Oh - my brain is on vacation. I posted a race report to the Runner's UNITE thread, but I'm going to have to just crosspost it here, I think. I will add an additional journal-specific post afterwards, so stay tuned!
So it is a little late, but here is the report on my latest running escapades.
The race was a 3 mile fun run on the 4th of July. I had gotten my incredible brother in law to watch all 5 kids (my 2 and his 3) and I dropped them off at 7:30. The race was to begin at 8:15. Then I discovered that my Garmin had not charged in the night as I expected it to - falsley plugged in, it seems. I quickly borrowed my son's watch and figured out how to make it be a stopwatch. Not the easiest watch to figure out for some reason, but better than nothing.
It was a cool morning but pretty humid. I made several stops at the harbormaster's bathrooms, thrilled not to be facing a porta-potty wait each time I returned. I am not sure if it was nerves or what, but I was in there at least twice before the race got started.
So then the 10 mile runners came through and we cheered them on from the sides of the street. Their start had been in a different location 15 minutes earlier. The last runner before the police car bringing up the rear got the biggest cheer of all! Once they were past, it was time for us to line up for the 3 mile. Of course, I positioned myself toward the backity-back. I am never sure where to go and I figure it is better to be passing than be passed. Of course this is only my second race, so "never" is a bit of an exaggeration. I couldn't actually tell where the actual start of the race even was. There was a lady with a bullhorn, so I started my borrowed watch as soon as I passed where I thought she had been standing. Vague, yes?
Not much else to report. It was an out and back with a water stop at the turn-around and it was mostly on "Beach Drive" where I am very accustomed to running at this point. I guess I will just post the pictures.
And yes, this is where I get to run every run this month.
There was this woman about my mom's age running a little ahead of me as we neared the final stretch. She was keeping a pace just a little faster than mine, but I kept expecting that I might be able to pass her before the finish. I don't think I ever did, though.
And then finally the finish. It feels so good to see that.
They had water and bagels and oranges at the end, but all I had was some water because I had my invisalign thingies in, but it was a nice, fun time overall. OH, and about 10 minutes after I finished, along came the first of the 10 mile runners. He had done the whole 10 miles in something like 52 minutes. Wow. We all clapped and cheered and he broke into a smile. Then a little while after that, I saw the sweetest thing. There was a woman running, working really hard to get to the finish line. She had more extra weight on her than I did when I started and she was really pushing herself. I cheered her on, and then suddenly, a little boy, maybe 4 years old runs out and grabs her hand and she says "Oh! Hi Sweetie!" And he holds her hand and runs with her the rest of the way to the finish line. I about teared up right there, it was so inspiring and sweet all at once.
Overall, a good second race experience. Very casual, very nice. I had expected I could finish in 33 minutes and hoped to finish in 32 minutes. It turned out that I was able to finish, by my watch anyhow, in 31:51, which was very cool to me, especially since I had been without the Garmin and any indication of what my pace actually was! So there we have it - the lovely report on my second race along with the best of the scenery of my daily runs!
Today's run was really cool too - I decided to run into town and then as far as the gate for the point, which is about 1.75 miles, it turns out. So then I thought maybe there was a cross street that would bring me back into town from there without my doing a U-turn. I was running on this little back road, so pretty with occasional glimpses of the lake when I realized that I had run over 2 miles, was in fact more than 2 miles away from home and the road was not providing an easy way back. So I finally turned around a little reluctantly. It is so weird, but I ran 4.25 miles today in 54 minutes (nice and easy i.e. slow pace) and it was not even a huge trial. I feel like a running machine, like I get into this groove, this mode, and I am just going along, no need to stop. I feel like I could go on and on. I am not resenting the distance I need to get to. I am not resenting the time I need to get to. I'm mostly not even thinking about them. I did resent the humidity a little this morning, but even that was not a huge issue. It just made me slower is all. I am really enjoying this running on the roads too much, I think. Am I ever going to be satisfied to go back to the treadmill? How did this happen?
I've had that revelation before (the "only 3 miles") and it's such a wonderful feeling. You are a NEW person and a healthier person than you were this time last year. And setting such a great example for your children. 
You've inspired me to get my getting-bigger-by-the-day rump out there for a run this weekend. 
I do appreciate your support and emotion on my behalf, though.
It worked. Mind games. 
I am also eating very normal, healthy WW things at least two meals out of the day. 
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
You're doing GREAT!! With all the running and walking and moving around you're doing, you're allowed more calories and NEED more calories even to lose weight. You're aware of what's going on and you're making smart choices. 
Dude, I don't want to gain back 10 pounds! On the other hand, I think you probably have to work at it to put on that much, so a little reality check and balance is what is called for. And who knows - maybe I will have some motion sickness, rendering me unwilling to eat much. OK - that is just deranged, to wish for motion sickness. 
