It's just across the riverbend!

How did within 12 hours we had three new posts? Man, I really need to get on it. So, yes, April and I decided to get together to run alongside the Riverwalk last night, and I'm so glad we did. After grabbing a quick bite from a nearby gas station -- $1.89 Slimfast meal-on-the-go bar, $.79 water bottle, some lame-o crackers ... (healthy!) I was off to April's house.

After picking up April and hopping into the car to drive over to the Riverwalk, April tells me, "Lauren, if you had said 'Let's stay in and watch TV, I would have taken you up on the offer.' " I began to feel that it was my duty and obligation to be the most motivating running buddy I could be. We started running (and by the way it's super humid out), and I started chatting it up, trying to think of all the fun tidbits I learned when I first started running three years ago. (With a two and a half year sabbatical in between ... )

"If you run with your arms closer to your chest, rather than up towards your waist, it's an indicator that you're getting tired!" I said. "If you need to give your breathing a break, give your upper body a rest and try to focus on running with just your lower body!" "Wow, we're already at the Blossom Street bridge -- half a mile down! We can do it!"

These positive tips of mine quickly became my downfall. As April and I encountered a few slight hills and some unexpectedly longer path to run, I began to get really frustrated with these environmental factors, as well as the humidity ("Ugh, it's so muggy!") and my breathing patterns ("April, can you hear my loud breathing?"). Soon, April turned into MY motivational running buddy ("Just a little more, passed the riverbend!"), which was awesome. I was really proud of my former roommate at that moment.

In the end, we ran 1.5 miles -- From the Gervais Street bridge, under the Blossom Street bridge, to the Pointe West bridge. I know that would have never run as far as I did had I been running solo. We're even planning another run tomorrow evening, too. I feel much more prepared and ready for our Labor Day run, especially with our cool buddy system we've got going (both physical and virtual!).