A race will show you what you are TRULY made up of

Tobacco Road Half Marathon

March 13, 2016

Cary, NC

I have had an interest in becoming a member of Half Fanatics. It’s a group of folks who have done repeated half-marathons with a specific time period. In my quest for Half Fanatics, I signed up for Shamorck half marathon on March 20, 2016 along with Tobacco Road half marathon on March 13, 2016. You can go ahead and call be CRAZY because I have accepted the truth that I truly am. Since I apparently missed the whole parking pass option when I registered for the race back in October, my parking option was the off-site parking at NetApp. Let me preface that I once upon a time attempted to become an employee at NetApp since all my former co-workers have gone to work there. I’ve heard it’s an awesome place to work, up there on the list with SAS and MetLife. I digress. The parking instructions indicated that you needed to be at the off-site parking between 5am-6am to catch the shuttles to the race site. Since there was an expected 4000+ runners expected to be participating in the race, I opted to get there EARLY so I wouldn’t run into any issue with catching a shuttle. With that in mind, I went to bed Saturday night about 9:30pm. Oh yeah that’s how I do it on Saturday night the day before a half-marathon. Alarm clock was set for 4am. Yep I did not stutter 4am ladies and gentlemen. I popped up at 4am and slowly started my race preparations. Also, my brother from another mother AKA Tall Drink is doing his first half-marathon. I call him to check on him. I know he’s up because he wakes with the chickens. He’s wide awake. Dude sleeps like 2-3 hours, that’s a nap in my book. We agree to meet at NetApp between 5-5:15am. I pull into the parking lot coming in through the back entrance apparently because there ain’t a car in the lot. I notice there was a truck in front of me and he went around the corner. I ride around until I find civilization. BAM I see green volunteer shirts. JACKPOT I have found the right parking area. I parked the Max and wait for tall drink to show up. This dude drives right past the place. “Big baby I see Cisco” I’m like you have gone too far. He finally turns around and finds NetApp. We gather our stuff and head to the shuttle pick up. I personally think the shuttles should just pick us up from NetApp that’s Lazy Johanna talking. We walk to the corner of Louis Stephens and Kit Creek. Of course the geek in me wants to google Louis Stephens later to find out why there is a street named after him. We cross over to the shuttles. Who do I see working with the police directing volunteers, Mike Waldvogel, a fellow NCRC member. We head to the shuttle and who do I spy with my little eye Paula O’Neal directing volunteers on to the shuttles. I know we are early because we are one the 1^st shuttle. Shuttle is filling up fairly quickly. We head to the race site. I ask tall drink how he is feeling, he’s getting nervous. There are some extremely excited folks on the shuttle. Dudes shouting out to each other. An extremely chatty lady. Tall drink said she sure is talkative. I told him she’s excited. As we head to the race site, I’m looking around at the route we take and I realize it’s the same route I take to Mills Park where we perform our bike training sessions on Sunday with TIFL. It’s a small world after all. Next thing I know we make a turn and we are here. That was quick. We unload and head to race HQ. I drop my gear bag. I inquire about t-shirt swap because female cut shirts are not meant for fluffy chicks. I’m told shirt exchanges will happen post race. CHECK. My smedium shirt is in my gear bag. Once a girl scout, always a girl scout, be prepared. We have about 2 hours before the race start. We find a bench and cop a squat. We meet a lady who has done the race for the last couple of years. She recognizes me from other races. She is wearing OBX half marathon shirt. I tell her I did that race in 2013. I run into my swim instructor Eric who is doing the marathon. I commend all folks who do marathons. I’m only ½ crazy. According to Ron Wahula , ½ crazy is still crazy. You got that right. I run into one of my TIFL sisters, Claudia Mello who is doing the marathon. We get a pre-race pic. Racing is all about the pics these days. Tall drink I run into my swim instructor Eric Kaufman who is doing the marathon. Claudia remembers him from the Lifetime-Cary running group. That’s what I LOVE about this area. The running community is everywhere. They help you commemorate the experience. and I people watch some more.  Since this is his first ½, he’s taking it all in and he’s checking out the eye candy. MEN SMH. The race announcer is bright eyed and bushy tailed and announces we should line up about 7:30am. I check in on my TIFL sister Kristie Pyle who drove up from Charlotte to do the race. That rascal is waiting in her car with the heat on. She tells me she will get out in time for the race line-up. She has 1 of those parking passes. She is parked like right at the start. IF I do this race again, I will definitely drop $10 on the parking pass. You park like right at the race start/finish and can slide out through the back entrance. SCORE!!! I stretch my legs for a few minutes and walk around. I can tell by the crowds more folks are showing up. I run into one of my BTA chicas Candace Brown. She asks me if I’m doing the full or the half. I tell her I always crack up when I get asked that. I’m like I’m only ½ crazy but the fact you ask me is amazing. She tells me that means that she thinks I am capable of doing the full. Once upon a time ago about 8 years ago I had a dream of doing a marathon. Then I watched the women’s marathon during the 2008 summer Olympics. I saw Olympic trained athletes pass the … out. I decided that I no longer wanted to do a marathon.

