Yoo 310 - Race Recap: Lyndon B. Johnson 100

It's fast Sunday and since I'm fantasizing about food and blogging in an attempt to keep myself out of the kitchen until church begins (i have mixed feelings about afternoon church...), let's review. On Saturday morning I ate:

• 3 1/4 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
• 2 packages of GU chomps
• 7 orange quarters (you do the math)
• 1 banana
• 1 Stinger honey waffle (sooo good those are)
• 6 vanilla creme sandwich cookies
• a raisin

 In between that gorge fest I also biked 85 miles.

And worked on my tan lines. They're progressing quite nicely. Neapolitan legs? Back in style here.

When I signed up for this bike tour, I really had no intention of biking the 85-mile route. There were 10-mile and 20-mile and 30-mile and 42-mile and 62-mile options, as well.

I've never biked more than 30 miles in one day so 42 seemed like a manageable stretch goal.

SALAD.

But it was perfect biking weather and there's this little voice always screaming in my head that I'm convinced hates me. Yesterday it was all nagging like "Why can't you go 85-miles? Where else do you have to be? That lady's biking the 85-mile route and she's at least 40 years older than you. It'll be like you're cheating yourself if you don't at least try...". 

It's really the most ridiculous, irrational of voices. Yet it won again.

You know what else is ridiculous? The fact that I bought cycling gloves specifically for this bike tour, the night before, and then forgot them yesterday.

These were beautiful, gel padding in the palms, and everything else that is goodly and lovely about cycling gloves, gloves.

My hands were so tired. My whole body was so tired of being on that bike. But especially my hands. Oh how I wanted those gloves!

HILLS.

Was the narcissistic Kyoo in love with the fact that they printed her name on the bib??

YES.

That one's going in the keepsake folder.

Sometimes I wish I could turn that voice off. And sit on the couch on Saturdays watching Netflix.

But then I'd miss out on fields of bluebonnets and port-a-potties and the camaraderie of 1500 bike nerds.

And driving on RESTRICTED tarmac on Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential ranch (now a National Park).

Next time you're looking for a fun, well-supported bike tour in the Hill Country: LBJ 100.

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 309 - Race Recap: DC Marathon

This race was the culmination of our "couple challenge". The Gregbeau's a reader. I'm a runner. We laid out the stakes for each other:

SHE would have to read the Book of Mormon (again), The Count of Monte Cristo, and Jesus the Christ.

HE would have to train for and run a half-marathon of his choosing.

I'm pleased to say I fulfilled my end of the challenge earlier this year and, as of this past Saturday, the Gregrunner has fulfilled his.

Now for all the nitty gritty details of race day.

Getting to the race was probably the most exciting part. We had to leave our hotel by 6am. The courtesy shuttle to the metro 0.7 miles away didn't start until 7am. Our solution? Call a taxi, it can't be that expensive...

Oh but it was. Any guesses? 5 bucks? Max? Haha! For a POINT SEVEN mile one-way trip it was $7.20. That's a dollar per tenth of a mile, people.

I died.

But there wasn't anything I could do about it.

Then the metro trains were packed like unto sardines and we had to wait for almost an hour to squeeze onto one. And by squeeze I mean, you are intimately involved with at least nine other people, squeeze.

It was quite the experience.

So we got there with T-minus 5 minutes to race start and thought "Hey! We're late already! Let's pee!". And that began a loooooong wait at the port-a-potties. And then a scurrying about to find the bag drop. And then a sprinting to get to our respective race corrals. The Gregrunner found his and there was a quick kiss and a "good luck!" and a"we'll meet at the 'W' check point at the finish" and a parting.

I briskly walked closer to the start, anxiously looking for corral 6. No such luck. That corral had started ages ago. I snuck in with corral 16 and waited a few minutes. Then. Then! It all began. With a grand announcement and earsplitting Miley Cyrus blaring thru the speakers, we were off!


This was the part where I ran 26.2 miles. But what else is there to say about that?

Pshaw!

Please. This is Kyoo here. I can type all day.

