2 States in 2 Days

Charleston, South Carolina is home to many things:  my sister, Rainbow Row, cobble streets, many-a-island, good food like this place and this one coffee joint called Hope & Union. Needless to say, Charleston is a neat city that incorporates a beachy atmosphere and chic-couture.  And I spent my weekend there!  We planned this whole trip around the Cooper River Bridge 10K Run.  Oh, and for a visit to see my sister!  I had never run more than 3.1 miles before this past Saturday nor had I ever run on a bridge.  Why I was up for this challenge, I am still not sure.  Why I was able to actually run the 6.2 miles, I am still not sure either.  Maybe it was a runner's high (doubt it) or maybe its because there were 41,000 other people constantly around me?  Or heck, maybe I have some runner in me!!?  (My dad is an avid runner.  I'm pretty sure the man can't sleep at night if he doesn't run 4-6 miles a day.  He runs during his lunch break.  Normal, right?  Oh yeah, he also ran 50 miles on his 50th birthday.  Yeah.  ON.  Not for.  Like on the day, the one day.)

I digress. 

After 5 hours in the car with 1 puppy and 2 eager 10k-ers, we arrive in Charleston just in the nick of time!  We quickly dropped Huntley off with my sister and made our way downtown to pick up our racing bibs.  Now, keep in mind, Charleston is a city but no big city.  There are 41,000 other people trying to do the same thing we are doing.  Trying to pick up their bibs while enjoying the free give-aways and intriguing sale stands.  Well, once we enter the fun filled tent full of people and all-things-runner Justin goes immediately into 'we-have-to-get-what-we-came-for-before-we-soak-anything-else-up' mode.  Whereas my eyes catch everything there is to offer from the free Ritz crackers to the 80's style running shorts.  However, at any brief amount of time spent looking at those I couldn't dare brush off the nervous/antsy guy to my side looking around.  So we carried on.  And then we carried out because once we got the necessities, I had lost all excitement to spend time with these overly excited people.

We grilled out at my sister's boyfriends condo for dinner.  Delicious.  He made homemade french fries (healthy style) with this thing!  I'm gonna get me one of those things one day... And it'll be trouble for all parties involved.  We kept it chill that night by watch T.V. and I would boldly say that all 4 of us are now addicted to the show Shark Tank.  Watch it. 

The next morning was an early and chilly one.  We took a Ferry Boat across the river to the other side of the bridge.  I love riding boats!  And I even loved it that morning amongst the avid runners who spent their ride applying sun screen, stretching their legs and eating bananas.  The two of us didn't partake in any of those activities on the boat.  Once we got off the boat and caught up to the 'F' corral, the race began!  Just like that.  No down time, no pump up, no nothing.  So maybe we pushed our time a little?  But it worked out.  We ran that 6.2 like pros!  Well, pros who average about an 11 minute mile and finish in 1:11 kind of pros...  But I am proud of the fact that we (I) only walked about 7 minutes of the race!  You can laugh or judge if you must but nothing will not make me proud of the fact that I ran over an hour straight!!  Nothing.  So say what you want. 

After the race we walked back to Claire's apartment, finding Radcliffe Street (COOL!!!) 

and stopping for iced coffee (a good after-the-race drink, eh?).  We spent probably the next 2 hours sitting in front of the TV with Claire and her roommates.  Stretching.  And stretching more.  We then went all over the island and found a place for lunch where Huntley could be with us.  (My sister wanted Hunt to be able to do everything with us... So she pretty much did).  Claire drove us around showing us the sweet scenery of downtown, the battery and the local spots.  We attended a Oyster Roast where we cracked open some legit oysters and helped ourselves!  By around 8:00 that night, Justin and I were done.  Exhausted.  In over our heads.  We tried to play it cool and suck it up to act like fun people but we just aren't weren't.  We were home and in bed by 10:30 after leaving the place to be only minutes after arriving there. 

Sunday morning we participated in Sticky Bun Sunday at Wildflower Cafe (link provided above) and headed home.  Home to the tortuous routine of parent meetings, math help, soccer games and responsibility. 
All of which I'm sure doesn't happen in Charleston.