AHA Heart Mini Year 2...

This is the second year I've been able to participate in the AHA heart mini to raise money for heart disease research/treatment and run a fun race through Cincinnati.

We were blessed with AMAZING weather this year.  Last year amid the drizzle then down pour of rain I was able to enjoy the event.  However, with a great weather the event was so much more enjoyable.  The race started bright and early (7:45am) for the half-marathon.  The course was the same as last year, which is good and bad since I knew where to expect the horribly steep hill.  Although it wasn't my best time, and I felt like puking for at least a mile I still enjoyed myself.  I knew I was running for a great cause and that PB and J sandwiches were waiting for me at the finish!

What added to the event was seeing fellow developmental biology students participating!  The race raises money for such a great cause, not only is heart disease the #1 killer of people in the US, but the American Heart Association provides opportunities for students, like me, and others to receive funding for our research.

A few scenes from our Singapore and Thailand vacation...

The last few weeks I was fortunate enough to slightly detach from the world, electronically, and travel half way across the world.  For our vacation this year, Jonah and I visited Singapore and Phuket, Thailand.  We left a cold and blustery Cincinnati and landed in muggy Singapore.  It seems like we've brought a good dose of the warm weather back with us, 80s in March!!!  We got a little shock upon arrival since we didn't realize that driving in Sinapore is on the opposite side that the US drives on.  It should have been obvious, but arriving at 2 am put us out of sorts and we thought we were going to be hit by cars several times until we adjusted to the driving patterns.

Here are a few scenes from our traveling adventures...

This is the DNA bridge.  Tiles on the bridges had the DNA bases, ATGC! I had a science geek out moment.

Baby Manatee  at the Singapore Zoo.  

We experienced the whole island of Singapore and took in every tourist attraction.  After a hard day of sight seeing we indulged in tea time with yummy coffee at cute cafe which I think was alice in wonderland inspired. 

Phuket

Chinese temple in Phuket

The highlight of all the places we visited was the Singapore Zoo.  The animals are very accessible and you can literally interact with them since much of them are just wandering around, the orangutans are free-range.  At the Zoo, Jonah was able to feed a little baby sloth and we rode an elephant!  

Admittedly, I don't think I could handle the 87F high humidity weather year round, but it was a great place to visit.