Hot Chocolate 15K, Atlanta, 2013

So it is hard to write about 2 races when they occur in the same weekend...and then you get the flu and forget you have to still write a report...  So this report is for the Hot Chocolate 15K from 1.13.13.

I had a friend run this in Chicago earlier this year and said packet pickup was a nightmare. So A and I discussed all week going to the pickup together to split parking expenses.  That was the first thing that made me laugh.  If you looked at HC15K's Facebook page, a lot of people were bitching they had to pay for parking.  I'm sorry, but have you never visited "the big city?" In what major city can you park for free? Plus HC15K wasn't charging, the venue was.  But that being said, it really didn't occur to me that people would have to pay for their parking for the 15K too.  But I'll get there...

So A and I decided we would go on Saturday to pick up the packets but I also had plans with J to run and be somewhere at 2.  I was getting nervous. Then on Friday A emailed me to say there was a problem at the packet pickup and the servers had gone down.  I jumped on FB, and they were manually checking people in and you could pick up other people's packets with some emails and stuff.  Something else happened and I realized the ATL Boat Show was in the same place as packet pickup and just decided I would go Friday and get them with D.  But on the way home, I was already almost there, so I picked up everyone's packet.  It took me longer to park than it did to get the packets.  In and out.  No problems.

The race was a little worrisome to me.  A had mentioned the last 3 miles.  I had looked at the course.  I had run the whole course at different times.  The last 3 miles, were the last 3 miles of a 10K I had cried through.  This weighed on my mind.  And the fact there was a pacer to pick you up at 2hours and 15 minutes.

Saturday night with D and J, I noticed I wasn't hungry for the world's best food, pizza.  I could barely get down a slice...We called it a night (J and I had been out all day), and I drove J home and me home...met up with D at home.  At 3AM I was sick as a dog.  Not good.  At 645, I got up and down 4 bottles of water and used the bathroom umpteen times.  It was about 65 degrees outside.   I couldn't get my shoe tied correctly.  It hit part of my ankle and made it sore.  I knew 9 miles of that was going to make me cry.  I got it fixed the best I could, and went to the bathroom again.  Convinced my body was empty we went over to A's, where I used the bathroom again.  We walked to the start from A's which is why we never considered paying for parking.  It is .8 miles.  I drank another water.  We got to the race and A had to go to the bathroom.  By the time she got to the front I did too, so again.

A and I somehow were in the same corral (last).  D was up front.  So we said good bye to him and went to ours. I looked at A, and she was sweating.  She doesn't do heat. I was freezing but sweating.  Except for the severe cramps and the chills, I felt fine, oddly.  We talked a little, but not a lot.  This was A's longest race yet, and I could see she was nervous.  Finally our corral started, and A and I said good-bye.

We ran past Turner field and Hank Aaron to Atlanta (Summerhill and Peoplestown).  I run this all the time, so I just went at an easy pace.  We got up to Cherokee and ran past the zoo (Grant Park).  Another section I run...in my mind this was all flat.  At mile 2 there were spot-a-pots and Gatorade.  I felt ok, so I took some Gatorade.

Mile 1: 12:35
Mile 2: 13:20

We started the next section crossing over Memorial Drive down to the Beer Store.  Turned at the MLK MARTA Station and continued on Dekalb Ave, parallel to the CSX train tracks.  I was doing my 9:1 run.  I ran with 2 gals for awhile.  None of us had steady paces though, and it was very obvious.  A had told me this area was flat.  I thought maybe for her.  But again, I tried to emulate D and stay even on the hills.  A train passed us and honked.  People were taking pictures of the train and the MARTA tracks.  It kind of made me giggle, only because this is pretty much how I drive everywhere I go...amazing what views you sometimes take for granted.  We got to Mile 4 and turned on Elizabeth Street.  More bathrooms and Gatorade.  Still felt ok, GI-wise, so I took some more Gatorade and water.

