Chapte 2 page 191 - TR 72 & Clutz Award

Before I begin with the clutz award part of the story, I should tell you the weather stats first:
Temp 27 degrees
Wind 20-25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph
Windchill 17 degrees (BRRRRR!)

Last night at about 9 p.m. I decided that I was going to do the Rainbow Lake 5K today. That didn't leave much time for my normal routine which includes ensuring we have either a bagel or English muffin in the house which I use as Peanut Butter delivery device for my pre-race breakfast. Oh well, I decided I would just swing by McDonalds before the race and get a plain English Muffin. At the last minute I decided to go into the restaurant and go potty one last time before the race. I then purchased a large diet coke (shout out to TMB and "C") and a plain English muffin. I walked normally (not rushing or screwing around or texting) out to the car when in one split second, I was on my butt - and hard! I remember thinking (if I didn't actually say it aloud) "WHAT!". I tried to get up and couldn't. I was sitting on a patch of black ice. For my southern fans, click here to learn what black ice is all about. I had to scout to the edge of the ice and then get up once my feet were on actual pavement. The patch of ice was only about 3' X 2', but it was sooooooooo slippery! Thankfully I didn't spill my soda (awesome job, right?). I immediately sat in my car, collected myself, spread my peanut butter on my English muffin. While doing that I noticed an older lady coming out of McDonalds with a large coffee. I remember thinking "I hope she doesn't fall" - BAM, she too fell to the ground on the ice. Unfortunately, she spilled her hot coffee all over herself. I really should have reported it to the staff, but I was in a hurry to get to the race . . . and scared to walk across the parking lot again to go inside to tell them. Before driving away, I got out of the car and stood up to see if I was alright. Boy, my wrist (which I used to catch myself) and my ankle, knee, and back were all pretty sore. I thought I would still be able to do the race. Besides, there was no way my wellness client "J" (who I was meeting at the race) would EVER believe I fell on black ice - she would have totally thought that was a bogus excuse to sleep in).

I arrived 30 minutes later to the race registration. I checked in and moved around on my ankle a bit - ouch! I totally should have probably just sat out the race, but I needed to run and was kind of jealous of "C's" awesome Turkey Trot time so . . . I decided to push through (walk if I had to). This was my first race that I ever did completely by myself. Even races where I didn't bring someone with me, I usually meet someone and we end up doing it together. Not today, it was all me for the entire 3.1 miles. I listened to music which I NEVER do (not a big fan of music - I hear all of you just boo hiss!). It was alright. I couldn't use a beeper timer because of my tunes so I just did whatever I felt like.

My first interval was 10 minutes of running and 3 minutes of walking.

My second interval was "until I got to the house on the corner" which was like 7 1/2 minutes running and 2 minutes of walking.

My third interval was only 5 minutes running and 3 minutes walking (running was cut short by the one and only water station).

I then ran the last 12 1/2 minutes.

My ankle hurt worse to walk than it did to run (odd, huh?). My final time was nothing to brag about (42:48). I ended up 160th place out of 180 (there were 4 people behind me in my age group - that rarely happens, especially with such small races - I usually take the prize for dead last . . . of the last 4 was my wellness client "J").

After the race, I came home, wrapped my ankle in an ace, put ice on it while we drove an hour to another Thanksgiving party. It's REALLY sore - not going to lie.

But I feel happy I accomplished 3 miles on my own.

Here are some quirky pix:
I broke out a brand new pair of shoes for this race - yeah!
The race started at Jean Stratton Porter's house.
My wellness client "J" and I at the finish line. It was sooo cold. I know I had at least 10 items of clothing on (tights, pants, 2 shirts, sweatshirt, gloves, ear warmer, under garments).

Hope your day was great!