Wed with the Fishes

Monday, April 5, 2010

Grasslands Half Marathon

The weather was the race this year. March 20 turned out to have freezing temps, hail, pouring rain, snow, red mud, black mud, green mud, gray mud, brown mud, mud, mud, mud. I had done the triathlon the weekend before and then it was spring break which was also a recovery week for my training. By the time Friday night rolled around I was doing push-ups and sit-ups like a crazy woman in my living room I was so antsy and wound-up from the time off. Poor Evan, I was seriously going crazy I had so much energy. Needless to say, no amount of rain or mud was going to stop me from running on Saturday.

Until the last mile (which was hell), I don't know if I've ever had so much fun running. The terrain was just ridiculous. The only way I could figure out how to run uphill in the mud was to pretend I had on cross-country skis and wedge my way up. Going down I would just dig my heels in and go as fast as I could handle. It was so fun. The fact that I had so much energy to expend really helped my optimistic mood and the other runners and volunteers were just amazing. Beth and Diana did this race with me also and everything is just more fun when the two of them are around.

At one point we realized we had gone the wrong way and a group of us helped each other jump barbed wire. I LOVE TRAIL RUNNING!! Man, this crazy race is the epitome of why I love running. I just loved being around all the other runners who didn't think twice about driving in the pitch black early morning, to the middle of nowhere, to run in the freezing mud.

Thanks to the amount of DNS and DNF (did not show, did not finish) participants, Beth, Diana and I all placed in the top 10 women overall for the Half Marathon. I was 7th. I wonder what the weather will be like next year? : )

St Patrick's Day Triathlon

St Patrick's Day Triathlon was put on by Dallas Athletes at the Keller Natatorium on March 14. It was pretty chilly still and my hands froze on the bike. It took me forever to take my helmet off in the second transition because my fingers were numb! My first race of the season ended up how I expected, slower then normal times on the swim and bike and a personal record on the run. Pretty much sums up how I spent my winter...running. : )

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Cross Timbers 13.1 Trail Race

Starting from Juniper Point West on the South side of Lake Texoma, this race is not for people who hate hills! It seems you are always going up or coming back down. A tough course, but like last year, so much fun with really great people and a fantastic overall event. The aid stations are so great at trail events, tons of candy and sandwiches, chips and pretzels. There's always tons of stuff to aid any issues that might come up like papaya enzymes, Tums, ibuprofen, salt tablets, Vaseline, Kleenex. Basically if you need it, they have it. Although I didn't have my best day, I felt really run down and depleted, I still would rather spend a Saturday morning with great friends playing in the mud and running in the woods than doing just about anything.

Me, Beth, Diana after the race.

I'm almost done!

Ah...the mud pit. Me and Diana

We actually got a guy to stop and take our picture during the race! I love trail runners!!

Diana coming up the final hill.

It was hard to believe between the 3 of us we only had one fall...at least she did it in the soft mud pit! : )

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Snow Running in Dallas!

We ventured out to the trails this past weekend, how often (never) do you get to run in snow in Texas?! We had a great time maneuvering around fallen trees and branches, flooded crossings and huge mud pits. Wet, cold shoes the whole time but worth the enjoyment of playing around in the woods for 2 hours!