Race day finally arrives ...

Finally, after three weeks of hard training, blood, sweat and beers, it's race day!!!!! Leading up to the race, the weather has not been very cooperative. Its been rainy and cool outside all week. As a result, there were no last minute efforts to finish my preparation. Tuesday was the last time I actually excercised (unless I am allowed to count 12 ounce curls?).

I was a good boy last night; shrimp and cajun rice for dinner and water to drink all night. Lil Bit was equally good too; shrimp dinner and tea. I was really proud of her laying off the beers!!!!

For those that missed the last blog, I had to put my foot down and tell Big E that she could not run the race. She has been sick for going on two weeks, and she has been progressively worse this week. So, in her place, I recruited Lil Bit to run the race with me. Thankfully, I gave her the one day advance notice that she requires to be able to run a 5K.

To be honest, I felt like a little kid waiting for Santa Claus as I went to bed. I must have taken at least two hours before I finally went to sleep. I wasnt nervous more like anxious. I kept trying to picture myself running the race, and powering through those moments of weakness when I didnt feel capable of running any longer. I wish you could have seen the style, the grace and the beauty of my stride as I crossed the finish line at the 22:00 minute mark, in my dreams.

As I awoke this morning, I realized that it was cold and damp outside quite the opposite of the initial weekend weather report. After a LLLLLLOOOOOONNNNGGGGG hot shower, I began the process of preparing my body for the race. My pre-race checklist went a little like this:

Socks (Extra Thick)
Pants (These are important when going out in public)
T-shirt (Layer 1)
Long sleeve running shirt (Layer 2)
Tshirt over the running shirt (Layer 3)
Knee braces Shoes Hat Heating pad for the back (Thank goodnees for these stick on wonders) Zip up hoodie (Layer 4)
MP3 Player (Something to distract the mind from the bodies pain)
Redman (Nicotine gets the body going)
Orange Juice (The body needed a little fuel)

Check!!!!!!! I was ready to go.

Lil Bit had a slightly different routine. Find some pants, grab a warm sweat shirt, eat some cereal, ready to go.

At 7:30 AM we left the house and headed for our destination (Huntingdon College). Once we arrived, we got registered and told the officials about our change in personnel.

As I mentioned, several people from work signed up to run the race with us.

From left to right are Hunter, Jessica and John (they completed a half marathon earlier this month), Scott, Fat Boy (me) and Lil Bit. You can tell that this is a pre-race picture by the smiles on everyones face. Also notice that three of us are not as smart as the rest (umm ... can you say shorts?).

Right before the race, I leaned over and told Lil Bit that she needed to run her race, I wanted her to know that it was OK if she left me or vice-versa. Speaking of right before the race, the song playing right before the race started was "Lucky 13".

Finally, at 8:30 we were off.

For the first half a mile, the pack was pretty tight as we wound our way on the small streets of the campus. Actually, I didnt like the pace that we are traveling and I quickly realized that there was no way for me to keep it. Thankfully, as we left the campus and entered the neighborhood, the pack began to thin out and I no longer felt the pressure to try and keep up.

Of course, this meant that we were quickly falling behind. By "we", I mean me and the pack of Redman that I brought along for the run. At the half mile point, I was slightly behind Hunter and Lil Bit but I could no longer see John, Jessica or Scott.

Around the one and half mile point, I was resigned to being the last place person of our group. I could no longer see Hunter or Lil Bit, but I was zoned in on my music and my two new running partners. It was about this same time that "Domestic, Cold and Light" began to play on the MP3 player (a song about Beer). Almost like motivation, I managed to pick up my pace, stretched out my hand for a cold cup of water at the water station, and decided that I was going to catch up to the rest of the gang.

At the two mile point, I heard someone holler 23:05 at me. My response was "wow, Im doing awesome". Now, I was being serious, but I bet that guy was laughing at me considering most of the people in the race were well ahead of me. Also, it was at this point that I realized I wasnt going to catch anyone in our group.

Not long after the two mile point, my body finally reached the point where it was no longer sending pain signals to my brain. Oh, I was still hurting, but I think the brain decided that since I was ignoring the signals it would quite sending them. I dont remember much about the last mile. One of my running partners passed me right before the final hill, but he seemed to stall out half way up it, leaving the door open for me to pass him. I was determined that I would not finish last. My other partner, she left me and the short round guy in our dust for the last mile.

A little quick math told me that based on my two mile time, I actually stood a chance at beating Big Es time from last year, and so it began. The race within the race. By this point, it was a no brainer that I would finish; heck, I could have crawled the last half mile.

I turned on the after burners (yeah right) and decided (as the crowd was faintly visible) that I was going to finish this race running. As I crested the top of the hill I was greeted by Scott, John and Jessica all encouraging me to "gut it out" to the finish. I faintly remember someone suggesting that it was time for me to "kick it in". I probably told them what they could do with the "kick it in", i dont remember!!!!

I do remember the feeling that I was going to puke. I hate to puke but I wanted to after that race. I had completed the race though and I wasnt last. Even better, I had bettered Big Es time from last year, with my 36:10 time. For proof, check out the "Fun picture of the moment", that is me crossing the line at 36:10.

After the race, we all went to see the race winners and clap for those that did really well. And the winner for the 11 - 16 group is .... Elizabeth Lee!!!! Lil Bit busted out the race in 33:40 minutes. She got a trophy and everything. If you are trying to do the math in your head, that is 2:30 minutes quicker than me. More importantly, she beat all of other 11 - 16 people. Zero training, first prize, where do I sign her up for money races?????

Also, in our group, third place for the 25 to 30 year old men ... John!!! His time was 26:06!!! Two winners in our group. That is awesome. The other runners all completed the race somewhere between John and Lil Bit, and they should be proud of their times too.

After the race, we all went to a local bakery for breakfast:

Pancakes

Biscuits

Fruit

Sausage (YUMMMMMMMMMM)

Bacon (YUUUMMMMIIIIEEEERRRRRR)

Eggs

Tea

We had a great breakfast and told stories about our trips around the course. I really enjoyed that part the most. I look forward to doing this again soon. Apparently there is another race coming up in a month or so, but the one that I really want to tackle next is an 8K (nearly 5 miles) run in May. They tell me this run is through downtown and includes the monsterous hill that leads into downtown. I guess it'll be OK if I walk that part of the race.

In the meantime, Im planning on drinking some beer and grilling a big fat T-Bone tonight. The gang is coming over later this afternoon for an evening of playing the Wii, watching some basketball, and grilling red meat. I cant wait.

I need a shower. I hope you enjoyed the story. Until next time, have an awesome weekend.

Also, if you get a chance, Google "Auburn Elvis" or click the link and read about some of his adventures. Damon and Big E are cousins. I cant believe that I've forgotten to share his website until now.