The 13.1 Marathon done!

We were so excited about going. It was a great drive up, and had a new toy to play with - a TOMTOM, which my husband was nice enough to let us use and had changed the voice to be Austin Powers - it was just so "Bloody" funny. We were so happy to find out the hotel that M & D stayed at last year decided to start their continential breakfast this year at 6:00 instead of their normal 7:00 just for us runners! It was starting out to be a great weekend. We tried for an early bedtime but there were neighboring folks that thought 9:00 and 10:00pm were still party in the hall time. We all seemed to get some sleep and were up wide awake and downstairs for our wonderful breakfast at 6:00am.

The gun went off without any warning and we were off, it seemed to quick somehow. I have to say the weather was great and I enjoyed the race and even better to have M run with me. We actually passed D twice (who was doing the full marathon AND trying to qualify for Boston).

After losing a little time with a bathroom break M and I still managed to make our time that we planned (2:30). D was so nice to make us bracelets for our time. They really helped since I can't think when I am running. But when we got to mile 8, M did say we only had 4 miles left and I was able to figure that wasn't quite right - would be nice, it is nice to see someone else has the same problem I do when running. I once gave someone wrong directions. I won't give directions again - even when I think I know them - when I'm running of course.

I didn't know what to say to D as she came over the finish line. I gave her a hug. I was just amazed how she could do the full 26.2 and still talk. I know sometimes you have good runs and others times you don't. I felt so bad this was not a good run for D. I tried to not talk about it for I saw tears were just behind the eyes ready to flood any second. We managed through the tough moments and found food which always helps.

After a late checkout and we were all showered and exausted, we piled back into M's car and headed home with Austin giving us a laugh. We stopped at the favorite Ponderosa they always stop and eat at after marathons but none of us had an appetite.

I would have to say I am thankful for D and M for helping me train for this race and feel it was all worth it. I will have this memory forever. I would definitely do it again. I did call P last time to tell her all about it. P definitely helped in getting me to train and stay with it. I am so lucky to have such good friends.

Allergy Season

I started with a stiff kneck before the Mountain Goat, then the next week I had a sore throat, then I started with a pounding head. I tried all sorts of cold and allergy medicine to combat it. Do you know how hard it is to run with a stuffy nose and no tissues. The idea of using a leaf crossed my mind but my luck would be a poisin ivy. I have mastered spitting on the side of the road but have you ever tried to blow snot out of your nose to the side of the road, trust me don't - it's not pretty!

I finally broke down and went to the doctors yesterday and yup a sinus infection. I went to the drug store to pick up three Rx's. 1) antibiotic, 2) yeast infection medicine because I always get one after #1, 3) refill on allergy medicine - I better take every day to prevent 1,2 again. Hopefully I will be good for Sundays Big Race (my 1/2 marathon).

M's house is beautiful

I come home from M's house and get upset with mine. They cleaned it up and redid almost everything to get ready to put the house not the market. They did an outstanding job on the house. I wish I didn't have a house, I would buy theirs.

I think I need to clean out and throw out all my stuff so my house can ALWAYS stay neat and clean. If you have nothing it sure makes it easier to keep your house picked up. The hard part is getting the kids get rid of their stuff. We are having a neighborhood garage sale, maybe I should get the kids to put their stuff out for that and that way they can earn a little $ from the junk they get rid of and can use to buy something like the webcan's (spelling) they have been begging me for (more stuff!).

Die-hard Runner?

I did finish the Mountain Goat (10 miles - 1 hr 58 minutes) and felt pretty good until about 5 minutes after the race and thought I was going to pass out. I spent the rest of the day between the couch and the bathroom. I even ran a fever of 104. Not sure if it was the race or a bug that I picked up. My husband asked me “So are you ready for the ½ marathon?). My husband was sick later that day (payback). I hope it was just a bug because the ½ marathon is just around the corner now and I don’t want to be that sick again. I do have to say I would not have done as well without M helping me. She kept me going.

D, M and I did a workout in the rain last night. We went to the schools track to attempt our 9x400 @ 5K pace; D had to do 800’s. We also brought along six kids, bike, gloves, and balls (yes we are crazy). It started out great and then started to drizzle then started poring about our 7th loop. Then we caught the kids playing in the long jump pit which of course is yucky from the rain. We made it home all wet but no complaints and I really think the kids had fun. At least it wasn’t real cold. This is what memories are made from.

I guess this means I am a die-hard runner now when I even drag my kids out in the rain?