Read about my blog about my oldest running buddy HERE
Category Archives: Running
Giving back
I can’t believe it’s taken me a week to post about the 2013 Austin Marathon. Like always, I volunteered, no running. I’ve never run Austin, don’t know I ever plan to. Every year when it’s all said and done, I FEEL like i’ve run one, no joke. Long hours, no real breaks, and standing all weekend long. But every bit of it is fun and rewarding.
This is when the expo first opened as people started flooding in. 20,000 runners over 2 days.
I love the energy of the expo and talking to all of the runners. This year I was t-shirt exchange lead in packet pickup. I had AWESOME volunteers. Mostly college kids (had the UT Lasso’s, premed fraternity, and a few other groups). And I made a new friend from San Diego (him and his buddies came from California with a friend who was running). Hi Larry!
The most interesting and humbling experience? Majority of the race packets were put together by visually impaired men and women. I wasn’t sure how that was going to work out, but it did.
I overheard 2 of the girls from UT’s LASSO group saying how awesome I was (I was behind the curtain). Woohoo, the kiddos liked me 
My buddy Megan is the packet pick-up captain and she does a damn good job at it. I recruited AK this year to join the leaders team.
I will certainly be back next year! I can’t wait!
Posted in Running
Long way from last year
This time last year I was running a PR in Houston, only to break that PR at the end of the month at 3M (which is my standing half PR). I had a great time in Houston with June. I didn’t feel well the morning of the race, but I did fine in the race. 3M was great, I couldn’t believe what a great day I had and it was another fun time with friends.
9 months ago I was blogging about running Disney this weekend here. Bought my costume, made my travel arrangements, only to have to cancel it all 
I even had a hair appt to die my hair dark for the next month to go with my costume! I’d made plans with friends and family that lived in Orlando and was really looking forward to time with my gal friends who were traveling from Austin.
Instead I won’t be running Disney, or Houston, or 3M, all of which are this weekend. The best I can hope for is a walk or some yoga. I can’t even bring myself to go to volunteer at 3M, which is my favorite race. I’m just too upset about it.
Wonder if people will look at me strange if I go walk in my Snow White costume (meant for Disney) on Saturday morning? Or maybe yoga? I think I could scar some people for life with that.
I am going to keep my scheduled time off, since I had to beg for it. I am going to relax and try to focus more on me and less on work and worrying about everything.
Still waiting on the latest round of tests and becoming impatient. It was supposed to take 7-10 days and it’s been longer than that Maybe tomorrow I will hear more.
Race Report: Shiner Beer Run
I will first say, had I been not letting work rule my life, this race would have been a lot easier.
We left for Shiner on Saturday afternoon. Headed straight to packet pick-up at the Brewery.
Then to the hotel, got settled in and ready for dinner. Back to Shiner to eat at Werners. It may be a good restaurant, but it wasn’t on Saturday night. We have 2 overcooked steaks, burnt appetizers, and dry chicken. Plus they were out of sweet potatoes and ranch dressing (which made half our table very sad). We still had a great time, even if the food wasn’t great.
After dinner, we headed to Buccee’s to get beer and dessert. Since i’m a old lady, I went back to the room to finish my book and try to wind down. Unfortunately I did not wind down. Then around midnight I couldn’t stop scratching! Either I had an allergic reaction to something in the bed or something was biting me. I had to take Nyquil to knock myself out to get sleep, which I hate to do.
Race Day
I actually slept later than I usually do. Got dressed and headed to the lobby for breakfast, then loaded up in the car and headed to Shiner.
The start was crowded. Narrow street with 500 5K people and 1000 half marathoners. We barely made it through the massive portapotty lines before the start! The first mile was pretty congested. I tried not to waste too much energy bobbing and weaving.
The course was ok, I didn’t mind it, but it wasn’t terribly scenic. Beginning and end were at the brewery, miles surrounding those were residential. The bulk of the race was really rural, including a mile of unpaved road with big rocks (so not used to that!). It was definitely not flat.