Mile 3: 13:57
Mile 4: 13:12

While on Elizabeth St, people were looking at the houses.  This is Inman Park area of town.  I heard 2 people wonder aloud if the Governor lived here (no).  We got to a downhill and a sharp turn.  I was having a little issue figuring out where I was (as in city, state, world).  I decided to take a Clif Shot and get some sugar in me.  We hit an uphill and I figured all that good stuff out.  We ran up by Bell Street Burritos and then turned onto Randolph (Old 4th Ward).  Big short hill.  Climbed that and turned onto Dobbs.  A car decided that 16K runners really didn't matter to him.  When we got to Boulevard, the cop directing traffic did.  Made him turn the opposite direction he wanted to go.  HAHA!  We crossed Boulevard and ran over to Parkway (I think it is called Jackson at that point).  This is where I kind of noticed the time, because the Falcants (Failcons?) were playing Seattle in the playoffs.  The Falcants have crappy fans.  When they are on the bandwagon they are the most rude people you have ever met.  And it would prove to be no different today.  At Highland there was a guy yelling at all the runners to move their fat asses (I won't comment about his lard ass) so he could get back in his dualie to go across. The cop rolled his eyes at the guy.  Finally got to Mile 6 at Central Park.  More Gatorade...Stomach was holding up.

Mile 5: 13:49
Mile 6: 13:39

So we ran down Central Park Ave and turned on Pine Street.  More Falcants fans.  As we crossed to get on Piedmont, one fan spat upon me.  Another threw a cigarette at a bunch of people.  Yet another reason, I'll never be a fan of this horrible franchise. Besides the fans, this is where I had to start digging.  I have hated this section of the course for 5 years.   I turned on North Avenue and then a block onto Courtland. For 5 years I have cussed out Courtland (yes while driving). I was with a new group of people I noticed.  We started up a hill.  And a light.  The cops stopped us.  WTF?  Ok, restarted after he let about 10 cars go through.  Up a hill, stop at another light.  I finally remembered to turn off and start my Garmin for all these stops which was about 6 times.  It was sooooooo frustrating.  Not only were they stopping us on hills. Everyone was bunched so it was like starting a race every time we were allowed to go.  Not to mention that they had one lane of the 4 for the runners and certain fans would drive as close to the cones as they possibly could.  Have I mentioned Falcant Fans are assholes.  They conveniently let us runners know we were assholes as well.  Finally we were out of the hotel zone.  I was so angry.  So angry in fact, I really didn't noticed I had just conquered a large part of Courtland and was at Edgewood (Mile 8).  More Gatorade.

Mile 7: 14:16
Mile 8: 13:55.

OK, Al you have this.  There was one more major hill that I could remember.  I just took it in stride.  I decided the APD and HC15K staff was not to fault for the traffic.  I know that the NFL sets the time, and I signed up for the race back in May.  So there was no possible way to know that the Failcons would be able to not choke this far into the season (they just waited until the NFC Championship).  I got up to MLK and saw the Church D and I got married in.  I am almost there.  Kept running...Finally back on Hank Aaron (Capitol Ave).  Crossed over Memorial Drive and I-20.  The watched dinged.  Last street.  I saw D.  I felt so relaxed.  I got my picture taken.  The last .3 (or .46) seemed to take forever.  Kept going.  Finally saw the finish line.  I wondered if they had chocolate left for me.  Finally crossed the line!  3 mile hill, I OWNED YOU!

Yes, that's all I thought about.

Mile 9: 14:14
Total: 2:08:37

We got some water and quickly found A.  She was not happy with her time, but attributed it to the heat and the humidity.  D was happy with his.  We went and got our Hot Chocolate and chocolate.  The Hot Chocolate went in the trash.  We all ate the chocolate as we walked back to A's.

D and I played with our God-dog, Elsa for a bit and then left and went home.  I pretty much passed out for the rest of the day.  Then I was out of work with the flu for the rest of the week.

A, D and Me at the Hot Chocolate 15K

Elevation Profile, Hot Chocolate 15K, Atlanta

Sweatshirt, Finisher's Mug and Hat

Run with the Dogs 5K 2013

So back in December, I started looking at some 5Ks and 10Ks that we routinely do at the beginning of the year.  Run with the Dogs was January 12.  D had to work.  A was hitting some financial woes (company bought out and huge layoffs will happen), so who was I going to run with.  Not to mention, even if A were to run, she now has a dog.  So who was going to give me their dog scarf?

I sign up for the race.  Within the same hour, J emails me about his 40th birthday and what should he do for it.  I realize I have a 15K on the 13th.  So whatever he does, I'm going to have to cut my night short. (What I'm really thinking is that, "Oh, I only have to run 9 miles on Sunday so we should party like rock stars."  But I have done that before and it doesn't really work.)  I tell J that I will have to be semi-lame for his birthday and that I'm doing this 5K and he should do it.  And that if he does, I want his scarf...  He signs up.  I should mention J doesn't run (yet).

