Helvatia Half

-
I've always wanted to run Helvatia and this year I got my chance. My co-worker Tracy had paid for the race, got injured, and gave me her bib. I wasn't exactly training for a half, but I thought I could pull it off. She asked me to run on Monday and the race was that Saturday. I had just run 8.77 miles on my lunch break that day, so I figured it was a sign that I can do it. I didn't get any sleep the night before, woke up very early, and went to my friends house to drive to the race. I ended up seeing about 6 people I knew at the race, and it makes me miss living in Portland. So many fun places to run and great groups of running friends.

I got sick on mile 9, had to walk, and didn't know if I could finish the race. I have never walked during a race before. Not even pregnant! But my stomach was in absolute fits and there was no bathroom near. I found a tire company on the side of the road with 3 guys sitting in lawn chairs out front watching the runners go by. I asked if I could use their bathroom and they gladly pointed to the back of the shop. After about 10 minutes, I felt better. That was a pretty sick bathroom too, but I could care less.

I got back out on the road, and felt better than I had felt the whole race. I ran a solid 8 minute pace until the end. I only lost about 15 minutes with being sick. I finished in 2:05. Not my best time, not my worst time, and a good finish considering it was a last minute decision.

The burger in the end was actually pretty good. I couldn't finish it. I don't like food after I run. But the mini Jamba Juices they gave out after the race were my best friend. I went back and got 3 of them until my bottom lip was numb.

Next up: Cascade Lakes Relay! I am runner #1, which means I do 8.5 miles, then 7.5, and then finish with a 6.6 mile leg. I did this race two years ago and it was challenging and a lot of fun. I am ready to do it again.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Christmas 2012

-
Image
The best things about our Christmas this year: 1. Lights- Caleb put up lights outside our house this year, but he forgot one critical step in the process. He didn't check the lights before he put them up. Our brand new LED lights we put up last year already stopped working. He took down one set of lights, leaving the other set up on half the house. He also left the hangers for the lights on our gutters. The second set he left up did work, but he didn't have an extension cord long enough to reach. So we left it like this all December: 2. Gifts- We wrapped all our gifts early so we could see the beautiful wrapping paper and ribbon for many weeks. I do this so that I can take my time, and also to do a check on the amount of gifts and make sure I didn't forget anybody. I also hate going to the stores at the last minute. But every year I still go to the stores because my dad didn't get my mom a present, my sister needs a few more things for her kids, and Caleb usuall...
Read more

Caleb Escapes Death

-
Image
I was working from home on Friday when I received a phone call from Caleb. "Renae, apparently I wrecked my motorcycle." I asked him where he was and what I needed to do, and his reply was, "Renae, apparently I wrecked my motorcycle." Then I asked him where he was and he had no idea. I heard someone talking in the background and I asked if I could speak to who he was with, and his reply was "Renae, apparently I wrecked my motorcycle." After about 20 of those responses I could hear the lady with Caleb saying she was taking him to St Vincent ER. That's all I needed to hear, I jumped in my car, just in time to sit in traffic. I wanted to get to the ER as fast as I could but Memorial weekend vacationers felt otherwise. By the time I got to the hospital Caleb was all checked in and had his room. His memory was about 10 seconds for the first hour and I proceeded to answer the same questions over, and over. "Renae, how long have you been here? Where am I?...
Read more

It all works out in the end

-
I've been stressing about Mr. Caleb working in Eugene. It's 59 miles from our house, which makes for a long drive back and forth every day. A ton of miles on the car, gas, time away from home, blaaaa! I've been commuting too long and I didn't want Caleb to get home so late. Well..... now he doesn't have to. He just got offered to work for the same company in Albany. Which, is only 19 miles away from our new house. He just carved 80 miles round trip off his daily commute. Yeah for Caleb!! He won't start working until October so right now he is a stay-at-home-dad. I went back to work on the 1st of September and he has been home with the kids every day. I love to get messages from him about how he is barely surviving, the kids are going crazy, and he's super tired. I get home and on most days they are all in their pj's. However, last night I came home and everyone was dressed and he cleaned the house! If I could just get him to have dinner on table....h...
Read more