We left for Prescott [by the way it’s pronounced press-kit like biscuit, well unless your from Scottsdale. I‘m ¼ Scottsdal-ian. ; )] by 10am Friday. Peanut had enjoyed three hours of “bring your favorite child to work day” from 6:30-9:30am {that’s what she titled it}. She came back all tuckered out from shredding & recycling paper - it’s a rough life at a Trust Bank.
After we addressed her one [really, really painful] paper cut we were off. The pita enjoyed driving crazy fast in the company car and [gasp] only had to show one car the “way to the nearest exit” / AKA “the bird” the whole way there?!!? Yep, that’s a r e c o r d. Happy me.
Peanut enjoyed taking photos most of the way. By the time I got my iPhone back from her . . . I had 93 new photos. 74 of them looking mostly like this:
Once we arrived the Pita had a business lunch at a sushi joint. Sooooooooooo jealous but I distinctly remember the part about sushi = bad idea on the day before race. Bummer. However, Peanut & I ended up at a crepe cafe which was way more fabulous than the photo looks.
Yada yada yada --- packet pick up. So I guess, I missed the memo about “normal” people don’t wear 4.5” heels to packet pick up. Whatever. I was wearing jeans. It’s all I wear when I’m not in my running shoes or flip flops. Oh and as to what my job actually is, click here. Next, I meet my volunteer “honey” - - “bitten off more than I can chew….” [my face is getting red just thinking about it]. Walk out. The pita says [love this], “tomorrow we are coming back…you wear those same shoes….but wear your finishing time on your jacket". Made my night. But we hadn’t yet driven the course.
Here’s one of our stops along it.
Here’s another. [the one where the Pita said, “Em, seriously, I will be completely impressed if you do this. But I hope you know you don‘t have to.” Ugggghhh. This [as it turns out] was a "flat" portion.
I called off the “course drive” at mile 8. I had seen enough. I have never researched/driven a course ever before. Which is probably how I signed up for this. ;) I over think a lot of things in my life but not running. Less has always been more for me with running. Weird.
Race day.
4:45am - wake up
5am - eat/dress/ p r a y / p r a y / p r a y ;)
5:30am - peanut leaves my purse [with way too much cash, 6 credit cards, $400 in sunglasses, an iphone, ok you get the point] on a table in the hotel lobby [but waits to tell us at 12:30pm]
5:45am - I wonder why people run to warm up? That’s extra distance people. ;) seriously, I never “warm-up jog” first.
6am - Pita says, “you got this baby”. [I'm thinking.....
Garmin - start
Ipod - start
. . . . . .
“Let’s get it started”.
The best “fun spots":
Mile 6 - elevation gain 362 feet.
Mile 7 - EG 405’ - - wish I would have had my camera --- there was a sign put out by the organizers which said, “what the hill is that?” Looked up didn’t see anything “abnormal”. 45 seconds later, the next sign, “don’t look up now!” They weren‘t kidding!!!! *&%@!%&^
Mile 8 - EG 341’
Mile 9 - EG 373’
Mile 15 - EG 351’
Mile 17 - wait for it --- wait for it --- elevation gain 484’
Realized I hadn’t had any “Gu” yet at mile 14. Was too busy dying. {warning} TMI but . . . I can’t just down those things. I spread one out over 2 miles. Where do I keep it in the intermittent moments? In the bra top “gap” of course. This method had never failed me until Saturday when I looked down & . . . . nada. bummer. Yep, no “gel handouts” at this race. Oh well. By this time my ipod was playing, “[I wanna] feel it” {three 6 mafia} - and I sure was.
Crazy moment of the race . . . . Mile 17. The one that was certainly the hardest by all means . . .It was also the third best moment of the whole race. I look over my right shoulder and …… the most beautiful view I have ever seen in Arizona [and I’m a native]. Insane. Gorgeous. Listening to, “Let Go” - Frou Frou {thanks Kera} - could not have planned that better.
By this time, it was the [mostly] down [ward-ish] stretch. My lungs were opening. My legs were just going and I was alone. Rocking out in the pines to, “Magic” - B.o.B. Singing like a complete fool. Trust me, I was not blessed with a singing “gene”.
Funny moment . . . Not realizing I was still singing out loud when I caught up to a man and was saying, “mama said to knock you out” - I actually apologized. He didn’t look impressed. It was classic though, I’ll never forget that.
Best moment . . . Seeing the Pita & Peanut’s look on their face when the Pita had to slam on his brakes at 22 [not expecting to see me that quickly]. He turned around and said, “WTH? You’re doing awesome!” [I’ll take it.] At which point I told him to have Peanut put her “earmuffs” on [hands over ears] and I took the opportunity to tell him in THREE words what the past 3 hours had been like!!
He drove off yelling, “YA BABY!!” --- and I know I had the biggest stupid smile on my face.
“The pursuit of happiness” started playing. Awesome. Passed all remaining water opportunities and just rolled with it.
Saw my AMAZING parents at 25. Loved that. They drove 5 hours round trip - to see me run for 15 seconds.
What
An
Experience.
Next year, I’ll be back. I’ll be [way] more “ready”. For now, I’m loving my 5th overall female and 2nd in my age group finish. Not to mention the $50 gift card & an additional $15 gift card for “Road ID”.
Check back tomorrow for the give-a-way.
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Happy Birthday Ethan!! Love you Buddy!!
