Tri-Cities 5K recap

So D and I had a 3.5 mile run as the long run for our second week of marathon training.  Why not just do a 5K?  Being that I'm kind of exacting, I wasn't sure that it really counted, but I decided ok, because I knew this course was hard, because I did it last year.  We signed up.  Somewhere in there, I forgot to tell D about the hills (or I told him in my head).

Saturday morning we drove out to College Park, the whopping 8 miles away.  It was about 50 degrees and sunny.  We got our numbers and sat in the car for awhile.  At 745 we got out and went to the starting line.  There was also a 10K, and people were concerned about the split, but I remembered it was well marked.  People seemed happy I knew this.  At 758, I mentioned the hills and I hoped my legs were ready.  D goes, "Hills?"   I said, "Oh yes, the last 2/3rds of this race suck."  He kind of just looked at me.  We kissed and then they said, "Go."  Despite the chip there was no starting map.  There weren't that many people (500?) so it wasn't a huge deal.

We ran down Main Street to Rugby where the 5Ker's turned left.  I knew I was going fast, but I felt ok.  There was this teen (14-15ish) who kept trying to keep up with me.  Well, he would run past, get a side cramp and then walk, I would pass, and this would repeat.  I wanted to tell him just to run my pace, because he was annoying me, but he eventually figured it out, and kept my pace for about 2 minutes.  I hit 9 minutes when I should walk break but I still felt strong and I wanted to see if I could get under 12 minutes on the first mile.  We turned down Napoleon, I lost the kid, and Mile 1 clicked by at 11:59.  YES!  Boy Scouts were handing out water, but I didn't take any.

Off Napoleon you turn on to Walker.  I thought about what comes down, must always go up.  I tried to keep a decent pace but my legs said to take a break.  Since I missed the 9 minute, and I knew there were more hills, I took about a 45 second break (pretty much walked up the rest of the hill).  Turned onto Victoria and struggled but kept running.  Finally got onto Lyle that was kind of Flat, and then had a huge downhill. Some people passed me on the down hill, but I knew there were more uphills.  So I tried to keep as steady as possible.  On Pierce it was steep/rolling. Somewhere around here was Mile 2. I missed what my time was. I would run up about 3/4 of a hill and walk the rest, and then run again.  I seemed to pass a lot of people this way.  Cambridge was just a long hill, I kind of cursed, but told myself to go.  There was a green lady and a purple lady (purple was walking REALLY fast), that I wanted to catch.  Purple also ran all the down hills.  I was in passing distance of Green Lady when she made a mistake, she missed the sign to turn on to Hemphill. I'm not sure how she missed it but the Volunteer got her back on track.  I "made my move," and passed her.  Meaning, I ran at the same pace.  Ran down Hemphill to Virginia.  On Virginia the first 2 10kers and the cops came by. Yeah, I'm slow.  Oh well.  I couldn't catch Purple.  Onto College Avenue.  Ah the last hill.  I got up to Purple.  I saw D.  I started walking. hahaha! I got to the crest and resumed running and ran onto the track for my lap.  Purple started running.  Some other lady (Blue Sweatshirt) came from nowhere and took over us.  I had half a lap to go, and Purple was slowing.  More 10kers were coming.  Actually the ones that I said were probably going to win (age group winners).  I passed Purple on the turn.  The announcer was saying she was trying to catch up.  Told me to put some umph into it.  I kicked the time.  I knew she was behind me and coming up.  I sprinted.  I beat her barely (2 seconds).

My time: 41:15.  Not my best but since I've been hurt and undertrained, I was happy with it.  It was 1 minute+ more than last year.

D met me and got me some water.  We went and got our T-shirts.  I asked if he placed.  He said no, and thought it was weird I asked him.  He said he was sure he got in the top 10 of his AG.  He came in 38th over all (out of 253).  And he said, "THOSE HILLS."

The HILLS

We went out for lunch, later.  While out, I got an email that said I placed 4th in my AG.  4th, PEOPLE!  I don't care how slow I am, but that is probably my best finish ever.  4TH!!!!

