El Finite - But Not Really

So, I just got back home and unpacked and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Janet did a fantastic job and finished with a great time for her first run - really awesome job. My time sucked ass, but I really don't care - I finished and that is all I wanted to do. I miss Ella :-( (and of course I miss you guys already ... wish that I could've stayed longer).

Pre-Race:

Jitters - they just didn't happen. I think I was really ready for the race and as a result wasn't really worried about it at all. I also think the fact that I was down to the half instead of the full really helped out with the pre-race jitters.

Morning of the race, up and at 'em bright and early and enjoyed the ride down to the beach. I wasn't chilled at all, it was great weather ... but then again I was coming from a climate in the teens to a climate in the 60s, so for me it was absolutely great in the morning. The day was overcast, but that was absolutely great news because if the sun had popped its head out for any longer I'd look like a roasted tomato.

Race:

The race started and everyone just kind of sauntered through the start and it was nice that everyone seemed a bit relaxed about it all. I started out with a run, and I shocked the hell out of myself with just how much running I was able to do during the run. It truly is amazing at what we can do when we push ourselves.

So, I remember looking down at my watch and thinking it had been a really long time already, when in fact it had only been 20 minutes. This seemed to be the par for the course during the entire race. I thought time had been flying, when in fact it was pacing slower that a tortoise.

It took about 30 minutes for my shins to really warm up and get accustomed to the running on the sand (even though it was hard-packed it still took more muscle involvement to stabilize versus pavement). Once my lower body was all warmed up I set in at a really good pace. I kept this pace going until the turnaround, then some fricking charlie horse from hell seized up my left calf and I slowed to less than a tortoise's pace while I tried to "work" it out. I refused to stop. I even tried running again, but that ended with an awkward hop, skip and jump and some choice words out of my mouth before trying to roll my foot from heel to toe to really get at the horse. It felt like I had a yo-yo where my calf muscle used to be, and it sucked ass. I can still feel the pang in my leg where this happened . . . it will take some TLC but it will be fully functional in no time. Note - next race, make sure you have enough K, you really need that stuff.

After the horse hit the leg, I slowed and the folks that I was able to pass ended up kicking my ass. I didn't care, I was happy that I was still moving and finished the race - that was my goal, and by joe I made it.

I do remember that I sang aloud while jamming to my tunes and it kept me going. I rather enjoy that :-) I finished the race while pounding out Aerosmith, so all in all it was a good day.

Post-Race:

Stretching does a body good. I spent a lot of time stretching out my back after the race was over. Oh, that's another thing, my back performed beautifully during the race. It didn't give me a single problem and I LOVE it for that. For once it cooperated. After the aches were starting to work themselves out it was just waiting for Janet and I was so glad to see her coming in the distance . . . she did a fantastic job for her first marathon. She finished and crossed the line RUNNING :-)

While waiting on the beach for the marathoners to start to finish the sun started to pop its head out for a bit - and I think this is where most of the burn I experienced came from. I made sure my face was protected, but it still got red (at least today it's just a subtle pink) but my hands and neck weren't so lucky. At least by tomorrow it'll be back to white and I'll be all good. The wind was amazing during the race, keeping things and everyone nice and cool. I was amazed at the people during the race, they were absolutely phenomenal. Determination was not in short supply and each time someone crossed the finish line it was a definite experience.

Once Janet finished we got a chance to enjoy the Texas BBQ. Oh My Gawd. That is all I have to say. The brisket was freaking awesome - it melted in your mouth the second it hit your tongue. I was starving by the time we ate ... I started to feel the hunger around 10 am, and it was nearly 3 when we ate so needless to say I was hungry. I wish the brisket didn't run out when it did, I certainly would've had more ... a LOT more. But, I was able to enjoy more brisket today when Janet and Josh took me to lunch for some more awesome brisket in Houston. Can't wait to do it again. It was like butter melting in your mouth, the nice warmed up butter that you get with bread ... it just made your mouth happy and overjoyed at the fact that this awesome food was making its way through. Talk about finger licking good. Num.

About half way through eating the fog started to roll in, like a Stephen King novel, it consumed everything around it. It's funny, when we parked in the morning and started walking towards the finish it didn't seem like we parked all that far away; but, after the race was finished and we started back towards the car, man, it seemed like it was miles away. I was pooped.

After getting back to Janet's and cleaning up and watching some great Sci/Fi movies, we headed to dinner and had some fabulous mussels. Num double Num. After stuffing our gullets to make up for all the calories we burned during the run we both pretty much crashed. That was it, the eyes couldn't handle it any longer. I slept like a rock and woke up feeling great.

I slept most of the way home on the plane and after getting a few tv episodes in me, I'm gonna crash once again. I cannot wait to do this again!!!

Next Race:

I think we should shoot for something in October so that we have a solid 7 months to get ready for it. There are quite a few in October, so what are your thoughts?