Seabrook Lucky Trails Day #2

I think I must have woken up every hour to see what time it was before the race on Sunday. I finally gave up at 3:30 and got up for good. I did a little yoga and felt pretty good actually, just hungry. AW that runger. I hadn't planned on runger and at 4 am I was very hungry. I powered in some pizza and a cup of coffee and got dressed. I had planned on getting a later start but I know I was fooling myself and was out the door at 5:30, just as I was for the Saturday race. I got to the race area and after a quick change back into my road shoes, I thought my trail shoes would be better since my feet would stay dry longer on wet trails but it was going to rain 2 miles in so I went for comfort. I then rushed off to the start to cheer the 6 am marathon walkers off. After, I sat down under the pavilion and noticed something. Marathoners are serious runners. Saturday costume runners were everywhere, today not so much. I kind of felt like a fool in my sparkle skirt. I ended my warm up and the end of the street where the marathoners were getting ready to start off and then there is the warnings "Folks were going to "potentially" get some rough weather, rain, hail, thunder and lightening, but we are still set to go. If condition get bad use your best judgement." Last words from the announcer were "Stay on the gravel and you'll be fine."  The marathoners lined up and Pharrell's "Happy" was blasting and then the horn sounded and off they went. Next was us halfer's. As the street filled there were noticeably more dressed up runners. It's always so much better for me when I don't start a run feeling like a complete ass.

The race itself was fine. Rain happens and in Houston this past year it has happened a lot. I would bet 50% of my races this past year have had some sort of wetness. The mud on the other hand is a bit different. There was only one part of the course that seemed particularly muddy and that was around mile 4 and again in the 10-11 mile part of the loop. As soon as you crossed the bridge from one side of the trail to the other it got slick. I don't think it would have been so bad if the volunteers who were at the aid station had not been kids. Kids seems to make the best of these types of situations and not really knowing were the trail ended and the bayou bank began and just their pure excitement for being out there they managed to rough up a good 1/4 mile of trail.

The after party was in full swing by the time I crossed and got my medals. Everyone in a happy place. Burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and the green beer flowing. Music blasting, runner high fiving other runners that they don't even know. RAS puts on really great runner oriented races and I was not let down by one thing they did this year. I can proudly say after finally running all of their races that they are really a series of the most well organized races in Southeast Texas!

One for Saturday, one for Sunday and one for completing the Pelican Challenge. 

These next few things are really related to the race but...

On day one there were these two girls running (I'm going to be a bit mean here but it's kind of necessary) that were wearing completely matching outfits. I would not have given them much notice, lots of friends like to coordinate outfits for races, but their tops were a size or two too small. They ended up lined up right behind me and then I hear "don't worry, she just gives us someone to pass at the finish." REALLY!! Well I paced around them, back and forth for the 3-4 miles but once I passed them I passed them with no further thought. Then came day two, I came across them at twice, once after my first loop when I was heading back up to the turn around spot and one of the shouted "holy crap you're way ahead of us" and then again as I was heading to the mud spot across the bridge between miles 10 and 11 as they were heading to the turn around spot and the looked so defeated at that point. What I would like for people to take from this little tale is that no matter what, you have to run your own race. Often we get out there and we pick a rabbit and aim to get past them but whether we do or not you can't be out there running and letting yourself get defeated because of where someone else is in their race. The only time you should be worried about is your own, the only race you should be running is yours.

Not sure where this one goes in the whole racing scheme, but can someone please tell volunteers how to cut oranges so that they easily come off the peel. From point to point not from the middle. PLEASE!

So where am I at now. A few days post races and all is good but a blister or two and maybe a broken toe but since there isn't much that can be done about it, I'm not doing anything to confirm or deny it. Monthly mileage is 60.29 with nearly two weeks still to go. Next race is Blue Bell 10k on 4/12, next big race is Brazos Bend 25k on 4/27. Going to give myself the rest of the week for recovery and then work towards that 25k.

Also I am looking for fun summer races, know one? Please give me your suggestions.