Gratitude!

My sincere and heart-felt thanks to all the fast men (30-34 years old) for NOT racing in the Paris Mountain 5K today!

So, the alarm went off, and I was very tempted to turn it off, wake up when I felt like it, and hopefully catch Neese after the race. In fact, almost every fiber in my body was screaming for this. But I figured I wouldn't wake up in time, and we wouldn't make it over to Furman U, and I would let Neese down. Mendy and I both wanted to hang out with her again, because she's just so darn sweet and fun to talk with. And the chance to meet her husband and Anne was an additional draw.

Anyway, we made it there in time to enjoy the pandemonium of pre-race activities: ran out of shirts (even for pre-registered), apparently no race packets, delayed start, etc. Neese, Rhett (her husband), and Anne (Rhett's daughter) were right out front waiting for some slow pokes to finally arrive...us! By the time I got my bib number, there wasn't much time before the start. I did a couple hundred yards of warm up, and I am now a believer in this. Moments before the gun, I tried to share some last minute experience and tips with Neese and Anne, and then we were off.

I felt great, and was running a nice pace with a great feeling of efficiency. And I had my tights on, so I looked great! LOL I passed a bunch of people (I should have been way closer to the start line) and crossed the 1 mile marker at 6:09. SWEET! Then the wind came: 46 degrees and about 14 mph whipping across the lake through most of mile 2. Mile 3 greeted us with a little bump: a very steep up and down hill that just totally messes up your rhythm. It was about this time that I started regretting the large coffee (with 4 espresso shots) I drank on the way to the race.

I kept with my chosen pace group, wasn't passed, and traded places a couple of times with a young guy that finally edged past me. I crossed the line with 20:04 showing (a PR for me), but figure that if chipped, I would have actually had a 19:58. WOO HOO! It was good enough for 2nd place in my age group. Neese and Anne also had a great race with a very strong finish! This course, and today's weather was no joke, and it appeared that times across the board were down compared to other 5Ks with the same people.

I was happy that I braved the morning and weather, very glad to have hung out with Neese and her crew, and very happy to have Mendy and Grace there cheering me on ("Doing great, Daddy!"), which overshadowed the unfortunate disorganization of pre-race activities. I'm sure next year will be better, and I hope the race directors from this year direct next years race, as I'm sure they will iron out all the bugs. They really did a great job considering they had to handle two very separate races today with their full schedules with their running store. And, they are nice people, extremely easy to talk to.

When's the next one, Neese? :-)

No high hopes

Thanks for the well wishes on tomorrow's race, but I am not expecting much. I've felt like dookie all week, and tonight my head is pounding. In true 3-year-old form, Grace is going mental. If it weren't for Neese running tomorrow, and the 25 bones already paid, I wouldn't go. We're looking at 47 deg and 13mph winds, if you can believe the forecasters.

Anyway, here's a recipe for you guys to try. Marcy and J-Mom, feel free to substitute Russian potato wine (vodka) for the agave nectar! ;-)

TEQUILA COOKIES
1 cup of dark brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 cup of granulated sugar
4 large eggs
2 cups of dried fruit, such as dried cranberries or raisins
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila (silver or gold, as desired)

Sample the Cuervo to check quality.

Take a large bowl, check the Cuervo again, to be sure it is of thehighest quality, pour one level cup and drink.

Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still OK, try another cup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuckin the cup of dried fruit.Pick the frigging fruit up off floor.Giggle.

Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver. Giggle again.

Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity. Giggle some more.

Next, sift two cups of salt, or something, whatever. Check the JoseCuervo.

Now shift the lemon juice and strain. Add one table full of that one stuff. Add a spoon of shuga, or somefink.Whatever you can find. It all looks the same.Grease the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not To fall over.

Pick yourself up off the floor. Try not to giggle, it makes the floor fall out from underneath you.Don't forget to beat off the turner.

Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the dishwasher.

**** CHERRY MISTMAS ****

See you tomorrow, Neese! Go have an awesome race!!