Where's the bin? Doesn't mean where's Ben, as everyone thought, but where's the trash can? as I eventually translated!
Hard to believe we both speak english sometimes.
On that note FYI: Americans also don't comprehend the concept of a 'fortnight' - completely no idea and will fine you if you park on the street and the car bonnet is facing the opposite direction to flow of the traffic - BONKERS.
Anyway here's Ben, Pa and my food baby ;-)) post race hanging in Panera's.
Just to set the scene, incase you skipped over my four running orientated posts of the year ;-)) : It's been unbelievably long since I had a successful race or completed a good run at all. Not great for someone whose ambition is to half-marathon it and complete 10km in less than 55 minutes this year - only 5.5 months left eeekkkk.
If I'm really honest with myself - to date I've had just one outstanding run of the year. This baby. Thanks AJ and Pui-Tien.
Whilst I loved the challenge of Februlous, I was foolish, wayyyyyyyy too overambitious and I killed my knees. Februlous (running 10km everyday) proved too much for me so after the best dressed, if personally mentally and physically painful race of 2011 aka the LOVErun in mid Feb - I BAILED from running altogether and have left running and races well alone pretty much ever since.
I made an honest attempt to get arunning again more recently but when this was met with the debacle of my most recent 10km race attempt - the sub hour race - yup that debacle where I didn't even cross the start line - I felt that I should positively retire from any sort of fitness aspirations.
I've been feeling a ridiculous failure - even just within the confines of my amazing uber select group of blogette followers - especially now that the weight is piling back on as well and I seem powerless to resist my USA alterego 'the snacking ninja' according to a sneaky hop on the some scales yesterday which suggested I'd put on another 4lbs in a week - HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?! I only ate a sandwich at Panera!
So really since Februlous, I've been faking it. Putting the trainers on, completing training sessions and trying to get my fitness mojo back. Somehow. And somehow on Monday I truly think I found it again. Thanks Ben - even if you do have a terrible British accent/ impersonation of me ;-))
The coolest start line I've seen in a while, so much so, I'm tempted to chalk one of these every time I set off for a run.
In all honesty, Monday's run wasn't a race but when of a group of 40-50 people set off for 5km in 105 degree heat, there is an element of 'let's get this sucker done asap'. Surprisingly, I very quickly found myself overtaking other Do Lifers and settling just a little behind the leader pack - some of these guys were seasoned marathoners too, I discovered later. This never happens to me. EVER. Typically I start at the back and stay there, as it saves being overtaken by one man, his dog and his one legged elderly father. ;-))
Where's Wally? ;-))
But before I knew it, I'd run a whole 2km non-stop. That's a nice milestone that I haven't hit in a reallllllly long while. I can't say I ran the whole thing as I was taking photos and doing jump shots for Ben etc and cheering people on. Pre the 2km point, one of my fellow do-lifers was flagging and with a little encouragement (channeling my inner Lucinda here ;-)), I got him running again. That was such a nice feeling. When he really couldn't go on and I didn't want to pressurise him (as I know how that feels) - we parted ways and I got to the half way point. Feeling good. So good. And even without music.
The way back was definitely harder. There were so many points where I was convinced that it was just over this bridge and the end was in sight, only to discover another identical bridge in the distance. But I found a great pace maker - an AJ substitute - who kept running at a consistent pace whilst I ran for a few mins, walked for 10 meters, and then ran again. We played run tag right to the end. It was FUN and just like AJ, she beat me, just!
All those Learn to Run tutorials have clearly paid off - I run like
......... a ZOMBIE!!
Actually this was the landing of the third jump shot.
Ben is even more rubbish than I when it comes to camera timing ;-))
Arriving at the finish line I was BEYOND psyched to discover that I was 9th to cross the finish line. Meeeeeeeeeeeeee!! 9th out of c.45 Do Lifers completing a 5km jog. Even despite completing a ridiculous hard Crossfit session a few hours previously which had me debating whether walking 5km with the Do Lifers was even an option. I felt like Usain Bolt winning an Olympic Gold Medal. So chuffed. Little old me wasn't last, second last or in the last ten for once in my life. Most of all I was reminded how great running is, irrespective of whether you come first, ninth!! or last. The trick is not giving up.:Today, tomorrow or ever.
While it wasn't anything earth shattering amazing time wise, personally I'm so proud of my 33 minute time when you factor in the 105 degree heat. An EPIC accomplishment that was only possible in such EPIC company:
WOOP - such an A.W.E.S.O.M.E (translation - unbelievably great) bunch of folk
You can tell the Brit - she is one of the few people not 'ac-clim-ated' (as they say here) to the heat and so is wearing a hat!!!
Hanging out afterwards and chatting/ lamenting about running and blogging with people who are all on the same journey as you was just an incredible feeling. Some people had never done a 5km before, some had just run 5km non-stop for the first time ever but we ALL appreciated just how hard running actually is, how hard getting fitter, eating better and eating less ACTUALLY is. For REAL. Actually I couldn't have met a nicer group of people and I just feel so lucky.
Plus if you're ever in Dallas Texas, the Katy Trail is where it is at - seriously any Texan fit fanatics are ALL cycling, rollerblading, running, powerwalking and crossfitting along the Katy Trail and all at the same time as we were running which was fun.
I haven't seen such a hive of activity since I arrived in the USA! Do Lifers ROCK! xx
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