Baby, I was born to run (in the rain, snow, sleet?)!

Saturday, March 28, 2009 6:00 a.m.-Not a drop of rain!
So the weatherman had been prediciting maybe a few inches of snow on Saturday morning, so I was up early to monitor the weather since our 20 mile run was scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m. Since there wasn't a drop of rain outside, I thought I would stop procrastinating and head out.
6:55 a.m.-Pouring rain and thunder (what the heck was I thinking!?)
So at this point I am in my car next to April, when Kelly hops in my car. We are all debating about if they are having the run or not. Everyone is there sitting in their cars. Finally, Kelly makes a move suggesting we just go get started.
7:30 a.m.-We are jogging at a nice pace in the rain. It is about 38 degrees. Which sounds cold, but when you are running you produce a lot of heat!
Kelly and I are running directly in front of some boys that have to be either in high school or college. This is providing endless amusement for us, as they feel free to discuss all sorts of colorful topics! One of which being tights.
End of first 5 mile lap-Kathy is there waiting for us with snacks and water. We don't spend much time there. Instead we spend a good 5-10 minutes in the restrooms trying to dry out our gloves!
By this time it has went from sleet to snow. The sleet was misrable, as it hit you in the face (my only exposed surface) it hurt! So it is obviously getting colder outside. But, we smile our big girl smiles, and get back out there. We actually have a very scenic 5 mile loop, the snow is beautiful. And, it is not getting us nearly as wet as the rain, so this loop seems to go by very fast.
End of our second 5 mile lap-Kathy has bailed-lucky dog! Only a few runners are left. Kelly and I hit the road hoping that this experience will be worth it in the end! This lap turned bad very fast! The snow was coming down a lot heavier, making some of the surfaces very slick! And, the temperature has dropped a lot. We really don't even talk for most of the loop. Which if you know me (and I would assume if you are reading this you do, is very unusual for me!) At some point Kelly and I discuss the possiblity that this was a little crazy, but we both just decide that we are very dedicated. There is a very thin line between dedication, and frost bite appearently!
End of the 3rd loop (so 15 miles completed) I am starting to have second thoughts. I can't feel my toes, and my hands hurt. I had two pairs of gloves, but both are soaking wet by this point. But, we start out on the final loop. It appears that all the other runners have went home. The snow is heavy, and I am seriously worried about my toes. I think I may need them-don't they help with balance? And, since I am not all that graceful, I am pretty sure that losing one might effect my running!
When we arrive at the 11th street bridge I really notice how much snow has accumulated. Crud, I still have to drive back to Owasso. I am really conflicted at this point, I have come too far to quit is what my mind is saying, but I am also thinking none of this is going to matter if I get into a car accident. My mind is going back and forth over all of these thougths! Plus, running is sort of like the military, you don't leave a fellow runner behind. So I tell Kelly, that I think we need to go back. But, Kelly is determined to see the 20 miles through-plus, she lives within walking distance (if that was necessary) of the loop. So we part ways. I head back to my car feeling defeated, frustrated, and sad that I left Kelly! I look accoss the river for her as I am running on the other side, but the snow is too thick to see the other bank. I am so lonely at this point (so I can't imagine how Kelly felt finishing the final 4 miles). So I decided to pick up the pace, and just get back! So I end up with a little over 17 miles for the day.
Follow up to that day: Kelly finished her 20 miles, we both arrived home safely, and Owasso ended up with approximately 10 inches of snow.
Sunday, March 29, 2009-4:00 p.m.-Beautiful, sunny and 60 degrees!
I head out to Riverside thinking that I will run 3 miles just to say that I completed 20 miles. I really wasn't in the best of moods, because this felt like cheating! But, all is not lost, I ended up running 6 miles, and ran into a ton of people with Runners' World out finishing their mileage from the day before!
So 23 miles later the weekend was thankfully over!

Little Rock Half-Marathon!

