WHAT A DAY: Run & Ride Half Marathon

October 4 & 5, 2014

Saturday was Packet Pick-up.....

and after I went home and started suffering from a bad stomach ache.

But I woke up at 6 am...and felt better and determined to

DO THIS THING!!

Not many people were registered, but it was a good group of people. There were about 5 girls that were in the back of the pack enjoying each other's company as the miles went along.

Gotta Love Small Bits of Encouragement :)

After the first loop, it was back around to finish, my method was simply...walk the hills, and try to run as much as possible especially downhill...and grab one water and one gatorade at pit stops.

Luckily I started taking more pictures the closer to the finish line. (I've never been to a race that only 24 photos were taken total and not all finishers had one.  If the event wasn't in Charlotte, I would not be going back.  Registration and event communication was not well facilitated.)

A selfie in the parking lot before heading back into the Dinosaur area...probably the best part of the route.  The dinos would roar and animate as you ran by.

And somehow with all the picture taking, I was able to make up time...passing several persons (plus one that cheated for the second time.)

...and between Mile 12 & 13, I passed a few more.  I then looked at the time and realized if I kept the same pass, I would beat my personal record.

AND I DID!!!

 

WHAT A DAY: Pittsburgh, PA - Day 3

SEPTEMBER 14, 2014

 

After a long day on Saturday, I slept in til 10 am...then packed up and hit the road back to Charlotte.

I stopped at some outlet stores on the way (as PA does not tax clothes), but made a special stop once I saw a sign for "coal fired" pizza.  Apparently I was on a pizza kick this weekend.

But it did not disappoint and the staff was great.

 

Also along the route, I went an antique store which housed some amazing WWII items as well as

the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, WV.

The tours were given on the hour every hour; however, I came at a random time and didn't want to spend 45 minutes when I needed to get home to my pup.  I did see the tour guides were all dressed in nurses/doctor uniforms which was a bit creepy, but there is rumored to be ghosts in the building too.

 

The last stop I made was at the New River Gorge....yes again....It was too beautiful to not see again.

This time, I opted to walk down the stairs to get a better view.

And it was so worth the long climb back up to see the river and bridges.

And yes, even though I was driving, I had the Panthers in my thoughts....GO CAM!

And the trees are starting to show sign of Fall......can't wait.

After the hike up, I stopped by a nearby souvenir shop and luckily got the last bridge charm for my bracelet.  Then it was back on the road....but it was a good day for a road trip...no traffic, great weather, and beautiful scenery throughout.