	Height: 5'7

Thankfully, my husband and two cousins were still speaking to me this morning...Yesterday at 6:15 am we bundled up and headed from Manhattan, KS to Lawrence, KS in the cold, drizzling rain. The Pi Day marathon usually takes place on the trails there each year, but this year the snow and ice that remained constant on the trails forced the officials to move the race to the levee instead.

We got checked in and viewed the course that consisted of a two mile road that we would run back and forth on for three loops, with the first mile of the race a half mile out and back in the opposite direction. I looked at the already sloppy mess and said oh, this is only going to get worse with more foot traffic, shaking my head and hoping for the best. And thankfully the weather did turn around in our favor before we started. The rain stopped!

Sure enough, with the milers, 5k runners, and marathoners that had already been out on the road, after the first loop it was pretty hard to find areas that you didn't sink into for the 134 half marathoners. What a great experience for Jay's first half marathon, right?

I stayed with Jay and our cousins Rob and Renee for the first mile and then picked up my pace. Rob had agreed to stay with Jay to help pace him, and Renee was just getting over influenza, so she was giving this her best shot. I wanted to use this race as a long training run for my marathon next month and was just simply happy to get off the treadmill and amongst other runners for the first time in a long time!

The weather continually warmed up and with every loop I shed layers, even throwing Jay my shirt on the last loop. He shouted, hey, the only girl that will take her shirt off for me 😂 We ended the race at 62 degrees, a very welcome change from the sub zero temps we had been experiencing in Nebraska.

One may think that the loops back and forth could get boring as I was running by myself and with no music or headphones. But the trail running community is made up of people with the most positive attitudes of anyone you could ever meet. With the constant meeting of other runners, and the marathoners also mixed in with us, there was always someone to give a smile to, exchange words of encouragement with, and also a little ribbing. "Hey, it looks like you found a little mud." "Did you know your shoes are dirty?" I enjoyed the people running this race and the volunteers very much.

There were many, many times that I wanted to stop and walk, though. I commented to one girl in the muddiest section that every time I reached that half mile, I wanted to cry a little. She replied with the same. But I could also see other women ahead of me walking and my competitive spirit won out.

I ran smart and simply slowed down for the muddiest parts, telling myself to just keep moving forward without stopping. My mantra for this race was "stronger as I go." I continually said this to myself over and over. That's exactly how it went, too. My last 5k was negative splits, with my final mile being my fastest mile and passing two more females in the last half mile.

Even though I wasn't beside Jay throughout the whole race, I met him on the course several times to yell directives at him, haha! "Run, Freeman, run! It's your last day of being 39!" His original goal was to finish under 4 hours, but that day he thought he may be able to get it finished in 3 hours. Rob did an excellent job pacing him, Jay finished in 3:02! We are all proud!

The races weren't done when we finished our half. Some of the runners had chosen to run the mile, along with the 5k, along with the marathon, and then do a half marathon once they finished the full marathon. The name of this event for those who chose to do it all? "The answer to everything!" None of us were wishing that we had entered that, not for one single moment.

Successful half marathon day, and yes, he may just be thinking of doing another. It's an addiction yknow.....

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Running - Aerobic Kearney Hike and Bike Trail 4:10pm Weather: 30s 25-30mph NW wind	12 miles 01:28:00 (7:20 min/mile)	Shoe: Adidas Galaxy Trail 0 miles on shoe Height: 6 ft

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Running - Treadmill	5 miles 00:00:00	Shoe: GT 2000-5 blue 0 miles on shoe

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Running - Aerobic Hoods 9:15am	8 miles 01:17:00 (9:37 min/mile)	Shoe: Brooks Ghost 11: Yellow 0 miles on shoe Height: 5'8

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Running - Aerobic West Papio trail Weather: 39; 8 mph SW wind; drizzle to start off	6 miles 00:49:36 (8:16 min/mile)

So happy to do a NON-TREADMILL run--first one in 3 weeks!! And, caught a break in the steadier rain as well.

Song of the day: "Thunder Thumbs and Lightnin' Licks" by the Brothers Johnson. Thunder Thumbs refers to bassist Louis Johnson; Lightnin' Licks refers to guitarist George Johnson. Instrumental funk jam from two of the best, and with Quincy Jones producing as well.

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cross training: weights -	00:00:00

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Swimming - Aerobic 5:50am	2.72 miles 00:00:00

4800 yards. Good swim.