As it gets closer to 7:30 we go and head to the line-up. Tall drink notices this green signs that folks are holding up. I explain to him that those are pace groups. Some runners run with pace groups to help them keep a certain time for the race. There is 1:30 (1 hour and 30 minute) half marathon pace group, we see 6:00 marathon pace group. I know there is a 7:00 limit on the marathon and then I see the pace leader and it’s one of my NCRC buddies Marjorie. She has “attempted” to talk me into doing MCM(Marine Corps Marathon) a few times. “Jo come do MCM with us and get kicked off the bridge by the cops” First off MCM is a MARATHON and I ain’t interested in doing no marathon.

As we wait for the start of the race, we run into Brittany and Ellen. I introduce them to tall drink. I tell him they just did Star Wars half in California. Ellen tells him Jo was so jealous of us. This is straight up TRUTH. Star Wars and Disney, that’s what heaven looks like. I see Intisar and her sisters. They all have signs on marking her dad Matthew who is doing his 300^th marathon. Completely AMAZING!!! Kristie finally makes it out her car and joins us. We are talking about the pace groups and she has now decided that she could totally do the marathon next year since you have 7 hours to complete. I tell her umm hmm I’ll see you when you pass me while I’m doing the half.

The race DJ has some great music playing before the race starts. Final Countdown is playing. I crack up thinking about the Geico commercial. 8am is here and the race starts. Tall drink is called that for a reason and he can see the start of the race. He tells me they have taken off. We move towards the start. I tell him the race starts once we cross the start line. Once he crosses, he is gone like the wind. He tells me “big baby I got to set my pace” He moves way faster than I do and there was no way on God’s green earth I was trying to keep up with him for 13.1 miles. He took off. I moved slow and steady out of the park which was slightly uphill. I break into a sweat already and we haven’t even gotten started good. After I turn right out of the park I am really sweating and wishing I had brought a towel with me. I’m really wishing I would have brought my frog tog. Who would have thought about bringing a frog tog to a race in March which is technically still winter but today it feels like late spring. The roads are open and I notice I am the end of the race, my normal spot. There is no cop car following me like most races. I make the left onto Morrisville Parkway and I hit mile 1 and there is a water stop. I take some Gatorade. I make my way up and down Morrisville parkway. I’m like where is the turn onto the ATT. I see a cluster of people and cars and cops. I also see a lead cyclist heading towards me so that means the 1^st finisher is done on the ATT and headed back to the finish. I see him, he is completely soaked in sweat. He is flying. I see the turn onto ATT. I turn left onto the ATT. After intense studying of the course map, drive-by of the road course on Friday and a bike ride on the ATT part of the course on Wednesday, I’m pretty familiar on what the course is all about. I’m heading down ATT. I know there is another water stop coming up that my TIFL sister Meg Fanney is volunteering at. It shows up right at the White Oak trail head of ATT. My bladder is talking to me so I make a pit stop. I stop by and get some water and Gatorade. Wave to Meg and keep it moving. At this point I am feeling pretty good. I don’t even feel the heat at this point. I believe my body temperature has dropped because my shirt is wet from the sweating. It’s overcast and shady on the trail. I cross the trail crossing. Female cop is directing traffic. She sees me and tells me “you better do it” There is an abundance of encouragement at every race I do. I LOVE it. I keep walking down ATT. I pass the Galloway water stop. They have GU’s and chews. I take 1 of each. I grab water and Gatorade. I see the water stop leader Cary Greening who is rocking a really cool green hulu skirt and matching hat. Folks are passing me on the opposite side heading back up ATT. I see a lot of my TIFL sisters, Meredith, Maureen, Beth, Miya, Jennifer. They are rolling on the trail. I am headed to another water stop. I see the sign and it’s the BGR water stop. They have the Wobble playing. I can so tell my energy is -5000 because I don’t even feel like attempting to dance to the song. DANGER DANGER!!!! I see Natasha Grimes passing out water. This is like déjà vu of 2 years ago when she was