So Friday the 11th comes.  I'm trying to make plans coordinating with A on getting our 15K race packets while planning on stuff with J.  J and I have plans to go to a brewery at 2pm on Saturday, so I have to get everything else done after the race and before the brewery.  I decide to pick up the packets on Friday. J and I decide to meet for the 5K at my house on Saturday at 8am.

Saturday at 715, I finally get out of bed and do all the various things I have to do.  It is January, so of course the weather is 62 degrees.  Wait!  What?  Yes, 62 degrees.  87% humidity.  At 8am, J shows up.  I do a few things and off we go.  I am pretty sure he is a bit nervous, and I am talking incessantly because well, I always talk incessantly in the car.

We get to Decatur High School and park and go register.  I hear the woman ask J if he is running with a dog, and he says, "No."  I yell across a few volunteers, "You are running with a dog." J looks at me and he tells the lady that yes, he is running with a dog.  He gets the coveted 2nd scarf!  We finish getting our stuff and drop everything off at the car.

We look at some dogs (McM and SB stayed home), and finally the race is getting started.  For once it started close to on time.  We see our friend R while about to start. Say hi, and then the race started.

The course is the same as it was last year, which is a first (it has changed every year I have run it).  J and I ran together.  I have to say that was weird.  I have never run with someone, so I couldn't tell if I was holding him back or not.  We turned into a neighborhood, and ran. J was looking at the houses, so now I was definitely sure I was holding him back.  I told him not to let me hold him back. He started laughing and assured me that was not the case.  I knew I was holding a little in my legs because of the 15K the next day.  So I decided I would do the 9 minute run/1 minute walk.  I saw we were at 7 minutes and told J I was going to walk in 2 minutes.  He said ok.  We did.  We got out of the neighborhood and back onto Howard. We hit mile 1 at 12:13.  J informed me he was going to walk some and he would catch up.   So I continued.  The next time I was to walk 1 minute it was a really long down hill, so I decided not to.

I laughed at the water break.  Decatur is a notoriously green city.  I have never heard so many people bitch about the fact there were no recycling bins for the cups. (they were on the ground).  This race is for the HS.  The students volunteer.  I think the cups will be cleaned up (like in every other race around the country). 

Mile 2 occurred around 12:47.  I still felt decent.  I knew I had 2 more hills to climb.  I got to the near top of one at the end of 9 minutes.  I walked.  The humidity was killing my lungs.  My legs felt fine.  Ended that minute and resumed running.  Until the next hill, I ran with this woman.  She had a nice pace but apparently she didn't do hills.  I try to emulate D on hills. He thinks hills are over-rated and manages to keep the same pace up and down, so he usually can pass a lot of people.  I do slow down a little, but I stay focused on them.  And sure enough I was at the top.  Only downhill to go.

I raced to the bottom (and the finish line).  It was a little sad that D and A weren't there to congratulate me (they are always there).  I filled out my time 39:35 and ran to get some water.  I'm glad I did because I took 2 of the last 6.  Someone bitched I took 2, but I looked up to see J crossing the line, so I pointed at him and said 1 was for him.  I ran back to the finish line to get him some water, and help him fill out his time.

He was smiling.  He PR'd (of course!)... Later, when I looked, I saw I PR'd the course.  This year 39:30. Last year 40:53.

Woohoo:
Splits: 2013 (2012)
Mile 1: 12:13 (12:58)
Mile 2: 12:47 (13:13)
Mile 3: 13:08
Finish: 39:30(40:53)

We stopped and got a beer, and came home.  Then we went out to lunch and the brewery.  D met up with us for dinner of pizza and beer (for J...I was Diet Coke).

Go us!

J and I celebrated with a Jailhouse Breakout Stout

The boys almost looking at the camera

The boys laying long enough to get a picture together

McMenamin in his new scarf with Panda

Scuttlebutt in his new scarf.

22 Miles of Random Thoughts

So this past week was decent in the running department. I ran 4 times which is 1 more time than any other week of training. 13 weeks are finished. I learned I really despise running 8 miles on the treadmill. 7 is ok. 8 is torturous. (I ran 5K, 6M and 8M prior to Saturday). 8 was also torturous because I wore my compression pants and the seam on the crotch caused a "fabulous" blister. Blister Band-Aids rock, when Body Glide doesn't cut it.

