Into double digits

Today was my first double digit run of this cycle of marathon training. It kind of sucked. I got lost and ran the wrong way for a mile, got stung by a horsefly, and had stomach issues that left me running for the nearest port-a-potty. But I got the miles in and that's what's important!

My last few runs haven't been great. They've been hot, humid, and slow, and I've had more stomach problems and bathroom issues than ever before. I keep telling myself that all the hard miles I put in now will only make the marathon that much better. Struggling to get through miles, running on tired legs, and running hills are all GREAT training for running a marathon. I would much rather have tough runs now during training, and hopefully a much better run on the day of the race!

Puerta Plata, DR

Last week I got back from a trip to the Dominican Republic! I went with Audrey, my roommate from PT school. We were celebrating one year of work, and belatedly celebrating graduation from PT school.

The DR is becoming a popular vacation destination, probably due to the fact that you can find a great deal for an all-inclusive hotel. Punta Cana is the most popular tourist destination, so of course we had to be different and go to Puerta Plata, on the north shore of the island. From what I've seen of pictures, the beaches at Puerta Plata are just as beautiful as the beaches at Punta Cana. Audrey has been to both places and said they were very similar.

I highly recommend the DR if you're looking for an affordable all-inclusive trip. Staying at a hotel for 6 nights with all meals included was cheaper than the airfare to get there! We didn't have to worry about money at all except for what we wanted to spend on souvenirs and excursions.

We stayed at a huge resort with several pools, beaches with cabanas, restaurants, and bars. It was the perfect relaxing vacation after a year of hard work. These are some of my favorite pictures from our trip:

Everyone thought we were sisters because we both had blue eyes. :) I'm so thankful that we got to go on such a fun trip together- it was a great start to summer 2014!