13.1 Race Report in which I make excuses, blame other people and generally bitch and moan

Sigh....Where to begin?

Perhaps a pre-race day dinner of take out mexican and far too much watermelon wasn't ideal. It seemed salty so I didn't take my daily dose of 2T of salt (which thanks to my cardiologist's suggestion has almost fully eliminated my light-headedness and passing out at inopportune times by raising my blood pressure to a more normal level.) But my belly revolted a bit and I wasn't properly salted. One the positive side there were porta johns and real bathrooms all along this route since it was in tourist area.

Perhaps with the fact that every kid seems to be having more than normal amounts of bad dreams which necessitates me sitting by their bed during the night. So I was, as normal, tired.

I won't tell you too much about the yeast infection I realized I had too late pre-race day night to treat. Bleech.. scratch, scratch....


The weather was overcast, 70% chance of rain, but a comfortable 57F. It didn't actually rain but I heard thunder from about miles 5-8. It poured on the drive home.

So that is the background information.

Now to blame people. (everyone except myself of course!)


*My parents didn't give me beauty, brains or athleticism.

*Avery broke a glass, didn't tell me, and I had a sliver of glass in my big toe that required a fair bit of digging to get out. That cut blistered up.

*All my children share some responsibility for the state of my saggy boobs, but I mostly blame Meryl and Finley for the bloody raw spots under my bra. (My breasts have served me and my children well during the past 11 years. Now could they please go back to what they were like when I was 25!)

*Cathy for having a work schedule that doesn't give me regular times to run.

*I'm sure there are other people to blame whom I've missed. Don't worry I hold you accountable for my pathetic time too!

Random info-
*I was 10 minutes off my goal time. But my goal time was just something I pulled out of my ass, since I've done no prep for this race.
*I ran past a runner getting CPR at the 10 mile mark. I hope she is still living.
*My feet hurt and I'm going to try running barefoot more, which has been working well for me.
*I think my next half will be July 31 at Mammoth Lakes, CA. Since I do oh so well on those hills!

Things I've learned-
*I shouldn't use an ipod on race days. I can't hear myself talking to me.
*Don't drink the post race beer on an empty belly. Wait till you get home. But even then be careful of the post race beers. I think my metabolism was much faster than normal.
*Maybe my physical and mental fitness will never be where I want them to.

Blogging while beer is flying through one's metabolism may not be ideal either!

Library Day

Simply 10 Good Things

*Nap time on the trampoline.


* Music on the stairs.




*Logan and Avery happily playing Monopoly for hours




*children all sleeping in children's rooms




*spring like weather




*striped shorts on skinny little girls







*Cat Stevens/Yusaf Islam playlists coming from the kid's bedroom




*running chickens




*kids reading books I loved as a kid






*a clothes line that holds two big loads


idea from soulemama

Annual Egg Hunt

Happy Spring

We dyed our brown and blue eggs this year. I just couldn't bring myself to buy white eggs. Some colors worked better than others, but it is possible.

My First Trail Race Report

I learned a lot today. I knew I had no idea what to expect from a trail race. Only 250 runner split between a 3 mile and a 10 mile course. Overall winner gets a loaf of banana bread, age group winners get cookies. This race is part of the TrailRunner Trophy Series so the parking lot was full of out-of-state license plates and rental cars. And 45 year old men with the twiggy bodies of 8 year old girls. In gear. The cool kind you see in magazines. Anyway, it was my first 10 mile race. And my first trail race so I didn't have any competition. Just me. Starting at the back of the pack. First off, a trail mile means nothing. I ran 7.5min miles and 17 min miles during this race. Water was available at 2.2, 5 and 7.2 miles. Always at the top of a hill! They should give water at the bottom of a rocky, steep section so you can walk and drink. Just my experienced opinion now that I've done one race! People should puke off to the side, not on the trail. Be respectful of those behind you. Please. I really don't like hills. Up or down. Give me a nice level dirt road any day. I know my next race needs to be a half-marathon on the road. Or perhaps a rail-trail would be nice. Oh and another important thing I learned- Those 45 year old twiggy men don't smell like 8 year old girls 10 miles later! Edit- I don't know where my paragraphs have gone or how to get them back. Ah well.....

My Day

I crawl out of bed not being able to open my eyes or breathe freely thanks to my mild but irritating head cold. Gotta get ready for Avery's birthday party today! Yee-haw!

Breakfast for 5. Brush 5 sets of teeth, comb 4 heads and put pony tails in all of them. Tie 3 sets of shoes. Get 4 kids to school on time! At school I talk to the secretary (more money for Avery's lunch account), the principal (pajama day again?), pto president (yes, I'll help harass the town about recycling), the school nurse (tick time) and the classroom teacher (Have fun!).

Off to the Natick library for "The Suite Life on Deck" for the mock-sleepover. They don't open till 10. Off to the fabric store for new waistband for Meryl's skirt. They don't open until 10. Wait. Make my $.39 purchase at the fabric store and head back to the library. Call the pedi about Logan's once again swollen knuckles. Get a noon appointment. Pick up girls and Logan from school. Teacher says Finley's ear has been bothering her.

Pediatricians with the kids. Logan needs to see a specialist. TODAY. Finley has an ear infection. Cathy gets the little girls while I take Logan to the specialist. I get lost. We are late. We wait. Did I mention the "Specialist" is a dermatologist? This "specialist" thinks we should see a rheumatologist TODAY. Huh? This is swollen knuckles that have been going on for 8 months. Not an emergency in my opinion. We do, however, have time to stop at dairy queen! First ice cream of the summer! But we eat it in the car. Hey- I've got eight 8 year old girls heading to my house. Drop Logan at school for the last half-hour. He needed to get his basketball for the weekend, not any books mind you.

Head home. Frantically clean and set up the scavenger hunt, Oreo pinata, laser games, etc. The bus arrives with a gaggle of chaos. 4 hour party goes great. Not a single hitch. Well, I spent $100 on Chinese take out and pizza. Most of the girls then requested plain pasta with butter. I could have save $98.71 and just bought a box of farfalle. Who knew?

Parents pick up their kids and it is at this point that I notice-

I am wearing two different shoes!

My shoes don't match. They didn't match all day. And how many people did I talk to? Sigh...... I did throw one mad crazy eight year old party though.

RTB

So I just signed up for something that will be a challenge for me. I like my sleep and I don't particularly like people. So why am I doing this? Haven't a clue! But wish me luck.