So we'll do the race next year.  One of those women might turn 45 and I could place 3rd!


 

Round Up of April

I may get back to posting regularly.
Until then here are April's Stat's.

Weight Lost: 4.3 pounds
Miles Run/Walked: 42.82
Half-Marathons: 1
Achievements: a Personal Worst, but still a finish while puking on the course a few times
Craziness:  Signed up for a Marathon after "achieving" a PW

My Medal from my February Half that I never wrote a race report for

My Medal from my worst finish ever, but still a finish

Some Answers from "Reeling It In"

I lost 2 pounds this week.  Except for Sunday, I wrote everything down.

Thank you for the comments, emails, PMs, and likes from various places about my last post. 

I'll address a couple of things...
1) Journaling:
I didn't write down Sunday, because I went to a bottle share.  What's a bottle share?  It is when you meet up with a bunch of beer drinkers that you may or may not know (I knew 2 people of about 50).  Everyone brings a bottle of a hard-to-get beer in your area, and you share it.  There are some other rules for this one, but that is the basic premise.  Unless I had my phone out the entire time, I couldn't really track  every single thing I drank.  And I'm trying to use my phone less when I'm around real people.  So I just said screw it. But other than that, yes, I write everything down.

I never used Panorama on my phone, before.  This was some of the bottles.

Truth be told, my mom was a Weight Watchers leader growing up.  So I can easily look at something and tell you how many exchanges (and what kind), Points, calories, etc. food has.  I've been journaling what I eat since 6th grade. The problem I have is that I get to the point where I don't care if I ate 1500 calories or 15000 calories.   But I usually write stuff down.  And I know "keeping track in my head" doesn't work for me.

2)  Eliminating Foods:
I know a lot of people on Paleo, no-carb, vegatarian, etc.  I also know I don't cook, and I can only ask D so much to give up when he cooks.  Rice, chicken and pork are 3 foods I know will never happen.  A) the man has 3 grills (gas, charcoal, and pig roaster (yes, for whole pigs)), B) I suggest a meatless meal and the first thing he asks is what we can take out so he can add chicken or bacon. C) I'm working on not eating brands of foods I don't like (for instance...I love pizza, but don't like Domino's or Papa John's...I'm working on not having to "make sure" that I still don't like them...same goes for raisins...testing out a raisin cookie is not going to make me like raisins, so I don't need to eat it).

3) Exercising more:
With all do respect to the person who emailed me this suggestion...duh.

4) Keep planning my meals
I had an incident in March at the grocery that kind of set me back (yes, I got into a verbal dispute with someone although I didn't throw anything at them this time, so I wasn't asked to leave).  I despise the grocery store with every ounce of my being, and tend to get panic attacks in them due to the high stress level.  When D and I met in June 2002, I probably had been to the grocery store less than 10 times the entire year.  When I did go, it was usually at 2am, so no one else would be there.  I've been trying to go more with him, and I do need to contribute more to the meal planning, even if I don't go.  So I'm working on that.

Last week was good. Here were my dinners (lunch is leftovers):
Saturday: 7 Chile Chile
Sunday:  Pan grilled Chicken with Chorizo Confetti, Santa Fe Black Beans
Monday: Jalapeno Popper Chili
Tuesday: Creamy Mustard Chicken , Forgot a vegetable
Wednesday: Leftovers (D went out so I had Jalapeno Popper Chili)
Thursday: Leftovers (Was supposed to have JPC on a baked potato but got tired of that so finished the 7 Chile Chili)
Friday: Out
Saturday: Hamburgers and Cauliflower Tater Tots


5) What's up with the chili?
When I was laid off in 2010, money was tight.  Chili usually makes 10-12 servings. For 2 people, that usually got 7 lunch/dinner servings before someone said, "No more!"   I had the grocery store times laid out when A) it was empty and B) when meat was marked down.  Therefore, we ate a lot of chili.  And if you look on my recipe blog, you'll see there are quite a few recipes. 

