Ten for Texas 2013: Race Recap

I started running again late July after a two and a half year hiatus.  I quickly signed up for a local 10-miler called Ten for Texas.  I needed a goal, so I wouldn't quit exercising in the crazy Texas summer heat.  My primary goal for the race was to finish.  However, I quickly realized that I could do better than that and pushed my goal up to 10 minute miles.  Training was going well and I finished several six milers at a 9 min pace so I decided to make my goal finish time 1:30.  This was maybe a little too ambitious.

Race day started early.  I woke before my alarm at 5:15 am.  I dressed, ate a breakfast of Nutella on toast and drank about 8 oz of gatorade.  I left the house at six.  I brought both my arm band for my iphone and my hydration belt.  I didn't intend to use my belt, but lightening and thunder made me change my mind.  I didn't want to risk my phone in a downpour.  I took all the water bottles off my hydration belt (I can't run fast with them in--too much sloshing and bouncing) and walked from the parking lot to Market Street.

Upon exiting the portapotties, I ran into my running buddies.  Serendipity.  We hadn't planned a meeting spot.  More friends joined up with us, too.  I guess the portapotties is just the place to be.



After taking pictures and chatting, we lined up in our designated zones.  I lined up at the 9 min spot, hoping to make that my goal.  The race hadn't even started yet and I was already soaking wet.  It was so hot--75 degrees already and the humidity was about 95%.  Why, oh, why, couldn't the race have taken place on Monday when the weather was perfect--50s and no humidity? Oh, well, it is what it is.  I live in Texas.



My stats aren't perfect, I started my phone early and I forgot to turn it off when I finished, but I'll put out the best numbers.

Miles 1-5:  9, 9, 9:39, 10, 9:30 I was sweating a lot, but my heart rate was good.  I was really happy to see my husband and kids just after the two mile mark!

These miles, I didn't feel like I pushing it too hard.  At mile four I realized I was slowing a bit, I worked a little harder and got my feet to turn faster and brought my pace back down a bit.  The heat and humidity were really getting to me, though.  I knew this meant I would probably have to go for my plan B under 1:40 or ten minute miles.  Woodlands Parkway has a slight uphill grade and I could feel it by mile 5.  I couldn't wait to turn the corner and start the slight downhill.

Mile 6 and 7: 10:13, 10:30--Ugh!  The sun came out as I turned the corner and I was having a hard time with the heat.  I took my Gu at mile 6 water stop.  I think this was my downfall.  I should've taken my Gu earlier, like mile 4.  The Gu helped a lot, but with the sun and humidity was wearing me out sooner than if it was a cooler morning.  I had never ran more than six miles at my 9 minute pace and that was on a much cooler day.  I started to get discouraged.  Even though I had changed my goal around mile 5, I still harbored a secret wish that my adrenaline would kick in and I would be able to give it my all.  Instead I was talking my feet into turning over. And, by the way, where was that rain that the heaven's promised earlier!  Seriously, I could have done with a little of that downpour now.

Miles 8, 9, and 10: 11:20, 11:13, 11:30  I did not want to run.  My feet felt like they were in a sauna.  I don't know why.  It's not like I'm new to running in the humidity. I was wearing the same socks I always were.  Honestly, when I finally took my shoes off at home, they were all wrinkly--like I'd been swimming.  That has never happened to me before.  It is now hours later and my shoes are still wet.  I don't get it.  I  must have stepped in a puddle, though I don't remember it.  Or maybe it was all the cups of icy cold water I poured on my head that dripped to my feet, but I digress.  My sauna feet hurt and I couldn't move them.  Just after mile 9 we had to climb a very short hill to get over the overpass.  I ran over it and let my feet fly down the other side.  That felt good, but the momentum didn't keep.  I had to go back to talking my feet into turning over.

At last I entered Market Street.  I couldn't see the finish line because it was in the courtyard.  Someone yelled out, "Just three more turns!"  This gave me a little bit of a boost and I was able to pass a few people.  After the third turn, I was able to see the finish line.  I don't know where it came from, but I did those last 50 yards in a sprint.  My ap put my speed at 6:20 min/mile for those last 50 yards.  I passed a lot of people on that stretch.

I crossed the finish line at 1:43:40, or at 10:22 average pace--most of those extra minutes were logged in the last three miles.  It's okay, though, because next year I'll have a time to beat.

I am very proud of myself.  I had a baby eight months ago.  I started running three months ago.  At the start I couldn't run a mile at 11 minutes and now I ran ten miles at less than that pace!  I didn't get my goal number, but I gave it all I had today.

I loved this race.   It was such a fun atmosphere and the race food was divine.  I loved that my husband brought all five kids to the finish to cheer me on.  He is a special guy.  I am very lucky.

And, I can't wait for my first marathon in March!

Sometimes what we are trying to say doesn't come out the way we want and the important information gets lost making it hard to get what we really want. Take this conversation between me and my two year old, for example:

R: I wanna macaroni
m: What? You want to eat Macaroni?
R: Macaroni! I wanna watch Macaroni
M: I've never heard of that show.
R:Macaroni, Macaroni (And becoming increasingly agitated and throwing items, etc, etc, etc)
M: You mean Max and Ruby?
R: (nervous laughter) Yeah, Mac a Runi.