going Race 13.1 Raleigh and I was working at the water stop and she was coming through. I remembered how she was looking. That’s just about how I was looking. She came up to and asked me if I needed anything. I told her no and that this course was killing me. She told me “you know how we do, you got this”. Did I mention my Bluetooth headphones had died about a mile or so back. I am no longer listening to my music. It’s just the noise in my head which is starting to think we should just go ahead and call Uber to take us back to the park so we can call it a day. When you are racing it is truly MIND OVER MATTER. Then sometimes it’s your body trying to tell you. I am reminded of that scene in The Color Purple when the choir is seeing “God’s trying to tell you something”. I am headed towards the turn around and I am not doing good. I see Kristie on the opposite and she stops and comes over to me. She asks me if I’m alright. I break down that this course is kicking my ass. It’s really emotional at this point. She asks how I’m feeling and if I feel like I can keep going. She says “Jo listen to your body, what is it telling you” my mind is telling me no but body is telling me yeah. I start to get it together and tell her I can keep going. She tells me to call her if I need anything and she will see me at the finish line.

I keep pushing along the trail. I see mile 6. I go through through the tunnel which looks like something right out of a scary movie. It is cool in there but does not smell good. I am out of the tunnel and I keep thinking where in the heck is the turn around and I see a station set up in the distance but I see folks running past it. I’m thinking this has to be the turn around. I see a sign on the ground that says half marathon turn around. As I cross the timing mat, the 2 dudes monitoring the timing equipment, tell me to turn around. Thank the Lord. I am officially at the ½ way point of the race. I head back up the trail. I pass through the tunnel. I pass the BGR water stop and get water and Gatorade. Carletta who I know by her FB name as Sea Jay offers me some potato chips. I’m thinking the salt will help me out. Negative will roger those suckers made me thirsty. I sip on my camel back and keep moving up the trail. I pass the Galloway water stop and get water and Gatorade. I ask for some chews. There is a sister passing out the chews. She tells me “your hair is so thick” I’m like oh yeah. She tells me “that’s a blessing” I never really thought about it like that. Food for thought. I’m about 9 months into wearing my hair natural and it’s like a mystery this thing called hair. I much on the chews and head up the trail. I’m really dragging. I keep stopping and leaning on the trees. One guy passes me and tells me you got the right pace, take your time and rest. He ain’t never lied. I keep meandering my way on the trail. I hear a voice yell “Johanna” I know it’s Eric, this dude is way too energized to be doing a marathon. He is running with Claudia. They ask if I’m ok. Claudia offers me some of her pickle juice. Thinking back a day later on this offer, I should have taken her up on it. I tell them I’m ok. They keep rolling up the trail. I am telling myself I just need to make it to mile 10 water stop and then I am going to go take a potty break and sit down and get myself together. I am so happy to see the white oak trail crossing. The sister cop is still out there directing traffic, bless her heart. I see the sun is coming out. I’m like oh snap it’s going to be blasting me once I get out the trail. I see a mirage in the distance. It’s the water stop. EMS guy walks up to me and ask “if I’m Johanna? Folks have been worried about you. How are you doing” I tell him I’m doing ok just hot. He tells to go ahead and take a break at the aid station. I get water, Gatorade, ice. I take a squat on the bench by the tables. I see a female runner laying on the ground. EMS are around here. Next thing I know ambulance has showed up and they wheel her out on a stretcher. I tell one of the adult volunteers that it must be serious if they are taking her out. She tells that is the 2^nd person she has seen be taken out on stretcher today. I hope she is ok. I grab the cup of ice they gave me. The wonderful volunteers have filled my camelback with ice and water. Hi Ho Hi Ho it’s off to the finish line I go. 3.1 miles left AKA a 5K. I can do this. As I make my way to the trail crossing, I notice there are way less people out there. Guess the excitement is over and folks have hauled tail out of here.

