The Unexpected Run

Wow, I woke up this morning feeling every muscle in my body!! Getting up and getting on with the day has loosened everything up, but even if I still felt achy, I wouldn't have changed anything from yesterday's run! (Well, except for the weather!) Come along, and I'll show you why!

So, as you know, it all began last year -- as in 2012 -- when I ran a Half Marathon in early April and wanted to try the Go Girl Half at the end of May. Alas, I wasn't ready to do so. Physically, I pooped out. Mentally, I didn't strategize very well. Turn the calendar page, and I faced the same possibility. New strategy + better physically = winning combination. The only thing keeping me from upgrading my registration would be a bad weather forecast.

Evidently, ignorance was bliss because I happily upgraded my registration Friday afternoon and went on with my day ready for Saturday's event! The only kink that evening (perfectly timed right before heading to bed, right?) was the realization that I forgot to buy bananas so as to have one in the morning. The kid needs something in tank in the double-digit miles, so this realization required action. Aaron to the rescue!

Bananas for me, Diet Coke for him.
Everyone wins!

Aaron, Pit Crew driver, was also the Saturday morning man of the hour as we were a half mile from home when I realized I had no water with me (if you're going to eat a banana, having some water for rinsing is key. To me.). He promptly changed course to swing by a gas station for the water and what became a last-minute bathroom break for me. That was outstanding timing because who wants to use an event porta potty if they don't have to? I'm just sayin'.

So, we get there in plenty of time to park, stretch (yeah, I said it!) and mosey to our respective starting line/cheering spots!

There they go to stake out a spot!

Of course, there are shoe shots to share:

LOVE those multi-colored Asics!! Pardon while I wipe the
slobber from the camera lens ...

Pretty colors abound! AND, see the purple? Then the pink?
The pink beyond that one is the screamin' hot pink Saucony I
had!! You didn't work for me, but I remember you fondly!
I'm like a shoe stalker ...

There are the Half Marathoners at the start!

I'm right in the middle in the purple!

By the way, you might notice there are a bunch of running pants and jackets in the crowd. That's because it was, like, 50 degrees!! That's fabulous for running, but, really? At the end of May? Last year, it was stifling hot at this run, and I was thankful to be running the 5K. 'Looks like the weather was on my side, right? Yeah ... hold that thought.

My view from somewhere in the middle of the pack ...

... and, the Crew's view of my start!

I got my camera up and firing just in time to catch thos cute Crewers cheering me on!

I missed getting Aaron and his "Only 13.09 Miles 2 Go" sign, but I heard a number of laughs as we ran by. It's a very fabulous sign! Soon after his, I saw a guy holding one that read: It's out first anniversary, and she's already running away! HA! Darned camera didn't fire in time, but at least I remembered it!

Okay, so the front of the run was intriguing. There was no directive given in terms of placing ourselves in an approximate speed spot (if you're blowing through the run, get to the front, if you're walking, get to the back, figure it out in between), so I'm pretty certain not many people gave this concept very much thought. When I say we crossed the timing strip and no one seemed to care (no one took off like their time just started), I'm totally not kidding. You also know I'm not one for taking this so seriously that one must have a certain time to have fun, but I will say the completely blasé tone was a mixture of refreshing and frustrating, frustrating because there was little room to move, and you really don't have any desire to flat-tire (am I in third grade?) nor trip over someone ahead of you. There's a fine line between not being in a hurry and getting the show on the road. There was a significant incline right at the beginning of the run (nice!) which did help thin the pack.

Just a note: I think the mass congregation at the beginning had a lot to do with the fact that almost every runner was a woman. And, almost every one of those women was talking. It was like the biggest social run ever, and it was fabulous. There was so much chatter going on I hardly knew which story to tune in to! By the time we were in our second mile, though, most talking had to do with pace, time, etc., and I tune that stuff out as much as possible.

Speaking of the early miles, it was almost exclusively trail running for the first 4 miles:

I enjoyed this stretch. But, it did make me think of this:

These miles were mostly flat, shaded and had two water stations. The Crew was even at one of them!

I didn't expect to see them here! It was great! Also great was
that I didn't have to use the bathroom at either station on this
stretch ... the second was at least 10 people deep at both doors!

The event staff totally treated us right!! To have two stations in the first four miles? This was going to be a great race!

The weather, however, had other plans on how to treat us. I just rounded the fourth mile and gotten myself up a hill when I looked to the West:

Ohhhh ... crap ...

My brain went from singing songs to myself (a little "Pour Some Sugar On Me" anyone?) to overdrive thinking. My first thought was trying to figure out just how far away that storm looked (not very) compared to how far I had to go (pretty far). I needed no numbers in my calculation that it was unlikely I would outrun this storm. I've always avoided running in the rain; I was about to get a taste of it. And, then I heard the distant rumble of thunder. For crying out loud. It was very distant (and, actually, unexpectedly, rather soothing). All I could do at that point was hope.

Rounding the corner near Mile 5.5, I saw the Crew and my trainer, too!!

I was thankful they were there so I could give them my camera. There was no doubt in my mind the rain was on its way!! So, this is the last pic I took along the route. It's kind of a mess as I was taking it fast while signaling to someone to come get it, and they were deciphering why I was calling someone over not only in the middle of a run but also in the middle of the street (which was still open to through traffic, just sayin'), but we got it all figured out:

Elly never noticed I was there -- probably
in tune to the fact that there was thunder
we probably couldn't yet hear ... and
wondering why we were being so stupid
because she thinks thunder is scary.