It was pretty warm and very humid. Luckily the sun went away, or we’d probably fared much worse. Everyone finished in once piece Jenn completed her first half, YAY!
Dan didn’t get there in time for my finish How many halves have I run? He’s never seen me finish a half. The ones he did attend, he didn’t make in time. HUMPF. I even finished exactly at 10:20 am like I said I would.
My time was ok. I knew it wouldn’t be a PR, it was too warm and I’m not trained up for it. I am happy with what it was for the conditions and having run last weekend too. A little bitter I didn’t win an age group beer stein, just because they were so cool!
I didn’t indulge in the beer and bbq at the end, none of it was very gluten free friendly. Instead, we ate at Black’s BBQ in Lockhart. It wasn’t free, but it was good and I had more options. Plus the last thing I wanted right after running was bbq. 3 hours later, it sounded more appealing
Good weekend, although it seemed really short. It was my first time to do an out of town race with a group and we had so much fun! I think Dan even had fun with people he didn’t know I can’t wait for the next one!
Posted in Running
Things I like Thursday: Relay randomness
I’ve been MIA, but that is going to change! I am going to get back to my bloggin time I may have been gone, but accomplishing much in the time I was away! Really the only thing I can remember is some of my Cap2Coast random stories.
- I stepped in dog-shit watching Megan come in on her first leg. I didn’t know this. 15 minutes later, she’s toweling off and I think SHE is the one that smells like crap! When I realized it wasn’t her, we all died laughing!
- One of my team-mates, who I had never met before, literally beat the shit off of my shoe. I cannot believe a stranger touched my dirty shoe and cleaned it for me. Nice guy. Think we’ll keep him!
- I was able to meet and beat my expected leg times for all three legs.
- I got 5 “road-kills” on my first leg. Even had my first one curse at me! The girl was not pleased to say the least.
- I ran the 2nd leg in a sports bra. Shocking, I know. But I was wearing a night vest over it. You will only see me running without a shirt in the dark and halfway covered in neon reflective mesh.
- First leg was too fast and I tried to slow myself down, but the adrenaline got me. With the sun, wind, and hills, I should have backed off. I am pretty sure this set up the later hammy issues.
- I overcame some super tight hammy issues on my 2nd and 3rd legs. Once I got going, it got WAY better. I am really pleased I beat my expected times, because when I started the 3rd leg, a replacement was getting ready just in case. (that’s how awful I looked when I took off)
- I got chased by 3 dogs in the last half mile of my last leg. One of them wouldn’t back down and was snarling and snapping at me like crazy. There was lots of screaming, threatening, and then running like hell! I’ve been chased before, but never like this. On our 3rd leg, three of the six of us got chased, mine probably the worst.
- I took a whore-bath in the Rickster’s bathroom. I ate breakfast on Saturday with wet hair and fit right in with the locals. A little scary.
- You know that saying, don’t try anything new before or during a race? Drinking a soda, even a diet one, after leg 2, BAD idea. I thought diet 7-UP would make me feel better. Not so much. It worked for my pregnant BFF, thought it would work for me too.
- I was the most aromatic one in the van. First the dog poo, then the sunscreen, then the bug spray, then sweat x3.
- I may have not smelled pretty, but at least I didn’t have any mosquito bites!
- I’m recovering now. To be honest, I think relay recovery is more serious that marathon recovery. Essentially it’s running several races in a short amount of time. I’ve run once this week, going to do another one tonight.
- First recovery run was insanity. LUNA run on Tuesday…the three girls who led the run were the same three that had just done the relay! We were a sight, but the runners got to hear some awesome stories from the road!
- 1st place open-mixed champs for Cap2Coast relay! 2 times baby!
- 2nd place overall champs at Cap2Coast relay, also 2 times!
Cap2Coast Results
Friday we started the trek to Corpus Christi….
For the 2nd year: 2nd place overall, 1st place open-mixed champs! 2 vans, 6 girls, 6 guys, 223 miles! Running Gangnam style the whole way!
We are super stoked to maintain our mixed-open title and have that 2nd overall. The first place team for the last 3 years is an open team (9 guys, 3 girls).