I think that is all the topics.  It is supposed to rain tomorrow for my first 5K of 2014.  It was supposed to be the 2nd, but the first one was cancelled due to non-interest (a 5K at a brewery...how can people not be interested).  Have a good weekend!

Reeling It Back In...

So if you have seen me in the past 8 months, you probably noticed something. I gained weight. I plateaued out in July. But then something happened in my head and I went on a rapid 20 pound gain (it took 6 weeks). I didn't gain back the 35 pounds I lost and kept off for 5 years, but I came really close. 

As I was running yesterday morning and driving home yesterday afternoon, I thought about the reasons.  Except for that I was burnt out on running (training for a marathon will do that), I didn't have a reason.  I wasn't more depressed than usual.  I didn't hate anything more than usual.  In fact, I had fun.

The more I thought about the "WHY," the happier I got.  I thought about the football tailgates where I wasn't going "Oh, I can't eat that," or "How many calories is that?" or "Let me limit myself, although I really am hungry and I really do want more."  It was carefree.  It was a blast.  Onion dip as an appetizer for breakfast is delicious.  Cheese and sour cream on chili is the best way to eat it.  Homemade Pretzels and Sausages are great at Oktoberfest (not just one or the other).  I thought about going to bars with D and trying new beers and badges (Damn you, UNTAPPD!).  There was usually 1-2 times a day when I fat-shamed myself (getting out of the shower or stepping on the scale), but overall, it was the most freeing 8 months that I've had in 15 years.  I got hamburgers instead of grilled chicken salad; I had nachos for dinner; Philly cheesesteaks with more than 4 potato chips; soup instead of salad during a dinner out.  Probably only 4 times (2 times being holidays) did I eat myself to the point of feeling sick.

I also thought about the thin people I see at work.  They tend not to think about food.  They eat like rabbits. It isn't their focus.  Then I thought about the people I work with. We talk about food all the time.  4 members of my 11 people group belong to cooking clubs.  We share recipes.  We actually get joy talking about bacon and how we want to try bacon jam. 

So back to reality...my pants don't fit all that well. My shirts don't fit all that well.  I had a great 8 months.  But now it is back to reality.  We are still going to eat.  But we are going to start eating more at home.  When we do eat out, back to splitting dishes. Back to chili and dates at home.  Yes, I can have dip at home, and a hamburger at home.  But I probably shouldn't do it all on the same day.  But you know I'll have a beer or 4 with that dip.  Let's be realistic!

Atlanta Half-Marathon 2013

So D and I broke rules on Thanksgiving. Actually we broke rules on the 1.1.13, but those rules were ok to break because we ran a race on a holiday at a brewery.  We don't run on holidays because it interferes with our drinking on a day we have off together. We don't run in half or full marathons in Atlanta because it is too hilly. So in August or September we decided we needed to get back into running.  Of course, Thanksgiving would be the "perfect" time because we only had multiple Saturdays taken up by football or beer festivals or out-of-town trips. What a wonderful idea!  On the plus side, the average temperature is 50 degrees.

We trained half-heartedly.  Although we did train with hills, my longest run was in October.  It was 9 miles.  I don't know if D got that far. He might have run 7 or 8.  I can't really remember.

A week before Thanksgiving, I was walking Lompoc.  I fell in a hole that the prior HOA landscaper never backfilled.  I crawled up the alley to the driveway with the dog, and hobbled to the stairs where I was able to get D to come help me.  I cursed the landscaper who happens to also be a neighbor.  I almost flipped my lid when later that day he commented on how lousy the new landscaper is.  But I refrained from telling him that at least they backfill trees they take out.  I iced the ankle.   Friday it felt fine. Saturday it felt pulled.  I quietly ignored it.  But I didn't run any of the "taper" runs.

