Atlanta Food Bank 10K

So this is the first 10K I didn't run with Doug. But my friend Anne ran it, as did my friend Kelly and my friend Kara. (How many times can I say friend?)

So D and I went over to Anne's house prior to the run, because it was only 1mile away as opposed to the 3 miles from our house. Then we drive over to Turner Field. Traffic was plentiful since the UniverSoul Circus was there as well. As 1PM gets closer we notice they haven't closed down the road. We are standing right next to the map that tells us where to start. Then a staff person tells us we will start across the parking lot. So more walking. It feels like it is 80 degrees but it is probably 70 ish. We see Kelly and Kara and are gabbing and then oh yes the race started.

We start running up this hill. Not a big thing. I don't see Kelly or Anne, but I do see Kara. She is about 50 yards infront of me. Get to the top of the hill and cross I-20 on Capitol. Still up a hill. Finally get to MLK and it is downhill. Mile 1 is 13:37. Take a turn onto Auburn Avenue. Kara is now about 300 yds ahead of me. I'm running pretty well. I feel strong. Go under the bridge and ACFB is handing out water to the runners and food to the homeless. That is cool, my money for the race is directly benefiting the community and I can see it. Pass Ebenezer Baptist. People are cheering. The cops are doing a good job for me. Up Howell. Around there is mile 2. 28 minutes. Howell seems to be down a hill and up one. Just stay with it. D and I looked at a house on Howell. I don’t remember which one. I like the one we got better.

Turn onto some road and cross back over BLVD. OMG that car is going to not stop. OMG the cop is ticketing that woman. HAHA, biatch! Run to some other little road. It is amazing I drive these roads every day and never noticed this one. OK, I have no clue what road I'm on now, but I've been here before when the ALZ walk was downtown. Where is North Avenue?

Cross Ralph McGill. Mile 3: 45 minutes. Up another hill. Turn. Turn again onto Piedmont. I can SEE North Avenue. I have a twinge in my thigh. Run down the hill by Publix. Jack used to live there. I no longer see Kara. Thigh is now hurting as I go up the hill. North Avenue is a 2 block run on a slight incline. Walk the 2nd block. Turn onto Courtland. Run down the hill. Another Feed the Homeless thing. The Ralph McGill Hill is hard. My thigh is killing. I'll power walk it. What is that ahead...the parking deck for Turner yes! Run Down a hill and now to the Hilton. Oh no, that is GA State not a parking Deck. From the Hilton to the Sheraton is a complete uphill struggle. Mostly walking. You aren't a loser for walking. You have to be fine for next week's 5K.

Finally downhill at Edgewood. Mile 5: 74 (yes, I know I missed Mile 4 somewhere in there). Oh the curve, up a hill. Who designed this course? Didn't they know these races were all about me!!? I think I haven't run any of mile 5. Up to MLK. Oh there's the Shrine. I got married there. The rest of this is easy. Running. Oh we aren't going straight.

Who is we, AL, you are by yourself, last. I'm not last, that would be the person who never started. AL you are last, shut up with the positive BS talk.

Up another gddm hill. There is THAT parking lot. OH, down hill across Memorial and Boom another hill. I'm walking. Why are the cheerleaders cheering about football? Why is there a ballet recital infront of the archives building? OK flat...there is Doug. Wait there are a million people running at me. Where is the finish? OK they are the 5K people just starting. Doug points down the hill. He runs (he can walk at my pace) with me. I tell him this thing was all hills. He said Kelly and Anne said the same thing. Around the corner. Doug asks me if I want a picture crossing the finish line. I say F-no! I'm still running. The finish line is ...are you ready...UP A HILL! I finally cross at 94 minutes.

I don't see anyone and just continue walking towards the car. Then I realize Doug and Anne are near me, and start coming to my senses. Kelly and Dave come up too. No one saw Kara, so I bid her farewell in my head. We walk to the cars (which was up an incline). Anne drives us to her house, and then D and I go home. I stretch, and then do what I do best...take a nap.

Jingle All The Way 10K

So Doug and I are in Washington. We got here Friday. 2 of our bags out of 3 did too. Luckily both bags with running shoes got here. We got a car and by midnight we were at the PILs place and then stayed in the guest apartment.

Saturday, we got up and went and found running pants for Doug since we hadn't found any in Atlanta when we looked. We found some. Then we and FIL went downtown and we got our race packs. Then home, called Delta, found out someone took our bag and Delta was waiting for that stupid idiot to come back and return the bag. (She was a stupid idiot because while I have the same rollerboard that everyone has, it is wrapped in pink ribbon all over it.) Then off to see family for a Christmas. I enjoyed seeing everyone. On our way home we found the bag was at the airport and I demanded it be delivered. So Doug and I stayed at his parents so they wouldn't have to wake up at 2AM when the guy would probably deliver it.