Friday night came and D and I had the exciting Friday night of going to bed around 10 after we split a pizza. We got up and got ready for 22 miles. Unlike the 18 miler, I ate 2 Clif Bars this time. It was 31 degrees outside. We debated what to wear. I ended up wearing my thermal compression capris, 2 new band-aids, a short-sleeve shirt and a long-sleeve heavy shirt I got from a race in Baltimore. We packed all our stuff (2 Hammer Gels for me and 3 Shot Blocks plus my G2) and were off to the Silver Comet.

On the way there, I suddenly had to use the rest room. TG is was before the run. There is a stop at the beginning of the trail and one at 4 miles, but I don't know of any others. Plus it was 31 degrees and well, park bathrooms are cold. We stopped at the Burger King, but at 8am, they were closed????? So I used the Publix restroom. Finished there and finally got to Silver Comet. There were no bicylclists there. All runners. I set up all my gear, and turned on my Garmin. Dead! What was up with this week with me and technology. I decided I would run the mile markers but D graciously let me use his Garmin since he said I'm more technology dependent (I'm currently using his HRM as well, while I wait for one from ebay). His was set up differently but it would work as long as it had a timer and the mileage. I thanked him and we started.

For the first mile, I played with my iPod a little bit, adjusted myself a lot, and wondered if I could run in the middle of the path since there were no bikers. I decided not to, since a bunch of people were passing me. No worries, as I *knew* none of them were running as far as I was. During Mile 2 I thought about when I was going to eat my fuel. I decided every 4 miles. Nothing was terribly exciting. I kept wiping my nose, as it runny nose weather, but not snot-rocket weather. By Mile 3 the little part that separates the nostrils was cracked and hurt when ever my nose ran or when I blew my nose. At mile 4 I noticed my right upper thigh was a little sore so I tugged at my pants to move the seam. A little better. I also had 2 Shot Blocks. I thought about 3, but the light changed while I was getting out 2, so there you go.

Times :  15 miler 18 miler 22 miler
Mile 1:   14:36    15:20    14:48
Mile 2:   15:07    15:43    15:42
Mile 3:   15:08    15:33    15:45
Mile 4:   14:56    16:06    16:01

After Mile 4, I had to stop.  D's Garmin is set up to tell you Time Elapsed, Mileage, Pace and the Time. Thus when it crossed 60 minutes, it doesn't tell you seconds.  This is a problem if you run 9 minutes and walk 1 minute.  I stood there for probably 2 minutes wondering what to do.  How was I going to run without a timer.  Then I remembered I had the HRM on the other hand.  HA, Garmin! You will not defeat me twice.  (Maybe D is right, that I'm dependent on technology too much.).  So I started running again. I decided to change to 4:1 because I wanted to see if my times would get faster.  I still felt strong.  Miles 5-8 were pretty easy.  Mostly because the Trail has a lot of breaks in because you have to cross roads. So it is a nice diversion that you only have to run "this far."  I did eat one Shot Block at Mile 7.  My head said I was hungry.  I ate 2 more at mile 8.

Times :  15 miler 18 miler 22 miler
Mile 5:   15:32    15:26     15:27
Mile 6:   15:33    15:28     15:05
Mile 7:   15:54    15:24     15:25
Mile 8:   15:57    15:57     15:38

In Mid Mile 8 I saw D on the return.  He looked pretty strong.  I wondered where he turned around.  I kept going. This runner passed me going the other way too (like Tall Runner's Body Guy).  He said I was looking strong.  I wondered if he was annoyed thinking I was a Resolutioner.  But then I thought about it and decided he probably thought I was just an overweight middle-age woman who does run.  Because in this part of the path, where the heck do you start, and what normal person runs in 31 degree weather, and with a Camelbak strapped to them.  Plus God only knows what my nose looked like.  I finished my 1st pack of Shot Blocks.  By this time I was ready to turn around more out of boredom than anything else.  A Bostoner Marathoner passed me (going other way)and gave me encouragement.  I got to a bridge (10.3?) and saw a guy who had passed me hurled over.  I asked him if he was ok, but he waved me off.  I wondered where the hell I was (what county).  I came around a corner and there was a hill.  I looked at my watch.  No, don't make me go up it.  But I hit the beginning of it at 10.9, so I ran up it and the watch dinged 11.  Hooray!!  I turned around.  The next mile was uneventful, although Vomit Boy was still there, now stretching his legs in the grass.  It was by a major road (but what one, I have no clue) so I chose to assume he was waiting for a ride and continued on.  I had a Hammer Gel at Mile 12.