Tuesday before Thanksgiving came and D and I met at the Marriot Marquis to pick up our numbers.  We bought some really cute gloves as well, because it was supposed to be cold, and we weren't sure where our gloves were.  I was slightly nervous because the cutoff was 3:30 and my runs weren't all that fast, although somewhere along the way in the past 3 weeks, my 3 milers were getting there.

Old hat, new shirt, and new gloves

Wednesday came and I came home and baked a cake.  And cursed that I couldn't drink the way we normally do the night before Thanksgiving.  (We did have 1 beer each).

Because everyone bakes a cake the night before a half-marathon: Samoa Bundt Cake

D was all into laying out his clothes.  I focused on the fact it was going to be cold, and went to bed.   In the dark we talked about our parking plan.  It was too cold to park in Grant Park and walk to Turner Field.  So we decided to park in the parking lot.

Thursday (Thanksgiving)...I turned on the news.  It was the coldest day so far of 2013. It was the coldest Thanksgiving since 1911. It was 25 degrees.  I looked around for my stuff, and finally found it all. My heart rate monitor said I was dead.  I finally got it to work.  We did multiple things and finally were ready to leave.
I had on 2 pairs of pants, 2 shirts, 2 pairs of gloves and a hat.

We pulled into Turner Field.  It was now 24 degrees.  Fuuuuuuuuck!  We sat in the car for awhile.  Finally at about 715 we got out of the car.  I really was nervous about the 3:30 time limit.  Somehow D landed in Corral A again. He asked me to put him down for 2:30 on the next race.  We decided to get in Corral C.  We talked to 2 women for a little while.  Someone sang the National Anthem (Question: Do you take your hat off during this in 24 degrees?  D was the only one around us who did).  My HRM read that I was dead, again, so I didn't bother to start it.  Finally we were off.

Waiting for the race

We ran up Hank Aaron/Capitol Ave.  It was a hill but nothing exciting.  Most people (shockingly) were passing me.  I kept going.  We crossed over MLK and turned onto Decatur. There were too many people to do my 9/1 thing, so I kept moving.
Mile 1: 12:35

Finally I was able to make it over to the sidewalk to take a walk break.  We passed part of Georgia State and Centennial Olympic Park.  I really thought it was nice. The sun was out and the cops and volunteers were very supportive.  As we approached mile 2 there was a water stop.  The volunteers were throwing sand all over the ground.  I got a water, drank it and then traversed carefully on the sand.  The ice, yes, I could slide on.  But only I could find a pebble and roll my foot and hurt myself.  Luckily no issues.
Mile 2: 12:45

I knew we were turning onto Northside Drive, but for some reason I thought we were turning via Means Street (by the Engineers' Bookstore across from Georgia Tech).  I was a bit sad when we didn't.  We ran passed the the Post Office and finally got to Northside.  Some downhill.  Then I started thinking about the really big hill on Northside by the Westinghouse Building (17th St). Ugh...we will have to run up that.
Mile 3: 13:24

I really was dreading the hill. I ran past McDonald's and Burger King.  I could see it.  Wait? What?  We are turning at 16th Street. No hill?  Yes!!! Past the IKEA to some little street and then to 17th Street.  We were now at Atlantic Station.  The 2:30 pace team passed me.  I have run this section for the Komen.  Ugh!  We are going to have to run up Spring Street and that hill.  Either I was going REALLY slowly or the 2:30 and the 2:45 pace teams were off, because guess who next passed me.  I tried to keep up with the 2:45 pace team, but they ran too fast (they run/walk).  I knew if I kept up with them it would screw up the rest of the race.  We turned onto Spring.
Mile 4: 13:09
Mile 5: 13:29