Within minutes of this moment, the rain began. Whew!! The camera was safe! Yes, yes, I'm the fool who didn't have enough sense to come in out of the rain ... or the thunder ... never mind the lightening, but the camera was safe!

Anyway ... The next seven miles brought about everything from nice showers to raining so hard it was difficult to see. A pop of lightening brought out quite the expletive in me, but I'm certain it didn't offend anyone around me because they probably didn't hear it for the thunder that followed ! I kept thinking, "Had this begun before we started, this probably would've been cancelled." Then I thought, "I'm sure there's some form I signed about not holding anyone responsible for my being an idiot and staying out here." I also thought, "By now, the 5Kers are finished, and they're thinking about the poor and/or stupid Half Marathoners still on the route." Did you know "poor" and "stupid" are sometimes synonymous? No more singing to myself: It was time to pray for safety!

You might be amazed to know how many people were still along the route cheering for the runners. Many managed to bring umbrellas (I guess they saw a forecast I missed), but there were also those just out in it, getting soaked but still cheering their runner. The event staff at the water stations made the best of it all, too, and every, single one of them was cheery as we went through. Who would have expected that?!

One of those stations was at the top of the hill most of us dreaded right after Mile 8. I was all about running it until I was soaked. That was a game changer as it wasn't that warm out, and the rain was quite cold. That made my legs feel stiff, so I followed suit with every, other person on that hill, and I walked it. I had a fabulous chat where we exchanged basic running background with each other -- this was her first Half, but she has run a Marathon ... a Disney Marathon! She said she ran that one with 17-minute miles because of how many times she stopped for pictures with characters! She went on to articulate disappointment that she figured she wasn't going to hit her goal time on this run as the rain was definitely going to slow her down. In that moment on that hill with the rain coming down in buckets, I bagged any thought of coming in close to my GO! PR time (which I figured was out the window from the get-go anyway), and I embraced the finish for exactly what it was: A Finish.

Getting up and over that hill was the end of the most difficult parts of the course. Even though there were rolling hills, all elevation was still going down (I know that by my continued eavesdropping). I was thankful for the hills being behind me because my thighs were contracting big time. That continual cold water was totally making them constrict, so I made sure my pace was in check so as to not hurt myself. (Always my number one goal. That and not getting hit by lightening.)

Running down hill is always awesome. I even told someone at a water station that doing such a thing makes me feel like a total stud. And, soon after, I saw my favorite Crewers again (before heading back up hill!)!

PC#2 called out, "Only a 5K to go!!" as I passed ...

... and, that's how I felt about that!

The last three miles were smooth under the feet as we got back on the trail. You'd think that would make for an easy finish, but, while the rain had subsided for about a mile, it came back. It came back big. Hey, are you wondering what you do when it starts storming and you're running on a trail and there are tons of unavoidable puddles? I don't know what you do, but I pray. A lot! My prayers for safety began back at Mile 6 and dominated my head for the duration of the run. Step aside, Def Leppard, the brain has more important things to do!

Right at Mile 11, a runner with whom I'd been yo-yoing for the duration of the course, came up behind me and said she'd been following me the whole run and had been using me as her marker to keep up. What ?! I mean ... what ?! I understood the words, but the concept of me being a marker for someone was seriously cool. She also said, "I remember your shirt from the starting line! I loved the sparkle, I loved the purple, I loved the puppy, and I was in!" Now, that I totally understood. I mean, that really is a trifecta of goodness!

Because of the continued rain, it felt like forever to get to Mile 12. For.Ev.Er. Everyone was struggling at that point just from being weighed down. I felt pretty good, but being super soaked kind of blows. I was to the point where I could walk as fast as I could run, so you bet I ran-walked for about a half mile of that last one. I wasn't alone, but I wouldn't have cared if I was. It just needed to be done, and my very cold legs thanked me! It was along this stretch that I was so thankful to be safe and so happy I was, indeed, going to finish this thing! That I walked a little? So what!

And, finally:

This is where I yelled, "I. Totally. Did. It!!"

So wet, and so happy!



I love my Crewers!! Total troopers!!!

You might remember I was all twisted up hoping they would have a medal for me?!

There were plenty!!! Bling!

Oh, yes ... there's the wine glass, too!

AND, notice the purple sparkly nails!
Head to toe sparkle ... yeah!!!

They fill those glasses with smoothies for you ... and, then you and your youngest Crewer act all, "We're so going to parrrrrrrtyyyyyy " with it:

That peach smoothie rocked!!! The volunteers pouring them
were totally over being out in the rain, though!

Let's see that bling again:

And, let's see my biggest fan:

I'm pretty certain Aaron believed in my ability to turn everything around from April's run to now more than I did. I'm still in a wee bit of ... disbelief? Is that the right word? I think I've still not fully accepted that I'm a runner on any level. I don't even feel like it's a put-down, I just am having a hard time wrapping my brain around it. I didn't believe Aaron when he told me the time frame in which he was sure I finished; I thought he must not have looked at his watch correctly. I further didn't quite believe the computerized print out (you know, the computer print out that has no capability to make crap up just to make you feel good about yourself) that reported my time as only 2 minutes more than my April Half time which translates into my second best Half time of overall. I had to look at it a few times, and it's still hard to believe.

I suppose it doesn't help that I spent 3/4 of my life declaring my hatred for running. I think I have a lot of mental deprogramming left to do! I will work on the mental part of this game while training for my next run ... the Virtual Firework Cupcake Run with my girl!!! I'm looking forward to you joining me on that journey! But, for the next few days, we rest!! I'm definitely taking tomorrow off, and we'll see how the rest of the week shakes out!

Thank you for coming along on these many words recapping the many miles! 'Til tomorrow: