Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Who's reaching out to tickle a horsie?...

...everyone knows it's Brencho.

My running P.I.C. worked Friday, and was busy this weekend.  So I'm not going to just go out there and run by myself on a Saturday and actually push out any real mileage right now.  I'm done with this.  This window is closed.  I want to run my stupid marathon, and immediately start training for the Santa Run (which is just eating cookies and milk).  I'm usually done by now.  Last year I stretched out the season with the Brooksie, and this year it's Detroit Marathon 2012 (D12) making me run when I just want to hang out and enjoy the fall.

Still though, it's not time to completely lay back. I have two one big runs this week, and then it's a nice week off before the big boy. This past weekend I managed to force myself up early to go run the Brückeläufe. It was a long shot, game day decision. I told myself the night before I wasn't going to do it. I wasn't registered and I hate paying day-of premiums. I set the alarm pretty much assuming that I would shut it off and just wake up too late, make some huevos rancheros, and watch some Premier League and MSU simultaneously (which I did anyway after the race).

However, the alarm went off.  I got up out of bed, and started walking around.  I told myself that my heel was hurting too much to run, but 5 minutes later I found myself in the shower.  After that I got dressed to run, and headed out the door.  I was running late, and still had to get gas.  I had my last out when someone asked for a jump, but I didn't have time.  Usually I would, but if I did, I was going to be too late to run, and if I helped I knew I would have skipped the race.  Pretty sure they'd be fine.  It's a gas station, someone will help.  I still felt a bit guilty, though.

I felt less guilty when I arrived at the registration table at 7:53 for an 8:00 start.  I signed up really quick, dropped the race shirt at the car, and ran up to the start.  I said hello to a few familiar people (wow...I'm like one of these runner people now, aren't I?) before the national anthem, and we started the race (probably a little late).

The race course of 13 bridges over the 13.1 miles was fantastic.  We ran by a farm with a bridge on it around mile 8, and I had to stop and pet the horses.  I was just out there enjoying the race.  I haven't done that in a while on these longer runs.  I already had my PR last week, and this race was just about enjoying it while holding back enough at a semi-realistic marathon pace.  I was glad to be in that kind of mood for this race, because it gave me a chance to take in the sights.  A lot of it was a backwards version of the Volkslaufe, but the fall colors were beautiful throughout the farmland out there so it felt new.  It also made me care less when I had a huge head wind with a slight manure smell coming straight at my face from about 10.5 to 11.5.  I really couldn't do much more than fight it and laugh at everyone else fighting the wind or being seriously bothered by the smell.  

When all was said and done, I still popped in at a 2:09:05, which is only second to the PR I set the previous weekend.  So I still had a pretty good run, especially for not really pushing it.  I was honestly expecting more time on that clock.

On the way home, I stopped by the Farmer's Market to pick up some breakfast stuff, and i stopped by the Porter's Orchard booth outside to buy the famous apple cider slushie.  The woman said, "You're in shorts, and you want a frozen drink when it's this cold out, you must be crazy."  Instead of bothering to explain myself or the run, I just said "uh-huh" and turned and walked away drinking my slushie.

Shirt/Medal
Medal Close Up

3 comments:

  1. Gotta love races like this where you're just out there enjoying yourself and run a respectable time to boot! Well done.

    I want one of those slushies!!! They should delicious!!!

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  2. Nice work! I miss the days where I could decide on the day if I wanted to run a half marathon!

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  3. Great job on the run...very cool. Love the shirt and medal colors. Hey you have been nominated for the Liebster blog Award by me...come on over to find out what to do next!

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