my PBR*

2009 – 3:13:28 – age grade (42) 36.1%

2011 – 2:53:57 – age grade (45) 41.4% – overall – 15,468 out of 22,412

so, basically, yeah, i did it! heh.

i missed my goal by just under 4 minutes. i walked only a slight bit more than i planned. when i finished, i felt a few moments of sadness – i felt i did terrible. but that softened during the trip and now i feel pretty great about it. what i think i learned from this race is that -

• if the race were before thanksgiving, i think i could’ve beat my goal. basically, spotty training at the end and the weight creep i allowed from the holidays slowed me down. and really shows up in my pictures, dad gummit!
• my training really did make a difference. after previous races (and 2008 was my first, but 2009 was my “fastest”), i had soreness and stiffness during the week following, felt like i had undertaken a major accomplishment and needed to recover. preferably in bed. with snacks (wait, that sounds good!). i was achey and not really in the best temperament saturday evening – i needed to walk around, not stand in lines or sit. poor trace and his funky toe were better off sitting or riding.  but i didn’t feel half bad the next day and really, it was like, just another strenuous work out. didn’t feel like “this was the most exertional moment of my life!!!” which is how other races have felt. so from this i learn that a) i “could” have pushed myself more (because i didn’t utterly exhaust myself) and b) i can run 13.1 miles and it ain’t no thang! heh. looking forward to the DL half – gonna say it right now: 2:30 and lose 25# by then.
• i have some pretty amazing friends - amanda - amazing! i bow down! i admire your determination and you gave me the best advice of the whole weekend  -“why take up triathalons? more equipment, money, time?” AMEN sister! jeff – so impressed by all your progress! damn! bonnie & andy dazzled me (and are very cute together!), and everyone else – justin, kipp, chris, lorraine, matt, teresa, jonathon, lori and her hubby, david and vicki, bryan and amy (and little hayden!) – just everyone – it was like the good old days! i’m in awe of the tenacity and support most everyone gives each other – especially jeff and amanda. amazing.

tequila!

and i did go for a run yesterday.

*in the hospital setting, PR means by rectum. so i do not enjoy everyone referring to their PR, meaning “personal record”. i want to say PB = personal best. but perhaps this is too reminiscent of that bad marielle hemingway tennis movie. so in combination i choose to say PBR = personal best record. and it also stands for beer.

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