Yikes, Louise, I am hoping that I am not facing that in the morning - but the
forecast says rain.
 
Today was perfect for the youth run - overcast, cool and no rain - some sunny
periods.
 
I really want to get a half decent time (for me  - that is a relative term
folks) and I am afraid the rain will slow me down, but it will not stop me - I
am over that.
 
My mother in law is doing this with me - my sister in law cannot do it this
year, due to her daughter's illness and that is very hard for me.  Also, DH is
having a bad spell and refuses to participate.  I am a bit angry at him - at
times his depression borders on selfishness, but I will accept what I must
accept.
 
We had our own pasta dinner at home because he would not go out with us.  Some
great pasta and wings from Pizza Hut.
 
My newspaper article caused a few folks to recognize me at the expo today - one
of the speakers referred to my story as "touching".  But, I am having my usual
case of nerves, feeling why I am I doing this to myself, etc, etc. 
 
My father in law's cancer is back, but he is out there court marshalling
tomorrow and I really wished DH would keep him company, but he won't.  That
upsets me, but I cannot do anything about it.
 
Even after all this time, I sometimes feel so out of place at these types of
events, but will be on the start line in the morning, God willing.  It is just
hard when you look different than the others, but that, folks, is a temporary
situation.
 
Will report later.
 
Great race Louise, great perseverance, great time in the face of bad conditions
especially.
 
I will write again tomorrow night.
 
Linda
 


 

Don't Give up Because You are Not a Failure ... until you fail to try.
 
Linda
 
 

--- On Sat, 5/16/09, LouiseRDH <weezcurt@...> wrote:


From: LouiseRDH <weezcurt@...>
Subject: TP-Disney Bay Harbor 5K
To: teampenguin-disney@yahoogroups.com, PenguinRunners@yahoogroups.com, "Disney
Deads" <drs-disney@...>
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009, 3:29 PM








Crawled out of bed at 6:15 and found it raining and cold. I hoped my friend (who
was picking me up at 8) would call and say "are we crazy? We aren't really going
to run in this are we?". But she didn't. She just showed up at exactly 8 am like
the faithful insane friend she is.

So we picked up another friend, and arrived at the race site at 8:20 or so.
Still raining. But now we're by the lake (Michigan) and it's raining hard, the
wind is blowing about 90 per, it's freezing cold, and there's a LINE........ ..a
LONG LINE........ .......at the pre-registered number pick up..........
..outside, in the blowing freezing rain! We stood in line, getting drenched, for
almost a half hour to get the darned number. Then they made me use THEIR chip
instead of my own, which I had already strung into my shoe laces. Dripping wet
-- literally --- I unstrung mine and strung theirs in. Argh. My fingers were so
cold they would hardly work!

Within minutes, the race started----- -had just enough time to run my race shirt
back to the car and grab my now much needed gloves and hat. I had been grateful
that I had worn a jacket with a hood, but it wasn't keeping the rain off my
glasses, nor was it keeping me anywhere near dry, and I thought it might be a
good idea to be able to see where I was going....... ....usually a good thing. I
knew I'd eventually warm up......even that wet.

I don't know if the start was timed or not. We did run over a sensor (which did
chirp), but others were saying we hadn't needed to narrow down to run over it
because it was gun timed and the mat was only for the finish. Huh? Must have
been about 400 runners/walkers. Lots of Girls on the Run participants. Very
unorganized event, but I understand they had a lot of volunteers who didn't
show, so maybe that was the problem. Minimal food at the end......... granola
bars, fruit, and water ----- no bananas. Most people didn't stay to claim their
awards -- which were going to 1st in age group only -- so they gave some to 2nd
place AGs. I ended up with another water bottle. Another water bottle. Hmmmmmm.
I should count them up some day. Just like shirts. Oh, the shirts...... ....nice
navy blue long sleeved (but cotton). I'll probably keep that one......... like I
haven't kept them all......... .LOL. I must have enough for at least 5 quilts by
now.......probably
more than that!

This race runs thru the very exclusive areas of Bay Harbor --- multi million
dollar homes and boats, and harbor just off Lake Michigan.... .built on the site
of a former cement plant (and contaminated --- they're working on that, and the
methods are a source of big controversy here!!) Beautiful (even today). High
rocky cliffs, beautiful gardens and beautifully maintained and manicured lawns.
We ran sort of around the harbor (kind of around one side, turn around and back
to the road) then up to another turnaround at the golf club entrance. When I
passed the stone cliffs, there was a rock fall (small)..... .......no, I don't
think I caused it!!! LOL!!! Well, maybe....... ..... A bit hilly, but coming
back it was DOWN and I was grateful for that.

I managed a 40:41 today (13:22), and I was happy for that too. That's actually
better than the other 2 times I've done this course, and improved a bit from the
5K I did 2 weeks ago. As some of you know, I lost almost a year of decent
training last year due to a health issue (that I think is now under control ---
I hope, I hope, I hope). I'm literally starting over, so I'm kinda happy with
these times. I've bitten off a big chunk by registering again for Goofy, and if
I don't do it this time (after 2 times of going and only doing only the
half)....... .it's no go again.

We went to breakfast at the Bay Harbor pancake place....... .....yum. VERY GOOD.
Took a nap and a hot tub dip when I got home. Life is good. the sun even peeked
out for a bit this afternoon... ......... ...

Good luck to anyone else running this week end......... ......I'll be tracking a
couple of you at Cleveland, and waiting for reports from Linda in NS, and Daria
in NY!!! Anyone else running? Have fun!!! Hope it's dry where you are.........
.....

Louise, MI

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