well my HM was rather awful - yes it was

Monday, November 19, 2012

Once upon a time, like a year ago I didn't even bother training for HMs because unless I was trying to hit a PR, I could pretty much just roll out of bed and run one. Losing my healthy fear of the half was why I did a full, but I'm back to the half now.

and clearly not giving it enough credit

But I'm ahead of myself. In the beginning there was a plan for DH to meet me at my work and we'd go pick up our race packets. The line was crazy getting into the parking lot where there was a $5 fee. I'm torn about whether or not that is annoying. Usually the expo is at the convention center where you have to pay to park but this year it was at a hotel. I guess I figured the hotel was making enough money from people staying there for the race that they didn't need to charge $5 for the 10 min or so we'd need to park. They also require you to show your id to pick up your stuff so I couldn't dart in and grab everything while he circled the block.

Then while we were inside DH's step-dad called him to firm up plans for Saturday EVEN THOUGH I had gone over the plans in detail including maps, times, and we're doing the same thing we did last year. I can't even be grumpy about it because let's face it, they're giving up their Saturday to stand around in the cold to cheer us on for something they really don't quite understand anyway.

Race day - got up, drove to my work building where I can park free on the weekends, ran into some people from work, and huddled in the building where it was warm until the race started. DH was with the 4:45 pace group. I was somewhere in the back because I was going with a 12 min/mi pace goal - nice and easy just finish. I was cross about the goal of just finish and already swearing that I'm going to train for the next one in March and run with the big kids.

Then the race started and off we went. It was crazy windy, but I figured once we got out of the big shinny buildings the wind would die down. I was totally wrong about that. It was windy and cold the entire race. I hit the 5 mile mark a little under and hour so things were going pretty ok. Then things went awry. About mile 8 I started steadily losing speed. I hit the 10 mile marker at 2:06 yikes majorly losing it. Then it took me a full 45 minutes to do that last 3.1 miles. Yea so this was hands down the worst half ever. Doesn't THAT make me feel good about me.

I could blame at least part of it on the wind, it was this gusty swirling sort of thing that was pretty bad at times but I dunno. I think I just bonked.

There was a point about mile 11 when I really wanted to just start crying. It should be noted that I am not by any means an emotional person and I don't even remember the last time I actually cried especially for no reason. My feet were killing me so that was a factor, my calves were cramping a bit but nothing I haven't run through before. I think I was just feeling sorry for myself then I was angry about the fact that I was feeling sorry for myself. There are times when what I need is for my grandfather to show up and give me a proper Texas talkin' to - "cowboy up fer god's sake whatsamatter with you"

So I get to the finish - barely, grab a drink, eat some random stuff and head up to where I was meeting DH's folks. It was a long way off. I know this because I never turned off my watch so I know it was about a mile up to where they were NOT when I finally got there.
On the plus side though some of the little pack of people I had been running with who were doing the full passed by while I was there looking for the in-laws so it was nice to cheer them on. This is a little past mile 16 for the full.

I went to my car thinking I'd call them to see what was going on and they had sent me a text letting me know that DH had just gone by and it was cold and windy so they were going to be in the front of my work building. That's fine and all but it was 2 blocks closer to the finish line so if I had known they were going to do that I could have dropped my change of clothes off at my desk that morning and just met them there - but whatever, they're giving up their Saturday so no grumpiness allowed.

I found them huddled in a bus shelter even though the building was open so they could have at least sat in the comfy couches that no one ever sits in inside the lobby. I did feel badly about that so I ushered them inside, got them processed through security and up to my department where they could hit the pumpkin spice coffee krups and watch tv in the break room all nice and cozy.

I got changed, was briefly abused by a guy who was here catching up on some work so he could take this week off, "good lord what ARE you wearing, hey you should do your hair like that all the time.." oh SHUT it. Then he tried to make us feel guilty for drinking hot coffee and sitting around while DH was still out there running. He did at least act a impressed and when I told him that I had only done the half he said that half of infinity is still infinity so I suppose that sort of made up for the outfit and hair comments.

So then I booted up my computer and pulled up the website to track an athlete so I could see when DH crossed the 20 mile mark and know when to start herding everyone down to the finish line. I was briefly freaked out when it said that he had already finished. But but but that's impossible. It's only been like half an hour from when he was at the 16 mile mark, what the heck?!?!?!

It was last year's race results. I guess they were not doing the track an athlete thing this year so I had no idea where he was. I did the math on it and figured he was still pretty much on track to finish in 4:45 so I went with that and we all got down to the finish at 4:25 so we'd have plenty of time.

