Calling all runners!

Hey, so the Seattle Rock 'n Roll Marathon has been chosen as the next marathon to get gifted with $95 of my money for the dubious pleasure of running 26.2 miles! It's held on June 29, 2009 so there's plenty of time to get ready, everyone. Of course, I do recognize that--due to Seattle's inherently clammy nature--this may not be the sunny Lower 48 experience I seem to always anticipate, but I will press on and register! http://www.rnrseattle.com/

October 5th

a.k.a. "the day I realized that there is life beyond the St. George Marathon"

But first, let's take a generous step back . . .

OCT 1st: 8PM--found myself moseying around the house with extra time, having already packed my paltry carry-on. Packed with time to spare to reach the airport? Unheard of. Collected my niece. Bought celebratory Cinnabun at airport. Got rejected by Delta. Stupid powerless buddy pass (which I totally appreciate, Chandra!). Had impromptu slumber party with niece. Hit the pillow around 2AM.

OCT 2nd: Despite repeated threats, niece woke up bright and early after a mere 6 hours sleep. Spent the day trying to find alternate routes down to SLC. Swallowed pride, accepted a buddy pass from pilot acquaintance (after having wimped out of actually asking him for it--made brave sister, Chandra, do it), abandoned faithful, loving niece, busted it to the airport. Flew to Seattle on AK Airlines. Fellow church member was my flight attendant. Took good care of me. Landed a bit late. RAAAAAN from literally one end of SEA-TAC to the other to make the connecting flight. "We're full." Delta rejected me again. Roamed the Seattle airport after securing a blanket for the night. Mourned decision not to bring portable DVD player. Bored. Went against instinct and bought a paperback from Borders--no discount! Plus tax! Evil. Settled down for a long winter's nap (key word: nap) on a comfy bench. Hmmm . . . no pajamas. Race clothes suffice. Diligent vacuumers and drafty/oft-opened-by-employees-outside-door next to my head yielded fitful sleep. Cursed (in a "darn it" sort of way) my reluctance to seek haven at Rod's brother's house north of the airport.

OCT 3rd: Woke early. Did I sleep? Boarded 6:10 AM plane to SLC. Brother-in-law drove me home. Lovely weather. Last time I see lovely weather. Collect Chandra and company. Hog front seat while Greg drives and Chandra entertains the children in the back. Contemplate items I forgot--DVD player, pajamas, knee brace . . .. Arrive at Expo. Find Rod and other Hutchings. Get totally suckered (but in such a way that I'm still not bitter about it) into buying all sorts of souvenir stuff: necklace pendant (immediately lost), two shirts for me, various bumper stickers, fake tattoo for arm (26.2), a pace bracelet to inspire me and keep track of my time, etc., etc. Indulged in spaghetti dinner with Hutchings--fabulous people to hype up your racing anticipation, lots of racing experience amongst them. Head swelled with pride when Rod's RUNNER nephew complimented my shoes. :o) Floated back to car on super-terrific shoes. Hooked back up with Chandra and Greg. Drove to his parents' house in Hurricane. Went to bed late. Idiot move. Found spider next to pillow. Chased spider around the room. Conceded the fight, pulled bed away from wall.

OCT 4th: Woke EARLY early. 4:15AM. Groaned about sleeping stupidity. Less than 4 hours of sleep = not ideal race. Drove down to St. George. Forgot clothes for after the race. Texted Chandra. Met up with Rod and family. Drove in absolute darkness and rain to start. Squinted, tried to see the race path. Gave up, chatted with Rod. Arrived at start. Donned trash bag to keep rain away, waited with the other 7200 racers for an outhouse opportunity. Missed the starting gun. Wandered past the Start line. Didn't realize why Rod wanted to get going. Panicked, took off running in trash bag.
MILES 1-3: First three miles were NOT downhill, as so indicated by course map. Spent most of the time dodging around other runners, avoiding discarded trash bags and foot-soaking puddles in the dark. All lost causes. Feet wet from mile 1 through mile 26.2. Sun never rises, but path lightens by mile 3.
MILES 4-7: Rain lightens up. Separated from Rod by hasty decision to shed some clothing on side of road. Still decent--wearing watermelon colors of pink shirt, green shorts. Not a fast "stripper". Fall behind.
MILES 7-8: Still raining. Entering town of Veyo=screaming supportive fans on side of road. Leaving Veyo=1.25 miles of the "Veyo Hill". Hills that are named are not good signs. Catch up to Rod.
MILES 9-11: Minding my own business. Listening to iPod. Surprised by sudden, "Hello, Rahni!" from behind. Joseph and Ryan! And friend Ben. Don't know why they didn't pass me earlier--they certainly finished ahead of me! Turned iPod way way down. Ran up hill with guys. Felt pathetic--breathing not optimal. Couldn't hear many of Ryan's questions due to wind blowing in ears against headphones. Found out I missed Patrick in the crowd at mile 7. Bummer. Was horrible company to the cheery runners. (Ryan: "Is it mile 10 already? This is going too fast!" Psycho. Friendly Psycho.) Heavier rain. Start to wring out shorts at every mile marker. Water streams down.
MILES 12-14: Worry about rain short-circuiting my earbuds and leaving me prone on the ground.
MILES 15-20: Still raining steadily. All a blur. Stomach feels weird. Would it be better to empty my stomach and start over? Decide not to--could get worse. Throwing up is gross. Two memorable points. Run down a hill. Contemplate walking. Hear cheering on the sideline. "Rahni! Wahoo!" Look in surprise to see Patrick doing jumping jacks and yelling. Respond to cheering with something inane about the wet conditions. Discard walking idea and try to look spry. Spry-ish. Other memory not so hot. Mean hill at mile 18. False summit. Bitter.
MILES 21-22: Still raining. Woman on side of the road yells, "Pick it up!" Force down impulse to stop running, approach woman, berate woman for her uninspiring words. Seriously? Pick it up? What, like we're slackers? Continue running. Increase my 20/30/whatever-second walk breaks to every 1/2 mile. Because I'm an undisciplined dork with no driving perspective.
MILES 23-25: Rain sprinkles, then starts again. Arrive in town. Try to look carefree when I think I hear my name. Turns out they're screaming, "Go, runners!", not "Go, Rahni!" Slow down again. Spot Rod ahead of me at Mile 25. Think about trying to speed up and run with him. Realize the improbablity/impossibility of that. Spectator yells false information, "Only 1.1 miles left!" Not possible because I haven't passed mile marker 25. Can't even SEE mile marker 25. Well-intentioned but cruel.
MILES 25-26.2: Finish line! Woman ahead of me collapses. I feel pounded, but not that bad. Whew. Chandra and Brin are waiting at the chute in the rain. Nice family. :o) Wander over to the tent that checks your chip time versus gun time. Takes off 8 minutes--yea! Better time. 4:47. Not what I was aiming for, but a better time. Next race at least under 4:30, if not 4:20. Definitely.

OCT 5th: Life feels empty. And sore. When's the next race?

Upon reflection, I've determined (somewhat belatedly in my life) that I'm somewhat prone to tunnel vision. Who knew that life existed after October 4th? But life indeed did go on . . . it included Les Miserables in an outdoor amphitheatre in the torrential rain, dinner with friends (Hey, Lanette!), 4.5 hours delay at the airport, friendly airplane companions, Tuesday Night Races through muddy Kincaid park with Bailey and Chelsea . . . good times.