It started with mile 1. Hordes, hordes, and more hordes. Dodging and stuff. There were over 19,000 people running (not including the relay teams) so, yeah, people. The course was pretty packed but not unmanageable. We ran past the capital and then on streets past all sorts of buildings and then there was this block of really stinky trees wherein I turned to a stranger and said "Mmmmm don't these trees smell danday?!" and then he looked at me like you might look at your counter when you swear you left your keys there but they're not there.

I don't know why he looked at me like that but he did.

Can I tell you about the part of the race just 4 miles in where my new iPhone started doing all the tricks from my old iPhone?? The voice control is going to haunt me forever!! It kept interrupting my music and then telling me it couldn't find any matches and then I would tell it to go to hot places and it would remind me "No match found". Energy sap! No music during a marathon is a morale drain.

But then I saw a sign. A sign that said "Chuck Norris has never run a marathon". And I thought "Yeah! Boo-yah! Let's do this!".

And so I did it. I was kind of hoping for a 3:40 finish but, at mile 20, I realized I'd have to run the last 10k in a time faster than my current 10k PR and adjusted my hopes and dreams slightly.

It was a pretty hot race with a smattering of hills. I was pleased to cross the finish line in 3:53:30.

No, I was thrilled. There's nothing like a marathon and the feeling of giving everything. Leaving it all on the course. Pushing past mile 20 and then 21 and, ages later 23 on up. Each of those last miles gets longer and longer and you just have to keep telling yourself, "This eventually ends. Just keep going."

I started counting steps at mile 23. I counted every fourth step in this entrancing rhythm. Up to 100. Then I started over again. I don't know what it is about counting steps but it did the trick. Once I finally laid eyes on the finish I gutted it out at full speeded shuffle.

The finish chute at the Rock 'N' Roll DC marathon was something of a klutzy paradise. I got a really shiny, heavy medal. And then I spilled water everywhere because I wasn't coordinated enough to just pour it in my mouth. I tried squatting down to stretch my legs out a bit. But then I realized I couldn't get back up. So I had to rock back onto the ground and stand up on all fours like a 2-year-old.

Then I hit the food stands. Oh sweet bertha the food stands! Greek yogurt and snickers bars and bagels and fruit and gatorade and chocolate milk. Chocolate milk!

This marathon takes the cake on post-race food. Speaking of cake...that would have been nice too.

A kind man helped me open my chocolate milk box, too. Because I wasn't coordinated enough to do that either.

This was about when the Gregfinisher greeted me all triumphant-like having finished his own half-marathon. How excited I was for him! There's always this moment shortly after a grueling race where I have to choke back tears. They make me all emotional! And, hobbling towards him at that point in time, I felt the tears. The happy, elated, joyful, I-just-did-that tears.

The Gregrunner didn't have much to say about his race except that he finished in well under 3 hours. Which, let's note, beats my half-marathon PR. (I've never run one...). But he would like me to point out that he had to stop and wait at a port-a-potty, on the course, for at least 15 minutes.

Can you believe my 6 foot 3, 250 pound of a Gregman ran over 13 miles??  He did it! He didn't love every minute of it but he did it. And what did he talk about all the way home? Oh, you know, about how the next one we'll be better. He'll be faster and all that jazz.

It's a slippery slope this running marathon races is.

:-)


Good Stuff Eatery was on the menu for our post-race splurge. Toasted marshmallow shake with rosemary fries and the Good Stuff Melt chicken sandwich. It. Was. Divine.

I have eaten at Good Stuff a few times and I'm fairly certain I would fly to DC just to eat there.

Probably not but I had to say something for dramatic effect.

It was a burger well-earned.

As was that afternoon nap.

To my Gregdude, it was so fun sharing race day with you! Remember how you've finished a race distance I've never even done before?? I'm glad you've dipped into my world just a bit and can now join my woeful conversations about chaffing and sticky energy gels and people running in tutus, just like an old pro.

Now, before we tie up this hecka long post, can I talk about my socks? Those leprechaun tube socks up there?

Well. Those socks.

Are compression socks.

And, I can't say for certain yet, but I think they might live up to their hype. My calves are normally strung tighter than a violin after a race. But this time? Nothing. They felt fine the day after.