At this point I had no idea what my time was.  I know that sounds silly but I kept missing the actual lap on my watch.  Eh, whatever.  So we started up Spring Street.  I hate this hill.  I was still fighting with my head to not try to stay up with the 2:45 team.  My run/walk was completely off.  Wait, we are turning.  We turned onto 14th St.  Aha!  A hill.  And a bitch of a one to boot.  I ran next to someone with a 1:45 pace team shirt.  It was obvious he was hurt, also obvious he was going to finish (he was a Marine).  We shuffled up the hill together.  We crossed over Peachtree.  Both of thanked the police there.  Ran down the hill and entered Piedmont Park.
Mile 6: 13:24
Mile 6.33 (said the half-way...my Garmin said 6.33): 1:23:48

I stopped and had a Hammergel and some water.  And was on my way.  Lots of people stopped for the bathrooms.  I kept going.  It was pretty flat.  I knew the last 3 miles of the course, but I couldn't remember Mile 7-10.  I was excited when I saw 10th and Charles Allen. I thought we were going on CA.  I was wrong.  We turned on 10th.  I've run 10th. It is rolling hills.  It isn't horrible, but I also know to get back to Turner Field all roads lead to hills.  Damn!
Mile 7: 14:22

OK, Al.  Never wonder where the hills are again,  you moron.  Really you thought Atlantans didn't know what hills were.  What kind of ass are you?  We turned on Juniper.  Oh shit. Juniper and Courtland are the same street, aren't they.  They are going to take us up Courtland.  Well maybe they'll take us North to Parkway.  Here's hoping.
Mile 8: 14:33

Yay, Sportsbeans.  These taste good.  Crossing over Ponce and North.  No good.  I don't feel like climbing Courtland.  Especially by Georgia State.  Just keep moving.  Do 4/1s.  Just keep moving.  OK, something clicked.  I have some energy.  There's the Marriot Marquis.  Oh we ARE turning onto John Wesley Dobbs.
Mile 9: 14:45

Yay!  Downhill.  We must be pretty much done with hills.  Passing streets to Grady.  This is good.  I'll let gravity take over.  We crossed under the Interstate and BOOM!  The biggest damn hill ever.  It was in front of a school.  We were by the MLK National Park (back side of it).  I wanted to cry.  No one around me ran up this hill.  People were going down with leg cramps. I focused on keeping my feet moving.  It was a climb but finally I got to the top and turned onto Boulevard.  There was a water stop.
Mile 10: 15:17

I knew the run through the outer part of Cabbagetown would be initially downhill, but then we had to go up to get upto Memorial (by Oakland Cemetery).  I did well until I actually got onto Memorial.  And then I wanted to be done.  My foot had a blister on it (newer shoes).  I could feel my foot sliding.  Just kill me.  Why did we think this was a good idea?  Whose idea was this?  Finally on flat surface.  We turn again?  Ok.  And another turn...onto MLK
Mile 11: 17:00

OK, if I walk the rest, I can be done in 40 minutes.  But run, Al, and you'll be done sooner.  Shut up, Brain!  Oh wait, I can see people crossing Memorial back to the stadium from here.  Wait...no way that is 2 miles.  I bet we have to run some more. (I know...crazy to run in a half marathon!).  I remember Mitchell is involved. Does Mitchell cross MLK?  Shit!  A bridge.  Ah downhill.  This is a super long mile.  Where the hell is Mitchell? Why is there another god damn hill. Oh there's Central.  That's where D and I got married.  When do we turn?  Ah Peachtree!  Yay!  Downhill.
Mile 12: 16:18

Oh fuck.  If this is taking me to Capitol, I have another hill to climb.  I'm just going to stop.  I don't need to finish.  Keep moving your legs, Al.  It is a lovely Gold Dome (passing the Capitol).  I'm walking this hill.  Finally at the top.  Thank another cop.  And it is downhill.  Yay!  Cross Memorial and the bridge hill.  By now I'm sure the blister on my foot is the size of my head.  Damn it hurts.  Why are you walking with less than half a mile left.  Run, Bitch, Run!  Bitch, Puhleese!  Just walk it in.  Move that ass.

