Stadium Run, and friendly visits!

One fine day I noticed a marquee by our house that was advertising the First Annual Stadium Run 5k. Knowing it would be a few weeks after my marathon, I thought this would be a great event to sign up for to keep my body in somewhat good shape. Paul was going to be on a campout so I invited friends Kera and Kerri along for the fun and was so happy they both said yes.

This was actually a really great idea/event and I plan on doing it again next year. You started in the Rutgers Football Stadium parking lot, and they had several heats of runners. We were the 7:40 heat - and this was the first night of the year where it got really cold. Luckily, once we started running it was fine and it was really fun to run through the concourses of the Stadium, up and down ramps, around the top of the seats, and then down through ta bunch of secret passages and onto the football field!

The "finish" line was the 50 yard line and they'd throw you a football to catch while you were on the megatron. It was cheesy and awesome. 






Kera finished forever ahead of us (first girl in our heat!) and so she grabbed my camera to document our finishing moments.



And yes I caught that football just in case you were wondering what the super bright megatron is showing you. 


I could not get enough of being on that giant screen.

And thank goodness for the Rutgers Recreation Facebook page where I just found the following two gems: 

 After we finished we got to tour the facilities. Including walking the tunnel that the football team comes out to the field on.




 Go Scarlet Knights!


 I was so happy to see some Rutgers Alum/Colts Friends represented.

 We're ready to go coach!

It should also be mentioned that I won a raffle (a waterbottle) and my number was starred so I also won a Rutgers Football Jersey. In addition to a nice cold water the best chocolate chip cookie. 

The next day (Saturday) I got to hang out with this cute girl while her mom had to work and her dad (and Paul) were on a campout. She loves walks so much, and seeing as the weather was pretty decent, we took several of them. We even went on a little date to get ice cream. But she couldn't have any, so it was a pretty selfish excursion I guess.


I also got our under-the-stairs storage area cleaned out and organized for Paul's bike stuff. This was a huge accomplishment. It was a disaster.


Saturday night, we had Boston visitors! It was real nice to get to see Megan again and share my little New Jersey life. Sunday after church we headed to Princeton - and first stop was the Princeton Cemetery. 




Then we checked out beautiful Princeton campus. Megan's pictures do this place much more justice than my iPhone photography. :)

credit: Megan

Just sheer joy. 



 




 

credit: Megan

Then we headed back to Piscataway so we could beat the sun and show off my favorite towpath. We didn't quite beat the sunset, but at least it was pretty on the Raritan.






I am also really grateful to Megan for taking some pictures of Paul and I on the towpath. It's our special place here in New Jersey and I'm glad we have some documentation of us there. 

credit: Megan

credit: Megan

Monday night, Kera invited me to the spin class that she instructs. It was a great time and a fun new way to exercise. 




 I thought she was so cool to be leading a class and tried to get a picture without embarrassing her. Then afterward, I had her over for pumpkin coffee cake that my pumpkin-loving husband made. Thanks Paul!


And then one day I found this guy outside of Paul's lab.

Did it know it was near entomologists where Mantis religiosa would be appreciated? 

I will always wonder.