Saturday, May 09, 2009

Journey's Race Report

After I began to pack for my half Marathon this weekend I rechecked the weather for Eagle River.
Crap.....
Thursday it said a high of 50 with a chance of rain.
Friday it was saying 40's with a chance of SNOW.
Crappity crap, crap, crap.
.........
I added a few extra items like mittens, stocking hat and more shirts to layer, while hoping to not need them. I drove up there Friday night, meeting a friend, Dez at the hotel. She did her first tri the same year as I did and now she was doing her first half the same year too!
..........
We woke up at the hotel that morning to the sound of rain chunks hitting our window. I cringed as we peaked outside. As we began breakfast it slowly faded, pretty soon it was just a mist.

As we walked to our car we tried using reverse psychology to talk ourselves into not freezing. It was in the low 30's as we boarded a bus to take us to the begining of the race. By the time we arrived, flurries were now falling.

They had some music playing to help us get our heart pumping so we would not be so cold. I watched in amazement as people seemed unfazed by the lack of clothing some of them had. BRRRR!

Just after the first place full marathon finisher, Dean (using a hand powered chair), passed us we started our half marathon. That was one hour and fifteen minutes after the full marathon started.

It took place on some of the most curvy wooded roads I know. It was great, overall. For your enjoyment... my thoughts during the milage...

Mile 1: Dang... I should have used the port-a-potty.
Grrr. Nervous bladder...
I think I am warming up. Yay!..
cough...
really not swine flu people....
Mile 2: Hmmm. Ok, I am getting warm.
What the heck? Is that maybe the sun??...
ok gloves are coming off! ... cough, cough....
Mile 3: Ok. Now is the time to lose the tri fox winter hat, but I will leave the running hat on. (Don't worry Dr Al, I tucked it in my waist... I didn't lose it) ....
Wow, some old people are fast! REALLY FAST!... Only 3 miles down, no problem... I feel great! Nice temps... hack.... cough... I like this speed, I am going to stick with Dez for a while...
Mile 4: Ok, now my bladder really needs a break!....Gee, this seems a bit more hilly than the elevation had said on the website.... hmmmm.... I LOVE THIS SONG... glad to have my ipod! (Thanks Sara!)...bark.... cough.... Those guys are obvisiously the marathoners.... I bet they hate us....
Mile 5: I would love to see a port-a-potty about now... ohhhhh! yay!! potty!!! Only 2 people in line, no problem... I will just have some water while I wait.... Um, this is taking a while.... Why on earth do they only have one potty??? How long it this going to take? FINALLY!!!....cough.... cough.....
Mile 6: Ok, one top layer is gone.... (I took off my long sleeve T and wrapped it around my waist.) Ouch.... I am getting stiff.... That took way too long! ... Now to catch up with Dez.. What I was lapped by a powerwalker?? See Ya.... Wow, no shirt and cut off jeans for a marathon in the 30's... go man go!....
Mile 7: Wow... these hills just seemed so small on the computer.... that can't be right... Oh, is that Dezz? Breathe. You can slow down soon... Ok buddy, you should have to wait like me for the potty man.... geez, I have 3 boys I don't need to see that now!.... Guys have it way to easy.... ouch... I better take in my GU.... Yay! Dez!!
Mile 8: Water and GU... Yay GU!!! .....Whew... the last big hill says the girl on the bike... it must be true!! Yay! .... ok, i *cough* REALLY hate this cough.
Mile 9: Only 5 more miles..... I know some people are finished already... Glad these roads are curvy.... That old lady has been in front of us for a while... she is doing great... hate my cough....
Mile 10: Is that a new cramp? Whatever.... Yep that is a new one.... just think of all the calories you are using.... Old lady is still there!... Nice work woman!...
Mile 11: These roads are getting not so curvy.... hey, this is beginning to look familiar....cough...cough.. at least my butt doesn't hurt...AT ALL.
Mile 12: This so sucks.... why do I do this?... Dez is doing great....legs feel like lead.... really? .... are these roads getting longer??? grrrr....
Mile 13: Ok... I just want to stop.... ow....cramping in abdomen sucks..... damn cough. Maybe I pulled something with my cough... how do people do this for 26.2 miles?... just .... want... to ... stop.... or .... at least transported.... wait... do I hear the finish line?
Mile 13.1: Woo Hoo! I can do this! Almost there I hear people. We are getting close. There it is!! Wooo hooo!!! Scream people scream!!! Oh.... there are my kids and Duner!!! Yay!! Where is that timing mat? Yesssssss!!!! Oh, breathing is hard to do...stupid cramp.... I am so happy to see my family!!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++
No awards (obviously!). But I did manage to PR by 10 minutes, jerky stick, beer opener, shampoo, soap, t-shirt and a nice medal. I will take it.
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It really was a great race, fun times thru the entire event, at the hotel, and registration... I loved doing this race. I don't know if I want to do it every year, but I was a true Journey... properly named.
I am still in awe of people that do these things after 56 miles on a bike and 30 plus minutes of swimming... OR MORE.... AMAZING, Just AMAZING!!!