Moving that ass

The last half mile was my brain fighting with itself.  But then over the horizon by the Holiday Inn and the DMV, I could see it.  The FINISH LINE.  I ran, albeit slowly.  But each foot ticked off some distance and finally the blue mats were behind me.
Mile 13: 17:14
Mile .32: 5:00
Total: 3:13:17

I saw D and hugged him and then wandered aimlessly.  I found the medals people and got one.  We got a picture and then walked to the car.  Well D walked, I hobbled.

Us, done

At home, I popped that blister and drank a beer!

Beer and Medal

Medal

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The 5th Annual Celebrate the Life of Porter

So it is coming up on 4 years ago that Porter passed away.  Although it sometimes seems we've had Scuttlebutt and McMenamin forever (not Lompoc, though), it doesn't seem like Po died in 2009.  However, she did, and thus the weekend rolled around to celebrate her life.

We celebrate it every Romp N Stomp/Chomp N Stomp weekend, well because she passed away the day before.  I still remember D and running bud A going to the 5K and they were both so happy I didn't go.  Apparently the cop missed a turn with the leader, and the race was only ~2 miles long.  D said had I been there, he and A would have had to carry me back to the car.  Later in the day, he forced me to get out of bed, because it was sunny out.  We stopped by A's house to give her and J our football tickets and then we went to Chomp N Stomp.  We had some chili but it was way crowded and I begged to go home.  D said that we should just relax on a rock.  So we did.  Then I asked him for a beer, and he went to wait in line.  When he came back, I was gone.  He looked around, and he realized the rocks had been right next to a dog adoption.  He found me holding a dog.  And thus Celebrate the Life of Porter was born.

We don't go back to Chomp N Stomp anymore, although we still run Romp N Stomp.  Nothing against the Chomp.  Just big crowds and it makes me nervous.  Plus we do things Porter liked to do.  We sit on patios and drink. (She really was the perfect dog).

So this was the 5th Annual Celebrate the Life of Porter (if you are wondering how I got 5 if she has only been gone 4 years, well, you include year 0).

Friday night, D and I went to get our race numbers.  We had a beer at Milltown  (maybe 2).  Then we went home.  I texted A, only to find out she wasn't doing it this year.  The streets are small and with 1500 people, she said it is too crowded.  We were somewhat bummed but oh well.  D and I went to bed.  The next morning we may have cursed A, a little bit, because we had no incentive to get out of bed (usually one of us drives the other 2).  Finally we were able to get ourselves out of the house, and up to the race.

It was about 50 degrees.  People were dressed every which way.  Some dressed for 100 degrees, others for -40.  We had on shorts and light long-sleeved shirts.  We people-watched and finally the race started.  D of course got ahead of me in 3 seconds, and that was the last I saw him.  I was doing decently with the slight uphill on the start.  Then the downhill and then back to up while at the Krog St. Tunnel.  I had a little bit trouble breathing, so I checked my HR and it was soaring.  I decided even though I was at 5 minutes, to walk a minute.  Well that was good, because then I got to a flat spot.  I ran down to Reynoldstown and the Coffee Shop/Bar/Dog Park.  I didn't notice if anyone was out, because I was nearing 13 minutes and I was trying to get to Mile 1 under 13 minutes.  I did...12:57.  My HR was fine and I felt fine.  A lot of downhill was coming up.  I figured eventually I would walk.  I seemed to stay with one woman...she was running the whole thing.  Her stride down hill was longer than mine, but I seemed to go uphill faster.  I got up the hill on Gaskill where you turn (and a water stop). I wasn't thirsty, but my legs were screaming to walk.  I took a 1 minute break and then we turned and turned running back to Gaskill.  I hit Mile 2 at 13:12.  The lady passed me.