How's that for crazy? I'll let you know once I've tested them out a bit more.

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 302 - Race Recap: Whooping Crane Strut

Whoop! Whoop! Whooping Crane...STRUT!

Race Recap (reader's digest version): I slept in a car trunk and then ran my way to a personal record 10k time of 46:10 and first in my age group (second in women). Also of note, the Gregrunner finished second in his age group (i'm leaving it at that!) with no permanent injuries, and the Alisharunner came in age group third (actually beating people).

The version to read if you're the Kyoo mom or bored (synonymous with "at work").

This race is one of my favorites! But, as favorite as it ranks, it took a lot of effort to go this year. For one it was rainy. For two it was a Friday (work draaaaaiiiinnnn). For three I didn't want to pack and drive all the ways down to Rockport. For four I was being seduced by the dreamy notion of burrowing in my living room whilst movie watching the rainstorm away.

But, if I've learned anything in my twenty-something years, it's that, usually (i said usually) when something requires the most activation energy and I can find a million reasons to not do it, it's usually (usually) the best kind of something to get doing.

I knew this was going to be the case.

So the car got packed and a few pouches of fruit snacks got eaten and the kitchen got cleaned and the Garmin got its beacons all set on Goose Island State Park.

And then the Gregdriver went hydroplaning and windshield wiping into the storms while I basked in the paparazzi lightning flashes and the Alishafriend entertained me with "You Again" on the iPad. (and occasionally i would rub the gregdriver's neck because he was feeling a bit ignored and a tad bitter that he had to drive while mother nature took my picture and kristen bell made me laugh).

He's a trooper, that dude of mine.

(but really this picture had to be posted)

Then an almost quizzical "I want steak?" from the Alishafriend became an "I WANT STEAK!" demand that the Gregivore echoed and, well, steak.

(pop's, where the food is served sans armpit in the face...at least today. tomorrow is another story?)

Of course I acted all "I can't eat this late at night I have a race in the morning" but really, it was because I'd wolfed down three (3!) bowls of cheerios/granola in the car and that's the truth about that.

It was quite late and misty when we finally rolled up to our campsite and, sufficeth me to say, we decided to forgo the tent. To sleep in the trunk.

Ok, half in the trunk, half in the back seat. If I had experience, I would dare-say it felt just like a coffin. Especially since the lady hips were all "no we are not small enough to fit in that space on your side". But at least the Alishapal and I were horizontal. The Gregsnoozer on the other hand was quite upright in the front seat. But he didn't have to wander off on forbidden roads to use the bathroom (twice) so I think it was fair.

I wish that was the most eventful event preceding this run, but unfortunately the Casper car decided it was low on battery juices as we were trying to leave for the race early morn and that sent us all on a "whose awake and looking helpful" warm-up jog around the camp. The best part was the Gregmechanic's look when I walked out of the bathroom to discover him buried under the hood of the Casper car. I'm sure he was thinking "and she's going to explode in 3...2...1....". However I handled the news like a jovial old chap and that just proves I can keep people on their toes now doesn't it?

Also, maybe I'm improving? Doubtful.

Moving on.

We made it to the race start. The shirts were teal green! (this race seriously has the best shirt colors. never dull gray or boring white). And the race sponsors were rockin' this year. And by rockin' I mean, any time I get free GU packets in my schwag bag, it's a party.

The weather was a bit chilly and very overcast but no rain and the wind was manageable. I was pleasantly surprised with the conditions considering the depressing forecast (the cloud + lightning bolt + 1000 rain drops picture)!

Posin' like goofballs at the start (with random #65).

But this is really what we were trying to get a picture of.

Maybe there was a reason for it...who am I to judge? Personally, I think it seems even more dangerous to pin to that area...

(ps it was really hard to nonchalantly take that picture...)

The race started, I jogged out at a comfortable pace, and just kept going. Theory behind all my runs, right? Right. One of the main reasons I love this race so much is the course. It's run entirely next to the shoreline and you get a taste of Rockport's eclectic beach shops, the harbor with its boats and docks and bait shops, and the little hotels and vacation homes with their palm trees and lazy fishing piers. Also there are whooping cranes and seagulls and sometimes fish to cheer you on!