Times :  15 miler 18 miler 22 miler
Mile 9:   16:36    15:56    15:49
Mile 10: 17:00    15:56    15:40
Mile 11: 17:12    16:14    16:02
Mile 12: 17:10    16:47    16:46

As I ran I really felt good. I didn't care for my speed but my legs weren't revolting.  I was still having problems with the crotch area of my pants.  I could feel when I moved them that one of the Band-Aids was moving.  I wish I was going faster, but what are you going to do.  I got a little discouraged when I realized I still had 10 miles, but decided to only focus on .25 miles at a time (because 40 laps around a track seemed daunting).  This really did work.  I focused on each .25 miles.  The only problem was it seemed that they were all taking 4 minutes long.  However I wasn't really sure.  I know 3h29m rolled by at 13.1.  I was a little discouraged by that.  I wondered if I should run the marathon with my Camelbak on. It seemed to slow me down. However I constantly drink so what if they ran out of Gatorade, or worse yet used Powerade.  What was I going to do?  At Mile 14 I had 2 Shot Blocks.  My legs still felt decent. I was so excited for Mile 15. I'm not sure why.  I still had 7 miles left, but crossing 15 seemed like a huge victory.  I ran past the Tall Runner's Body Guy (might have been before mile 15).  He said, "You are doing great. Keep it up!"  Sometimes that encouragement is all you need.  Mile 16 was uneventful.

Times :  15 miler 18 miler 22 miler
Mile 13: 17:43    17:31     16:40
Mile 14: 17:36    17:24     16:14
Mile 15: 16:22    16:57     16:37
Mile 16:              17:55     17:19

6 Miles left.  Dig Deep Al.  I noticed my feet were hurting.  Every time I walked they hurt worse.  It felt better to run.  I still kept at it.  Again with the .25 miles.  Somewhere around the time, I thought, "Pain is temporary. Glory lasts forever." No clue who said that. Decided that it was from the movie Miracle.  So then I had, "Do you believe in miracles?" in my head.  I wondered if my 8th grade gym teach ever thought I would be running a marathon. I wondered what ever happened to my other 8th grade gym teacher. I can't remember the hated one's name.  The one who was decent drove a really cool Thunderbird and smoked.  I didn't like her until I was in 7th grade.  She was always a hard ass.  But in 7th grade, we suddenly got along.
At Mile 18 had had 2 more Shot Blocks.  4 miles left.  I was back at the Depot.  I had to stop because I had to text D where I was.  My phone was in my Camelbak so I texted him and continued on my way.
I was so going to do this.  It was around this time I noticed my foot really hurt, and then would go away.  What the hell?  Since I run looking down, I noticed the path slanted up so my left leg had to hit longer than the right.  It was causing a weird hit pattern on my foot where my shoe tied.  I knew this was going to last for awhile.  I ran on the grass but people don't seem to understand the concept of picking up after their dogs so I was back on the path.  I thought about running towards the center, but the temp had warmed up and more bikers were on the path and well they go pretty fast.  I got to Mile 19.  I noticed my mile markers weren't matching the Garmin which was odd.  I had another Shot Block.  I wondered how I could run 11 miles one way and not run 11 miles the other way.  I really hated the slanted path.  Mile 20 came.

Times :   15 miler 18 miler 22 miler
Mile 17:               17:06    17:08
Mile 18:               17:55    18:41
Mile 19:                            19:40 (I guess this is where my foot issue was)
Mile 20:                            17:28

I had my last Hammer Gel.  I still felt decent.  I knew my times were off but was glad about my legs.  At 4 minutes, I decided to run 5 more.  Then I walked.  A lot of people were passing me. I was out of Gatorade. I now was close.  I came around the corner and could see D.  I passed the .1 Mile Marker and knew I had .2 miles to go. GAH!  I passed him and told him so.  I ran until I was done. I may have danced like Rocky a little bit.

Mile 21: 17:08
Mile 22: 17:52
Total: 6:0302 (16:26min/mile)

Coincidentally the car was at where I stopped.  I was so proud of me. I was proud of D.  I was thirsty and hungry beyond belief.  So we hopped in the car and went and got pizza and beer.  I had brought extra pants with me. This was good, because compression pants don't go back on once they come off.  And that Band-Aid...well next run I will be trying out non-blistered-crotch underwear.