Back onto Gaskill.  There were 2 guys on a roof with a Brindle dog.  I had to do a double take because I thought it was McMenamin at first. It made me smile.  By now we were back to Carroll Street (the start) and that uphill was again.  I had another walk break and then continued.  The lady ran stride for stride down the hill with me and then the uphill by Krog, she did something (walk, slow...I don't know).  I entered the Tunnel. My pace was easy.  I saw the lady I had run with  on the return (the tunnel is out and back).  She wasn't going to catch me. I knew I had one more hill (the one where I walked the first time).   It isn't really a hill...more of that slight upturn of the street when you come off a bridge or a tunnel.  I got out of the tunnel, and my legs told me I was walking that hill again.  I walked it, and turned.  The rest was a slanted (down) flat.  I hit mile 3 at 12:40 but that wasn't right because a) Garmin doesn't work in the tunnel and b) the mile marker was about .05 ahead of me.  Still nice.  I knew I wasn't doing any PR, but still happy.  I turned the final turn onto Kirkwood and saw D and the finish.  I crossed at 41:13.  Not my best, not my worst.

We talked to some people we knew and then I got cold so we left.  Around 1130 we took McMenamin out for some fries (appetizer).  Then we dropped him off and picked up Scuttlebutt.  We took him around Decatur (Po's favorite place).

Lompoc (with her underbite) not understanding why she isn't coming out

McMenamin at Augustines

Founders Oatmeal Stout

Scuttlebutt at Square Pub

Al and Scuttlebutt at Big Tex (UGA/UF Block Party)

Scuttlebutt at Big Tex

Left Hand Beer Week Sauce at Brick Store Pub

Scuttlebutt and Sculpture in Decatur Square

We Got to Climax! (Atlanta SE Beltline 8K)

I'm here.  I'm alive.  I needed a break from running and blogging, but I started running again.  And I have run a few races.  This past weekend, I ran in the SE Atlanta Beltline 8K.

Awhile ago, A and I were looking at a few races for this weekend.  I had that I had to run a 5K.  There was one about 4 miles away.  Then I saw an 8K between A's and my house.  D was fine with the 8K.  A said she was too, so we all signed up for it.  Then A said, "Did you see the course, and all those hills?"  My thought was, "A, do you know those hills that are between our houses?  That would probably be what we were running."  My attitude despite my long hiatus on running was a bit cocky.  I knew every street but one and have run every street on the course but that one (although none of them together).

As the day came closer, I got a little more worried as I would drive home and drive up those hills.  Then I saw the 8K was a run/walk, and stopped.

Friday, D didn't have to work so he got our packets.  We ate pizza and went to bed early...really no different from any other Friday for us.  Saturday the race was late for us...9am.  We got up at 730 which was confusing because normally we are already out (have to incorporate running and tailgating).  So we putzed around and finally left the house at 820.

Me and D

 Yes, we drove, because after 5 miles, who wants to walk up the hills to go home?  We parked across from Boulevard Crossing Fields and walked over.  I told D I was wearing his Garmin (I had charged his by accident, he had charged mine).  He said to wear it because mine somehow didn't charge (actually needed a reset but at the time we didn't know that).  I left my iPod in the car.  His iPod doesn't turn off.  We were electronically challenged.  We found A and talked about the hills.

The race was sponsored by the Atlanta Beltline and they had the Councilwoman speak.  D and I live on the other side of the tracks from A, and it is amazing how much we think differently about her and her helping "the neighborhood."  She pretty much neglects ours, but loves A's.  A's neighborhood average income is a lot higher than ours.  Her neighborhood has way less blight than ours.  And across more tracks...I don't think that councilwoman would know what to do (yes, that's her district too).  So we talked about that for a few minutes.  Then we lined up on Englewood going towards Boulevard, and were off.  About 4 minutes late. 

