I just want to say a special thanks to Billy and James for helping me get this blog going. Billy provided some much-needed expertise since I obviously was as inept (as icing) at interpreting blog lingo. I had no idea what a “widget” was nor how to differentiate between the blogroll and links.
And thanks to James for commenting on the blog. It’s good to know that people actually do read others’ blogs. Although I don’t necessarily write just for others (mostly for me since it’s one of my favorite pastimes…I have a journalism degree, so it’s in my blood), it’s encouraging to have a complete stranger comment. Kind of makes me feel like a rock star.
Head over to their blogs for some interesting content. Much more interesting than mine thus far, that’s for sure.
No, I don’t usually like saying that overused phrase, but I have to boast a bit. I just won two tickets to see Larry the Cable Guy on WABX. He’ll be at Robert’s Stadium on Oct. 25.
Most people who know me know I’m notorious for winning tickets to events. I’ve seen Gretchen Wilson, Blaine Larson, Van Zant, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler, Dancing with the Stars, and Blue Man Group, and I didn’t pay for a single one of them.
I can’t believe it. Less than a month to the Evansville Half Marathon. After running it last year and ending up in the hospital, I wasn’t sure what this year would hold. But I’ve been running very strong (for me anyway) and am quite excited about the race on October 7.
This past Saturday, I ran the YMCA 10K, which is a warm-up run to the half marathon. The 10K (which is 6.2 miles for all the metric-challenged folks like myself) began at 8 a.m., which theoretically should be a decent temperature for a September morning. But much to my dismay, it was so humid it was hard to breathe even before the race began. I started my pre-race routine at about 7:30 when I got to the Y: a quick trip to the bathroom (a must for nervous runners), a short jog to loosen up the muscles, a stretch, and prayer for God to get me through it. I was so happy when the race started with a prayer in addition to my own. But it made me think: all of these people, so devoted to running…but are they devoted to Someone much bigger? Do they even know the One who gave them the ability to run?
I hadn’t signed up until the day before (silly, indecisive me) so I don’t think I was as mentally prepared as I would have liked to be. Add to that the fact that I didn’t have my biggest supporter there and I was a nervous wreck. But thankfully my mother- and father-in-law showed up to cheer me on. And boy did I need it.
The race was a killer, and made even moreso by the humidity. It began at the YMCA, took us down along the riverfront, about 2 miles out and back on Water Works Road, down Main Street, around the Federal Building, and back to the Y. I can’t tell you how many times I questioned my sanity or cursed myself for doing the race.
I kept my running buddy Chuck in sight throughout the race, knowing that he keeps about the same pace I attained to for the day. I finally caught up with him about the middle of the race and encouraged him to keep going. I always try to kick it in as hard as I can at the end of the race; it’s a little victory I give to myself even if the rest of the race is a disaster. I passed one guy at the end, and then another man passed both of us (he must have the same theory as I do) for a finish of 51:19. Not as good as I had hoped for, but I suppose an 8:15 mile isn’t too bad for a mediocre runner like myself. I came in at 119th in a field of about 580 runners.
There were popscicles, sports drinks and apples waiting for us when we finished. I tried to replenish the best I could while congratulating all of my running buddies (we all train together in the 13 Weeks to 13 Miles program the Y offers every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday). It really is a huge ordeal and everyone should be proud of themselves for even trying.
As if I didn’t punish myself enough, I went home and ran my 4.3-mile route for a total of 10.5 miles that day. I guess I wanted to err on the side of caution to increase my mileage so my body will be ready come Oct. 7. It wasn’t my best run ever, but I survived it. This humidity has got to go!
If you haven’t been to the Evansville Half Marathon, you really should go this year. It begins atop Reitz Hill at 8 a.m. on Oct. 7 and winds its way throughout Evansville with a finish on the riverfront. Yes, it’s on a Sunday morning, but it’s a different world when you get all of the runners together. There’s a sense of pride, accomplishment, and comraderie in the air. It really is something special.
