melted smoosh

1) Steelers 5K.  this was a running-centric month, between my 5K and 10K bookending the month and Greta dipping her toes in the water of cross country! I've run most of the bigger 5Ks in the Pittsburgh area but this was my first year trying the Steelers 5K. the race is held on Labor Day morning and starts outside the football stadium (technically Acrisure Stadium now, but it will always and forever be Heinz Field in our hearts). the course runs in a loop around Pittsburgh's North Shore and culminates in an epic downhill run through the tunnel back into the stadium to emerge onto the turf, just like the athletes do.  we were up late the night before at our friends' Labor Day pool party, so I wasn't sure how my legs and stomach would hold up for the race. turns out the 10 pm smashburger was great pre-race fuel! my goal was a sub-11:30 min/mile pace (a definite step up from my 13:07 min/mile at the Pittsburgh Marathon 5K in May). and lo and behold, I crossed the finish lin...