Everyone passed me.   There was no starting mat although it was a chipped race.  No whoop.  I took it easy down the hill. Then we went up Boulevard and turned East.  That is the trick through SE Atlanta, usually.  Run East/West for flat. Run North/South for hills.  I couldn't wait for 9 minutes to come.  I may have passed one person.  Lots of people were out...we were in the BoHo area.  We ran down a hill to Confederate.  The cops were holding traffic. I saw they were holding a MARTA bus, and wondered how they were going to do that.  Turns out, they let the bus come through.  But that was about it.  I was between .5 and .75 miles, and started feeling good.  Then something happened.  I'm not sure what.  My foot caught a ridge.  My other foot tried to stop it.  I did that weird motion where you are trying to get your balance but at the same time you are going down. "Not my knees, not my knees," I thought.  Then boom.  It would have been a sliding belly flop if I had been in a pool. The palms of my hands hit and slid out hard, and everything else hit at once.  I remembered to close my mouth to prevent my teeth from breaking.  "I'm  ok, " I was getting ready to say.  Except no one was around me.  I got up and looked at my knees. They weren't bleeding, so I started running.  This all took about 15 seconds.  It was weird.  I got about twenty feet and noticed intense pain in my right hand.  I run with my hands in a fist so I saw it was all red.  I opened it up and there was blood everywhere.  By this point, I had to turn and run up a hill.  My East/West Theory was blown, as it was a big hill to get back to Boulevard.  I thought about running back to the starting line since I was only a mile in.  Then I thought about my tattoo.  Guinness crossed the starting line. She needed to cross the finish line.  So I decided to keep going.

Boulevard to Atlanta was uneventful.  Lots of traffic stopped. The APD were awesome with this.  I got to Atlanta, and the cops were cheering us on.  By now I was sure I was back of the pack.  Not a lot of people were in front of me.  I got down the hill and to the water stop.  The guy saw my hand and dumped some water on it, and off I went.  At Intown Healthy Hound (the pups' dog store) tons of people were out.  I don't know who, but someone yelled, "Go Allison!"  That made me feel good.  I knew this part of the course, and just ran.  My hand was throbbing.  My HR was in the 180s, but my heart didn't feel bad, so I kept at it.  We turned on Hill. 

More people were cheering us on.  One lady recognized me. Now I have run Hill a zillion times. And where we turned off of it...um, I never noticed that street.  So we turned again, and then we're in D.H. Stanton Park.  Again, cops and volunteers were cheering us on.  The park seemed pretty nice. I can't believe I didn't know it was there.  I got out of it and another water stop.  I poured more water on my hand (it was really gross, because it was combining with sweat and wet).  My hand was burning. I guess that's why it is road burn.  I started up a hill to Capitol Ave.  At that time 9 minutes passed and I started walking.  This guy caught up to me.  He said the hills were killing him.  I said to be aware, because the next mile was up hill.  The cop heard me and started laughing. Then he said, "She's not lying."  So we turned off Capitol and onto Milton.  I was slowing down. The sun was out and bright. My hand hurt.  I had 2 miles left.  I couldn't figure out how they were going to get 2 miles from here.  Then they took us up Lakewood.  There's how.  More uphill.  (D and A both said they walked this part).

When I got up to McDonough, Historic South Atlanta was representing...some guy poured more water on my hand. Then I turned onto McDonough.  I always run this road.  It was cool to finally run it without the danger of being hit by a car.  Down to the Chosewood Park Neighborhood and through Chosewood Park.  I didn't really pay attention.  I knew I had another hill to climb.  The volunteer told me I had one more hill. I said, "Then I get to Climax."  He didn't get it.  So I finished the hill and turned onto Grant.  I ran a little more.  I could see D.  He was standing at the street sign.  We got to Climax together...(I'm such a kid).  I showed him my hand and then continued. I was almost back to the playing fields.  I got back on Englewood and saw I had one more hill.  I hadn't been paying attention to my time, because at this point, finishing was my goal.  I got over the hill, and saw the finish, and it said 67 something.  I knew all my 5 milers were in the 70s, so I was going to PR.  I sped up a little.   And finally crossed. 
68:44 (PR)

We got my hand some water.  This was probably the hardest course I have ever run.

Hand Cleaned off

 A and D already had their shirts so I went and got mine.  We talked a little and then said our good-byes.  D and I went home.  We decided that my hand was ok enough to go on a date.

Hand Fixed to Drink at Wrecking Bar

Hand still able to hold beer!