Saturday March 19, 2011 - Springer Mountain Farms Chicken Healthy 5K re-cap

We are finally going to run the Springer Mountain Farms Chicken Healthy 5K. It was an early morning, since the race starts at 7:30 and we had to be out to Opry Mills by 6/6:30 to register and warm up. I tell you what; I am not the best at mornings. I was not grouchy, but I did not want to run. So, we stand around doing the normal pre-race thing (Talking, restroom breaks, getting race day swag and such). We walk to the starting line a little after 7:30 and get ready, set and we are off to the races. Since, the race was so earlier Mike and Court brought the kids along in the double jogger. So, I opted to push it, while everyone else ran. For some strange reason it keeps me going at a decent pace. I think it’s because my brain thinks it is leaning on something while I run. Don’t know why, but it helped a little bit. Mike was in the front, he was running to try and beat his time last year. Courtney, Shannon, the girls, and I started off together. As we came around the back said of the hotel Courtney and Shannon started pulling away from me and the girls, until the oldest decided she wanted mommy to run with us. So, Courtney dropped back and stayed with me pretty much the whole race, well until the 2 mile marker. (We will get to that further down.) Shannon pulled away and continued on her way leaving us behind. I believe I ran ½ mile with out stopping, but I could not tell you since at the 1 mile marker my Nike plus told me I had only ran .3 miles. I think I calibrated this thing totally wrong. (Now, I have to fix this sometime soon or all my runs/walks will be totally off.) So, Courtney and I had a nice walk/jog/talk session. I kind of felt bad, because I feel like I hold people back due to my slow running pace, but they always tell me not to worry about it, but I do. I know they all can knock these 5Ks out pretty quickly. Well, quicker then I can for that matter, but I am glad someone does walks/runs with me while I do these races. It gives me that little motivation to keep going. Mile 1 seemed longer then mile 2, but I figured I was making good time. So, as we were heading to the Mile 2 marker, I had it in my head if I could speed up that I might be able to get another ½ mile in before Mike finished and catches back up to us, because then I would have to run the rest of the way. Boy was I wrong!!!! As we cross mile marker 2, here comes Mike asking “Why am I walking?” This is a 5K run not a walk!!” I start trotting with the stroller, then he takes that from me and now I have to run. Everything after I started running was one big blur. There was poking and prodding by mike and some encouragement thrown in by his daughter as they jogged backwards in front of me. So, I push some more; I stop and walk some, but Mike is not having any of that stuff. Pretty much he sees it as I only have a mile left, I should be able to run and finish this thing out strong. I see it as I am tired and I want to kick you, but I can’t because I can’t catch you. DANG IT!!!!! I keep jogging as the finish line looks like it is getting closer, but my body is fighting my brain and eyes. It keeps telling me to walk, but when I do Mike is right there to push and encourage. I think this would have worked better with a cattle prod, but I am totally glad that would be illegal. As we are in the home stretch Mike points me out a “carrot” to chase down, but I am thinking I am totally not going to catch up to that person. They were probably 100 yards in front of me. I know I have hawked down my prey before but this was going to be tough. (Well, except that older lady at the Resolution run!!) TW was like F*&* that s*&^, there is no-way I am going to catch them, but once again Mike pushed and TW had to take a seat. I walked some, but I started jogging and picked up the pace. I was getting closer and closer, but then the carrot started jogging and my hope kind slipped away, but there was a new prize as we say the time clock clicking away. If I could keep the pace I was at I could cross the finish line with a new PR. The clock hit 50 minutes and Mike said” he knows I can cross the finish line in under a minute.” I kept pushing and crossed the finish line at 50’35’’. After the race we stayed for the awards ceremony, because Mike came in 6^th overall and 1^st in his age group. He received a trophy.

I figured after the race I would go home take a nap and do some yard work, but who know my day was just getting started. After dropping the wife off at work, and his kids and wife off at their house, Mike and I headed to my house to grab the lawn equipment, edge my yard, and water the garden. We then went to his house where we cut his grass, weed eat, leave removal, tree trimming and other house work type projects. Man, I was exhausted, but I am glad we got a ton of stuff done for a Saturday. Now, I see what goes on in the world of Mike. I am going to try to be more productive on my days off when it comes to household chores and working out. It should be fun.