I ran the Cowtown last year, and it's become one of my favorite courses, which doesn't make much sense because it's a bitch of a course with a few really stupid hills and one part in the middle where a wide road narrows down to a trail so everyone just sort of slams into each other. (I like to think of this particular part as the time I find motivation to run faster than everyone who is annoying me, though.) Also, this year the course was exactly the same as last year except for the finish line, which was moved a few tenths of a mile further down the road. I don't know how that happens either.
But there's a steady crowd cheering, the course weaves the runners through a nice part of Fort Worth, and each mile is a little different. Also, plenty of water stops.
I didn't train nearly as much for this race (or the 3M) as I wish I had. Oh hindsight! You are so cruel! I told Kristie, when she asked if I'd been training regularly, that I wish you could count watching a pathetic amount of Sons of Anarchy as training because then I'd probably win all the races.
Unfortunately, evolution and science have failed me again, and knowing the intricate details of Jax Teller's tattoos and having just watched the season three finale TWICE IN A ROW the night before did nothing to help me across the finish line.
I actually hurt my foot mid-run, either because of uneven terrain or needing new shoes or, as Mike so sweetly said, "maybe you shouldn't run the next race without training." THANKS BABE. YOU GET TO RUB MY FOOT FOR BEING SO SPOT-ON. It's feeling much better today, thank everything, because yesterday I was convinced I'd never run (or work-out or walk without a limp) again.
(That's a little peek inside my fun brain. I hurt my foot in a race and five minutes later I'm convinced life as knew it is over.)
Anyway, my finish time was 1:16:33, so about five minutes slower than last year. This is the wrong way, I know! Oof! But, we have lots of months left in this year, so I'm still gunning for a PR time next 10K.
Thanks to Kristie for snapping my finish line shot. She got a shot right before this of someone else entirely, thinking it was me, so I'm just impressed with her camera's recovery time. Or perhaps that's a sign of how slow I was moving.
After the last two races, I feel dusty as a runner and have some questions for the runners among us to recharge my running mojo.
- I need new music suggestions. I tend to lean on Pandora a little too much when I'm running, which is great if the song that kicks on in my headphones is a good running song. Not so good when the song is a ballad and I have to fetch my iPhone out of my belt to switch songs. Any good songs you've been working out to lately?
- Do you have a pair of running shoes you love? I plan to get re-fitted, just like I did last time, but my foot and gait seem to be relatively normal so, last time, I was offered a few shoes that would fit my needs. I picked the one (at the time) that felt most comfortable in the store and on the in-store treadmill, but I'd love to go in armed with even more information, if possible.
Finally, if you are a runner too, how funny is this shirt? Order by March 1st, and you can have it in time for St. Patrick's Day!