It Was the Best of Runs, It Was the Worst of Runs

Actually, it wasn't all that bad. Of course, I say this now, after I'm done and after a nice long soak in the tub and now wrapped up in warm clothes.

First of all, let me contemplate on my sanity level. Through running, and mentoring through TNT, I've met many runners and athletes. I was talking to a tri friend of mine who said he's never run a full marathon and he has no desire to do so (he only does halves). This guys has done many, MANY triatholons and he never wants to do a full marathon? And one of the new guys training with us this season is only doing the half - and he's pretty toned and athletic. He looked at me as if I was insane when I asked him why isn't he training for the full.

I now have two thoughts. One, maybe I am athletic. Here are these two very athletic guys and they said they never want to go so far as to do a full marathon. Two, maybe I am crazy. Hmm.

Today's run was very interesting. Total mileage: 17.30. Average pace: 13:25. Calories burned: almost 2100 (hell yeah I'm having ice cream later).

Here we go....

The first 5 miles was from Memorial Park to downtown (Bayou Place). I took it nice and slow, averaging a 14 minute mile. I knew I was going to do the Rodeo Run, so why get all tuckered out now? No rain, nice breeze, cloudy and foggy. Basically, it was nice running weather. Ate a Hooah! bar before I left my house, by the way. I run 4 minutes, walk 1 minute. Not having too much fun with those intervals, since I've been running 1 mile, walking 45 seconds.

I get to downtown with an hour to kill. I stop the Garmin. I'm on one of the Rodeo Committees (the Speaker's Committee) and we are very much alive for the parade. The parade announcers and rodeo clowns are on my committee, so I started wandering around to search for friends. I found a few and then found my sister, who was announcing at the corner of Travis and McKinney. Everyone I knew thought I was insane for my mileage (they don't run), but I had a nice time waiting for the race to start. I walk the half-mile back to the start and just wait. Finally, the gun goes off and we begin! Before I get to the starting line, water sprinkles upon our heads. Ah, hell. I do not run in the rain.

Before we even get to the corner where my sister is, the sky just opens up and the wind starts roaring between those tall skyscrapers. The rain is falling so fiercely that people are running for cover (parade-watchers, not runners - we're just stupid). I am not having fun, and we haven't even hit the first mile marker yet! Of course, my sister grabs the microphone when she sees me and gives me a great big cheer as I pass her, which was nice.

Mile 1 - finally hits. 12:40. Hmm. Should slow down a bit. My legs are all warm from my warm-up 5 miler and I feel great. Rain stops.

Mile 2 - Pass Minute Maid Park and the finish line. 12:50. Now that we're off the parade route, the crowd is almost nonexistant.

Mile 3 - Up the overpass, and into some fierce wind. Argh. The resistance is maddening. Oh, look. Edwin passes me - on the other side (yes, he's almost done). 13:40. Damn.

Mile 4 - Went through the barrio, found the turnaround. Still windy, but it's not in my face. 13:30. Starts to rain again, lightly.

Mile 5 - 12:50. Wait! I look at my watch. If I speed up, I might be able to PR! I run my fastest mile. Ever. Ever ever ever.

Mile 6 - 11:22. Wow. I ran fast (for me). Where's the finish???

Mile 6.2 - 2:20. Wow. My glutes hurt. The race is over. Dizzy. Where's the food?

Final time: 1:18:27. I tied my PR. When I did the HEB Bayou Classic, I finished also in 1:18, but I don't know the miliseconds.

I walk over, find Edwin again, find Cassie and Jessica and Dave. And the food. I refill my water and gatorade bottles in the fuel belt, chow down half a bagel and say good-bye. I still have to get to my car.

I jog through downtown, find my sister, and stay with her until the parade is over and then off I go again, carrying a banana.

On my way back to my car, the sky opens up again at mile 14. By mile 15, the downpour is excrutiating. I hate running in the rain and my feet are wet and I hear/feel squishyness in my shoes. I smile, though, because if I look like an idiot, I might as well smile like one. But now the trail riders are following me and, although I've slowed to a 14:45/mile pace, I still want to get ahead of the trailriders!

Finally, I see Memorial Park. I'm dripping, I'm shuffling, but I am determined to not stop jogging. I refuse to walk!

I get to my car and collapse. At home, I discover that I have NO blisters (today I experimented with a double-layer running sock and I am impressed). My new elastic shoelaces kept my shoes on and not too tight. I didn't chafe, I'm not sunburned/windburned. All in all, I feel great. Not great enough to go a complete 18 miles (it was still raining), but still pretty good.

Time for a nap.

Cheers!