Two a days...

When I started my current job, I realized just HOW much of a hypochondriac I am.  With every file I wrote, I was sure I had hepatitis, degenerative disc disease, and even cyclical vomiting syndrome (it's real - I looked it up).  Gradually, I've convinced myself that I probably (luckily) don't have those impairments - and definitely not the prostate problems.  Yet, I remain fascinated with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - and I mentally diagnose EVERYONE around me.  Yes, even you as you read this - in doing so, you are clearly disturbed, and I am diagnosing you with bad things. 

My favorite is 'diagnosing' (NOTE:  I have NO formal medical training other than CPR and First Aid) people by their groceries in the HEB line.  Today, I determined the lady in front of me was clearly compulsive - her groceries were ordered heaviest to lightest, with coldest near the end - she has way too many cats and dogs, buys too many organic vegetables that will likely end up as compost, and she probably drinks too much Sauvignon Blanc.  Clearly a mess.  Then, I realized those were MY groceries, and my diagnosis was DEAD ON.  I love being right - mostly.

So, that's just the long way of saying I may be a little anxious/obsessive/compulsive - let's just say "not otherwise specified."  Before the Women's 5K, I sign up for every race I find, in order to market the Women's 5k.  After the Women's 5K, I sign up for every race I find, because see above.  So, I ended up registering for two races this past Saturday, compulsively, perhaps.

The first was the Fleet Feet Sunrise 5k (in a moment of lucidity, I dropped down to the 5K distance).  It was hot, but held in a nice venue, with a shady course. Here's before the race and the start:

And the finish...

Check out those new shoes!
Surprisingly (okay, shockingly), I ended up 2nd in my new old lady age group...

and we hung out in the hot, hot sun...

Then, I went home and obsessively sucked down water, napped, picked up my next race packet, drank some more water, napped some more, and got ready for the Scallywompus Battle of the Mac Pac 8K.  It was also blazing hot.  Before the race - that's water in the cup - I was still desperately trying to rehydrate and maybe trying not to look goofy.

 and we're off...

 Looking like a crazy running chicken .1 miles in - this could be bad

But I'm a SMILING crazy running chicken.

And done.  No medal for this one.  That is NOT my time (the 8K was on a delayed start).
After that, I worked on dehydrating...

And was on the lookout (paranoid?) for paparazzi

But I got over it and danced some...

with a water bottle slung over my shoulder.  Because that's how real dancers do it.
Luckily, better dancing followed.

And then I went home and obsessively drank water and slept - a lot. 

Next up is the Loteria 5K and some major housecleaning.  My OCD only applies to chores to the extent that I obsessively think about how much I don't want to clean the house and compulsively avoid such tasks by going for a run.

Thanks to IAAP, Victor, Michele, Scallywompus, and Emily Daum for the pics!

Last Saturday of Fiesta

I didn't participate in many Fiesta events this year, but this Saturday I was in the King William Fair Parade and Fiesta Fandango Run (before the Fiesta Flambeau Parade) - both in high heat and humidity and dressed in the finest Santa Claus suits Chinese children could construct (that last part may not QUITE be true).  But the rest was - it was uncomfortable, but fun.

First up was the King William Fair parade in the morning - this was a nice walk, handing out candy and seeing friends along the route.

Then, in the evening was the Fiesta Fandango ~2.6ish mile run.  With 1000s and 1000s of fans waving turkey legs and cheering us on.

Before:

During

we took off our pants around mile two (just kidding)

and after (yeah, those jackets came off FAST)

Whew - looking L-A-R-G-E and ugly - but fun running with the Brak Pak.

Here's a video by Ceci of us being goofy...

Thanks to Victor, Darlene, Dulce, Fumi, ScottyDog, Ceci, and Tom Lake/SARR for the pics!  Next up - 200 miles in Cape Cod.  Then, some more races and travel.  Then, I sleep (at the end of May).

Back to back-to-back

I know I said I was going to cut back on the races - but I'm pretty sure I just meant cutting back on races over a half marathon distance until maybe March.  Unless I change my mind again.

So, this weekend started out with the Rodeo Stampede 4 miler on Saturday.

Yep, it's February, and I'm wearing a skirt.  But it did start drizzling at mile 3, so I should have run faster.