It was kind of fun to cheer people along down the finish. Some people just cruise along like this is nothing and others are clearly in a great deal of pain. It's also fun to see the families go nuts when their person gets in sight. I lost my voice yelling "finish strong" hundreds of times, yea clever right but I couldn't think of anything else.

Then the 4:45 pace group came through - no DH. Ok, ok it's fine he probably just lagged behind a bit.

5:00 - no DH. soooo he's probably having some knee issues or something, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. Are you SURE we didn't miss him? Yea I'm sure besides if we did miss him he would be looking for us here and let's face it, the crowd is starting to really thin out. MIL and StepFIL huddled thinking I couldn't hear them whispering about getting the car and going to look for him. Then they pasted these bright smiles on their faces and looked at me. If I hadn't been so worried about DH I would have burst out laughing.

5:15 this is starting to be NOT COOL. Where is he? We walk down a little way so we could see further down the street and to burn off 30 seconds of nervous energy. I was just about to ditch the in-laws and take off running backwards down the marathon route when he showed up running with this woman clearly they were pushing each other along.

Story is, he's been sick for a couple of weeks. He was ok except for a lingering cough that he just can't shake. He took some musinex but by about mile 18 it had worn off. The wind was awful and he said that if he ran or took a deep breath he would go into a coughing fit. With the wind he just couldn't catch his breath so he'd been walking for a while. He ran into his new best friend there at mile 20 when she was having stomach issues and wanted to quit. He talked her into toughing it out. He said he wanted to start running again but after he talked this woman into hanging in there he felt responsible enough to stick with her. He said he was worried about how we were doing but didn' t know what else to do. That is 100% in character for him so I'm not even a little bit surprised.

He's bummed about his time, but you know - no grumpiness at least until after the folks cleared out. So basically we're both feeling sorry for ourselves, but we do at least both have new shinny finishers medals.

I'm trying to think of this as a learning experience. I'm not sure what I learned though, I'm not as tough as I think I am and DH should have listened to me when I said "are you sure you're up to this with that cough and all?"

Here is a picture, we're smiling - no grumpiness you know.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

_MOBII_ 11/19/2012 10:57PM

I just love reading your blogs! Great job on your half, and I can totally commiserate with co workers hassling you! Your hubby is pretty awesome as well! I hope he can kick that nagging cough in a hurry! Report Inappropriate Comment

JEWELMAKER1 11/19/2012 7:09PM

I don't know either one of you, but I could not be more proud of both of you. The determination and grit is astounding. Your husband rocks for having compassion for a complete stranger even when he wasn't feeling well. You guys rock! Report Inappropriate Comment

RUNNERKDB 11/19/2012 6:37PM

Wow tough race! I have some friends that say they get emotional when their fueling is off during a race. Maybe that could have had some thing to do with it. Endurance sports can be very unpredictable! Hope you next race goes better! Karen Report Inappropriate Comment

ROXIT22222 11/19/2012 2:46PM

AWE so sorry the race was so hard. I think we are handed these kinds of races every once in a while to help keep us humbled and remind us of where we came from. The next one will be easier again. Report Inappropriate Comment

gearing up for the half marathon

Friday, November 09, 2012

I'm running Thunder Road Half Marathon a week from tomorrow. Every time I calm down and stop being jumpy about it they send me another email and I get all jumpy about it again.

I haven't done this distance since March. I did a 15k a couple of weeks ago so I think I'll be ok, may not be a PR but I'll finish it.

This is the point where its too late to really train for it so there's nothing to do but wish I had trained harder a few weeks ago.

still though, determined to have fun with it

My only time goal is to finish and then make it across uptown to meet my MIL and her BF where the marathon passes by a little past mile 16 before DH goes by. Last year I missed him by 2 minutes. This year though I'm not having the foot problems I did last year so maybe I'll pull it off.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SOXYINMO 11/11/2012 7:24AM

So exciting! Report Inappropriate Comment

KAYOTIC 11/10/2012 10:18AM

Good luck! Report Inappropriate Comment

HEARTS116 11/9/2012 1:51PM

Good luck! Report Inappropriate Comment

COOP9002 11/9/2012 12:15PM

Hope you have an amazing experience. Report Inappropriate Comment

ROXIT22222 11/9/2012 10:22AM

Wow sounds like a action packed day. Hope you have a good run. Report Inappropriate Comment

MNCYCLIST 11/9/2012 10:14AM

Sounds great, hope you have a great one!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

is it too early for spring fever? yes, yes it is

Thursday, November 08, 2012

I want to do something different for vacation this year. I don't know what. I had a list, not a nice formal one like people too but locked in my brain since I was a kid was a list of things I wanted to do.

hike rim to river in the Grand Canyon - check
hike to Plateau Point in the Grand Canyon - check
snorkel in Key Weat - check
climb Half Dome & hike El Capitan - check
see Yellowstone & the Grand Tetons - check
ski Lake Tahoe - check

I'm kind of out of ideas, well not really I'm just down to really expensive stuff.

and yet starting to get wunderlust

I need more money and time. Funny thing is that you can't have both. I've been out of work and had plenty of time but no money. Oddly enough I've never had plenty of money but I could see how scoring that would mean not having any time off.

