the moment you have all been waiting for

Otherwise known as The Most Flattering Video Ever Created.

If anyone is interested in watching me cross the finish line of the Marine Corps Marathon yesterday, here it is for your viewing pleasure.

If you start the video at 1:47, you will see me run up the right side of the screen in a white hat, purple tank, black shorts, and black compression sleeves on my calves with pink tape on my knees.  

Finish video

Despite the look of despair at the end, it was a pretty awesome race.  I took the advice of Runner's World and drank a full 20-oz bottle of Gatorade before the race, and another during the first 10 miles, before I had the chance to get dehydrated.  (Best decision ever, by the way)  

Mentally and cardio-wise, I felt like I could have run forever.  My legs had other plans, though.  I kept about an 8:30 pace for about the first 20 miles, then they decided they had had enough.  My last six miles I dropped to a 12-minute mile.  I tried with all my might to run faster, but my legs just wouldn't move.  

I did, however, have an awesome support team.  Joe was there (although I never actually saw him), and at mile 19 Emily ran with me for a half mile and fed me chocolate milk and orange slices.  Erica and Ben showed up in Crystal City at miles 21 and 23.  Erica can cheer with the best of them, that's for sure.  :)

Mary came to the finish line with diet coke and Nutter Butters.  I had no idea what I would be craving after the race, but those Nutter Butters definitely hit the spot.

If anyone is interested in running the Rock 'n' Roll marathon (or half-marathon) in March, I have already registered!

a realization

This week, I made a horrific totally awesome realization.  I might be turning into my dad.

In the past couple of weeks, I have realized that

(1) I find gum-chewing repulsive.

and (2) I really love dark chocolate.

This is a slippery slope.

the key to a perfect high five

Don't look at the person's hand.  Look at their elbow.

Try it.  It totally works.  These are the things I learn at my job.

(You guys can thank me later for so significantly changing your life for the better.)

clash

This week is spirit week at our school (yippee!), which means every day the kids (and teachers - double yippee!) get to dress up in a different theme.

Today was clash day.  On principle, I do not participate in clash day.  I see no need to intentionally make myself look like a fool, thank you very much.  I do that perfectly well without wearing tacky clothes.

This morning, the chemistry teacher walked into the faculty room complaining that none of the other teachers had dressed up for clash day.  Then he stopped, looked at me, and said "Oh, never mind.  You clash!"

And then my self-esteem skyrocketed.

The end.