I leave out the trail. I pass mile 11. I start feeling twinges in my legs. I shake it off. This was CLUE#1 that my body was telling me. I ignored it. I sip on water in my camel back that the lovely volunteers have filled with ice and water. Next thing I know both my legs cramp up on me and I am literally paralyzed and I hit the ground. I scream in agony because this is pain I have never felt before in my life. Folks show up to see what’s going on. I have never experienced this in my life. I keep thinking well there goes my half-fantic quest. One lady tells me she needs to be sit up and drink the Gatorade she has in her bottle. I drink it. Another runner is massaging my left leg. I don’t know who this dude is but he is an angel from God. Later I learn that he is runner with Galloway. It is helping my leg calm down. They are calling for help. A couple who was biking stopped to help. There are still good people in the world. I was truly down for the count. Medics show up and ask me what’s going on. I tell them what happen. The seizing has stopped in my legs but I can tell they are still sore. 2 of the medics help me up. OMG that was hard to get up off the ground. They walk me over to their truck. I rest there for a while. Then it starts to rain cats and dogs. One of the medic says now it wants to rain. The rain feels good to me because I was hot and it’s cooling me off. Just as quick as the rain starts it stops. I’m feeling much better. I get out and get into the SAG wagon. They drop me off down the road. I get out and start wobbling to finish out the course. I was so happy to see the entrance to the park I didn’t know what to do. I hear this lady scream “you go this, you are almost there” I tell her she has the strongest lungs. This chick can holler like Marvin Gaye. I really am moving 1 step at a time because the legs are still sore and apparently there is still something left in the tank. I keep moving and I see the finish line chute, I see Kristie on the side. She tells me “jo you are amazing” I keep moving and cross the finish line. I glance up at the clock and it’s been over 6 hours since I started. Do I care that it took me 6 hours to finish, nope. I care that I finished and finished upright. After I cross they give me my medal, thank you very much. This bling is huge. Me like J. I walk over to kristie. I tell her I didn’t think I was going to make it. I see Barbara farrell another tifl sister. She tells me she’s been worried about me, she heard them talking about me in the medic tent. I see Intisar who saw me laying on the ground. She’s so glad I’m doing ok. As we are all talking there is applause from the crowd because the last Ansley Angel person is crossing the finish line. All their folks went out to bring them in. That’s truly amazing. We get a group picture. I tell Kristie and Barabara that it is pure torture that after you cross the finish line, you have to walk up a hill to get to the Race HQ. I see the RD and he gives me a hug and tells me that I have done something that 90% of people don’t do and that’s finish a race. Kristie is heading back to Charlotte. Barb is going to give me a ride back to my car that’s at NetApp. First I need to pick up my gear bag. Pick up my gear bag. I head over to the registration area and ask if they are still exchanging shirts. Ron Wahula is there and he tells me congratulations. Then he said “you just finished a race and your priority is to exchange your shirt” I tell him “yep, brought my smedium race shirt in my gear bag” they swap my shirt out. Thank you very much. When I tell tall drink about it later, he laughs because he was the same way after run for the roses about getting a race shirt. I pick up chocolate milk. We stop by great harvest and get some bread. Barbara knows the lady. She insists we take a loaf of bread home. Well of course we did. Who turns down FREE bread. Not me. Barb asks if I want to get some pizza. I ask is it any good. She tells me I don’t know any pizza that’s not good after a race. I agree and respond it could be the worse pizza in the world but after a race it will taste like the best thing you have ever eaten. I walk up to the papa john’s truck and the guy ask me do I want a slice, 2 slices or a box. I tell him if you are giving me the option of an entire pizza I will take it. Free whole pizza, free loaf of bread and 2 chocolate milks. I do believe I have hit the jackpot. With that ladies and gentlemen, jo has the left tobacco road marathon and she MAY return next year.