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Oh Boy! er... Joy!

This weekend is the official opening of 'Inland Fishing' aka Trout fishing in Wisconsin... as every year Duner loves to make a weekend of it and go fishing and camp out. He talks about it for WEEKS and gets so excited. Since he was working til 10pm on Friday, I was the lucky person to get everything ready for the big trip. Food, Bedding, Tent and cookware were all piled in the garage with the help of some very excited boys...Zeb and Reece. Brock did not want to go with. He is not so much the outdoors type.
So Friday after work we ate supper at a newer place called LUCKYS. It was Grazies Italian Grill, but now it is more variety type place with burgers, fish, steaks, some Italian and Pizza. A pub like atmosphere but also with a 'family' type dining area (smoke free!). We headed for the family dining room and that is when the kids FELL IN LOVE with the place.... yes. IN. LOVE. At one end of the dining hall is 5 Huge flat screen tv's with either an X-box, PS3 or some other game system attached to it. Each one with controls and diffrent games on them... Guitar Hero, Madden 09 are the only two I knew. Reece gave it a '2 THUMBS UP'. Brock said it was ' FIVE STARS!'. Zeb said this was 'so cool'. All of them said 'We have to come here again!'
Me? Personally it was the HAND DIPPED BEER BATTERED CHEESE CURDS that will bring me back. Have you ever been to the county fair? Have you paid way to much for those all too yummy morsels of soft, squishy SAVORY grease balls? I have! I figured it was a once a year deal right? Well NO MORE... I will have to try and avoid those suckers at this place. We ordered a batch and between Brock and I we almost ate the ENTIRE THING! Yep... BAD. Very. Bad. *sigh* ~guilt...guilt~
Ok... so now I am finished with work... I worked 10 hours today at the Y. I have only one of my kids... but 2 of the neighbor kids spending the night. Hmmm. Let's see, so I lost 2 kids... then I pick up 2 more. Kind of like nothing really changed... except, they are older and don't plug the toilet with too much TP and leave stuff laying all over. Good times. ~ : ]
It was cute. Brock called me today to see if he could go over to his friends house and said " Hey Mom, know what? I actally enjoy picking up the house when my brothers aren't here. I have been doing MORE than what you asked me to! I even moved things around rather then go around them!".

Only 7 more days til Journey's Half Marathon in Eagle River. Duner and the boys are going to head up to cheer me across the finish line. If you have nothing to do feel free to come on up and join 'em!
If I ever stop with these various butt and leg cramps I am hoping to come in at 2hrs and 15 minutes. I did my last long 12 miler last Saturday, but over did it with 400 lunges and 100 crunches. I was fine that day, but I couldn't walk right til Tuesday. I was on my way to Baskin Robbins for some ICE CREAM THERAPY (~what? you haven't heard of that??) when I pulled into the parking spot and noticed a Max Muscle store. As I struggled to exit the truck, I decided to ask them for some recommendations for relieving the pain in my lower body. (Do you know how many muscles in your lower body you actually USE TO ROLLL OVER IN BED?? LOTS!! Believe me I know!) Anyhoo, One hour and $$$$$ later he tells me the joys of protein shakes and glutemine. I tried 2 different kinds of protein shakes and wasn't so hungry for the ice cream. I didn't need those extra fat calories anyway...

I had a 4 mile tempo run on Thursday that my butt cramp was aimed and ready to fire the entire time. It ended being a pretty crappy tempo run, but I did it. Tomorrow I have a 6 mile long run on the agenda, and today my left hamstring decided to act up on me. What did I do to deserve this? I STRETCH!! Really!! Come on!!!! Wish me luck!