Memories of the U City 10-mile

Today I ran the U City 10 mile race with Peter and Melanie. In keeping with my race theme, it rained. I am still waiting for a race on a 50 degree day that is dry. I am sure it will happen one of these days. Anyway today was really fun and funny. I often blog for my kids memories, etc. Today I am blogging for me. I want to record my memories. If you want to read, go ahead!

• talking with Melanie on Saturday hoping the race might be cancelled due to the rain. Wanting to get out of running this race because we were both sort of in a funk.
• trying to decide what to wear. Shorts won over pants, ponchos and rain gear were definitely in order. Peter and Melanie purchased ponchos so they could ditch them along the way. I opted for Scott's 25 year old pull-over which after much whining he finally told me that I could ditch it if I really needed to. I ended up wearing it the entire time in some way or another.
• Wardrobe malfunctions were par for the course for me. I hate running with lots of stuff on me. So it is raining and I have my beloved Garmin on which I know is waterproof sort of, my music on my phone which is not waterproof, the LL Bean jacket with the front zipper pocket and a hat to shield the rain from my face. Way too much gear for me! I kept putting the phone in and out of the zipper pocket because in my type A personality I keep telling myself that the iphone is way to expensive to ruin in the rain. Then I remind myself that Scott is on his 3rd one and I give myself a little more grace! I end up stopping 4 times during the race to reconfigure myself. Making a friend along the way because the same lady sees me stop every time and tells me that I really need to stop having "wardrobe malfunctions".
• I lost my hat somewhere along the route. I read one time that this stuff gets picked up for the homeless so hopefully someone less fortunate is loving my Under Armor mesh hat!
• the feeling of being a real runner this time. Meaning that I was with the crowd. I was turning the corners and able to see lots of people in front of me, but still lots of people behind me. The feeling of passing someone and not seeing them again.
• The feeling of a hometown race. I mean it is U. City. It ended at the pool, a place I know way to well. Running past my very own street. A small race. Where were all the cheerleaders/cow bells? Oh, yeah...it was raining.
• Seeing Peter finally get it. About 3 weeks ago Melanie and I ran 8.5 miles with Peter and afterwards he was sort of whiny. He had lots of questions about why his knees hurt and what to do about quad fatigue??!!! I sort of got this impression that he wondered why we enjoyed running. When you enjoy something so much I think you almost welcome that sort of pain. It is an accomplishment like nothing else and you can't even try to explain it to someone. After the race today Peter said, "I feel great!" and I knew he got it. He ran, in the rain to the car. Alright, he even did a little leap, sort of jumping in the air thing! He was happy. It is a high. It is fun. It is 1100 calorie burned! I think he is hooked. Another person to add to the runner club!
• Peter got to meet my new found friend after the race while Melanie was in the line for the bathroom. Melanie is so great. I love her. I love that the first words out of her mouth after crossing the finish line were not, "I feel great!" instead they were words that I will not blog about, but I love her honesty and I love to share in her pain!
• 1:38

Here's to an easy week. Nashville is 4 weeks away! I cannot wait!