Looks like we made it....

I love being almost famous, and I almost missed this one - until a college buddy sent me a message, and I dug the magazine out of recycling.  This magazine has featured many fellow alums, including Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Sylvia Plath, Julia Child, and more.  When Tara and I ran the Hartford marathon last Fall, we joked that our 'dull' lives were not SQ worthy....well, here we go - we aren't First Ladies, haven't climbed Everest, and haven't (yet) written the next great American novel.....but we made it (this far).

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.

Almost famous, yet again

I do love me some (almost) fame!  As you recall, I've graced many a page and screen in the past years.  So, imagine my surprise when my eagle-eyed buddy, Bob, informed me I was in the Jan/Feb 2013 NFIT Woman magazine:

That is not me on the cover.  My nose is smaller.  But, when you turn to page 56 - BAM:

Yesssssssssssssssss!  An actual, published, ugly race pic.  Unfortunately, this was taken near the beginning of the Street 2 Feet 5k, so while I have my eyes closed, zombie expression, and the beginning of chicken wings, I had not yet deployed the full-out crazy running chicken look. 

You can check out the full story - in full screen (eek) here
http://issuu.com/nfit/docs/nfit_woman_janfeb2013_issuu

Don't hate me because I'm (almost) famous.  Next, I'm targeting the cover of Runner's World. 

Still Almost Famous

As I've mentioned before, I am stalked by the paparazzi.  Okay, not really - I'm a fame 'ho, like a Kardashian.  Okay, not really - I do have a real job and press coverage just amuses me.  Immensely.  So, here's my latest brush with fame:

What do you mean, you can't get this magazine in Wisconsin?  Okay, let me virtually turn you to page 38...

(you can click on the picture to enlarge, or just put on 1-100 pairs of readers to read that teeny print).  Ceci snapped that pic two years ago, after Gwen and I completed a record-breaking 5k (over 1 hour, since Gwen had to swim in every dog pool along the way).  I really like how Gwen's stepping on the footer :x)  Now, I just need to keep her from being a fame 'ho, like her mama.

And DONE!

Speaking of sleeping - it's what I did all day today - I woke up to eat and went back to sleep, then repeated that throughout the day.  Because yesterday was my race director debut at the Women's 5k.  But first....rewind to last weekend - the Alamo Beer Challenge 10k on the Salado Creek trails.

This race was held Friday the 13th in the evening.  I had my last physical therapy appointment earlier that day and then worked on Women's 5k stuff - so I was beat and in pain even before the starting gun.  But, I enjoyed a cold Alamo Beer after the race with buddies.

Like the bib #?  After that - this past week has been spent working like crazy on the Women's 5k.  By packet pickup on Friday, we were already up to 620 entries and 0 shirts.

Raceday started at about 4 a.m. - and it was CRAZY!  Many buddies came up to me to tell me I looked really tired (thanks, buds - but I WAS, as you can see from the pics).  This year was record-breaking - 740 ladies registered (that's almost 100 over the past record) - even with the heat and humidity.  And nobody fell out - which I was REALLY worried about.  All in all, it went pretty well.

(I was trying to be HIGHLY visible in bright colors)

Lead vehicle, courtesy of my buddy, Adrian.

 

 postrace interview with Beamer

 Local television anchor, Randy Beamer, presenting awards - this was 1st in the 80+ age group runner Julia Wilkerson - I created that division, since she turned 80 this Spring and shouldn't have a bunch of 70 year olds in her age group. (Man, I do look worn down and pudgy!)

At the end with Sally #1, after awards.

Post-race with the Brak Pak folks - who helped me a LOT!

The whole photo show is here 
Randy Beamer was our MC - his story should be on Beamer's World and the Monday WOAI channel 4 news.

And now, it's time for another nap - and planning for next year!
Thanks to Tom Lake, SARR, Ceci, Lisa, and IAAP for the pics!