(And yes, I always wear underwear. I learned when I was 9 that you never want to be arrested without underwear on, so well...although I have no plans to be arrested, I just don't want to risk that chance).

First Day 5K

A while back I got an email about a 5K finishing at a brewery.  What could be more fabulous than that?  Looking at our training schedule, oh Tuesday 1/1 we are supposed to run 6-880s.  I have no clue what they are, so let me sign us up for this 5K. And thus D and I were signed up for the First Day 5K at Red Brick Brewery.

On Tuesday morning, New Year's Day, I laid there listening to the rain.  I wasn't hungover because I am really not about New Year's Eve.  D usually works, and I am left to my own devices during the day.  Monday I drove 80 miles RT to a friend's to watch GT beat USC.  So by the time I got home, we ate and watched Clemson beat LSU.  Then I was like, "eh."  I know, such a partier am I.

So back to Tuesday...it was raining.  I asked D if it was going to be like that all day.  He said it was supposed to rain on and off all day.  At 11:30 we decided to get ready.  We each settled on pants and a light long-sleeve shirt.  I took a hat.  D didn't.  We packed some dry clothes and off to the brewery.

As we pulled into the last street, I sort of noticed the hills.  Well, I will get in sprints and hills in the same race, I thought.  We signed in and went back to the car.  We were guessing there would be about 50 people since it was the first time this race was run, and the weather.  I think there were about 75, in reality.

After waiting in the car for 10 minutes we went to over to the registration adn then walked with everyone to the start.  The RD talked some about how great we all were for coming out in the conditions, and then we were off.

Mile 1 started on a down hill, running into the cul-de-sac and then back up hill.  I looked at my watch a few times and it was 10:48.  No way I could keep that.  The hill was pretty long and when I was in the middle of it, my watch pace read 14:48.  Finally got to the top.  2 people in front of me started running backwards.  They then ran toward me and caught up with a woman (Green Woman) and they then all ran past me.  Down the hill and out onto the main road.  More down hill and then starting up.  Mile 1 was 12:13.

I kind of thought about walking and running but decided to just run. This was more because I had horrible GI issues at this point, and I didn't want to change my pace from walk to run.  I ran with my stomach and lower area firmly clenched.   I finally got to the top of Collier and turned onto Chattahoochee.  It was rather flat.  Then I turned onto Logan Circle.  That made me giggle because there used to be a brewery on that road.  Leave it to me to know what breweries were around the area we are running. The first half of the road was a slight incline.  I ran past the water stop which was right at 1.55 miles.  20 minutes had passed, which was about average for my treadmill time for 3 miles.  I wanted to go faster, but I kept thinking about the hills I knew I had left.  I passed Green Woman.  Then I passed her friends, who were walking.  All 3 of them started running again and passed me.  The 2nd half of Logan Circle was slight downhill and then back onto Chattahoochee.  Woohoo Home Stretch.  Mile 2: 13:31

Oof that was slow.  I realized my GI issue was gone.  I relaxed a little.  Back on Collier was down hill and then up.  I passed Green Woman again.  Passed her friends and they started running.  I really was bugged by that.  Still I just kept going.  Turned onto the Brewery road and more uphill.  Finally got to the top and I knew the rest was downhill or flat.  D said I booked that part.  I still thought I was going slowly.  Green Woman and her friends passed me.  At that point, I just decided to go my own way.  I was doing fine.
Mile 3: 13:16.

The last .11 mile was uneventful:
Final time was 40:11.  I was slightly disappointed with the time, but I honestly can't remember when I ran a course that hilly, or that wet (I'm a hesitant foot planter).  I thought about it for 5 more seconds and said, "Shut up. You just logged 3.11 miles on 1.1.13."

I looked at my HRM.  The screen was crazy looking. I could barely eek out I had burned 602 calories. D and I went to the car and changed clothes.  Let's just say that was laughable.  Also a caterer's security camera might have some nice pics of me (I'm not crazy about Red Brick's bathrooms, plus I figured lots of people were changing in there).  When we walked back to the brewery, the RD was so concerned that we were just crossing the line, because everything had been packed up.  We assured them we were not crossing the line, and went in from out of the rain.

Then we had some beer, and listened to all the awards.  I really liked the race, definitely liked the after party, and thought it was a good way to start off the new year.

(But I ended up ordering a new-to-me HRM off ebay this morning.  Mine is toast).

D and Me Waiting in the Car

Beers and Hat from the First Day 5K