Megan and I started our day off early at the La Quinta Inn in Little Rock, AR. After only a few short hours of sleep due to some drag racing (not us, but on the street outside our room), and a loud a/c unit, we were excited to be around all the other runners.
We got in the elevator on the way to go to the trolley, and some 'older' runners were already in the elevator. They made comments about our ipods. In the form of, 'you do know that ipods are illegal in the race.' Well, of course we know that ipods are 'considered' illegal, but most race officals just turn their heads. But, I started joking with the guy that I wasn't too worried about getting DQed. I was joking 'Yeah, if I get DQed they may take away my prize money.' Then he went into a long explanation of different certifications of courses, etc. Mostly I just nodded my head thinking-wow, is my ipod really worth this lecture?
Luckily, we got off the elevator, and the atmospere was contagious! We were soon riding the adrenaline rush as we waiting in line to get on the trolley.
As we arrived down to the starting line I then realized that this was going to be a big race! We met a few friends, Brenda, April, and Glen. Had a few minor snags as we waiting to get started, Brenda realized she left her timing chip at the hotel (her husband brought it down), I walked in on a guy in the bathroom (use the lock!), and I thought that the air sprays in the potta potties were hand sanitizers. But, we got through the craziness, and lined up!
The Race!
We started lining up in the 'corrals.' Yes, I did say corrals, like cattle. I kept joking with Megan, that if they had cattle prods, I bet we would all run a lot faster!
Mile 1 & 2-These miles were rough due to the amount of people. There were a lot of people entered as 'walker' and it was tough going to try to get through the people. Lots of weaving back and forth, and that is tough.
I hate to see them leave, but I love to watch them go...
Megan and I came upon a photographer, and we began smiling, until we noticed he was actually facing the other direction (like he was taking pictures of the back of the runners.) We both, being typical women, start freaking out! We didn't want him taking pics of our backsides. Then we realized that he was actually taking pics of the wheelchair 5K participants coming from the other direction. Ooops!
Mile 2 & 3-My own personal cheerleader. Megan had thought she would run with me for the first few miles, then want to slow down. I swear it was the other way. She was so great-she knew I had a time I wanted to make, and she was going to make me get that time no matter what!
Mile 4 & 5-Megan is riding her own personal running high. I am struggling-I now fully am understanding the effects of not doing a very good taper. A taper is when you don't run as much the week before a race, so that you are fresh the day of the race. I decided that I was superwoman, and ran just as much as I normally do. And, we are keeping a faster pace than we would normally for a long run, as well as trying to play catch up from our slow start.
Other notable mentions from these few miles, Little Rock is a marathon town! The entire way has spectators cheering you on. At one point there is a house handing out beer-which we did see a girl take a quick swig as she ran by! We also ran by the mayor of Little Rock.
Mile 6 & 7-We begin to slow a little bit, we had been running a fairly quick pace for about 4 miles, and are both beginning to hurt. But, just when I am thinking that this is getting too hard, we encounter the 'Methodist Mile.' Which I have to say was the coolest thing ever to me for some reason! The entire choir from the church is standing outside singing, and there are a bunch of people outside cheering. I loved that moment, and it is one that has stayed with me.
Mile 8 & 9-Wow, what to say...not much at this point! We run by a lady yelling at all the runners, comments vary..'you are not tired'...'you keep going girl'....'you can do this'...'you better pick up the pace'...'you run up that hill, baby'...'you better stop slowing down!' This cracked us up! Also, around this point we run by the governor's mansion. Kind of neat.
Mile 10 & 11-Okay, we are getting close. All I needed to see was that Mile 10 marker. I pick up the pace-Megan mentions that I now 'have a little pep in my step.' I remember this so well! Thank you Megan! Also want to mention at this point, we have our names on our race numbers. I took my long sleeve shirt where mine was pinned at about 1/2 mile! But, Megan still had hers on, and people have been saying 'Go, Roper(her last name)' for the entire race. But, she is just now noticing that people are calling out her name!
We also pass another church that has a ton of kids standing out front with their hands out for high fives. I have to stop to give them all high fives-I figured that a better time, was not worth not giving these kids that were out on a Sunday morning to cheer us on a quick high five. Another highlight of the race for me!
Mile 12 & 13-So we pass the mile marker for mile 12 twice. It appears that since the marathoners veer off course for about 1/2 mile, their mile 12 comes a little before the half marathoners mile 12. What the h***! Are you serious! I was seriously excited when we saw the first mile 12 marker, because I thought Megan and I were about 5 minutes ahead of our goal. Then when they told us that was only for the marahoners-I was a little ticked off. Oh, well off and running! We hit mile 12 with energy. Megan stops for a drink yelling she would catch up, but I just keep going. At mile 12.75 there is a L'oreal lipstick stop which was pretty funny! But, Megan has caught up, and we are really going by this point. We cross the finish line, and I am in awe because we are so close to my goal time! Which would mean I took 10 minutes off my Route 66 time. We go get our metals, and they are offering those funny foil blankets again. So I line up telling the guy 'Wrap me up, please!' Megan finds this so funny that I finally was willing to get wrapped up in the blanket. We grab our snack packs and head off to get our picture taken.
Megan is riding the high from finishing her first half marathon! She had thought she would finish in 2:30, instead our 'official time' is 2:12! We are both excited, and both agree if we wouldn't have had to weave so much in the first couple of miles, we would have hit 2:10.
Things I learned:
1) A friend that is willing to make sure you get your goal time is one of the best friends you will ever have!
2) Never ever, ever believe the people who tell you things such as 'It's all down hill from here' or 'the hills aren't that bad.' They are never true! A bunch of people in Little Rock have shirts saying either 'What Hills?' or 'Got Hills?' Funny, huh? Just wait until you are the one running!
3) Tapering is a serious thing-I will take tapering very seriously from now on!
4) Some older gentlemen runners do not find it amusing when you bump their hand on accident, then joke 'sorry, I just just trying to hold your hand.' Just ask Megan! This guy had no sense of humor.
5) Hey as long as you are not planning on winning, or trying to qualify for Boston, blow off the rules! We both ran with our ipod the entire race (neither one of us turned them on), but hey some rules are made to be broken!
6) Body Glide, or Vaseline can save your hide! I had to use some in a sensitive area where my skirt tag rubs (my backside!) But, it literally saved my butt.
7) Last but not least, those foil blankets are lifesavers. They really keep you warm as your body cools down. Plus, it makes me laugh to watch everyone look like baked potatoes that are about to go in the oven.
Oh, and I want to thank Little Rock Marathon organizers for my new obsession with Little Debbie treats. Those things are awesome!