This weekend was terrific because a) I didn't go into work (though I really should have!!!) b) I hardly thought about work at all until Sunday night c) we saw some great friends d) hung out with my sister e) didn't worry about cleaning f) are completely sunburned from yet another terrific weekend playing outside!!!
The only negative: we didn't sleep in even a bit this weekend.
On Saturday I did my second half-marathon. And it is kind of weird that it's only my second. I've been running rather compulsively since I "retired" from racing bicycles and yet I feared competing because I didn't want to burn out on running like I had in cycling. And I burn out because I am a little over-competitive. So the minute I start racing I have people I want to beat, times I want to beat, more and more races I want to do and things just spiral out of control. So anyway, I signed up for it because I have a marathon in a few weeks and it is good to get pushed a little harder now and then to see how it goes. And it was fun! But hard. It was very hot this weekend and the course was hilly. Plus they had 1000 starters and it was on a path so the first mile was just a huge jostle fest. But Mr. Wonderful and a friend came to cheer me on and through frantic biking along the course were able to see my at nine different points and once I fell into a good pace with a small group, I had a great time joking and chatting with the suffering folks around me. I was 2 minutes longer then my April time which was disappointing but probably not surprising considering how trashed my legs are from the current training. Plus, I had a super bad flare up of upset stomach the rest of the day which I couldn't cure and ended up puking my delicious sushi dinner...very very sad (anyone else get sick after long runs? Last year I was so sick after every long run that it was pure misery every day. This year it's been better but flares up if I push it really hard...)
Sunday we got up early for a century bicycle ride and I almost didn't go...a combination of being sick the night before, the fact my legs were semi-trashed already, and the fact that I fear long group rides in the middle of nowhere as getting dropped means long hours alone trying to find your way home made it quite unappealing. However, Mr. Wonderful dropped the "you know, Ironman competitors bike a century and then run a marathon..in the same day..." which was enough to get me packed and out the door. And it turned out to be perfect!!! The best century I've done by far. The route was beautiful though really hilly. The group was composed of folks who were actually experienced bike riders who could keep it upright and keep the pace high, and we had a nice break in the middle at a lake. And I will proudly boast that I was the only female AND I made the whole ride (we dropped about half the group..all men of course). I had to keep my smile and my bursting pride in finishing the tough ride in check once we got back to the starting point because there were quite a few guys who had to get their wives to pick them up out on the course and drive them back to the starting point and I heard more then one ask their husbands "wait a minute, that girl did the whole ride???" A fairly emasculating question for sure. Ok, have a bragged enough??? After just being so scared and so worried the entire ride about completely bonking, cramping, or getting dropped it was hard not to be overjoyed to finish!!! :)
The night wrapped with burgers on the grill, a walk to DQ with the pup, and early bed since both of use are sun-drunk, burned to a crisp, and have throbbing legs. I love summer and weekends like this!
Hhhmm I'm not sure I should admit that until I was ending the post, I neglected to mention that we also had a terrific night out with our best friends on Friday and my sister spend the day with me Saturday (after the race)...both events contributed to said terrific weekend! And yes, hanging out with family and friends is even better then crushing a century. ;)
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