At 6AM, I woke up from a single bed, and Doug had slept on the couch and guess what had not come. We both were in a mood. We both got dress for the race. It was 41 according to the tv. At 6:45 we left and saw a uhaul with a guy with a suitcase. Seeing as we both had crappy night sleep we didn't put 2 and 2 together. So we drove up the road when the phone rang. THey were at the door with the bag. We told them to knock louder. FIL heard it and took it. One thing finally settled.

Got to West Potomac Park. Had to find parking. It was probably a mile away from the race. On the way to walking, my invisifriend PJ called. I don't recall what she said except her heart was pacing because she had to take a cab because some idiot had blocked her into her parking spot at her house. D and I finally made it to the site, and of course I had to pee. So that took 10 minutes. I called PJ, it was about 7:55. She found me and we said hi for about 2 minutes...her boyfriend was cute. Then she went toward the starting line and I went away.

The race started and everyone was off. I started my watch. Despite the chip thing, I needed my watch...plus I didn't know what the chip did seeing as I never used one.
Mile 1: Everyone was passing me. Oh well. Dang that girl is in front of me...I don't think so. Over the bridge. Ah she is walking...passed her. Who is this old lady? She is so tiny. And she is walking now. Mile Marker 1: 13:37

Mile 2: Old lady must be doing the Galloway method. I think she is waving at me. Ok. Breathe. Remember to breathe. My hands are hot. Hi old lady! Why is the police motorcycle coming down the other side of the road? OMG someone is finishing and I'm not done mile 2? There is Mile 2 marker: 29ish.

Mile 3: There is the water. I'm not thirsty. Take the water anyway. Pass old lady. I think she is taking a goo gum or something. Here is a lady running in velour. Pass her. She passes me and walks. I pass her and she runs past me and walks. Oh well. WTF is that...it looks like Jesus coming out of the earth? Oh that is the Awakening. Doug told me he likes that. Where is that mile marker? Here comes old lady waving at me again. Get to the mile marker and then the 5K marker: 46+ minutes.

Mile 4: OK it is freaking hot. Take off your gloves Al. Ah much better. My feet really hurt. Whose idea was it to do this. Okay velour lady, you are pissing me off. I'm going to muster up my strength and pass you once and for all. Hi Old lady, I'm still with you (Velour Lady and Old Lady are 2 different people).
Old lday, I'm impressed you ran the portland marathon and finished.
Mile Marker 4: 57 minutes.

Mile 5: Boom. I don't want to go anymore. I can walk. WTF, you have 2 miles left and you decide you want to walk now. Keep at it. Which do you want to do, beat your time, or run the whole way. OK Al, I want to do both. Shut up.
Mile 5: 72 minutes.

Mile 6: Can I just die. Bye Old Lady. I can't believe you are actually waving goodbye to me. Where is Doug, why can't he meet me at the 6th mile and run the last one with me? We ran over a bridge. I don't remember that. OK, there is the 25mph sign...keep going. There is a woman in my path. Woman I out weigh you by at least 50 pounds. Let's not play chicken because I'm tired enough that I'm going to run you over and keep going. No walk AL. Ah, I won chicken. That's the way I roll, bitch. There is another 25mph sign. No more songs on the ipod. WTF is Doug? OK, keep going. There he is. THere is mile marker 6. Only .2 more. I don't want to go that far.

OK, Doug told me to go. That's odd. I'm running. People are walking home, but cheering. There is the finish. Why are the 3 fucking photographers sitting there gabbing and not taking a picture of me. Cross the line. Way to fucking do your job muthafucka. I don't know if that was outloud or not. Race guy comes up and tells me to keep walking. I'm confused. He gets me water. We walk around a little bit. I can finally breathe. I sit down and take my chip off.
92:11...new personal record.

Doug has hurt his foot which was why I couldn't find him. He got 61 something.
We walk back to the car. He calls my aunt and we go home get ready. Then we go see my grandparents. I have to say my gfather's health has sucked the past 5 months, and it kind of freaked me out how different he looks. But he still was his same old self. Grandma didn't know us at first. But my aunt and uncles were there and my new cousin. So she was bit confused. After everyone left, she knew who I was and grabbed my hand. I know she didn't know my name, but she knew I was her gdaughter and I was kind. So that made me feel good.

So overall it has been a good day.

10 K and other events of the day...

Got up at 5:45 this morning. This was after Guinness decided to play at 2 and I put her under the bed to sleep and Porter had to go out at 5 (thanks Doug!). Went to the bathroom and couldn't figure out why I was up so I got back into bed until 6:25. Got up and got dressed and got back into bed. Finally got up for real. Dogs went out, Body-Glided my body, and had a Clif Bar and water. Doug finished getting ready and we were off.

