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).

Big Bend 25K and insanity

In recent years, I do not know why I've felt compelled to run a bunch of longer-distance runs in January.  It's not smart, training-wise.  I train for a marathon in October, goof off but make it through the RNR HM in November, then chow and short-run my way through December.  But, then, I pile it on in January.   Because I may be slightly insane.

I have self-diagnosed a bunch of impairments in the DSM - I'm pretty sure I have most of them.  But, I'm not sure that "not missing out on anything" is a diagnostic criterion for any of those illnesses.  Perhaps under personality disorders or some sort of mania?  I have been told I (and been accused of) compulsively running; but really, my racing is part of not wanting to be left out of anything fun.  I am really agitated when I missed out on something I could have experienced - and always will participate, even at the expense of sleep.  Like I said, not a precise symptom, but I'm pretty sure I can lobby for "Sally disorder," coded as 301.!! - don'twannamissoutonanything disorder in the new DSM.

So, now that we've diagnosed me with a pretend disorder, let me offer the proof of my symptoms (since this is what I do at work - OMG - intrusive thoughts about work = obsessive disorder!).  It's really hard to do my job when I am a wicked hypochondriac.

January's plan is 65 miles of racing, with not much training.  Yep.  If you can call what I do racing.  But, there was the Cobweb 5K, the Ragnar 197 mile relay (about 20 miles for me in Florida), rest/OT one weekend, and this past weekend - the Big Bend 25k trail run.  It's a dang long drive - but this is one beautiful race (except for me)...

 Yeah, rough but beautiful.  So, after a 7 hour drive home without cruise control, I eeked out a short walk and run this week.  And I plan to run a hilly HM on Saturday and another HM on Sunday. 

I'm pretty sure there is no pill for this disorder - and, if there were, I don't take pills - but I'm pretty sure you should c'mon and join me in my mania.  Until I nap, because that WILL be happening this weekend - and maybe for the next month.

side/non-running note - CONGRATULATIONS to Gerry & Jona - I was honored to attend the beautiful Terlingua wedding

I'm technically a doctor (well, JD) - but I can diagnose Jerry as pure crazy - not for marrying a wonderful gal, but for running the 50K the next day - true insanity!

Thanks to Rose for the extra pic!  Next up: Endurathon HM, Herothon HM, SLEEP

Rock N Roll 'famous'

As you know, I am no stranger to fame.  Or, really, 'fame,' defined as randomly having my pic and/or quotes published in local periodicals, the Star, as the IAAP 'covergirl,' and other such appearances.

Well, now I made the Rock N Roll San Antonio Marathon event guide for the second time.  Of course, you do remember when I was 'famous' back in the November 2009 edition - right? 

Well, I just returned from the Rock N Roll expo and opened the 2012 event guide

No, I did not model for the cover. But inside.....

is a list of 'legacy' runners - those who have participated in the event every year since the inaugural 2008 marathon.  And, here I am, among 468 other legacy buddies.

Yep, "legacy" is close enough to "famous" for me!

Next up: Rock N Roll HM - then autograph signing, I'm sure (not really).

The time I beat the Russian Gymnast

I ran the Sunrise 10k last Saturday - tough course - hot and hilly.  But, I clearly watched too much Olympics coverage and was experiencing withdrawals.  In these finish line shots, I tried for the extra artistic points - you can't see, but I was tossing one of those balls, a hula hoop, and a ribbon in the air - but I threw them REALLY high.

Then I did a quadruple back flip with a 3/4 twist and layout - and totally stuck the landing

too bad Ceci only caught my super landing - that 1/4 step did end up costing me a half of  a point.  I'm appealing.  Bella supports me on this 100%.  (Not Béla Károlyi - Bella, a cross-dressing waiter I know from my days living on Mulberry, but he's more stylish than that Romanian.)

Thanks for the pics, Ceci.  Next up - a crudload of running.

Back to the training schedule

Well, more or less.  I have been running a bunch, trying desperately to get (minimally) prepared for the Hartford Marathon in October.  This may be ugly - both the marathon and the pics below.

I ran the Alamo Beer Series race #2 (Battle of the Mac Pack) 16k last Saturday - but had to divide my long run and add about 6-7 miles in the morning.  So, here was the second run of the day:

It was a hot one.  So was Thursday night's Brak Pak run - here's my backside (thanks, Michele) -- as I look like a crazy running chicken - or maybe a T-Rex, chasing down small Valerie prey.  Awesome.

The after shot.  It was supposed to be 6 miles - but it was long (Joe lied!).

Next up, Sunrise 10k on Saturday, a bunch of other life stuff Saturday, and then the big bad 17 miles on Sunday.  Then?  You guessed it - I sleep.  Thanks to DL Morrison and Michele for the pics!

Whew - July ALREADY?

I've been running a little ragged here lately - literally and figuratively.  So much so that I overslept on my birthday and missed the Freedom 4 miler!  Not that such a misstep stopped me from joining in the post-race festivities.

This Saturday was the inaugural Free-da's 5k at the University of the Incarnate Word (my friend and frequent fotog, Ceci, was the race director) - I managed to wake up (EARLY!) for this hot race!  Here I am photobombing Ceci's race pics

wait for it....

ahhhhhhhh!  Sallybombed.

half crazy running chicken, half zombie.  Afterward, I did a little crazy running chicken cool down while I promoted the Women's 5k (yep, it's July 21 - eek)

and after the sweat dried

Then, I ran 12 hot, humid miles this morning - and iced my knee while enjoying fruit from Las Nieves (two blocks away ~32 ounces of fresh fruit, including mango, coconut, and pineapple for $4).

Yum.  Next up, Alamo Beer Series race #1 on Friday night - then, I scramble like a Sallybadger to get ready for the Women's 5k.

Thanks to Ceci, Tom, IAAP, and SARR for the pics

No race weekend

After an expensive week or so (limping Gwen's vet visit, my knee MRI, tire damage...), I did not race this weekend and instead did fun stuff like working overtime and cleaning the house.  On Sunday, I planned on getting some yardwork done, working on correspondence for the Women's run, and walking/running the Women's run course.  Unfortunately, as I sat down for my pre-productive day bowl of fruit, I noticed that Vaca the cat was panting.  Panting is NEVER a good thing for felines.  So, instead, I spent most of the day at the vet's - and Vaca spent the night.  And then I spent enough on diagnostic testing to melt my credit card and put my vet's future child through a year of online courses.

All told, Vaca got this crappy furcut

and a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy.  Not great news and incurable, but manageable.  My giant orange cat, Rojito (RIP), was diagnosed with the same during treatment for hepatic lipidosis, and he lived large for 3 more years (and did not succomb to heart disease).  So, now the critters are on more medications than me (so far - MRI is pending), but we are chillaxing --

Next up: Providence to Pearl 5k, more OT (vet bills, remember?!), and maybe a Sunday race