Oh it's going to be a long winter.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SOXYINMO 11/9/2012 7:10AM

I hear ya! It does seem to be like the old balance scales. I've never been able to find that perfect balance between money & time. Report Inappropriate Comment

my life is so difficult

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

We have an instant messaging program at work. I have mixed feelings about it really. I just cannot ignore that flashing blue bar at the bottom of the screen and it seems to pop up right when I'm in the middle of something.

What's worse is that someone I don't know sent me an IM this morning asking me a question about something I booked. I answered it and we both got on with our day.

Now that window is still open, right there, at the bottom of the screen, next to a couple other windows connecting me with friends who I'm discussing politics with in a way that we could NOT really do out loud because we're in mixed company.

I don't want to just shut down the window and be rude but having that window open greatly increases the chances of my typing something into that is wildly inappropriate especially given that I don't actually know this person. Maybe she votes the way I do and maybe she doesn't. Maybe she agrees with me that someone we call sneezy is a schlub and maybe not.

oh what to do what to do

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

APONI_KB 11/7/2012 1:57PM

Oh email is totally not confidential. It's kind of funny when people act like it is. My company just had to turn over a bunch of emails to the utility commission and boy oh boy does the board of directors need to learn to use the telephone when they rant about something. It's entertaining for we working stiffs but yikes. Most of the obnoxious stuff we say about each other we CC the person in on that we're talking about. It's such a wasted effort to pick on someone if they don't know you're doing it. The political stuff isn't a voilation or anything. It's more a matter of us not wanting to get into it or hurt someone's feelings who doesn't agree with us. We do the same thing over sports. Report Inappropriate Comment

_MOBII_ 11/7/2012 11:35AM

I agree with STUFFNEARTABOR, and type carefully! If at all! I would think that you are better off using your 1st amendment right instead of 'talking' about touchy subjects on the company computer. (read: company property) I tend to use my right to free speech a LOT, lol! And I am pretty sure that this right includes volume! All kidding aside, tread carefully when on Company Property. Comment edited on: 11/7/2012 11:37:37 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

STUFFNEARTABOR 11/7/2012 10:51AM

I suggest you be EXTREMELY careful about expressing personal views (especially less-than-kind) and comments in a company computer system. Please know that EVERYTHING you put in there can & likely WILL be viewed by either a person at your cmopany, or by software designed to 'sort out' the data & extract bits that may be considered 'sensitive'. These communications can be used in your performance evaluation(s), and have been the grounds for termination in plenty of cases. So: -Close the window. -Close it every time you are done with a response. -Don't use nicknames for coworkers, they are easy to figure out. -Be careful about responding to people you don't know - (who are they & why are they asking?) -Keep EVERYTHING you put into a company computer system or company computer, safe, kind, politically correct & something you don't mind being read out loud in front of your grandmother or boss. Report Inappropriate Comment

most fun at a 5k ever plus barbeque sauce

Monday, November 05, 2012

Ran the Hog Jog 5k last Saturday with DH and dawg.

I have a certain fondness for this race because when DH and I decided that we wanted to start doing races, this was the one we started with. It was the first year for this race and our first year doing races so it's sort of the benchmark for us, the 5th year of this race means we're starting on our 5th year of running races.

what?

It used to be in mid Sept and part of a barbecue contest. I'm not sure what happened but this year it wasn't part of the cook off. I'm a little surprised they still had it but Sticky Fingers was sponsoring it so we still had our beer and barbecue at the finish.

I got my race packet the same way I usually do. I got home from work on Friday and there it was, on the kitchen counter - awesome. I was number #19 - oh not good. That means it's going to be a small race. Small races scare me because that greatly increases the changes of my coming in last.

The day of the race the weather was FUNKY. It's that little storm off the coast maybe you've heard about it. It was warm but kind of muggy and cloudy with a chilly swirling wind that would take a spin through the area from time to time.

I used my work badge to park in the building - yea buddy I should get SOME good out of working here other than the very real possibility of spending 3 hours stuck in an elevator in the DARK - whole other story, wasn't me. Can I just say that if you hear a noise that kind of sounds like a cable hitting the top of the elevator you really should NOT get on it. Thanks to 3 of my coworkers for taking one for the team so we all learned that little lesson.