See what I mean?  

A Budding Talent

My 8 year old started writing a book.  I heart the title.  And you know what, it actually does Kick Butt. 

On gardening

As we all loaded the car to get to dance class, I checked out my planters by the garage.  "Bell peppers!" I said, "This one is growing bell peppers!" I skipped to the car.  "A bell pepper is growing!"

I sighed and twisted the key in the ignition. I had gardened for years and everything, without fail,ended up brown, wilted, and choking in the hot dry dirt.  Probably because I forgot to water it.  But this time, thanks in part to late summer storms, I had basil, oregano, and a few large green plants complete with a beautiful, budding bell pepper.

"What's it supposed to grow?" asked my nine-year old, his face lighting up.

"Bell peppers," I said, a bit confused by his question.

"Huh," he said, his face falling.  "Aren't pepper plants supposed to grow peppers?  Isn't that the point? I'd be more surprised if it was growing something else.  Like bananas.  Now that would be something to get excited about--a bell pepper plant growing bananas."


Clearly this kid does not understand my accomplishment--that I am not an automatic 007 for gardening as I previously thought.  I guess I will just have to delight in this pepper all by myself (until a squirrel comes along and digs it up, scattering the beautiful plant across the yard including aforementioned bell pepper, and then I will have to write a post about those darn squirrels and how I should invest in an air-soft rifle despite my convictions).

Christina Perri - The Lonely (Official Lyric Video)

Since I really should be working, but don't feel like it, I thought I'd answer a question that my readers pose a lot.   actually, I've only been asked this once.  But the previous statement is still legitimate because that's about what my readership amounts to now...one!

When do you find time to write?

I thought I'd post my daily schedule to give you an idea.

6:00 AM My alarm goes off (Jon gets out of bed).  This is when I should get up, but instead I relish in my now huge bed.  I stretch my limbs and close my eyes and sleep until it's just not possible any more because Rosie woke up.
7:30-8:00 AM  Wake up.  Eat Breakfast.  Read Scriptures.  Feed Rosie.  Do Dishes...blah, blah, blah
10:00 AM Chores in immediate need of attendance are done! Yeah!  Open computer and stare at page.
10:05 AM   Yup.  Still staring at page, so I check Facebook, email, and the bank to make sure I still have money to buy groceries.  Yup.  Still do.  Good.  I really like to eat.
10:30 AM  Wow!  I hadn't meant to waste that much time.  Better get to work.  But first I need a song to inspire me.
10:40 AM  Okay.  Perfect.  I'm in a rhythm.  Who-hoo!  100 words and they're flowing.
10:45 AM   Rosie needs  a drink.
10:50 AM   15 words later and Rosie needs a snack.
11:00 AM    Hayden screams, "WHEN'S LUNCH!!!!  COME FEED ME LUNCH!!!!!"  I sigh, and go give her a little bag of carrots or a gogurt.  Lunch isn't for an hour!
11:05 AM   Writing Again
11:10 AM    Rosie needs lunch, so I feed her lunch and check Facebook again while I feed her yogurt.
11:20 AM    Writing
11:25 AM    All the kids are whining.  I give up.  Lunch for all.
12:00  PM   Rosie goes down for a nap.  Suddenly I realize I am still in my PJ's.  Take a quick shower and get dressed.
12:30  PM   Write!!!! Write!!!!  Write!!!! Things look good until...
2:00    PM    I've finished the chapter, but don't have a good hook to start the next.  Time for Facebook and email and the blue boards (an online community for writer's.)
2:20   PM     I have an idea!  Write three sentences then Rosie wakes up screaming.
3:00   PM     Snack for Rosie and the rest of the kids.
3:30-5:00 PM  Pool Time!!!!!
5:15-6:30 Circulate between cooking dinner, comforting Rosie, and breaking up arguments.
7:00  Jon comes home!  Yeah!  I do dishes, change into my PJ's again (don't judge me) and get to work.
10:00 PM After a good three hours of hopefully uninterrupted writing, I can finally go to sleep.  Except I can't sleep because all I can think about is how that first kiss is going to come about when I write the next chapter tomorrow.

If you are wondering when I do the rest of my chores, I can answer that for you in two easy words...I don't!

disclaimer...no, I do not live in filth.  In fact, I have a hard time working if things are not cleaned and vacuumed, and more than anything in this world I hate a smelly bathroom or unsanitary kitchen counters.  That's why I married Jon, so he could do it all for me.

You can't judge a book by its cover.

So not true, according to my son.  He said, "You know why people don't like most books?"

"Cause the story is bad, or it doesn't make sense?"

"No," Matthew said,  "It's cause the cover is stupid.  So you just need to get a good cover and people will like it and want to read it."

So maybe something like this will draw a couple of readers?

Maybe this for Awakened?
http://phatpuppyart.com/p819681742/h1d071a33#h1d071a33

Or this for Radiance?

http://phatpuppyart.com/p819681742/h2b815df1#h2d750e2e

Sorry, I can't get the art to post, so please click on the links and see Claudia's gorgeous work!