Million Inch +++ Run

Welcome new Bloggy Pack members!! HUGE hug and thanks to MCM Mama (HERE) for her generous donation to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer. If you would like an easy way to donate to the Cause click HERE. Or you can join in the Fun of the Virtual Race for the Cure, details HERE.


Stats for 2/13:
Miles- 16.34
Time- 2:23:33
Pace- 8:45
Fastest Mile- 8:14
Less Fast Mile- 9:16
Drizzly rainy day running the Million Inch++ Run on Interurban trail.

I got an email from a local Race Director who puts on FREE races. I forwarded the email to local Bloggy buddies Amanda, Kerrie and Zoe, I really should have people sign release forms when they join me :)

Kerrie and Zoe Parked at the Finish since the course was one way running from Auburn to deep in Tukwila on the Interurban trail. I planned to wear bright pink to match Zoe, but when I saw the rain I opted for my trusty Patagonia jacket. I was SOOO Excited when Amanda pulled in it had been too long.

Here we are festive and ready to RUN! Look at the funny guy to the right. We gathered together for announcements, Race Director Steve said there would be Orange arrows (chalk arrows and rain do not mix, just sayin) and 2 water stops manned by his beautiful daughter. He also announced that the 15.78 mile course was actually 16.4, Amanda was not there to hear that part. I opted not to tell her, probably a BAD choice on my part SORRY AMANDA, I just didn't want to hurt her spirit.

Some guy commented on our socks and told us he was wearing a pink jock strap... Ummmm?? Lets RUN!

The lovely Kerrie took photos along the way. This course is BORING! Long flat pavement with dry brush grass, train tracks, warehouses and puddles. My plan was to run the first 8 at BQ pace, Zoe joined me. It was WEIRD, I felt drained from the first step, no energy at all. Zoe told me to turn on my Ipod, which works with my old earbuds, but the cord is shorter so I was having issues.

Although I was tired the miles passed quickly, here is the bullet point version:

-We saw many couples, Amorous birds together for Valentines- Ducks cuddles together on a log, and kissing crows. This lead me to say "If I were a Duck I would not live on the side of this boring trail, I would pick a sweet lake."

-Soon after there was a HUGE nest I dubbed the Hawk Mansion, which lead me to say "If I were a hawk I would have the biggest nest in the tallest tree."

-Our Socks were attention grabbers, a Man on bike said, "Are you with the other girl with the socks?" Hmmmm.. "Yes we are." Glad to know that Amanda was still plugging along. And a girl on an arm powered bike said "Love the socks." As much as I LOVED the socks, I wont be wearing festive socks for anything above a 5K again. My toes are not happy.

-There were several Cross walks at one an older lady pushed button and we got there at the last second and sprinted across, come to find out that woman was 67. WOW!!

-Once we got to mile 8 we were both ready to slow. I took a Gu that QUICKLY worked.

-Just about then we hit my usual lunch run stomping grounds, the not pretty part. Interurban trail is long, straight and BORING. I started to be very chatty. Telling Zoe about all my adventures. She may or may not have turned up her music to tune me out, I would not blame her. The Gu really did the job!!

-We hit the water stop, thank you pretty daughter! We both had Orange Gatorade. Not sure why the course did not take us down my usual pretty path instead we took a short cut that ended by the soccer fields.

-On the trail there were 2 Canadian Geese, we coined a new term "Gice", If you would like the proper way to pronounce the word imagine Goonies "Hey you Gice" and you have it right. We both chuckled.

-We briefly stopped at a Casino to play "roulette". As we came out there was a pack of men rounding the corner, my competitive fire sparked and we sprinted ahead.

-I am sooooooo glad Zoe was there to direct, because I did not see the path to the right and the arrow had washed away. (Kerrie missed this turn and had a .5 mile detour)

-True to my runner Bird watching form I spotted a large beautiful Hawk, we joked that SAM sent his relatives to watch over us, just then a Seagull flew by, Sam's slow cousin who could not find us "Where are you Gice?"

-Along the path was a Mint Green Square house. I am not sure what the architect for this house was thinking. Perfect square, 3 windows, VERY STRANGE.

-The men had disappeared and it was Zoe and I headed to the Finish. My legs felt strong, I could have kept going. Zoe urged me to try for a Finish line kick, and it worked, we sprinted in to the non Finish Line. Free race, what do you expect?? We stopped our watches a few times along the course so the time is not totally accurate, but it counts for the parts we were running.

Me and Zoe at the Finish. The man in the Red is Steve and his daughter is in the SOAKED sweatshirt. We chatted for a bit then headed out to find our friends.

Amanda texted me and said she got to 15.78 and there was nothing so she stopped. UGH! I should have told her. Come to find out she had major pain and had been toughing it out for over 9 miles. We found her and gave a quick hug. Then went to Kerrie's van to refill out water with her Emergency water jug.

• We were freezing but kept walking, Kerrie had texted me and had taken a wrong turn. We found her and made a moving finish line. The photo at the end did not upload, will have to add it later.

I am SOOOOO PROUD of my girls, they all have new highest Mileage PRs and did it on a rainy day on a BORING trail. This was for sure great Marathon mental prep training.

Fun photos after the Run. Kerrie us all Valentines sports beans and gave me some Bulldog socks for Little Stud #2, Thanks Kerrie!! We had crossed 3 cities, it took a LONG time to drive back, really puts the distance into prospective. WOW!

COLD!!! Kerrie had to go but the rest of us changed in our cars and headed to Red Robin.

We probably looked sooo funny all wearing Bondibands, but we did not care. Amanda ordered coffee, good idea! A Round of coffees to warm up, I was wearing my gloves inside because I was soo cold. We ordered and proceeded to stuff our faces. The conversation flowed easily and it was a BLAST just hanging out with these lovely ladies. This is just a preview of the FUN we will have at the Mercer Island Half on 3/21 (Amanda's Birthday!!).

HAPPY MONDAY!!

• PS. How was your Weekend?

• PPS. CONGRATS to Christina at Lazy Bones Running, Tall Mom 1,000+++ Club member, on her BQ this weekend at the IMS Arizona Marathon!!