I'll Drive all Night and run for Blue Bell Ice Cream!

Had a good week this week.  Weight was down .8 pounds. Had a couple good work outs at Schriener Park, including a 6 mile run on Sunday and a 4 mile run on Tuesday.

Saturday was the Blue Bell Ice Cream Fun Run.    I was very worried about how I would do at this race.  First,  I had requested Saturday off, but I didn't request Friday off, and of course I had to close the store Friday night.  I didn't get out of there until well after midnight.  Leta didn't have everything ready so we had to come back to Kerrville.  We packed up, took care of the animals and had to get something to eat.  Then we drove all night to Brenham.  We arrived about 6 am and set-up was just getting started.  Within 2 hours over 3,600 runners had arrived.

6 am Race day

2 hours later

 

I went in to pick up my race packet, but they couldn't find my registration. I"m thinking, "Oh great,  I don't have money for another registration, and we just drove over 200 miles (1 way!) for nothing."  But the volunteer sent me over to the "race director".  I explained I had registered online and she called over to 'race day registration" and told them to get me registered and get me a shirt!  It was great the way they handled the situation.

I walked back to the car and noticed my 'arch' was really bothering me...so much so  that I was limping.  I changed into my running clothes.  I tried stretching and massaging my foot, all to no affect.  We watch the kids run their mile race.  About 15 minutes before the start of the 5k I walked up the hill to the starting area, limping most of the way.  I continue to stretch and massage the foot, but STILL no help.  At this point I decide I would walk the race, and if it was bothering me too much I would retire from the race and earn my first DNF.  We started the race.  I had my earphones in and I watched the mob of people running the 5k (over 1,600) funnel through the beginning gates, that register the chip starting times.  I was back with the stroller brigade and the dog walkers.  I was so "caught up" in the start that as soon as I got funneled through the gates, I began to jog.

After we left the high school campus I looked up and could see a long way down the road, the went out of town over the rolling hills, and noticed that as far as I could see were a mass of runners and walkers all intent on completing the run.  It was a very inspiring sight.  I also noticed a young lady running on a prosthesis leg in front of me.  Another inspiring sight.  It was about this point I noticed my foot wasn't bothering me at all.

I had a good race with a PR time of 36:34  (since this was the first 5k I had register to "run" it was sure to be a PR!).  I walked about 3 times for 2-3 minutes each time.  Leta didn't see me cross the finish light, but since we were parked right there, we watched and cheered the finishers.  The  crowd would cheer very loudly for the elderly finishers and others that obviously had struggled to complete the race.  After the race, I enjoyed 1delicious cookies-n-cream ice cream sandwich donated by Blue Bell.  Yum!  What a great race!

I also noticed this race how much I enjoy reading the participants T-shirts.  It is cool to note the ones wearing shirts from the same event but from years ago.  (This was the 33 running of this event), the funny sayings, or even the religious or political ones.  My favorite one so far was something like "There I was running down the trail...passing trees and rocks like they were standing still..."

I'm toying with the idea of making one that has printed on it "Gun Control....means using 2 hands"

Do you have a favorite T-shirt.  Was is it from a race you participated in, or a favorite saying?  Please share it!

Vital Stats
Beginning Weight - 203.8
BMI - 30.1
Miles Walked/Ran - 11.24

Y-T-D Miles Walked/Ran - 123.43
Ending Weight -203.0

BMI - 30.0
Weight Lost <Gain>- .8
YTD Weight Lost - 17.0