The next day was the Be my Valentine 5k at the San Antonio Art Museum.

I was apparently confused when I ordered my shirt - but I can't really decide when I register three months before the race.

To clarify - I checked all over my house - nobody here but me and the critters, so really....

Because that means I don't have to share my paycheck, my beer, or my funky socks my nephews got me (really, some of the guys I've dated...).  But it could also be the result of my alter ego - the crazy running chicken.  Here the chicken comes...

temporarily distracted by ducks on the river

But then the chicken spies the paparazzi for whom to mug

and prepares for takeoff.  Somehow, even that wingspan does not improve my speed.

yet I still finished in fine chicken form

But, afterward, the chicken wore off...

Thanks to Ceci, IAAP, Hurache Turbo, Belinda, and Scotty Dog for the pics.  Next weekend I will really (really) only run one race.

Superbowl 7K

So, when I said I was cutting back on racing, I meant it, but not in the form of running fewer races.  For the record, I am not registered for any half marathons or longer distances in February (just a fewsixorso other races).

None of which occurred on Saturday - when I responsibly worked overtime and did not run.  But, on Sunday, given what I knew would be a fairly dull Superbowl by my standards, I ran the Superbowl 7K, representing the (not playing, obviously) Packers.  It was a fun course, beginning at the HEB arsenal and winding through King William, Southtown, and the River Walk South (complete with steps and 1,000ish runners crowded onto a 3-foot wide path). 

Next up - back-to-back 5Ks this weekend - MUCH better than back-to-back half marathons, I think.  In the meantime, feel free to check out the SARR February 2013 newsletter, featuring Guinness Book of World Record holder Larry Macon and the Brak Pak - (almost) equally famous, I also think. 

Thanks to Scottydog for the pic.

Back to back - And I don't wanna miss a thing

Cue Aerosmith.  Let me try this - listen here while you read?

So, to finish out almost 65 miles of racing in January, I ran the Endurathon (hilly) half marathon on Saturday and the Herothon half marathon on Sunday.  Because, I don't wanna miss a thing (and I'm dumb).  I laid back in training - just 12 or so miles per week - but laid on the racing mileage this month.  I do NOT recommend this approach.

So, Saturday I headed out in the drizzle to run the Endurathon HM through the hills of Bulverde.  It was not pretty.

Ironically, though I did not get eaten earlier this month during ~20 miles in Florida by an alligator or 25k in Big Bend by a mountain lion/bear, I almost got crushed by a deer in this race.  But I saw a llama, a pig, goats, horses, cows, and many doggies.  But it still hurt - especially during the uphill finish - this certainly ain't pretty

And then I took some food, a shower, and a nap - and continued on the weekend-long marathon.  (Note: it's almost easier to just run 26.2 in one shot, rather than taking an 18-hour break in between half marathons).  So, I went to pick up my race packet at the expo as "Laura Guerrero" (not my usual alias - but it is now my superhero name).

and I tried to look tough - but I really just went to go eat and sleep some more.  'Cause that's what superheroes do.

And then I hit the road again for another 13.1 miles.  I won't lie - my mind was beat and my body was beat (and really not decently trained), but I did it (albeit in tights - I hate tights, but I needed some reinforcement to keep my legs and knee from spontaneously exploding).

yeeks.

But, there's worse --

yep, classic crazy running chicken form. Cluck cluck.

But, I am not a one-show/pose pony - I still can put on a great running zombie closer to the finish

 Wait, no, upon closer examination (I dare you to zoom that pic) - that is clearly surprised crazy running chicken form.

And then, there is that wonderful moment.  That moment when you realize that you have 0.1 miles to finish 65 miles of race route over the mere 31 days of the month.  Because you clearly couldn't miss out on a thing, because you are dumb, because it is almost done...

And then it is - in perhaps the worst finish time ever

But I finished and got a sparkly medal

So, I made it through a 5k, 197 mile relay in Florida, 25k trail in Big Bend, and 2 HMs in a month.  I didn't die, but I may need to edit my races and only do what is sensible, and not what is available.  Riiiiiiiiight - I don't wanna miss a thing.  So, next up, Superbowl 7k on Sunday.  Yeah, I don't learn lessons very well.

Thanks to Belinda, Tom Lake/SARR, and Endurophoto for the pics