Happy Healthy Valentine's Day

Today is February 14 AKA Valentine's Day. It also the 36th Annual Run for the Roses 5K held at the Dorthea Dix campus. When I parked at the race site, the temperature was 30 degrees. Baby it's cold outside. I had on several layers including a hoodie which i knew i was keeping on through the entire race. I even brought another hoodie to put on afterwards. What can I say once a Girl Scout always Girl Scout "Be Prepared"

A really good friend of mine Gregory Clanton who I call "tall drink" and his lady friend(we are not boys and girls, we are men and ladies) Donna Avery have signed up to do the race with me. I'm sitting in the car enjoying the heat. I see tall drink and Donna and he is motioning for me to get out the car. Pre-race jitters are kicking in and ALMOST don't want to get out the car. I get out. As I walk out to meet them, tall drink tells me I'm moving a little slow. I tell him it's pre-race jitters. He tells me there's nothing to be nervous about. I tell him whether it's race # 1 or #100 I will always get nervous before a race. It's part of the process.

We head into the gym, race headquarters. tall drink and Donna have to sign a race waiver since they just signed up yesterday. Tall drink is determined to get a race shirt. He confirms with NCRC Prez Rebecca Sitton on the shirt process. She tells him AGAIN they will pass them out at 3pm. I already know i will not be done in 60 minutes. I know someone who will because he wants a shirt. We hang out inside the gym and enjoy the warmth. Donna mentions to me "Jo there isn't alot of brown faces here" I tell her yeah we come to races but we are always in small numbers. It is cold outside and you know how black folks feel about cold weather. I see a line starting to build at the ladies restroom and i head on over and knock out this pre-race ritual.