It's a small race but so enjoyable. You hardly notice you're running! (though don't ask the Gregtrekker, he might not agree...).

I spent the last half of the race trying to spread cheer to those I passed and pushing myself as my body allowed. I ran this race without a watch or iPod and sometimes that's just the best. Nothing to distract you from listening to your body and just enjoying the run. Pace? Who cares?! Distance traveled? I'll finish eventually! Race soundtrack? Ok, I did miss my playlist. But sometimes I think runners get too caught up in what their devices are telling them and don't just listen to their bodies and remember what it is they enjoy about this sport.

I was running with two healthy, strong legs next to a beautiful coast with handfuls of other folk pushing just as hard and I was able to take it all in.

I love that.

The finish was great because I was going just fast enough to challenge the man I'd tailed the whole race and just slow enough to NOT induce vomiting.

All in all, with a new personal record and a win in my age group, I declared it a success.

There was some post-race grubbing. And then an awards ceremony with cheesy picture-taking. And then a very depressing raffle drawing as both the Alishafriend and I set our hearts on each new prize. Even going so far as to declare it already our own. And then they would call out 10 names of people that weren't there and finally a small child would walk away with our snabbed treasure.

There's only so much of that a person can take...

(what is my hair doing?? the world will never know...)

Should I have advised you to bring crackers for all this cheesiness? Yes?

Well grab some, because we went on an official plate photo shoot after the race. It's tradish.

(would sure be nice to have a cool trophy case to display that on...hint hint...#kyoodadandbrother)

Here's to another year at Whooping Crane and hopefully many more to come! Sure glad I was able to share it with the Alishapal and Gregbeau and elusive Tinafriend, among others. Next year? Next year.

(and, if you're still bored, you can always travel back to yesteryear...)

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 279 - Race Recap: Stock Show Stampede

The Gregbeau is turning into a running fanatic these days...let me tell you.

First, he's discovered the "runner's high". He called me some odd day last week and just started GUSHING about a run he'd been on. I almost wet my pants with excitement. It's like we'd connected on new levels.

Second, he attended a 2+ hour symposium on running with me (for date night, I should add) and was almost as enthralled as I was. (i have found my passion...more than two hours of the same presenter and i would have dared you to try to distract me).

Third, we're going to buy running shoes together. At a running store. The Academy won't do anymore. He's been pestering me for weeks. He wants "real" running shoes. It's a date. (actually, he would have gone without me, but i begged him to wait...it just feels like this momentous occasion i should be a part of?).

Fourth, he finished his THIRD official race, and his times just keep getting better. (and the races are getting longer).

Not that he's turning into a bigger, manlier version of over-the-top Kyoo (thank goodness), but I can appreciate that he's been giving it some effort and starting to enjoy running as a healthy, recreational activity.

And lest you think this is a one-sided, manipulative girlfriend act, let me add that I have been my own little reading machine as of late. Like books upon books. (ok, two).

We're good for each other.

But this post isn't about all of that.

So, let's talk Stock Show Stampede! It's a 4-miler near the rodeo. I thought it'd be a good one for the Gregrunner and I to do together. And it is was more than worth it.

Seriously, if you want to experience the rodeo, this is the way to go. For $25 you get:

• Parking
• Admission to the rodeo
• Long-sleeve rodeo T-shirt
• Breakfast
• Admission ticket to use at the rodeo another day
• Jar opener

Oh how excited I was about the jar opener!! Do you know how often I have needed one and had not one to call upon??

Almost as often as I open jars.

(i feel as though my kitchen is official now...and i need to make meatloaf...free seasoning packet!)

What I lacked in excitement for the run I certainly made up for as I sat in the car scavenging thru the goody bag.

It was a cold morning (i think san antonio is getting tired of fighting off winter because february has been on the chilly side) and I wanted to just bury myself in the covers and run in the warmer afternoon. But I had to set some sort of example and not be one of those fair weather runners I dog on.

(fair weather runners: something is right in your head. embrace it)

So we met at the start, huddled together for warmth, and easily settled into a comfortable trot after the national anthem and gun firing.

