One week out from the targeted and very popular Long Beach Marathon and Half Marathon, Val tested her conditioning and peaking by running a tight, local race, the Chapman University 5K. Not only was Val just seconds off her personal best in the distance with a time of 21:45, she placed 2nd in her age group, her highest placing yet. Here Val proudlly shows off her trophy.

She says she did not feel all that competitive and would have gotten a PR had I been there. Uh-huh. (I think she would have gotten the PR if she knew a certain competitior would be in the race but was not).

Val ran an excellent tune-up race and is definitely ready to knock down a half marathon PR in Long Beach next weekend.

Meanwhile, I slept in but when I got up I did a workout entirely with the rings, which I enjoyed.

Ring Push-ups: 20/20e/20e/20e/ (e means legs were elevated 24″) Ring Dips: 7/8/6 My right shoulder was beginning to lag on the 3rd set. Ring Pull-ups: 7/7/7/8/. Ring Body Pulls: 10/10/10/10e/