Posted in Running
Shattered
So my Garmin 405 which i’d had forever (was a gift right before my first marathon) died last month. I was heartbroken.
I’d won a Soleus at Dallas Whiterock back in December. I took it out of the box once and didn’t like it. Didn’t seem very user friendly, and it wasn’t the one that had upload capability. I am going to probably sell it on Craigslist or use it as a silent auction item for the LUNA Breast Cancer Fund fundraiser in September. (September 14, mark your calendars!)
Then along came the Motoactiv. AK has had one since December and loves it. I ran with mine for 2 weeks. I hadn’t learned half of what it could do, but I liked what I had learned.
And then this happened…
I was so upset. I know it was an accident, but seriously? It fell from less than 3 feet and shattered. The band was on it at the time, so I am sure that only helped speed the fall. It still works and I used it since then, but the glass is barely in there. And then last night, a small piece of the glass popped out, so now it’s a safety hazard. Apparently Gorilla glass isn’t as durable as they say.
So $75 later, it’s being shipped to the Motorola service center in Dallas, where they will see if they can fix it. If not, I have no unit and am $75 poorer for the fee and then the cost of the unit. My fingers crossed that they can fix it.
Posted in Running
Brain Power 5K
A coworker handed me a flyer last week about this event while we were out for lunch. The Sunday, I received a message about this race on Facebook with a discount.
Monday I finally got around to reading about the specifics. Race in Williamson County to benefit brain tumor research. September 9, 2012.
I have to do this. I am doing this.
I signed up and formed a team. The team is NOT in my name, I put it under LUNA. You can join the team here. Some of my friends and family have joined the team already. I encourage everyone to consider joining the team.
I do not and did not ever have brain cancer. I did go to the MD Anderson Center in Houston for evaluation of my tumor. If you haven’t kept up with my blog updates, Dr.’s have chosen to leave it alone and monitor it with additional tests in June and September for now. They don’t deny it’s there, but they are uncertain it needs to be removed at this point.
I want to do this event to help others and raise awareness. Just with my limited experience with the subject matter, I understand the need for more research and exposure for the problem.
More about the beneficiary:
Brain Power 5K is proud to join the Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, in their efforts to eradicate brain cancer.
The Brain Power 5K seeks to provide funding to the Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation for brain cancer research at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center as well as pediatric initiatives at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. We wish to create an opportunity for Central Texas to honor those affected by brain tumors.
The Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation is the only Houston foundation funding adult brain cancer research at MD Anderson.
Posted in Running
Reblog: AK’s Boston Marathon
My long-time running buddy ran her first Boston Marathon while I was on vacation. It wasn’t the race she’d dreamed of and trained for, but I am still super proud of her!
Read about her race here
Posted in Running
Very happy hour, or two
Had a great evening yesterday after work. I took off a little bit early, to go run with AK from her house (it was all part of a plan). She’s on her Boston Marathon taper right now. I told her I’d do whatever she needed to do for her run…this was her workout.
5 incredibly hot and sweaty miles. My dumb self wore a navy blue shirt with sleeves, which didn’t really help things. Plus Brushy Creek on the dam side provides no shade. It was a good reminder of how I am not acclimated yet and it’s going to be a long hot summer. It was only 90 at 5 pm when we started. She started kicking it on the dam. The only kicking I was doing was of my own rear end.
Went back to her house for the cool down and we were DRENCHED. I was seriously dripping sweat all over her house. I toweled off and rushed across the road to Z’Tejas where I was hosting a surprise happy hour/Boston Marathon pep-rally for her.
Unfortunately I was in the bathroom changing my shirt when they showed up! She didn’t see my purse at the table though, so I was able to sneak up behind her and still get a reaction. She was all smiles, made me so happy!
Great evening with the gals. A little disappointed in the restaurants GF menu. I ended up getting tuna and them just putting the sauces on the side. There were no appetizers at all, a couple of salads, and then some big entrees.
We all wished her well and sent her off with hugs! So proud of her!