Did I mention my bib was awesome?

This race has a personal touch, it does.

I had all sorts of pictures to document the event but they were taken on my phone (don'tgetmestarted).

The route was the tiniest bit hilly, a tad off-road, lightly duck-strewn, heavily horse-littered, and well-supported.

I enjoyed exploring a new part of town.

Greg was all-focused on running.

There might have been this time during the race, as the Gregathlete pushed forward with effort and sweat and all things strenuous, that I plodded along slowly beside him singing songs about pancakes and biscuits and other breakfast things being just 3.5/3/2.5/2/1.5/1.25/1/.75 miles away. (never start a recreational run hungry). And do you know what? He got just a wee bit frustrated and threatened me. THREATENED, people. What did he threaten? Oh, not to trip me or smash my face in a pot of gravy or anything, no. He threatened to stop running! Dang boy knows me too well. I wanted so badly for him to finish I had to run on in silence.

An artist's wings were clipped that day.

But we ran, winding and curving and "Where is breakfast the finish line??" outbursting to a triumphant, arms stretched in the air, end.

And then enjoyed biscuits and gravy and sausage and chips and queso and bananas. And got lost in the carnival trying to find the way back to our cars.

It was a fun race. But I miss my marathons/ultras. I'm itching to start putting on the miles again.

Also, it hailed this morning? Did anyone else notice that?? Weird!

Have a great day :-)

Yoo 266 - Runabout

On Friday, I spent the whole day, sun up to sun down, running.

And it was one of my best birthdays ever.




I got this little idea from a Dean Karnazes book I read last November. (both the Kyoo mom and the Gregbeau want me to stop reading those...).The idea was to go on a running adventure. Leave my normal routes and plans behind. Pay no attention to the time or how long I'd been running or when I needed to stop. Just set out the door with a water bottle, cell phone, credit card, and some cash, and see where my feet and the day would take me.

A runabout, if you will.

Most people thought I was crazy when I told them that's how I was going to spend my birthday, and honestly I thought I was a little crazy too. But once I've set my mind to something, it's hard for me to give it up. I told myself that if the weather was bad, I'd call it off. But January has been a beautiful month to be a runner in San Antonio and the 27th was no exception.

So, shortly before 7am, I set out the door with a peanut butter rice crispy in hand, jogged to my complex gate, and decided to turn left.

Starting out, I really wasn't sure how long I'd make it or where I'd go. I just wanted to run as long as I was still enjoying the day, and then call the Gregman if I got bored or tired or found myself in a sketch part of town.

Cool beans.

It was seriously the best. I ran around with this stupid grin on my face the whole day.




I ran along Wurzbach for a while and watched the cars race by with everyone rushing off to work. Coffee in one hand. Glances to the cell phone in the dash. Some honking. Probably thinking about getting through just one more day of work.

I was thinking about my freezing hands. The beautiful sun rising above the trees. My feet slowly plodding along on the pavement. What was over the next hill.

I found a new park. And jogged along some of its trails.




Then there was a jaunt through a quiet little neighborhood. I decided I could live there. And even picked out my house.

It's not for sale yet.

And this isn't it.




I ran past a Shipley's Donuts. But I wasn't craving donuts after the binge at work last week. So I didn't stop. I kept trucking along, this time down Bitters. There are some really nice neighborhoods off Bitters! After exploring them for a while, I decided I could live there too.

Eventually I started to get hungry. So I stopped at a Valero Cornerstore. And do you know what was calling my name?

A Big Red Icee.  That's what.

So I filled up, grabbed a couple pop tarts, and set back out on the road.




What would you think if you saw a girl running down the street sipping on an Icee?

I think I made a person's day or two.

And I was wearing my adventure bracelet. Forgot to mention that. It's not an adventure unless I have my adventure bracelet on. I don it for weekend camping excursions, vacations, and sometimes trips to the grocery store. Basically any time I need a reminder to loosen up and explore!

Also, did you know there's a shortage of sidewalks in San Antonio? I do. I ran down a few ditches, on lots of gravel and mud, and thru fields of dead grass. Should have wore my trail shoes!

