No Power??? No problem!!

For all those runners out there, you are probably going to laugh at this post, but, it is a personal victory for me.:) After I had Elizabeth ( and gained 60 pounds) I knew I needed to start to do something with myself to try to get the rest of the weight off....too bad she didn't weigh 60 pounds.:) I started running soon after she was born...and I did reach my goal weight....so I stopped...

I haven't really done too much exercise since then, that is until my friend, Karin, moved into our compound. She is a die hard exercise/ trainer/eat right guru. I am a never exercise/ unmotivated/eat whatcha wanna kind of girl. But, somehow, she got me to start running again....and I did reach a personal goal today of actually running an entire 5 k (of course the actual race was 6 k...and I did walk one kilometer).....but I had not run a 5 k race ever in my life. Not to mention on the streets of Lagos in the sweltering heat!!! Below is a picture of us getting ready to leave at 7 a.m. I don't think I was all the way awake.:)

I wish I could have brought my camera with me....it was one of those days that I wish I had more than two arms....but, I only had enough hands for a bottle of water and my cell phone....but I could have taken some great pictures. I know my words can't adequately express what I saw today on the streets...but I will try to paint a picture for you.:) Several streets on V.I. were blocked off which gave me a very interesting perspective of V.I. that I only had once before when I walked this race last year. It was so funny to see the okada drivers' faces looking at the sea of people running and I could just tell from their expressions they were thinking, "Why are these crazy people choosing to run?" Of course there were the armed guards with their machine guns at about every other corner ( I really wish I could have gotten a picture of them!) Don't worry mom and dad, the whole route was secured!:) I think I only stumbled a few times over the bumpy streets...it was definitely not ideal conditions for a race...but the race was for a great cause. "Run for the cure" has been happening in Lagos for three years now...and it is such a great cause. I sure wish I could call my grandma and tell her I did run most of the way.:)
When we got back, the power in the compound was off. Maintenance needed to service the generator for the weekend...so it was off for about 6 hours today and six hours tomorrow. Good thing my legs were pretty numb...it made it easy to hike up the seven flights of steps to my flat since the elevator was out. Being cooped up in a flat with two kids ( and no husband...Guy is in port Harcourt ...again!) wasn't sounding very good to me. So, a few friends of mine and I decided to take the kids to see a movie at the mall on V.I. After my shower, it was back down seven flights of steps ( with two kids) and off to the mall.:) I have to say, the movie experience wasn't too bad...except that for a matinee in 3-D, it cost 7500 naira for the three of us to see the show ( about $48 U.S.). Then, we had to get popcorn ( of course)..but I think the price was worth it...it was definitely an afternoon better spent than being stuck in a compound with no power and 90 degree heat!!:)

I had to snap a few pictures of the kids with their glasses on.:) Who knew the kids and I would ever be in a movie theater in a Nigerian mall watching a 3-d movie???! They had a great time (even Elizabeth behaved herself!)

All in all, today was a pretty good day. We made it through a day here ...surviving a race in 90 degree heat and no power. (It did come back on by 3:30 p.m. like it was promised.) So, no power again tomorrow??? No problem!!!:)