Charleston, SC --Cooper Bridge Run

Rick and I have been training pretty hard for the Cooper Bridge Run in Charleston. Every year, it is the first Saturday in April. It's a 10k race; 6.2 miles. The trick to this race is that around mile two, you run up the Cooper Bridge for one mile at a 4% incline. That is why this race is so challenging. I have been told that this is the 3rd largest 10k in America and in the top ten 10ks in the world. There are about 40,000 run/walkers total. You have the option to walk and I was one of those walkers for many, many years. I slowly converted to running and now I'm a die hard. Who would of thought?? Me, running? I can't believe I've been doing it for a year now. Once you get into it, you kind of get sucked in and addicted. The good news is that I am in the best shape ever and I feel awesome!

We rent out houses on the Isle of Palms, a little city on the beach about 20 miles from Charleston. We now have two houses, the "baby" house and the "party" house. :-)

Our entire house beat their goals for the race. Since this was my first time running the Cooper without walking, I didn't really know what to expect with the bridge and all. I was nervous! In the beginning, my heart was pounding like I was getting ready to play a big game. Or like I was about to race and beat all 40,000 people! ha.

We finished like this:

JODY --56:29 minutes, #240 out of 2,354 in my division (age 40-44); #2358 out of 20,523 females; #7423 overall.place.

RICK --55:39 minutes, #527 out of 1585 in his division (age 40-44); #4656 out of 14,238 men; #6657 overall place.

Grammy Debbie came down with us this year to help out with Will so both Rick and I could run the race. THANK YOU GRAMMY!! You have no idea, how helpful that was. It was so great. I don't think I'll travel for this year ever again without help. When we went last year, I stayed at the house while Rick ran and then met up with him at the finish line.

In our house, we had the Tureks (Rick/Jody/Will -19 mos), Grammy Debbie, the Vaughans (Johnny/Tricia/Kruz -19 mos), the Sundays (Kevin/Nicole/Arden -10 1/2 mos), the Bentons (Craig/Phebby/Van -8 mos). We all had so much fun!!!!!

The ball pit was a BIG HIT.

Will slept in the closet. Perfect!

At the "Market" in downtown Charleston

Bubbles are WAY FUN

Will and Kruz had a BIG OLE TIME

Phebby and Van

Arden Sunday

Johnny/Kruz, Rick/Will, Kevin/Arden

Saturday morning --race day. It's 7am. Like Rick and Johnny's throw away sweaters? Anything picked up on the ground from the race are given to homeless shelters. These were $5 clearance sweaters from Target!

Post race. We're all having fun! It's a beautiful day. Right now at 9:30am, it's 60 degrees.

The TUREKS

At the Windjammer, post race.

Grammy Debbie and Will reading books before bed. Like Grammy's spray tan? Glo Glam baby. Glo.