Friday Foto Finish! I DID IT!!!

I ran the whole thing! Actually WE ran the whole thing! And our time wasn't too shabby, for first time 5K runners. We finished in 39:30... so we averaged 13 minute miles. I'm telling you it was a tough course through downtown Milwaukee. The first part of the course was flat, going near the bluff that overlooks the lakefront, then looped around the downtown area, then headed down through Milwaukee's Third Ward area, then back uphill toward Cathedral Square, where Bastille Days is held. Amy and Lacey and I were a great team, encouraging each other and cracking each other up along the way. I seriously would not have made it up the hill and across the finish line with the two of them! It was AWESEOME! Are we the hottest sweaty chicks in Milwaukee or what? From right to left: Lacey, Amy and Sydney

We enjoyed adult beverages after the race. And we proudly sported our race numbers all the way back to the car. We earned them!

For those of you not familiar with why Milwaukee has a Bastille Days celebration, I'll fill you in. Milwaukee's claim to fame is being the city of festivals. Starting in late May and running through the summer and into the fall, there's a festival every weekend. I'm not talking church festivals, though there are plenty of those. Mostly it's ethnic festivals held on the lake front (Polish Fest, German Fest, African World Festival, Mexican Fiesta, Festa Italiana, Irish Fest), there are some festivals held at State Fair Park (Greek Fest, Cajun Fest) then there's Summerfest the big music festival. Bastille Days is unique because it's in a downtown neighborhood. Very cool. The festivals are part of Milwaukee's charm. Good food, good drink, and lots of live music. If you've never been to Milwaukee, I highly recommend it. It's a great city to visit for people of all ages, kids or no kids. The festivals are so much fun for everyone! Look! The Eiffel Tower! If you didn't know better, you'd swear we were in Paris, not Milwaukee!

So thanks for all the words of encouragement. I still can't believe I did it. I'm typing this at midnight and I'm still on an endorphine high. Lacey and Amy are planning to run the German Fest 5K, but I'll be heading home to Illinois the next day and will need to stay home to pack. I'm already looking to run another 5K in August. I'm sure I'll find one. But I have to work tomorrow morning, so it's off to bed now!! WOO HOO!