Got to the 4 Seasons. Free parking. Checked in. Got our numbers and walked around. Many people around, some tools, but mostly normal looking people. I checked out everyone's legs and they were all different, and lots of different sized people. 10K was getting started so I went to the back of the line (proper etiquette if you are slow). Doug stayed with me. And we're off. Bye Doug.

Mile 1: Down 14th and to Piedmont. Past the Driving Club. Ew! Glad I chose not to get married there. Sewage issues! Guy- really, just run, don't run backwards to stay with your girlfriend. That's annoying. What's this? Mile Marker 4? Turn into the Botanical Gardens. There is MM1; He yells out 13:01. Geez I must slow down if I'm going to stay at this.

Mile 2: Through Piedmont Park. Oh this is the festival J must have told me about. Lots of people out this morning. Who is this person waving at me? Oh that is Z? Big wave! Must remember to not ask if she is pregnant later. The park is nice. Water table is coming. Oops missed my lips. Oh well. Mile guy. 26:07. OK going way too fast.

Mile 3: Where did these hills come from? Why didn't they level this city when it burned and make it flat. Decline. Yay. WTF? Another hill. There is Flying Turkey. Another hill? OK. Still going. Crossing Peachtree. When do I turn? Jock's and Jill's hill is killer. There is W Peachtree. ANOTHER HILL!? I can't go anymore. That's ok, I trained with walking so here I go. That's where Element is?
I won't go there. R Blais is the biggest arse. Downhill!!! Start running. Mile 3- 42 minutes.

Mile4: Still on the decline. Turn onto 14th. Ugh another hill. Just look at your feet. There's the 4 Seasons. No, that's the Marriott. Keep going. There's the 4 Seasons. Where is everyone? Who cares. Hi Copper. Thanks for stopping traffic. You are so nice. Back to Piedmont. Ew the sewage. OK these hills are killing me. I'm going to walk up every hill and run down. Yes that's the plan. Mile
4: 59 minutes.

Mile 5: Whose idea was it to walk the hills? The Park is flat, so I have to run the whole thing. OK mmm Famous Dave's. I love Pork. Maybe I'll just run in place right here. No keep going. OK, festival people in your motorized cart. I am not THAT fat, either pass me or stop revving your engine. Oh you aren't going to pass. Well screw you. I'm going to run in the middle of the path. hahahaha! Thanks festival man for cheering me on. Through the park. Dammm, that means the hills. Mile 5: 73 minutes.

Mile 6: I think I will stick with that walking plan. There is Flying Turkey. How do these walkers walk so fast? Keeping up with them is hurting my butt. WTF is W Peachtree. Oh there is Jock's and Jills. Hi Copper! Still walking. Onto W. Peachtree. I really dislike R. Blais. I hope this restaurant fails. Haha, you lost Iron Chef with your stupid hair tuft. On the downhill. Where is 13th street? Back to running. 12th street. There is Doug with the volunteer. Here is 13th. Finish is down the hill, Doug says. He jogs, but lets me get ahead of him. OK Baby stroller people won't let me pass. Boom right into them. But I have finished. Here is my tag. WTF is the water. OK I said that out loud to the stroller people. Live with it. The little boy has water. Hooray.

Time 74 minutes. That cannot be right. I couldn't run a mile in a minute. My watch says 94 minutes, so I'll go with that. (official time is 93:07)

Doug and I get some water and I eat part of a banana. T-shirts. We get them and double check. 2XL. Yay, I got my T-shirt.

We leave and go buy dog food and beer. I can drink 7 with no guilt.

Go to Johnathan and Anne's at 3:30. Dave, Johnathan, Anne and Mr. Dave's Dad are there. We watch the Michigan/ND game. I think a group of 6 yr olds could play better. Ep, it is 5:15, off to Tech. Drink and eat ribs. Go to the game. What is happening? We are getting bad calls, can't execute, argh!

Go back to the coolers. Drink some more. Decide to go to Milltown to ... drink.
Having a good time shooting the shit and telling stories. In walks a guy with a red shirt. I swear that looks like his butt crack. Clay tells him he has to leave. He says he has shoes and a shirt. Clay carefully walks him to the door. I see his full package. I SEE JUNK! Clay gets rid of the chair he sat in. We ask Clay later about it, and it seems normal for this guy. The funny thing was he walked home that way!

Lights in the bar come on. Clay calls us a cab, and to home we go. 430AM. Ah to be 21 again.

Wake up hungover. Ah to be 33 again.