Almost Famous Again Again

So, this time I made the Star magazine in the Sunday Express-News

No, that's not me "wasted again!" on the cover (I don't drink vodka & red bull).  Instead, I'm on the penultimate page:

(you can click on the pic to make it bigger).  Yep, another postrun shot.  This was after the Providence 5k last weekend.  We hit the Pearl Brewery farmers' market (I have two bags of produce on my back), then wandered into the lemonade tasting, where the paparazzi caught us.  At least, this time, I knew I was getting snapped and not trying to lean out of frame - with disastrous results!

Providence 5k

It was a hot and humid morning... (Wow, I feel like Snoopy, starting 3/4 of all my race reports like that, but it was - and will be until about December.)  I headed to Providence High School for a point-to-point 5k to the Pearl Brewery on Saturday.  It was along the River walk, and much of it was the route I'd run the afternoon before with Heather, the not-a-serial-killer stranger buddy.  It was also a narrow, windy course, so that's my excuse for slow running.  And that hot and humid thing.  And just being lazy.

Anyway, the race ended at the Pearl Brewery for the Saturday morning farmers' market, which always makes me happy.  I ran into many other friends (and their dogs) there and, when I was buying hummus at Humble House Foods (they also make cheeses, tapenade, and pesto in my zip code), Marsha (the co-owner) said, "gosh, I haven't seen you in awhile."  I've had races the past couple of weeks and, last week, was only buying food for book club (small fridge/no storage).  Anyway, it made me laugh - especially since many of the other farmers routinely ask me how training is going and which race is next.  And that makes me even happier.  So - I'm enjoying a week's worth of fresh beets, arugula, spinach, onions, mushrooms, eggs, hummus, lavendar dog soap, strawberries, and blackberries.  All from less than 150 miles of mi casa.  So, that heat and humidity actually pays off and leads to my happiness.  Right?

I did not have any of my 'personal photographers' in attendance at the race, so I have no ugly race pics to post.  However, as we were leaving the market, a San Antonio Express-News fotog snapped our sweaty pic - so I may be in the newspaper coming up soon.  Dang paparazzi, I just can't shake 'em - especially at the Farmers' Market!

Premarathon nerves

I don't usually get nervous.  Except when I have to go to the doctor, get a shot, or jump/fall off high things.  But speaking in front of crowds, running most races, and other sometimes intimidating situations do not really bother me too much.  But, the last weeks before the marathon always make me anxious.  I worry about sustaining some dumb injury after all that training, and I fret that I cannot, in fact, actually make it through 26.2 miles. 

This year is no different and, actually, worse.  So, today, I went to go get a massage.  It was brutal, but necessary.  The therapist said "damn" 14 times.  Really.  Apparently, I had some major knots - and felt it.  But, she did a good job working out my bum left hip and some of the residual scar tissue in my previously-separated shoulder.  (NOTE:  I should have waited until after the Packers-Bears game for that - I'm already getting tense again!)

In other news, I'm back in the 'news.'  Gwen and I made the 'cover' of http://www.iaapweb.com/.  Ceci changes the cover, so you have to look fast, but here are some screencaps to prove it:

Gee, I hope this isn't like the Sports Illustrated jinx or curse thing or whatever!

Chupacabrapaparazzi

Now I know how Brittney feels. You're going about your business in a skirt, whether it's driving with your kid in your lap or running a crazy night trail run, and the flashbulbs start popping. Apparently, there were some chupacabra-paparazzi at the Chupacabra 10k Friday night, lurking in the dark, trying to get ugly race pictures. And they did (#63)...

Luckily, unlike Ms. Spears, I remember to wear something under my skirt in these situations:
But I was glad I just got "tripped" and "pic'd" by the chupacabra-paparazzi. My friend, Pete, sustained this chupacabra BITE!

Actually, when scouting the course during the day, he caught a branch to the head, earning him 14 stitches. Yet he still ran the race Friday night. The call of Los Chupacabras is strong...

**thanks to Chris McAllister for the pics!