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| Bobbi and me pre-race |
The forecast called for raw temps accompanied by wind and rain. So I loaded up gear for every possibility, wondered why in the hell I was doing this and headed out sans posse.
Bobbi and I met before we lined up and huddled in her car, cursing the weather and me deliberating whether I’d shed my jacket.
We were off, I was sans Garmin for the first time ever in a race. I’m trying to learn the hard lesson (for me) that every race is not a peak race. There are times when it’s ok to just run for fun. For the record I finally did shed my jacket and left my hat and gloves at gear check as well.
Within that first mile I knew I’d made the right choice. It was foggy, misting and gusty but overall felt mild once I got going. But the pavement was wet and threatening to freeze. The last thing this old nag girl needed was to go down and break a hip so I was extra careful.
Although I’d vowed to note the time when I crossed the start, I failed. Whatever. And my Shuffle, which the Caveman so lovingly refreshed with new tunage last night, did not play anything. Off to a great start. Not.
At mile 2 I was smelling what I imagined was turkey deep-frying in someone’s yard. Never had it. Probably yummy. But the frying terrifies me.
We wound up and down hills. Way too hilly for my taste. Many were wearing their coveted berber vests from the goodie bag. Seriously? Berber for running??
Around mile 4 I came upon this woman with giant headphones on. She was grunting a heh HEH sound approx. every 5 seconds. Sounded kind of like a heartbeat after awhile. She stayed just behind me. I started thinking Edgar Allen Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart. I wanted to get away. But she stayed with me. I tried hanging behind her. Nope couldn’t do that either.
At mile 5 I heard people talking about getting in sub-9-minute pace to make the seeded corral for an upcoming half marathon. Hmmm, maybe I’ll shoot for that. Then again if that half is this hilly, I probably don’t wanna run it.
By mile 6 I NEEDED to get away from Tell-Tale Heart lady. I felt like she was chasing me. I fiddled in vain with my tunes. Still nothing. A man came up and said “Nice pace.” I wanted to ask him to save me from the TTH but I gasped something about the incessant hills instead.
Finally no more TTH. I think I finally dusted her. It took me getting almost to the puke threshold to do it but I had to. It drove me that nuts.
At last, finishing chute, french toast and pancakes. Didn’t even notice the clock at the finish so no clue on time. For sure not my best. May have been my worst…whatever. I was just happy to have a nice endorphin boost for the rest of the day.