Also why not park as close as you can to the start of the race so you can wander around for the better part of an hour and then run 3.1 miles and then wander around some more. I certainly can't risk getting too much exercise by parking a couple of blocks away or anything. That's just crazy talk.

For reasons that I can't explain myself we decided to stick the dogs's Captain America costume on him for the race.

think I'm kidding:




His ability to completely ignore the fact that I've stuck a costume on him is amazing. He's going to wear this Halloween when we go trick-or-treating with some friends. They have human children, we don't so we're taking Captain America.

Also if you show up to a race with a dog dressed as Captain America you get a lot of attention, well he does anyway. Plus something about my dog seems to remind everyone of the dog they had as a kid. It's helpful that he loves kids because come on, how could you see Captain America and not pet him.

There were a couple of kids having so much fun with him that someone from the race thought they were my kids and tried to get me to sign them up for the fun run. DH thought I should have done it, "what do you say guys, wanna do the fun run?"

It might have been a problem signing them up when I didn't know their names or ages, details details.

Someone walking around with a camera wanted a picture of the Captain, DH, and me. People always do what someone with a camera tells them so we posed for the shot. Everyone else was lining up for the race but whatever, we always start in the back with him anyway. So far they don't have the race pictures posted but if any of those turn out I'm going to have to buy them - that's how they get you.

Right before the race started the ladies in pink went by behind us. The Avon walk was going on - TURF WAR. They outnumbered us though so we went with cheering on random people instead of trying to start something.

Then the race started. Bodie got his leash in his mouth. He always does that at the start of races and also when we're out running and I'm not doing right for some reason. I can stop and talk to a neighbor for a minute but eventually the Captain gets tired of waiting and we must away. People always make awwww noises at races when he does that which is better than getting annoyed that someone brought a dog to a race.

The first half of the race was downhill which does not bode well for the second half of the race noitdoesnot. I am sad to report that of the three of us I am the weakest link so my goal here was to try not to slow down the group.

The Captain had to make a pit-stop. DH stopped to clean it up and told me to keep going and he'd catch up. NOPE not on the Captain's watch. He's normally really good about keeping a nice heel but he was not happy and kept trying to herd me back. Turns out Captain America doesn't leave a man behind so we ended up hanging out until DH caught up. People were laughing at me while this was going on. I'd like to say they were laughing WITH me but if I'm honest I think laughing AT is more accurate.

We got near the end and some people on their cool down run saw us and starting cheering on Captain America. I have no idea how he knows that people are cheering for him but that always speeds him up. It was even more rockus heading into the finish line with everyone in the crowd cheering on the Captain.

There were a couple of women running near us for quite a bit of the race and I sort of hung back at the finish to stay out of the way. I didn't want to burn anybody with my little spectacle - I'm cool like that.

Then after the race there was plenty of beer and barbecue also bagels. Now that Chiquita is headquartered here we have crates and crates of bananas these days. They used to hand out bananas cut in half, now they hand you a bunch - literally a bunch of bananas.

The Captain and I were splitting a bagel when DH showed up with a couple of bottles of barbecue sauce they were giving away. A little while later he sent me for some and they must have brought way too much because they asked if I wanted to try one of each and handed me a box with 6 bottles in it.

Fantastic stuff, we made a beef brisket yesterday in the crockpot with a mixture of Carolina Sweet and Habenero Hot. It was fantastic even though DH is being a little pill about my calling it "barbecue" since it isn't pork. I'm from Texas and he's from here so we have this fight all the time. Wait until I use it on the turkey Thanksgiving and see what he calls that.

The race was a lot smaller this year, there were only 200 people this year. Last year there was a 10k and a 5k with a total of 415 so yea a lot smaller. I really hope that doesn't mean they won't do this one next year.

This is the finish line picture. It turned out pretty well.



note: I wrote this just after the race but didn't post it. I wanted to add the pictures. I have another one now.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

APONI_KB 11/5/2012 8:51PM

thanks He's a pretty good running buddy. There are mornings especially now that it's colder out when I'm not all that excited about going but I can't let the boy down. He also is helping me not snack. He wants what I have and when I tell him, "no you don't need any chips". Yea well I don't need any chips either. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUSANS706 11/5/2012 7:49PM

Love that you can run with your dog, my dog has to sniff everything, so even our walks are slow. Looks like it was a great day!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

P0KERS0PH 11/5/2012 3:29PM

Well done, really cool that you could take your dog along too :) Report Inappropriate Comment

JEWELMAKER1 11/5/2012 3:25PM

I love reading your blogs! Give your cute dog a pat hello too! Report Inappropriate Comment

ORODEO73 11/5/2012 2:43PM

That is great and your dog is so cute and well behaved. I wish my dogs were more walking dogs. Thanks for sharing Report Inappropriate Comment