I’ll repair this mess later, but here ya go with typos and made up words:
Our Saturday RBF lunch meet-up didn’t happen, but we were able to meet up in the warm American Airlines Center before the race. Karrie, Richard and I were all running the half marathon. We hung out for a while before the rest of the group arrived. We snapped a few pictures and listened to the nervous chatter of the people around us.
I held out my fancy smancy RBF sign in hopes that everyone could find us. Edwin from A Town Runner arrived first and soon after his friend Tom. Rich from Just 12 Finish arrived a few minutes later. They were all running the full marathon. We also saw our friend Cathy, who was running her 56th marathon; she was recently profiled on CRN, read about her here. We should all definitely plan to meet up for more races around Dallas, especially since Rich lives about 20 minutes from us.
My muscles were tight for the first four miles – taking nearly an hour to complete, but once I warmed up I was on a roll for the next nine miles. Mile 12 was especially fun, I turned a corner for the finish and a blast of cheers came from the crowd. Wow, I thought, we have great spectators this year. I straightened up and I smiled and waved at everyone. Then in a ferocious fury the 3:30 pace group whipped passed me and set me spinning. Oh well, I’ll pretend they were cheering for me. If I had known the pace group was right behind me I wouldn’t have been running down the middle of the road.
Considering the longest distance I covered in over a month was five miles, I had a great run. I ran when I wanted, I walked when I wanted , I high-fived every kid, person, or animal with an outstretched hand on the course and I chatted with every runner who I didn’t seem to annoy.
I finished in 2:25:15. It was not my best time, but my new most funnest half-marathon. I felt great the entire race, not feeling fatigue in my legs until the last mile.
Just in case you are interested, here is a prescription for having the most fun half- marathon ever:
- Power-lift the Friday before the race, especially the leg press.
- Friday night, have date-night with husband, drink lots of wine, Irish coffee and way eat too much rare seared tuna. Have a gut ache all night, get no sleep and wake up feeling groggy on Saturday morning.
- Go to a party Saturday night, wear high heels, drink margaritas, and stay up as late as possible. Four hours of sleep is all you need.
- Leave your Donkey outside the night before so he’ll bark wake you up at 1:30AM wanting in the house.
- Run with a head cold, lots of sinus drainage and over-active saliva glands. Take lots of decongestants the morning of the race to ensure extra dehydration. (This saliva gland thing is new for me, but I’ve enjoyed the reaction of people when I squirt them while we talk.)
- Eat chocolate pop-tarts and drink 2 cups of coffee for breakfast the morning of the race.
- And most importantly, meet-up with other awesome running bloggers the morning of the race.
You can view the slide show here.
Oh, and my twin on the east coast, with a sexy new haircut, PRd her half marathon this weekend – check out her race report. Go Susie.
Told you you’d finish!
You deserve a few martinis.
Congrats on a good run! I was sad that I wasn’t running the Half this year, but I still enjoyed serving water to the marathoners. Sounds like a great time for having such a fun race — it was a good day for a run.
Great race considering your unorthodox prerace activities and food and your light training schedule. Nice job Susan!!!
“This saliva gland thing is new for me, but I’ve enjoyed the reaction of people when I squirt them while we talk.”
Grossity-gross-gross! You are the funniest, Susan. Great job having fun. That is what this is all about.
I think you start running with margaritas or martinis in a camelback. Why suffer when you can be loaded. Plus you would win your division every race. The loaded division*.
*Must be 21 years of age to participate in this division.
Go Susan!! I am so proud of you!
Way to go! I may try some of your tips before the 1/2 in Houston…and the camelback with martinis is a good idea too. At least I wouldn’t feel my IT band!
I should have done White Rock instead of Vegas for the marathon. The Vegas weather was awfully windy.
Great Race, great weekend, its still the best race I have ever attended. You should have had your name on your back because I must have passed you on the grade coming down into town. That 3:30 pace group generated a lot of wind and pushed me across the finish line. Keep running and writing.
Glad you had fun despite the festivities leading up to it 🙂
Is this prescription available over the counter, or is a pharmacist involved? From your high, it’s hard to tell.
Yah! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Might try those pre-race tips before my next big race – sounds like they work 😉
i like the way you prepare for halfs. I’m taking notes!
and I’m so glad you had fun. Why is it so hard to remember to have FUN?!?
if this running thing isn’t fun, it’s time to find something else. didn’t know about the saliva thing. well, your aim is good with snot.
You are so cute. And funny. A party the night before???? YOU are the woman. Amazing. Aren’t RBF meetups great? I think that’s the only reason I run now:) Great run, Suzie Q. And thanks for the link. One day we’ll do our own race, and you can teach me the whole margarita angle!!
Thumbs up, Susan. Way up!
good job. that’s what I like to read about…running on top of partying – it can be done!
Can we talk about the slide show? 1) You look like you might have been a little chilled in one shot. 2) You sure hang out with a lot of really tall people. 3) Richie obviously weaved his charm all over you. 4) In the Cathy-Susan pic, can we tell which one of you is the die hard?
You are my diehard soul mate for having a good time with all this running stuff. If I happen to have trained and feel good, I might run well. It’s the before and after fun with good folks – like your sexy eastern twin says – that makes it all worthwhile.
Sounds and looks like great fun Susan. You know how to have a good time.
Congrats on your funnest half marathon PB Susan. Thanks for the prescription. I might try it… but first I have to get my long run down to five miles 😉 Great photos.
You’re doing this for fun, right? Well, you had lots of fun, so the main objective was achieved.
I won’t take your advice on the high heels. They just are not me (though I admit, it might make for a fun evening).
Awesome job! Especially with a long run of five miles. Incredible! Sorry again for being such a dork and forgetting the number. My brain is not functioning as of late.
Awesome job, Susan. Way to go!!
OK Squirt, I’ll bring my goggles with me to the next run!
Hey, 2:25 is a great time, even if you didn’t go through all the pre-race hoopla you went through!
no time yet to read in depth as there’s always a queue for the freebie hotel computer. i did see that you high-5 kids. good on you! i try to slap every hand i see and just feel for those kids out in the cold holding a bare hand out for some fun and no one slapping them.
you also look cold. see? silly woman. wrong state.
gotta run. ms. limpy mcgimperson has to go and wake mr. sleepy mcsnorryton.
looking forward to catching up on all that is thoothan!
Nice meeting you and hanging out before race Sunday. Congrats on your race. I finally blogged about mine.
Can you send me the pics as well?
I love the way you prepare for races. Because I do the same thing – drink martinis, go to parties, wear high heels. Which are de rigeur for 5’2″ me. So glad that you enjoyed the race – you gotta have fun, right?! Why do we do run, otherwise?