visualize thin: Running, its about the Journey

Both races I have participated in this month have served as reminders for this - the first being my first Trail race and 25K the Lake McMurtry trail race put on by TATUR - the Race Director TZ (Trail Zombie) did a good job of a post race blog using several pics we (Susan, Nicole and myself took) so I will just direct you over there clicky here. Our small contingent of runners had one goal in mind - to finish last. Susan and myself had a half in Big D (Dallas) the following week and did not want to injure ourselves... but as any trail runner will tell you its not a trail run till you fall - and I took a doozie - landed face first - new camera toppled out of my pocket and disappeared. I discovered this about a mile later with a 4 mile loop to go. I faced two choices - turn back and find it or finish my loop and then look for it. As I already had a blister forming on my left foot I chose to finish my loop and head back out. I also picked up

the pace a bit and was able to keep ultra runner and uber fast TATUR Stormy in my sights for maybe a mile - no small feat since he runs at roughly half my pace... I finished that loop rather quickly all things considered and shockingly enough I did locate my new and missing camera with a triumphant YAHTZEE!!! I then wandered my way back to my tail companions I had left in the dust in my rush to locate said camera. Our goal of being the last finishers was achieved - my time was 5:44:00. And I was nursing some terrific blisters to boot. But this race coupled with A2A 14 days prior was enough to get me into the Half Fanatics as Asylum number 935. I took a day off from training to allow my feet some recovery before Bif D.

Saturday morning Susan and I departed for Dallas after eating breakfast at Ihop - where I was lucky enough to contract food poisoning - yay. After feeling queasy for about 3 hours of this drive a healthy puking inside the Texas border and all was right with the world. We got to bed at a decent hour - while my little brother Matt danced the night away at his Sr prom. He picked me up at my hotel at 6:35 in the AM and we were off to the race! This was to be Matt's first half and his longest run to date - the previous being a 5 miler.

And this is where the big sister camera monster comes out to play. Its ok his mom's a photographer - he is used to it!

We took a quick pic to send to the family pre race.

Matt asked where his OSU shirt was - oh yeah. That made me so proud ;-) after all what do you wear to TX? I wear my colors - ORANGE AND BLACK!

These were taken at miles 4, 7, and 9. This was my slowest half finish yet but the heat and humidity were the main factors - not my bother. He wanted me to go faster but I just didn't have it in me the weather was at least 20 degrees hotter than what I have trained in and my energy was zapped. To be perfectly honest it was the first time I have started a race and already wanted to quit. Having him there prevented me having that option. We finished with 3:19 ish times and me nursing 3 new blisters and 2 toenails threatening to disappear... as of today I suspect only one is a goner.

It was pretty cool crossing the finish line and putting the medal on my kid brother.

After the race there were showers on hand and we all felt a bit more human after taking one.

Matt took a quick nap while we waited on Brian to finish the full. Yes this was my slowest half to date and the conditions were not idea, food poisoning, humidity, heat....