Sorry I’m so lame and have been missing lately. I promise I’m not off having secret, fun adventures. I am studying for my Master’s degree comprehensive exams which are in a week and are draining my brain and my social life. But enough about that.
Amidst the studying, I have had some time to keep running. I knew going into this semester that I would need to keep running up after my half marathon for my mental sanity. So I signed up for a few races to keep me on track. It was a great strategy and reminds me that I need to get out of my apartment and take a break from the studying. Physical movement is good for brain function. It’s science or something.
(Side note: I’m totally into this picture in a narcissistic way. I keep staring at it. I think it is the way my leg looks so long and svelte? Or is it that my shining paleness attracts the eyes?)
I ran the Statesman Capitol 10k this past weekend and I had this idea that I’d be able to come back and tell you all that I had a big PR and was so proud of myself. But the morning of the race, I kind of knew that wasn’t going to happen. I had done some speed work and actually dropped 30 seconds off my average pace/mile (huge for slowpokes like me) and I thought I could drop time off my old 10k time. But then I realized the race started at 9am. And then I woke up not excited at all. I just wasn’t there, mentally.
Like my awesome Hunger Games shirt? Not a single person complimented me. Jerks.
WTF who plans a race at 9am in March in Texas? It was already 70* and climbing by the time the race started, which really isn’t that hot. But then the sun wouldn’t go away and there was not even a breeze. I saw people on stretchers and passed out on the side of the road with IVs because of the heat. It didn’t seem like it was that hot, but everyone around me was dying too. I took far more walking breaks than I did during my entire half marathon and crossed the finish line looking like this:
So sexy it hurts. I know.
I may or may not have puked at the end. The combination of needing water to not dehydrate and not needing water because it makes me feel sick when I run is not good. I drank too much for my stomach but not nearly enough for the warm run.
Discouraged, I grabbed a banana and hiked back to my car. I was pretty upset. I spent all day sulking. And then I got over it. I have another 10k coming up in a couple weeks, at 8am instead of 9am, and I’m going into it prepared to remember that “bad” races can happen and I should just enjoy what my body can do, no matter what speed.
Countdown to exam: 6 days
Countdown to visiting Rahul: 7 days
Countdown to moving to DC: 45 days
I LOVE YOUR HUNGER GAMES SHIRT!!! I wore my Hunger Games shirt to a race over the weekend too and was surprised more people weren’t also dressed for the Hunger Games. It was an epic event, for sure!
Ha yes – fishing for compliments worked!!! But thank you
I know that I had to have run past people who got the reference (I had it on the back, too, for extra compliment-baiting) and seriously not a word. Glad you joined me in the HG shirt wearing this weekend, though!
Great post! I laughed out loud in a couple of spots. Keep on working – not every day is a great day.
Thanks, Jason! “Not every day is a great day” is a good mantra for those days I feel like crap — at least I’m out there doing it and trying!
I read this and all I could think was….where is the count down to seeing your mom? I have been replaced in importance! Then it stuck me that I wasn’t thinking about maternal pride in my child for running or even shirt making…what kind of mom have I become? HAHA Hurry and come to the east coast so I can remember to think of you again and not me!!!
Gosh Mom stop hating on me
So glad you feel maternal pride that your 23 year old daughter was able to stencil letters onto a shirt. You should be beaming.
45 days til our roadtrip WAHOO!
What a bunch of bitch-runners, how did they not notice how awesome your shirt is!?!? And your pale svelt leg!?
that picture IS enticing.
70 degrees is much too hot for PR conditions. Good you got over it, you will have your opportunity to show off the hard work.
Also. Your mom is cute.
RIGHT?! The shirt + the paleness… maybe it was too much to handle.
Maybe I’ll secretly get really fast over the summer (hahah) and come back in the fall and kick butt. One day.
And yeah, that mom of mine
NICE SHIRT!!! I saw that on a sign during a half marathon in October and I yelled to the person “KATNISS!!!!!!!” and he was like “good catch!” It definitely brightened my race. Anyway, that is a really funny finish line picture actually. I’m sorry the race was so shitty, but you know, it happens. Sounds like poor planning on the race administrator’s part.
You know what? I remember reading someone’s race recap about seeing the sign and yelling Katniss (right after I finished the first book) and thinking that it would be an awesome shirt. I couldn’t remember who wrote it — glad to know it was YOUR recap!! I laughed hard when I saw that picture. I usually look sorta okay in race pictures but that just takes the cake. Here’s to the next race! (And the Richmond half with you in November!)
Jesus. Sounds so freaking hott there right now. Anyways, you look banging and great job!