Tall drink notices more folks are showing up. He says he's starting to get nervous. I tell him oh yeah you are ready for the race because that's a true sign. Rhonda Hampton makes an announcement that the race is starting in 10 minutes and all participants need to head to the start line. We head outside. As soon as I walk out the door, I am hit with a blast of cold air. I start to wonder about my life choices at this point. I'm already here so in the words of Fergie from The Black Eyed Peas "Let's get i started up in here" We head to the start line. I tell Donna i tend to hang in the back and let the fast folks line up in the front. I get the Garmin and RunKeeper set up. Race MC Brad Broyles announces the start of the race. We are off. Tall drink tells me he's going to walk with me through the race. I know he isn't because he has about a 12 minute pace. He sees folks running an d he wants to take off with them. I tell him go ahead i know you want to run with them. I will see you all at the finish line. I don't move that fast. I'm not about to try today in this cold as ice weather. Off we go. We make the first right turn and I see Esther Dill on the corner volunteering as a course monitor. We head downhill and make another right turn and I see Louise Gardino. She tells me "Jo I'll see one more time" As we head down the street, the lead cyclist is heading toward us with the front runners. Tall drink ask me "Are they already heading back" I'm like oh yeah, that's the front of the race. There's a brother in the front pack. What can I say I'm always checking for the other black folks when I'm at races. It's a reflex. We turn left and I see Paula O'Neal. Paula and I go way back to 2012 when she would always be my personal escort as the sweeper during races. She has since retired from Raleigh PD. we head uphill and this isn't even the HILL. It's waiting for us after mile 2. I going uphill and i make a right and see another NCRC peep Jennifer Ennis. Right turn and around the back of the building and you get a nice view of the soccer field. Soccer folks are out today having a good time. I may need to find an interest in soccer because Beckham plays soccer and he's very easy on the eyes. I'm just saying. I will probably need to go across the pond and watch soccer. The big soccer tournament is coming up this year isn't it. No idea. Have to ask google. Back to the race report. I hear Lisa Howell behind me and that means she is sweeping the race. We pass Jenn again. Then i see mile 1 marker. Woo hoo. I don't even check my Garmin to see what my time is. I'm just going to wait until the end to see what it is. Did I mention that my legs feel frozen? i thought they were just sluggish from yesterdays swim but oh no them jokes are cold. I keep pressing on. I see Paula again. 1 mile down, 2.1 to go. I can do this. Of course I can. I'm self-analyzing what additional training i need to get in to get ready for tobacco road and shamrock. That's pretty much what i do during every race, i start to think about what i need to do better to improve my pace. crazy right?? I take those thoughts out my head and i think about what Sharon Johnson says "enjoy the journey".  Since I've done this race before i know what i have left to do on the course. I turn left  and head uphill. I come up on the water stop. I tell them no thanks to the water. I carry my own primarily because my experience is the water stops are out or have left the building. TRUE STORY. Pass the water stop. Lisa catches up with me. The couple she was sweeping has picked up their pace and passed me. They better do it. It's a husband and wife and they are getting it in. That's what I'm talking about. Tall drink calls and checks on me. He's the best. He tells me once he finishes and gets his shirt, he's going to come back and walk with me to the finish line. That's friendship right there. We pass mile 2. Hallelujah. We are near the Boylan entrance and you can see a nice view of the downtown Raleigh. As we pass the entrance, we turn left onto Tate. Tate should be called the DEVIL because it a straight 90 degree hill from HELL. I take it with short and steady steps. Slow and steady up the hill works well for me. I don't stop for any breaks. That's called progress. we turn right and hit flat road. YEAH!! We go around and then cross over Tate and I see Frank Hagg on the corner. He tells me i have about 1000 meters left to go. I tell him i really believe you. I truly know that there isn't much left to the finish line. We pass Carolyn Quarterman for a 2nd time. She walks with us since we are the end of the race. We talk about being at Richmond together back in November. All cool people hang out at the same races. Oh yeah!! I see an angel heading towards us, his name is Tall Drink. He comes to walk with me to the finish line. He told me he got his shirt and Donna is in the car warming up. He asks me how I'm doing. I tell him besides being cold I'm OK. We make a right. We head down the street, pass the water stop. He tells me the finish line is around the corner. I tell him this part of the race is the best because you know you are almost done. We make the last turn. I see Esther, Louise and Rhonda. Tall drink tells me "do you know everyone on the course?" I tell him well the race is being done by North Carolina Roadrunners Club which I'm a member of. I know a few folks. Lisa tells him yeah Jo is a veteran of these races. This is true. I see the finish line arch. I also see the clock. I see 1 hour and 7 minutes. I can't remember what last year's time was. I'm telling myself that i want to cross before it hits 1 hour and 10 minutes. I pick up my pace. Tall drink tells me "i see you picking up the pace" Lisa says "it's the race for the finish energy coming out" I cross the finish line in 1 hour and 8 minutes according to RunKeeper. Lisa tells me "don't forget to get your rose" I pick up my rose. Another 5K is done!!!

First bling of the year

Shrimp & Grits 5K

January 16, 2016

North Charleston, South Carolina 

I'm back in Charleston on MLK weekend. It must be Sharon Johnson birthday weekend. This year she's turned it up and there are 8 of us that have joined in on the fun. Claudia, Sharon and I learned after last year's race the 5K starts in north Charleston and not Charleston. We were actually staying in north Charleston so that made getting to the start line a few miles closer.

We arrive at north Charleston high school about 7:40am the start/finish of the 5K and the finish for the marathon/half-marathon. Race starts at 8am. As we walk to the start line we meet a TIFL charlotte sister Tulani. She thinks we are from the TIFL Charleston chapter. We respond no we're from Raleigh. RALEIGH in da house. My pre-race jitters are kicking in so I make a beeline to the portable restrooms. I run into Geri, donnela, Maryann and Stephanie from TIFL charlotte. TIFL is deep at this race. Yeah!! I find the rest of my peeps. Our Charlotte sisters find us and the southeastern selfie extraordinaire Geri takes our pre-race groupie. Sharon asks is she she needs her selfie stick. I tell Sharon Geri is her own selfie stick. Say cheese. 

