There's only so many hours in a day

[Professor Geovanna Adler-Cade]

Asides from playing Quidditch with Elly and Flavio, there was nothing better and more relaxing to Geo than to be out on a morning run. Today she was really trying to push herself, and dressed in her running outfit she'd headed out of the Hufflepuff dormitories before anyone else was awake the the sun had even properly come up. She'd already warmed up and was running along the edge of the Great Lawn, sprinting for a minute before slowing down more to a jog in order to keep her stamina up. She'd been doing this a few times a week since she'd arrived at the school, and had to admit she loved spending the extra time to herself before the chaos of her day really began. Even though it was hard work, Geo knew she'd feel better afterwards and would have more energy throughout the day to focus on her other work. As the weather was warming up and summer was approaching in New Zealand, Geo would have to wake earlier in the morning if she wanted to catch dawn, but it was worth it to be able to watch the mornings begin. Breathing heavily and routinely, she pushed on, trainers hitting the dry earth as she propelled herself around the field.
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[Ursula Ciccone]

The patience to always wake up at five in the morning was never waning for Ursula Ciccone. The dark haired american stretched her legs on her way down from the towers, her jumper hugging her closely, her thin leggings a mild blue color. Something not so stand-outish that someone might stare. The teen wasn't one to want to attract attention. Finally making her way down to the great lawn Ursula felt ready. The jog was paced, she was patient and moved to where her stamina would last the longest. However Ursula felt herself speeding up only just slightly as she paced a blonde whom seemed also to be active. Ursula didn't mind running with someone, but she was competition obsessed, and even if the blonde didn't know this was a competition - it became one instantly to the Ravenclaw.

 

[Professor Geovanna Adler-Cade]

The only thing missing from the Hufflepuff's routine was that she wished she had some music to listen to as she ran through the Hogwarts fields. Next time she had the chance to go to Brightstone, she was going to have to drag one of her friends through the stores to find something that would work within the school grounds. She'd heard of a radio station she would be able to tune into, and she was certain it would be able to help with her motivation as she ran. Running had always been relaxing to Geo, who'd begun before joining the school, but music no doubt would make it more fun. In the corner of her eye she spotted another student who was also out for an early jog that morning, and while she vagely recognised her from a couple of her classes, she wasn't sure whether she could place a name to the face. If Geo was timing it correctly, the girl had begun to run a little faster, and Geo, never one to back down from a little competition, quickened her own pace to match. There was no way she was going to let someone else overtake her jog, even if she was just out here for fun. Luckily she was far enough away from the other student that hopefully she wouldn't be aware that Geo had spotted her and was now in the mid of a challenge.
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[Ursula Ciccone]

Ursula shifted her Celeste eyes to the side, seeing that the girl she'd passed was passing her. Ursula moved inches closer to this blonde with every second that passed until it was no longer a mistake that the two of them were in competition, and Ursula was convinced she should win. She'd been an active cadet for years, losing was not in her repertoire. The raven haired girl pushed ahead, not glancing back, strides lengthening and breathing steady. She wondered if the girl would try and best her, or if she'd think Ursula was crazy for getting that close while they were running, after all their arms could have knocked together if she hadn't been so careful as to fall just out of sync with this student. Determined to win though, Ursula kept her head up and looked forward.

 

[Professor Geovanna Adler-Cade]

There was no way this girl wasn't trying to beat her. Geo had been running for long enough though to realise that eventually their stamina was going to give out if they kept up at this pace. Regardless of her logic, Geo's eyes glared at the student as she overtook her once again, and the Hufflepuff was more determined than ever not to be left behind. Speeding up, it didn't take long until the pair were once again running in alignment, and sprinting at her full speed, the pink haired girl flew past her classmate. She smirked to herself, not pausing for extra breath or to see if she had done the same, instead focusing on a point in the distance. Perhaps if she could pretend that she had reached the end of her circuit she wouldn't have to admit she was slowing due to being tired.
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[Ursula Ciccone]

Ursula felt proud as she fell into a faster rhythm, but she knew she wouldn't last too long running at an elevated pace. Once she got far enough ahead of the girl whom was competing silently with her, she would fall back into a regular jogging speed. However it seemed this girl was not giving up. A blur of pink dashed past Ursula, and she narrowed her blue orbs. "Oh heck no." She whispered before picking up to her full speed, reaching the girl in a matter of seconds. She looked to the side, giving her most competitive glare as she tried to pull out of speed from the girl, huffing and puffing the entire time that she ran, convincing herself that she wasn't losing steam, even though it was clear from the sweat on her brow that she was.

 

[Professor Geovanna Adler-Cade]

Geo groaned through her heavy breaths as she realised she wasn't going to be able to escape. Geo was more of a distance runner than a sprinter and wasn't so great at keeping at a fast past for very long at all. Luckily for her, the other girl seemed to be in a similar position and just as out of breath as she was. Even though the competitive streak in her called out to keep going her legs weren't having it. Breaking her run, she began to slow down, waving one hand out to her side in the hopes that the girl would give up and she'd not been misreading the signs. "Okay okay, you win." Geo said through gasps of air, moving off the path to the grass, sinking immediately to her knees and falling backwards, allowing her weight to be absorbed by natures green cushion, her heart pumping rapidly as she tried to catch her breath.
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[Ursula Ciccone]

Ursula was not a quitter, and even though her chest and lungs burned the teen continued to press forward. Her muscles in her leg were tight, and her nose ran slightly. It wasn't until she heard the panting girl behind her that finally Urs gave into her need to rest. She slowed her pace, panting miserably, arms above her head as she turned to see who her competition was. She swore she recognized the girl, but if she were honest she wasn't sure if it was from her house or from her classes. With wobbling legs Ursula made her way over to the girl and let out a laugh, which turned into a wheeze, falling to the ground beside her. Between pants and gasped, trying to catch her breath Ursula spoke. "You. Are. Fast." She said, finally starting to regain her breath. "That. Was. Fun." She said again laughing, coughing a little. "i'm Ursula Ciccone." She finally introduced, extending a hand over and letting it it go limp, accidentally smacking the girls arm gently. "Whoops, sorry. i'm rubber." The American girl said with a laugh.

 

[Professor Geovanna Adler-Cade]

Geo was breathing heavily as her blue eyes stared up at the clear sky, glad that she seemed to have made a friend as Ursula collapsed beside her. "Says you," she commented with a small smile, head turning slightly to glance at her. She was sure she knew her from her classes, perhaps as the girl who sat with Vil? "Geo, Geo Volt." The Hufflepuff grabbed at the Ravenclaws arm, shaking it in their air like some sort of welcoming ritual. "Nice to meet you Ursula," she added, wondering if she was always out here so early. Geo often used her mornings to relax and have time to her own thoughts, but it would be good to have at least one person she could share her love of running with. The third year wasn't exactly precise with her schedules, and no doubt it would have been easy to miss her at different times of the day. "This isn't your first time," she eventually stated, heartbeat finally returning to normal. "Running I mean," Geo knew she must have run frequently like she did to be able to keep up as well as she had.
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