Podium Finish for My Pumpkin

As usual, the Clevelanders brought the rain again. And, as usual, this race is another example of why I love small town races.

A Halloween race has become a tradition. I am all about strange or silly traditions. Since moving to Cleveland, I have not missed a single Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day, running either the 5-mile (if alone) or the 1-mile (if with family). Even 6 months pregnant with Bridget, I still ran the 1-mile race earning me a Pregnancy PR. This month will make my ninth Turkey Trot in downtown Cleveland.

The new running tradition is that I run a Halloween race with Bridget in the jogging stroller. Last year, she and I ran the Day of the Tread 10k in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This year, Meg surprised me by agreeing to run with us (she might tell the story differently, you know). We truly made the Savannah Trick or Trot 5k A FAMILY AFFAIR!

The morning of the race, it rained. No worries as we don't mind a little of the wet stuff. The race was held at the May Howard Elementary School in Wilmington Island, a few miles from the center of Savannah, Georgia. Costumes were encouraged and, of course, we wore ours! Bridget and I were witches while Meg donned her cheetah outfit.


The course was a nice loop around stately plantations, opening up to breathtaking views of the water, passing s beautifully landscaped golf course and country club. And best of all, Meg won third place in her age group! This was her first AG medal and, as you can see from the picture, she was proud! She wore that medal all day like it was a prized heirloom piece of jewelry. Even at dinner Saturday evening, she was still sporting her medal. Awesome day with my girls!


We celebrated completing our 37th state at a great little brunch spot in the historic district. Such a small world as we found out our waitress had recently been to an outdoor concert in Logan, Ohio. Afterwards, we walked around the town, enjoyed ourselves sampling 5 different kinds of honey at the Savannah Bee Company, picked out handmade soaps at Nourish, eating ice cream at the famed Leopold's, then got in the car for our 2-hour ride to Charleston, South Carolina.

Great day - and congratulations Megan!

Georgia On My Mind

Not just an amazing Ray Charles song, but the sight of our next state destination. Can't wait. Until then, here's some fun facts about Georgia:

1. Georgia was named for King George II of England.

2. The pirate Edward "Blackbeard" Teach made a home on Blackbeard Island. The United States Congress designated the Blackbeard Island Wilderness Area in 1975 and it now has a total of 3,000 acres.

3. The official state fish is the largemouth bass.

4. Georgia is the nations number one producer of the three Ps--peanuts, pecans, and peaches.

5. Known as the sweetest onion in the world, the Vidalia onion can only be grown in the fields around Vidalia and Glennville

6. Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River.

7. Coca-Cola was invented in May 1886 by Dr. John S. Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia. The name "Coca-Cola" was suggested by Dr. Pemberton's bookkeeper, Frank Robinson. He penned the name Coca-Cola in the flowing script that is famous today. Coca-Cola was first sold at a soda fountain in Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta by Willis Venable

8. The popular theme park - Six Flags Over Georgia, was actually named for six flags that flew over Georgia. England, Spain, Liberty, Georgia, Confederate States of America, and the United States.

9. Savannah was the landing site for General James Edward Oglethorpe, founder of Georgia.

10. Wesleyan College in Macon was the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women.

So here's to a weekend of pecans, peanuts and peaches!