We line up for the race. 8am we start off on the course for 3.1 miles. This is my 2nd time doing this race so I am familiar with the course. I haven't been running in like forever so I just keep walking at all my races. I got my music going on. RunKeeper and Garmin have started. I'm off on to knock out these miles. I pass mile 1 and I check my Garmin. I'm at 21:00/mile pace which is down from my normal 24:00/mile pace. That's what you call progress my friend. I slightly glance behind me to see if I'm the end and there are a few folks behind me. Woo Hoo I'm not the end. The water stops are fully stocked partly due to the marathon comes through part of the course. I pass mile 2 and I check the Garmin and I'm at 42:00 minutes. I'm so excited I've been able to keep up with the 21:00/mile pace. Since I've been moving like Jagger on the course I'm losing water left and right. I'm drinking from my camelback like its the best thing since sliced bread. I know I'm less than a mile to go. I keep putting one foot in front of the other. I'm coming through the neighborhood. I know I have a few more turns and I'll be in the shopping center near the finish line. As I turn into the main strip of shops I see Claudia mello's husband. He tells me I'm almost there. I notice he has on his medal so I know he's already finished. I make the last left turn. After I turn I spy with my little eye the mile 3 marker. I also spy some nice eye candy course monitors. :-) 

I turn right past the mile marker. I see the finish line Shute up ahead. I make the last right turn and I see the finish line. I hear the race announcer. I hear the crowd cheering. So I'm thinking they are cheering for me. Turns out the first male finisher of the half marathon is coming up right behind me. He finishes in 67 minutes, the same time i finished the 5K. Im super Doppler exited I'm done but I'm also in awe that this guy just finished 13.1 miles in 67 minutes. Holy smokes batman. My 2nd 5K of 2016 is done. I grab my medal since the kids handing them out have forgotten they were supposed to be handing them out. I'm all about the bling. Did I mention as I was headed to the finish line, one of the volunteers who is a member of BGR Charleston walks up to me and invites me to join her BGR group. What is it about folks thinking I don't run when they see me walking. Who knows. I will eventually return back to running. Especially since I am planning to qualify for half fanatics in 2 months. 

First race of the year

Lifetime Commitment Day 5K

January 1, 2016

Cary, NC

                The best way to start off your new year than with doing a 5K. I along with a few sisters from my TRI Tribe decided to do the Commitment Day 5K at the Lifetime Fitness in Cary. Race started at 10am which is a good time since it’s on new year’s day and most folks have been taken part of adult beverages to ring in the new year. I personally only partook in 1 shooter early in the evening on New Year’s Eve. I didn’t even make to see the ball or the acorn drop as I was knocked out before midnight hit. I watched Frodo get on the boat with the elves in LOTR:ROTK and then I was OUT.

                I wasn’t too sure what the parking situation was going to be like so I arrived at Lifetime around 9am. The gym was open for business as usual plus the participants of the race. This is great advertising for the club. It’s what sucked me about a year ago when I joined the new club that opened in Raleigh. It’s about 40ish degrees outside. I have on 2 top layers. I feel a wind hit me as I get out the car and decide I’m going to put on my hoodie. That was a good call.

                I head into the gym to take care of some business AKA pre-race bathroom break. Good thing the race is at the gym so you have REAL restrooms. Oh yeah!! I pick up my fellow amigo Julie Reed’s packet and put it in the car. By the time I come back into the basketball court, more of the tribe shows up. I even see Mary Hicks is here. I haven’t seen her since we did the Richmond half back in November. Good to see you Mary. Claudia and Sharon are picking up their packets. I see Barbara, Beth, Trish and Valerie. I even spy with my little eye Wendy Morris who I haven’t seen since the finish line of Raleigh 70.3

As I tradition, we take a few pre-race pictures. Sharon is never without her handy dandy selfie stick. People are always amazed that I don’t own one. I really can’t say why I don’t. Just haven’t bought one. I am still accepting Christmas gifts.

