We live in the middle of no where. Like desert kinda no where. While it's a great place to live, a great place to race it isn't So it's kinda became my thing to drive the loooong ass drive to San Antonio every December to run the RnR SA.
This year I signed up for the Half, and then my training went cu-put. Like serious kinda stall. This was not my first Half, nor my second (I think it was like my 12th), so I decided worse case I would walk it. And then 2 weeks for race day I stated having trouble with my left ankle & foot. Super strange, and couldn't figure out why. So I did what any smart runner would do. I decided to go for it.
We drove to SA on Friday night, so I could get to the expo at about noonish. Well... noonish translated into about 3pm, and boy was it busy! Grabbed my bib and hauled it to the expo vendors.
And this was probably the most happenin' place in the building, the Brooks booth was on point! But I hate lines, so we passed it up, and would try later.
I had already bought a sweatshirt and jacket at the RnR booth, so I wasn't looking to spend much more at the expo. I did swing by the Garmin booth to see if they had the Fenix 3 Sapphire in white gold. And nope... they didn't
Grabbed a few sample bars and such. Tried some NUUN again, still bothers my tummy. *sad face* Tried one of those electric tins machines. Pretty cool, but no way I'm paying $300. Tried the Buff massager, but once again out of my price range.
Found the free KT taping, and was lucky that there was no line. Yay me! I had a GREAT tape job done at the Disney expo in Sept, so I was hoping that this was would be the same. Told the girl my issues and how they tapped me last, and she just nodded and threw a couple pieces of tape on (nothing like we talked about). Yeah, I was bummed, but didn't say anything since it was a FREE service, and honestly I think her biggest problem was attitude and not wanting to be there, which kinda looks bad representing the company.
Finally the expo started winding down so we headed back the the Brooks Island. Ok, it was a fun time. And I no, I didn't ride the mechanical shoe. I could just see that going ALL wrong the day before a big race. I'm a klutz like that.
Got to see my friend Katie for like 2 minutes, as she was busting it to get to the expo before it closed.
By this time we had missed lunch and decided an early dinner was in order. I was getting Hangry (it's a real word/thing people, and if you've had it happen, your feelin' my pain). And the River Walk was only a few blocks away, so off we went. I was feelin' pasta-ish, and there is place that we've been wanting to try.
OMG is was soon good! Ravioli with marinara sauce and a piece of Salmon. Don't judge, was craving the Salmon for some reason, and no it didn't really go with Ravioli. *shrugs*
Andy is a great enabler, so of course we shared a piece of chocolate cake for dessert. It was soooo good.
After dinner it was back to the hotel for us wild party people. And in bed by 9, yup we party hard.
Race morning I was up by 5, and we didn't stay downtown, so we had about a 20 min drive. We're pros at this, and Andy drops me off at the same place every year. But I was not prepared for it being a chilly morning! Thankfully I had brought a pair of arm sleeves and put them on as we left the hotel.
Since I'm all about the race day outfit, I decided to do a Christmas theme.
Found my corral and the waiting game started. Katie found me on the way to her corral, and we did a quick hug, pic, & good luck.
And then more waiting. RnR does wave starts, and us turtles are waaaay in the back. And we had plenty of time to wait. And boy was it windy and cold, did I mention cold? We Texans don't DO cold. And I know the hard way not to over dress or wear a bunch of crap I have to carry. ummm... no thanks. So freeze it is.
I was running with my Garmin Vivoactive for the first race. And clearly I suck at the, nothing new on race day rule. I programmed my Garmin for Run:30 Walk:30 intervals (u know, the Galloway method).
Finally, about an hour+, my corral was to the start line and then off we went. And... within 10 steps I KNEW I was in BIG trouble, shooting pain in my left ankle & foot again. Stretched....no help. Slowed down... nope. Stopped running all together... and nope, still throbbing.
And I knew at that point I had a tuff decision to make. Stop at the 5k finish or push on. I run with my phone, so I shot out a couple text to Andy & Katie, both were supportive of whatever I decided. Andy asked if this pain was a pain I could deal with for 12 more miles (by this time I had made it to the 1 mile marker). I decided to wait till the 3 mile marker to decide. Around mile 2 Katie had caught up to me. She stopped to see if I was ok, told her I was, and to keep going.
Finally there was the 3 mile marker, and I still hadn't decided what to do. In my heart I knew what pain I was feeling was not an "OMG I've torn or majorly injured something". Been there & done that... have the surgery scar as a badge of honor. Life is painful, and running teaches us how to deal with pain. So has the 5k finish line loomed ahead of me, I stayed left to continue on towards the Half finish line. And I kept putting one foot in front, walking towards the finish.
I run with wireless earbuds, and don't tend to listen to the bands all that much as I pass. Thats just me, I know the people around me tend to enjoy them a lot. And from time to time, I'll pause my music to listen.
What I love about the course is the people. SA has some great crowd support, one year a bar filled up my hydration bottle with beer. It was sooooo good. I mean like epic kind of good. And there is always someone passing out Pixie Sticks, which should be renamed Runner's Crack. Sugar Rush baby!! And that damn hill that starts by the zoo, and keeps going up for a mile (like the ONLY hill in Texas, and someone decides to include it in our course. Thanks!).
