I am not a runner – I am not fast or graceful when I run, and the longest ‘race’ I’d done till this year was 10 K.  But when in October a friend of mine asked if I wanted to go to Nashville to run a half marathon, it seemed so far away so I thought ‘why not’…

Training over the winter (and what a cold and snowy winter it was), getting up early on weekends and running in the cold on snowy and icy streets was not much fun.  A few weeks ago I was getting worried about whether or not I would be able to run it – after all 13.1 miles is a LOT of miles, but a very wise friend told me that all the hours I put into it was the hard work and the actual race was the ‘treat’.  She was so right!

And two days after I turned 39, I ran a long and very hilly course and crossed a finish line with tears of exhaustion, pain, happiness and pride!  The feeling was absolutely amazing and now I am hooked – already planning additional half-marathons!

This race was the highlight of the trip but spending 4 days with my girlfriends was such a treat!

I was a bit too excited about the race because I was taking pictures of everything and everyone, including a very friendly guy who gave me my bib  – and even ‘posed’ for the picture:)

If you have not been to Nashville, let me tell you – there are cowboy hats and boots at every corner:

we found out that ‘country music ain’t dead’… and there was LOTS and LOTS of it:

There were cool dudes on bikes:

and giant guitars:

and more cowboy hats and silly bags:

There was a redneck comedy bus tour, which was very funny and surprisingly educational:

and MANY honky tonks:

very touristy but cool nonetheless stores:

and even General Lee (and as a side note, I saw first my very first episode of Dukes of Hazard!)

It was a lovely weekend – I am so glad that I got to hang out with my old and new friends and make memories to last a lifetime!