The weather has been great the past two years for the race. In a moment of clearity I realized a lot about myself during my run this past Sunday.
1)I don't know how to prepare for a race. Last year I was up all night before the race 'Dancing with Rhea Pearlman' so needless to say I was dehydrated for the race last year and cramped up early and often. This year I felt so much better and in fears of dehydrating I believe I over hydrated not to the point of having a 'slosshy stomach' but damn close I would guess. I took water at the stops and don't know if that helps or hurts because I don't train with 7 water stops in a 9 mile training run.
2)I'm not fast or what people would classify as 'good at running'.
I am OK with this. I am 35 and a good 15-20lbs. heavier than I should be. I don't think people expect me to run 8 minute miles when their normal response is 'you Run?'
3)I don't have a runner's mentality. Some runners I guess run through pain...pain tells me to slow down. Weird, I know. I kept up a good pace for the first 6 miles and slowly got to a pace that was comfortable and my breathing was controlled and finished the race with a smile and a glad that is over(and a beer).
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The Severn River Bridge was still there(twice)and I was OK. The next time I see it I will be in a car and our realationship will be like that till this time next year.
The after race snack were a sad state of affairs. You should know that I was not the first one to hit the after race goodies but I'm sure the Bananas were yellow if I would have ran the race in hour and 20 minutes. The joke I made in the office today to a guy in my office who also ran the race was:I should have taken a banana. I guess they would've been yellow today. He too was not impressed with the location of after race snacks or them themselves and left quickly for a place to have lunch elsewhere. This is sad because in the past they have been very good bordering on great. Hopefully next year it will rebound....that's right I said it! I will be back next year. I don't do it for time, Competition, or the glory. I do it for myself and no one else. and they give out cool stuff that when skinny runners see me wearing it say 'He Runs!?!'