So many of you know how much I love to run. I have had some motivation issues since moving to Louisiana where I started out running at 5am. Once my running partner injured her leg I haven't been up that early again. That being said, fall is big race time down here in the south. I knew this half was coming up and I thought, "I've done this several times before I can do it again".
Let me give you some background before we continue. I consider myself a fairly polite individual (though some of you are thinking, yea right!). I ususally start about mid field so I don't get in anyones way who might be faster then me. I am only racing the clock so I figure who cares. Today was a bit different.
In all the races I've done here not a single one has started on time. Some as late as 30 minutes late. Yikes. So I'm standing in the Porta Potty line figuring I've got tons of time and even though people are starting to line up at the start line I'm okay, cause well, we're on southern time. Once it's my turn to use the facilities I hear a siren and I think, "Crap" (no pun intended), that was the start of the race. So I try to hurry what I'm doing realizing that there is no toliet paper left, pull up my drawers, and start running to the start. At this time I am stripping off my warm up gear (It was 37 degrees this morning) and toss it on a picnic table praying it'll still be there when I return, trying to strap on my hydration belt, pull my gloves on and not fall on my fall face because the terrain is uneven. I am literally the last person to start the race. I figure no big deal and start passing people. Things are going really well until mile 6. What happens at mile 6 you ask. We turn around and start heading back. So? What's wrong with that, that usually is a good thing means we're almost done? 20 mph headwinds with gust up to 30mph slapping you in the face. Oh, the return trip was not fun though I still ran faster the second half of the race. I do that though. It takes me about 5 miles to get "warmed up" and in the zone. I finished in 2:02. I really wanted to break the 2hour mark and probably did if you figure I started the race while in the bathroom but I need those kind of things to be official.
When I returned home I was informed that Chris wants to run a half marathon (Where did that come from?) and Nathan wants to start doing some of the "Fun" runs they have here. It may become a family sport before too long. I can attest that if it wasn't for Chris running the second part of my training runs these last 4 weeks I probably wouldn't have gotten in a long run. It's not nearly as much fun to train by yourself though I don't like running races with people right next to me. My mind tells me to either pass them or let them go cause I can't keep up with them. I think that has something to do with my competitive nature though.
