Yep, another half marathon

The great thing about half marathons is that they don't require much training (if your goal is completion) - I repeat: MUCH training.  Then again, some idiots just wing them, asking for pain and injury.  Exhibit A:  me.  My training has been pathetic at barely 20 miles per week, yet I 'winged' my fourth half marathon of 2013 on March 24, 2013.  And it did hurt a little, but last year, I ran it on a recently dislocated patella, so there was plenty of room for improvement.  So here's the Alamo 13.1 Half Marathon...

On Sunday morning, I parked my car and jumped on a BCycle to ride down to the start/finish at the Alamo.  After I checked the BCycle in and got ready for the start, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped ten degrees.  So, the first half of the half was run into a 35 mph headwind (I hate running in wind).

The wind ruffles the feathers of the crazy running chicken.

and, somehow, after climbing the hills of Trinity University and turning around, the anticipated tail wind turned into a crosswind - but I had some fun on the Riverwalk

zombie-style.  And I finished - probably my best HM of this (non-training) year - but puro crazy running chicken, about to launch.

Then I jumped back on a BCycle to cycle back to the car - and got knocked over by a wind gust.  Yeah, I was pretty sore the next day - maybe I train for the next half, no?

Thanks to Victor and PhotoWolfe.com for the pics (PhotoWolfe actually posted all of the pics for free downloading, which was very, very cool)

Another bad relationship - and 5K

When I moved to San Antonio waaaaay back in 2001 (hard to believe I've stayed in one city this long), Oak and I got along just fine.  Yep, Oak as in the tree, with pretty leaves that change colors, and the guy that develops dangling caterpillar thingys every Spring.  And, for many years, we continued in our happy, uncomplicated relationship.

But, like some of my other relationships, things started going bad after four or so years.  I can't remember when the relationship started falling apart, but one year, during Wednesday night Zoo Run (which begin in April) in Brackenridge Park (home of Oak), I began having uncontrollable sneezing episodes - it was just the beginning.

Soon, I was hitting the drugs.  First, the ones that are actually on the shelves and apparently cannot be cooked up in a trailer to make meth.  And, for awhile, Oak and I got along again.  But, then Oak hurt me so bad that my eyes were permanently bloodshot and scratchy from February - May.  So, I hit the hard drugs - the ones you have to buy one package at a time from the pharmacist, signing that you are not a meth dealer.  And, even though the medications dry me out and make me a little whacky, Oak and I made it work.

But, in the past two weeks, we've hit some record levels of pollen counts, and I am now seeking a hitman to kill Oak - which will be a big job, since, in San Antonio, there's Stone Oak, Oak Hills, Rolling Oaks, Oak Ridge, Oak Creek - you name it.  Luckily, I live in a neighborhood of pecan trees, but I know all that Oak is surrounding me, dumping those caterpillar thingys that cling to my eyeballs and sinuses.  So, like any bad break up, I'm trying to just pretend Oak doesn't exist or affect me - but anyone who sees me crying knows the truth - I'm not getting over Oak.  Until May.

So, just to prove that I don't care about Oak, I ran Donovan's St. Patrick's Day 5K on March 16, with Oak on my back - and it was pretty bad.  I pretty much felt every footfall in my head and snotted my way toward the finish.  Not very pretty, but I'm pretty sure a cold beer always helps me forget that dang Oak. (See how I lulled you into thinking anything hereafter will be 'pretty?')

pre-race, trying to hydrate, fuel, and breathe

and here we go for one of the slower 5Ks ever

But I counteracted Oak with Harp Ale and buddies - and it worked for a bit

Then, Bertha photo-bombed the Brak Pak shoot to further scare Oak

Oak kicked my butt after I got home, though.  But, I will kick Oak's butt at the Alamo 13.1 on Sunday - since I got some Prednisone from my doc (I sure hope they don't drug test at the event).

Thanks to Scottydog, IAAP, Ceci, and Bertha for the pics!

Busy weekend warrior

I'm a bit late in this post, but I got slammed by Women's 5k race directing/sequestering/dog limping/PTSD fire cat fostering/ALJ applying/and a bunchofotherstuff.  But, last Saturday, I ran the Alamo Run Fest inaugural half marathon. 

I'm continuing my 'training plan' from January - run fewer than 10 miles during the week, then pull a long run out of somewhere on the weekend - dumb, dumb, dumb.  But, this run went to the West Side, where very few races are run.  And, they held it, so I had to come.  The last time I raced on the West Side, I was chased by stray dogs (2nd or 3rd best time ever), but this time, I only saw 5 strays, so I was pretty slow.  The first 12 miles were fine, but I really felt the lack of training in the last looooong, straight, Alamodome finish in view, but it's not getting any closer, stretch. 

So, of course, those are the only pics I have - and they sure are the ugliest.

Here I am, pretending to be normal for a couple of strides..

Then being a clown and acting like I still have energy

The race finished in the Alamodome, a la the old marathon course - I was about 1/3 mile away, and, checking my Garmin, was thankful that the course might be a little short (the old marathon finish involved entering the tunnel and finishing).  I was secretly fine with a short course.  No such luck - I entered the tunnel and had to run AROUND the inside of the Dome to finish. 

Had the course been short, I may have been able to finish looking like a normal runner; however, that extra lap brought out the crazy running chicken...

Yep, total crazy chicken. And here's what a crazy running chicken looks like when she checks out how chicken-like she is on the jumbotron....

SURPRISED crazy running chicken!  So, that kind of hurt and was my 4th 13.1+ mile race of the year (not counting the Ragnar relay).  I have learned my lesson, did not race this weekend (worked OT, since the future's looking bleak), and don't plan on running another half marathon waaaay until next Sunday.

Thanks to capstonephoto.com for the pics - I'm sure you don't mean that bottom bit.  If you do, I AM buying one of these pics and have no money, so suing me is a bust.