                We see people spilling out so we head outside as well. It’s a little chilly outside. Yep good call on the hoodie. We head to the start line. Race announcer makes a few pre-race announcements. Then the race starts. Did I mention we start slightly uphill? The good thing about that is there will be a slight downhill finish, nothing like the Richmond finish. I head out with the tribe. I am walking like I normally do. I am really planning to step up my game this year and get back to run/walk intervals. It’s just not happening at this EXACT moment. We turn left onto Regency. They have the lane closed off from traffic. Very nice. I heard a lady near me mention that’s she doing the indoor TRI. I ask which one. She’s says Cary. I tell her me 2. This is her first one. I wish her good luck. As I’m walking down Regency I see folks already on Swift Creek greenway. They are booking. Someone mentions there are probably folks already on Kildaire. I’m thinking to myself there is probably someone already headed to the finish. I have seen some of these super-fast dudes finish 5K in like 15-16 minutes. I’m still heading towards mile 1. I have learned to accept that my race, my pace. I see these 2 ladies. I ask them if they did Jingle Bell Run in Raleigh. The daughter tells me she thought it was me. Let me explain how we met, I walked with them during jingle bell run about a month ago. After we finish the race, the daughter tells me this was her mom’s first race who is visiting from Brazil. She tells the mom that I’m the lady from jingle bell run in her native language which I’m going to assume is Portugal because it didn’t sound like Spanish. Then again I understand and speak semi-little Spanish. The daughter tells me the mother had asked her how much we had walked because the mother is about ready to be done. I so can relate. It’s always like that for me at EVERY race. We hit mile 1 while on the greenway. Greenway is not as bad as I thought it would be. There are a lot of wet spots but nothing real torrential. I forgot my beats headphones at the house. I’m really glad I did because without the distraction of music I really get to take in the scenery of nature on the greenway. It’s really pretty. I can tell I’m starting to get tired because my pace is slowing up and the group I was hanging with has left me. I’m cool with that. Just me, myself and I. I see a turn coming up and a course monitor volunteer. He tells me to watch it as I exit off the greenway because the path is kinda slick. I have a pretty good sense of geography of Cary as I worked there for 16 years up until October 2015. I’m really trying to figure out where on Kildaire we are. I’m thinking we would pass the Wal-Mart shopping center. We turn left into a neighborhood and there is the water stop. They are still there and there is still water. Will wonders never cease? My race experience has taught me to bring my own source of hydration because I have come to water stops/aid stations and they have been OUT. I take the cup of water the volunteer is offering. It is like heaven in a cup. I am sweating like a hooker in church. I know I need the fluids. I keep walking past the water station. I pass mile maker 2. I think I only have 1.1 miles left to go. I can do this. Of course I can, that is where my car is parked. I also have committed to doing the IRONKIWI challenge for January I need all mileage. The road through the neighborhood is slightly hilly. I take it 1 step at a time. I come up on the next turn, I see Cary PD there along with course monitor. They tell me I don’t have that much to go. I thank them and keep on going. PMA (positive mental attitude) is on deck. I pass a few businesses and I see cars. I keep forgetting it a normal business day for some business even though it feels like a Saturday. I start to smell food and it is smelling good. I know I must be near the turn onto Tryon because Lucky 32 is coming up. I want to make a beeline in there but A. my money is in my car B. I will still have to walk to the car first. I bypass making the detour. I head towards Tryon. Course monitor tells me to stay on the sidewalk. I turn left onto Tryon and I’m getting really excited because I know I only have 2 turns left. I turn left back on regency. They still have the lane closed. I see some people are leaving the race. This one car passes me and yells out “Black girls run dot com”. That’s probably the funniest thing I heard. I’m assuming they think I don’t run because I was walking. I digress on the reason they felt the need to tell me about a running group that I am well aware. I just nodded my head and kept walking. I’m heading towards the last turn. The volunteer is there who I passed at the beginning. She comes up to me and tells me “you are amazing, you are out here doing it and some folks haven’t even gotten out of the bed yet” It’s not about how fast or how slow you go. It’s ALL about you making the decision to get out there and DO it. That’s what I did. I crossed the finish line. As I was heading toward the finish line, I was very happy to see it was still up. I spy with my little eye one of my TRI sisters Wendy Morris is near the finish line. She comes and cheers me on. I tell her I’m so glad she was here and that the finish line was still up. My 1^st race of 2016 is complete.