Running!

We have been running a lot lately as you may have heard! We are running in this spring's Second Empire Grand Prix Series in the region. It consists of 10 races ranging from 5k, 10k, and half marathon distances. (They give you points for each race based on how you do and take your best 6 scores). There is an award luncheon at Second Empire Restaurant in Raleigh in July for everyone that completes the series--running in at least 6 races--and the top 3 in each age group get an award. We think we each have a shot at the top 3 in our age group!

The last three races we both set PRs in each race. Colleen is down to 24:20 (7:50 per mile) and Jim is down to 19:09 (6:09 per mile). Here is Colleen with her rose from Race For the Roses 5k.

In that race we got an award (gift certificates to a local running store called TrySports) because we were third overall for the couples competition (combined time).

At the NC Torch Run Jim got third in his age group and won a medal. Of course Avery likes to wear it around the house.

Here we are after the most recent race Run For The Oaks in downtown Raleigh.

Thanks to cousin Charline for watching Avery during the race and cheering us on!

Jim is running in his first full marathon on March 18th (his 35th birthday) at the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, then we each are running the Flying Pirate Half Marathon at the Outer Banks in late April with cousin Lori and her fiancé Scott. We have a beach house rented and look forward to that one! (Jim hopes to break 1:31 and Colleen hopes to break 1:57.) Also we are continuing our race series this spring in which Jim hopes to break a sub 19:00 and Colleen hopes to break a sub 24:00. The next two 5ks in the series are flat and fast (the last three were hilly) so hopefully we'll get it! We really enjoy running on some of our training runs we do together and love that we enjoy something in common so much!