run, run, run as fast as you can ...

What a packed weekend!  It has been filled with running and resting.  Yesterday with my training group we ran 13 miles as scheduled.  We started out at the Vera Katz statue on the East side of the Willamette River and made our way over the Hawthorne Bridge and ran the west side of the downtown Portland waterfront.  Thankfully since we started out at 8 a.m. the crowd wasn't too bad as it is currently Portland's Rose Festival and Fleet Week.  After winding our way back to the east side we ran along the Springwater Corridor which had less traffic, but less to see as well.  It's a pretty run out that direction, and thankfully a pretty flat course.  We ended the 13 miles with going back to the Portland waterfront and this time there were quite a bit more people and it was tough to weave our way through the crowd.  We also got stopped on the bridge as it had risen to let the Portland Spirit pass through.  Having a break of about 5 minutes after running about 11 miles makes it quite difficult to start up again.  Finally finished with a final time of 3:06!

Came home after the long run and took a refreshing cold bath and rolled out the tight muscles in my legs and hips on the foam roller ... keep repeating "its a good pain...its a good pain". 

This morning I woke up bright and early to get ready and head on over to NW Portland to complete the Run For The Love Of Dove 5k.  I had gotten my entire office to run with me along with their significant others and pups.  It was a great turnout and great weather to run!

This race benefited the Stray and Wildlife Fund for Dove Lewis.  When the race was completed we were provided with our "medal" of a backpack and a bottle opener on a chain.

We spent some time after the race going around to the booths and got some great shwag from some awesome sponsors: Dave's Killer Bread, PopChips, VitaminWater, PGE, More Ink and a few local dog hotels to name a few.  My work peeps and I then left the area and went and had breakfast at the Laurelwood where they have an outside eating area so that the 2 pups that were with us could hang out. 

It's been a wonderful weekend and I realized that I logged 21 miles from this past Monday through today!  My next race is scheduled for the 4th and I'm excited to begin!