Here I sit at lovely Panera Bread again getting my lunch and nice dose of free Internet. {One day I’d like to go home to my dad’s house and find that he magically has service, but I’m not holding my breath.} My lunch was quite tasty!
I didn’t realize until too late that I was given a piece of bread instead of an apple as my side. Umm, duh, people. Why would I want more bread?! No need to carbo-load!
I am resuming my regular way of eating today, after my delicious cheat meal last night. And I couldn’t be happier about it! I really don’t know how cheat meals used to make up my ENTIRE source of food. Craziness.
What was last night? Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh time! Yinz know how much I love that place! {If you don’t, search my blog–you’ll see that I talk about it all the dang time!} I donned my new H&M dress and a vintage belt from my grandmother:
I look more like I’m ready for a St. Patty’s Day party than a German Bier Garden! But my lederhosen were dirty, soooo…
It was a blast as usual! I met up with my friend Colleen {pictured below}, her hubby, her brother, and my friend Vanessa. We drank and were merry. We were merry and we drank.
My beer was seriously heavy.
Did that count as a weight lifting session?
I munched on a steak salad, fries, pretzels, cheese, and more beer. Then, Vanessa and I went over to the Cheesecake Factory and I had some low carb cheesecake {Really, Cherie? Like it mattered by then?!} and a skinny sangria. Needless to say, I’m in total detox mode today! Good grief!!
One of my favorite parts of the evening was just taking in the sights of my beautiful hometown city around me.
Am I really going to be running over those bridges in THREE days? EEEEKKKK!!!!!
Saw so many people running along the river! Loved it!! Cannot. Wait. To. Live. Here. Again. –but I’ll write more about that in another post! 
I also stocked up on some more Steelers gear earlier in the day on a trip to Dick’s. Yes, again. I got this $70 Ben Roethlisberger women’s throwback for only $12.70!!! YESSSS!!!
Clearly, you can take me out of Pittsburgh, but not take the Pittsburgh out of me!!!
Which brings me back to this race. The whole reason I made the Dick’s Pittsburgh Marathon’s 5K my first race was because one, it is sponsored by Dick’s, and two that it’s in Pittsburgh.
So here I am. This will be the last posting before the race. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do a race recap shortly thereafter. But again–Internet issues! :-/ I do have some thoughts to mention here, BEFORE the race, though. Excuse my while I rant. Just my opinions, but it’s my blog. I need to get them out!
1.) If I hear one more person say the word ‘JUST’ before they say the words ‘a 5K race’, to me I’m announcing this now that I WILL GO OFF. This isn’t a threat; it’s a promise!!! As in, “Oh, you’re running just a 5K???” or “It’s just a 5K. It’s no big deal.” I cannot express how RUDE it is to me. It’s not JUST a 5K race to me. It IS a big effin’ deal. It’s my first race and I’m proud of it. There was a time that I couldn’t run for 3.1 minutes, much less entertain the thought of running 3.1 MILES. {Also mind you, one year ago this time, I was in a walking boot, remember?! Now I’m in a race!} That’s pretty dang awesome that you’ve run 87 ultra-marathons. But apparently you’ve forgotten what it was like to run a shorter distance race and how it’s a major thing to someone. This is my beginning. Stop short-changing it!
2.) Along the same lines, telling me you ran a 5K when you were seven years old. (Or in grade school, high school, college, or you just did 4 of them this month already.) That’s great. Good for you. I’m happy about that. Honestly. But when you say it with the same tone as in the above statement, “It’s just a 5K. It’s not big deal. I ran one when I was seven.” it then becomes a different type of comment to me. If you’re just making conversation, that’s one thing. Cool. But when you use that tone and attach it….umm, yeah, okay showoff.
3.) Because it seems like errryone has already run a 5K, there’s not much hubbabaloo about running one. I can’t find any 3.1 oval shaped stickers like I can of the 13.1 and 26.2 ones. I don’t get a special souvenir confirmation ticket for the race because I’m not doing the half or the full marathon. There are hardly any sort of discussions on the FB page or Twitter for the 5K race participants like there are for the half and full. Etc., etc., etc. It’s really like it’s no big deal to people and that bites. This is a major deal for a lot of us; recognize it!! For many of us, it’s our gateway into the world of running. Make it so that we feel special and want to progress to longer races. Don’t act like it’s JUST a 5K. Yessssss, Dick’s Sporting Goods Marathon organizers, I’m talking to you, especially.
4.) Yes, I’m going to run a half mary. I’m excited about it and already planning for it. But again, when you state, “Oh, just a 5K? You need to do cut your teeth on a real run. At least sign up for a half marathon!” I seriously want to slap you. And yesss, I heard this comment already. It’s like it’s written down somewhere in a runner’s handbook that unless you run at least half, you don’t get any street cred or something. Eff that. One more time, people–the 5K is a real run, too.
There hopefully will be a time when I’m running longer races and my first 5K seems like so long ago. But I’ll still remember it and won’t act like it’s nothing at all when someone talks to me about running his or her first. It’s the same thing as losing all this weight. Yeah, I’ve lost 80. But I still remember when I had only lost 8. That was just as big of a deal and an accomplishment. It took work, it took dedication, it took determination. I don’t scoff at people when they tell me, “Hey, Cherie, I’ve lost my first 1o pounds.” I’m THRILLED for him or her to begin the journey. Yes, I’m way beyond that point now, but I still remember and appreciate what it took to get here. I’d NEVER say, “Oh, it’s JUST 1o pounds. Talk to me when you’ve lost 50.” I mean, right?!! Seriously. It’s the same damn thing.
I could say more, but no one is stealing my sunshine today no matter what, so I’ll stop!! Rant over. I feel better. 
I’m excited, I’m ready, and I’m going to do my best. I’ve come a long way, baby! The next time I write to you, I will have earned the title of Runner of Steel!
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