I also should have wore a hat. I realized this, saw a Walgreens, and trotted inside.

"Two questions. Where's your restroom and do you sell hats?"

I bought the cheapest, most ridiculous hat they had in stock. And some gum. That Icee had left my teeth rotting and it was bothering me.




At some point during the morning, I decided to meet the Gregman for lunch.

We coordinated on the phone and stopped at a Subway close to his work. I sat down for about 20 minutes to eat with him.  It was delicious.




Confession, I also had him drive me about a quarter mile across 1604. Safety, ok!




He dropped me off at a stoplight and I got back into stride with half of a sandwich wrapped up in my hand for later.

It's a good thing I had that too, because I ended up running along Evans road. And Evans road goes on for ages. With no stores.

It was a beautiful, relatively quiet road to run along with a nice shoulder and even a few trees. I loved it. But I was running out of water and had long-ago devoured the rest of my sandwich when I finally came to "civilization" again. Another Walgreens!

I dashed inside for water in/water out and a candy bar and Oreo's. Just listening to the cravings!




And back to smiles after hours of "drought". (with my cool hat).




It was shortly after this point in the afternoon when I started to hit my "wall" for the day. My feet were kind of tired and my mind was a little shot. I was still enjoying the day, but I'd kind of had it with running. I'll admit it, I walked a few times. And sat down at a crosswalk or two whilst waiting to cross.

But the weather was beautiful. In the upper 60s and sunny. So just being outside was exactly what I wanted.

I kept moving forward, whether that was running or walking, talked to the Kyoo mom for a bit on my phone, and just watched the scenery pass.




School was letting out so I ran with a couple middle-schoolers on their way home. They probably thought I smelled funny.

They didn't know I'd been running since probably before they woke up that morning.

Perspective.




I found myself running just below the temple. And there was this cool little alley off the street. And I was tired of being on my feet again. So I just sat down and played with rocks for a few minutes while singing primary songs.

It was quite therapeutic, I assure you.




A couple miles later, it was time for another water in/water out stop.  And another Icee. Dr. Pepper this time. Maybe I wanted the caffeine?




(i probably would have downed 10 Icees if I'd passed enough gas stations). (no lie). (i don't know why i've never tried those on long runs before). (but they are amazingly refreshing).

This is kind of how I felt at this point.




Sadly, the caffeine didn't pull me out of my afternoon lull. At least not right away. About 10 minutes later, I saw this fence post that looked heavenly, stopped, and leaned up against it.

And then stared at my feet for the next 20 minutes and watched the cars roll by.




It was like I was a kid again without a care in the world.

Especially when I hit a giggle fit. EVERYTHING was funny. Boy passing on his skateboard? Funny. Two cars passing at the same time? Hilarious. Greg calling me? Gut-busting.

It sounds so stupid now but I was just giddy and laughing. Runner's high!

Or the caffeine hit.

Either way, the last couple hours of the evening passed quickly. The sun was setting and I was getting my second wind.




Traffic was stalled on 1604 so I was the one racing past this time! Muahahaha...suckers. I was surprised how strong I felt after almost an entire day on my feet. I was pushing forward with a lot of strength and covering more ground than I had since earlier in the morning.

Probably because the end was finally in sight. The Gregman was on his way over and I knew I was going to get picked up soon.

But I savored every last minute of that day.

And this stunning sunset.




It didn't seem like that long ago when I had set out and watched it rise. It's really kind of cool to see a day go by like that.

The Gregman eventually pulled up beside me, rolled down his window, and asked me how much for an hour. I gave him a big grin and hopped inside.

Success!

The day was exactly what I had wanted. I ran, which is one of my favorite hobbies. I was outside, which is one of my favorite places to be. I got to think and reflect, which is one of my favorite things to do. And I got to explore, which really makes life exciting.

So many good memories from my quarter-century celebration!




How cool are these legs? Pretty cool. They carried me over 40 miles on Friday. (i KNOW). (i thought i'd get further too). (but it was a pretty leisurely day).

I saw San Antonio on the backs of my two feet and I'll never look at this city the same again.

Adventure is everywhere. Get creative and make it.

I love running.

Have a great day :-)