Written on July 28, 2009
So, I didn't die. I thought I was going to die. I predicted I was going to die before the start. Since I am typing this right now I guess I didn't die.
This is the story of the Pink Course - Part Deux!
I never know before hand which course it will be. This is only the third time I've done it. Apparently there are four courses but since it has been such a rainy summer a few of them have been closed.
I got dressed this afternoon and was already nervous because of the temperature. It was over 80 degrees. Normally, in that kind of weather I am indoors, hiding under a hat sipping something cold or in water. Running outside in that kind of heat is something I NEVER, EVER do. Except today.
I ate well today. I hydrated well today. I bought some Powerade and sipped it on the drive. I got there and parked. I decided to jog a round a little bit to warm up and try to shake off the stupid butterflies. I guess it did warm me up but it did not get rid of the butterflies. Butterflies that I have no idea why they are there. I am not there to win. I am not actually racing. To me, it is part of my half marathon training. I am not out for speed.
I march myself and my cash up to registration and as I walk in I hear someone behind the counter say "it is the pink course tonight". I instantly thought I was going to throw up. My heart rate shot up and I paid and started breathing hard. I pinned my number on and started jogging a little more.
I met up with The Rock (Nikki) and her posse. I tried to talk myself down as did they. They were all wonderfully supportive. Which is great. That is the one thing I truly appreciate about this group. There is friendly competition but everyone is cheering you on.
The kids race starts and ends and I still feel nauseous. I am chit chatting and wallowing in my fear and not really noticing that the race is starting. So I take off and immediately start huffing and puffing. I try to gain some composure as I meander through the first twists and turns.
Eventually I find my breath but I am still feeling like someone might be behind me chasing me with a gun or something. Slowly the butterflies dissipate and as they do the first tough part comes. I huff and I puff and blooooooooooow the butterflies out. I trudge up the hill and then down and then zig zag. So far so good.
Then I hit the hill that made me walk the last time. I looked and it and wanted to stop and walk but I didn't. I did slow down because it was hot, for me, and I was seriously sucking wind. I didn't stop and I didn't walk. I made it up the hill and felt a brief moment of victory. Then we headed into the woods.
Holy crap... Well, the good thing is that it was less muddy. The bad thing is that the course didn't change. It is like some kind of ridiculous trail roller coaster except you have to run it. I went up and down and zigged and zagged and hoped and jumped. Then, then...the big drop. Seriously it is almost going straight down and the back up again. Last time, I stopped and looked it at. Then I said a few colorful words and slowly, went down sideways. This time, I slowed down on my approach and went for it. The bad thing...it was scary as hell. The good thing, it gave me great momentum to get up the other side.
I trudged through, jogging, running and shuffling along. Talking to myself the whole time. Trying to convince myself that I could do this. I kept at it, as people passed me. Trying not to feel bad about being passed.
There were more of those windy, twisty, snaky paths. I got through it. Slowly but surely. Then it was close to the end. The last big hill and even though I knew I could have kept jogging or shuffling along I didn't. I walked..power walked up. As soon as I did it I knew it was a bad idea. I kept walking, pumping my arms and trying to muster up the energy to drag my butt up that hill. As I got to the top I started jogging again. I was able to keep a steady until the end.
This time I finished before the 80yr olds.
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