Monday, April 23, 2012

Beware of Umbrellas

See not all posts are about running...BTW if you're reading this have you donated to my Run to Home Base? http://www.runtohomebase.org/runtohomebase/runerinrun

Ok so it was pouring out this morning and of course I was in a hurry and had about 10 million things in my hands. Add to that I forgot coffee from home and needed to stop at DD on the way to work. So I park where I normally do and it's far enough that I need an umbrella or I'm going get soaked in the walk. So in one hand is my bag of treat I brought to work (which are now known as OMG! Brownies) my math book and calculator and my coffee. So I open my door and open the umbrella and get out. So now my keys and my umbrella are in the same hand. I went to go lock my car and I hit the umbrella button instead and my umbrella started to eat me! Closed right on my head! So now I have no hands and an umbrella on my head. Luckily I could see well enough to get to the door where it's covered and managed to put my keys away long enough to close the umbrella. I'm thankful it was still dark and there weren't a lot of people around. 


Moral of the story kids, stay home when it rains!!
PS You're welcome for the entertainment!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

13.1...Been there RUN THAT!



I did it! I ran 13.1 miles and when I say ran I mean I ran every step. I wasn’t the fastest or the slowest but I ran my own race.  I’m actually getting giddy thinking of it again as I’m writing!
First off, if you ever run in Disney be prepared to get up and some ungodly hour! I think when we caught the bus some people were just getting in from partying. It was a lot of sitting and waiting for a while. My nerves really started to kick in but I forced a bagel with peanut butter down and a bottle of water. By the time we were on our way to the start line it was like a cattle drive! There were just SO MANY PEOPLE! We were freezing so I really didn’t mind. Kelly and Deanna had the right idea with layering, I did not! I remember right before the gun, I thought I was going to throw up, but I got a hug from Kelly and off we went. 

Miles 1-3 were basically before the sun came up and people were shedding clothes and running in the woods to go to the bathroom (honestly people, go before you start!!!) and I ran with Kelly for about 2 miles and then I fell back as I knew I couldn’t keep her pace. When I got to mile 3 the leaders were on their way back (it was a staggered start) and I was seriously in awe of the girl! There were opportunities for pictures but I knew if I stopped I would never start again, so on we ran!

Mile 6 you run out of the castle which was awesome and I literally ran into Deanna on the way out, it’s funny because there is a video and you can see it happen and then our conversation! So really I got to run with everyone that day!

Miles 7-10 were pretty boring, you’re winding your way back to Epcot and it’s a lot of just road, they were blasting Kelly Clarkson “Stronger” at mile 6.5 (1/2 way point) and I’m pretty sure out of boredom I was singing Disney songs in my head over my music. You run up and on ramp near mile 11 which is cool, you can see all the people behind you and you can see Epcot. It rained a little but honestly didn’t bother me. I was good and at every water stop I got either Powerade or water.

Mile 12- oh Mile 12 how I hate you so! You are coming into Epcot at mile 12 so you know you’re almost finished. Side note: there was a woman who was in a wheelchair and was holding up a sign that said “I don’t know you but I am proud of you”, I almost started to cry. It was cool to see some of the same people from earlier in the race who had trucked it down to the end. Here’s the thing about Epcot, it’s got a lot of circles, so in a ½ marathon you run around said circles, we ran around the sphere, the fountain, the rides and ON AND ON! I did have some fun with the photographers though. Everyone keeps yelling “You’re almost there” to which at one point I yelled back “ You keep saying that!”, but you turn the corner in the back lot and you can hear the people and the music and see the storybook that says Mile 13 and I knew I was almost there. I didn’t sprint, my legs just didn’t have it in them, but I run across with my arms up and a huge smile on my face.
The woman who gave me my medal was so sweet. She asked if it was my first ½ and then gave me a hug, I got some pixie dust and called Kelly on my way to pick my stuff up. Funny part was I was fine after the run. I wasn’t tired or out of breath, but I wanted to take my damn sneakers off for sure!

I got my stuff and found Kelly and I think that’s when it finally hit me. No one made me finish, I did it all on my own. Cue the tears for a while and then I remembered I still had my sneakers on. My poor toes were all set with being suffocated! I don’t even remember inhaling the banana and peanut butter and I stayed hydrated and stretched for a while.  The whole bus situation back to the hotel was kinda messed up but we met some nice people and to be honest I was scared to sit, knowing I had to get back up! back at the hotel, 2 ibuprofen later I fell into a haze and we all slept for a good 3-4 hours.
If you ever want to see something funny, watch people walk after a race and a nap, the lactic acid just built up and I looked like a 90 old person (shout out to 90 year old people who hang out at dueling piano bars!) Alcohol makes EVERYTHING better and I think the runners high lasted a few days!

I have the medal, I have the certificate, I have the missing toe nail (WHAT? Toenails are for sissy’s!) and the know how that there really isn’t anything I can’t do! Do I want to run a marathon, er um well, not right now! I want to improve my mile times and my posture and other weird things only runners think about. I also have a very special gift I have to get myself too!
This isn’t the end of my journey, oh people have I got fun stuff to blog about, but it’s the end of this fairytale chapter! I want to do this again for sure, so who’s in???
 






Daily Mantra-
The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start. One step at a time!