And the Humana employees towards the end of the race had tons of energy and encouragement! Thank you awesome volunteer people! And finally mile 13 marker.... The texts are coming in, telling me "I can do it". Well I sure ain't stopping now. I want that awesome medal, and I had bought half marathon commemorative stuff at the expo! And I ain't wearing something I didn't earn. That .1 mile seemed like the longest part of the race, and boy it got hot out! Gotta love Texas racing. And finally there is the finisher's line and people are cheerin' us on. And I dug deep and ran to the finish. Grabbed my medal and snacks and headed to the family area.
Tired and hurting I found Andy, grabbed the Post Race Pic, and headed to the car. And then found out, to get to the car, we had to go down a set of big azz stairs and then back up the other side.... and the car was about a mile away. I almost sat down to cried. Then Andy bribed me with food. Okay, u got my attention again. FOOD!
Grabbed a few sample bars and such. Tried some NUUN again, still bothers my tummy. *sad face* Tried one of those electric tins machines. Pretty cool, but no way I'm paying $300. Tried the Buff massager, but once again out of my price range.
Found the free KT taping, and was lucky that there was no line. Yay me! I had a GREAT tape job done at the Disney expo in Sept, so I was hoping that this was would be the same. Told the girl my issues and how they tapped me last, and she just nodded and threw a couple pieces of tape on (nothing like we talked about). Yeah, I was bummed, but didn't say anything since it was a FREE service, and honestly I think her biggest problem was attitude and not wanting to be there, which kinda looks bad representing the company.
Finally the expo started winding down so we headed back the the Brooks Island. Ok, it was a fun time. And I no, I didn't ride the mechanical shoe. I could just see that going ALL wrong the day before a big race. I'm a klutz like that.
Got to see my friend Katie for like 2 minutes, as she was busting it to get to the expo before it closed.
By this time we had missed lunch and decided an early dinner was in order. I was getting Hangry (it's a real word/thing people, and if you've had it happen, your feelin' my pain). And the River Walk was only a few blocks away, so off we went. I was feelin' pasta-ish, and there is place that we've been wanting to try.
Andy is a great enabler, so of course we shared a piece of chocolate cake for dessert. It was soooo good.
After dinner it was back to the hotel for us wild party people. And in bed by 9, yup we party hard.
Race morning I was up by 5, and we didn't stay downtown, so we had about a 20 min drive. We're pros at this, and Andy drops me off at the same place every year. But I was not prepared for it being a chilly morning! Thankfully I had brought a pair of arm sleeves and put them on as we left the hotel.
Since I'm all about the race day outfit, I decided to do a Christmas theme.
Finally, about an hour+, my corral was to the start line and then off we went. And... within 10 steps I KNEW I was in BIG trouble, shooting pain in my left ankle & foot again. Stretched....no help. Slowed down... nope. Stopped running all together... and nope, still throbbing.
And I knew at that point I had a tuff decision to make. Stop at the 5k finish or push on. I run with my phone, so I shot out a couple text to Andy & Katie, both were supportive of whatever I decided. Andy asked if this pain was a pain I could deal with for 12 more miles (by this time I had made it to the 1 mile marker). I decided to wait till the 3 mile marker to decide. Around mile 2 Katie had caught up to me. She stopped to see if I was ok, told her I was, and to keep going.
Finally there was the 3 mile marker, and I still hadn't decided what to do. In my heart I knew what pain I was feeling was not an "OMG I've torn or majorly injured something". Been there & done that... have the surgery scar as a badge of honor. Life is painful, and running teaches us how to deal with pain. So has the 5k finish line loomed ahead of me, I stayed left to continue on towards the Half finish line. And I kept putting one foot in front, walking towards the finish.
I run with wireless earbuds, and don't tend to listen to the bands all that much as I pass. Thats just me, I know the people around me tend to enjoy them a lot. And from time to time, I'll pause my music to listen.
What I love about the course is the people. SA has some great crowd support, one year a bar filled up my hydration bottle with beer. It was sooooo good. I mean like epic kind of good. And there is always someone passing out Pixie Sticks, which should be renamed Runner's Crack. Sugar Rush baby!! And that damn hill that starts by the zoo, and keeps going up for a mile (like the ONLY hill in Texas, and someone decides to include it in our course. Thanks!).
And the Humana employees towards the end of the race had tons of energy and encouragement! Thank you awesome volunteer people! And finally mile 13 marker.... The texts are coming in, telling me "I can do it". Well I sure ain't stopping now. I want that awesome medal, and I had bought half marathon commemorative stuff at the expo! And I ain't wearing something I didn't earn. That .1 mile seemed like the longest part of the race, and boy it got hot out! Gotta love Texas racing. And finally there is the finisher's line and people are cheerin' us on. And I dug deep and ran to the finish. Grabbed my medal and snacks and headed to the family area.
Tired and hurting I found Andy, grabbed the Post Race Pic, and headed to the car. And then found out, to get to the car, we had to go down a set of big azz stairs and then back up the other side.... and the car was about a mile away. I almost sat down to cried. Then Andy bribed me with food. Okay, u got my attention again. FOOD!
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