That was about 15 minutes before the run started.
We got to our hotel after 8pm on January 2nd. robin and I went to check in with the run committee and John checked us into the hotel. It was the Hacienda near Lake Mead. If you NEED a hotel near the Hoover Damn or Lake Mead it will do the job. Robin and I headed for the banquet room and found a few people (not the crowd I expected) waiting to hand out the packets and shirts. We went to the furthest person and she gave us our packets. We asked if we could get our sisters packets as well and she gave them to us. We got our shirts. The guy asked me "what size would you like?" I told him " the largest you have got!" and smiled. He didnt seem to think it was even remotely funny. It was then I realized our shirt sizes were predetermined and it was written on my packet. Oops. Open mouth insert foot. The next table was Calico Racing merchandise for us to purchase. I got 2 small running shirts for my girls. And a bandanna for my son. We the left and went up to our rooms(through the smoky casino) and retired for the night. I found the ice machine on the floor above us(while discovering that casinos dont have a 13th floor because of bad luck) and went back to my room. I got the washcloth and bacterial soap out and washed any surface i knew I would touch. Remote control got washed several times as did the door knob and light fixtures. I removed the comforter (with the cloth) as they generally dont wash these. I laid down drank a ton of ice water, watched tv for a little bit and went to sleep. I slept very soundly! I was not sure I would. Sometimes when I get nervous I dont sleep well but this was not the case. I woke early, packed up as I knew we would not be there after the run, I got dressed and headed to Robins room. We left and went to Lake Mead and were directed to Boulder Beach. What a rush, driving through the canyon to what could either be the best or worst day of my life. There were not as many people there as I expected but that was ok. It was super cold! Robin wore a long sleeved shirt under our aces shirt. John made shirts for all four of us that had our birth order number and our name. on the front were the four aces and above said "allam aces". These were great shirts and perfect to run in. Anyway, I told Robin she would get hot and I wasnt going to wear anything cause I didnt want to be hot. Wow, I should just keep it shut when I have no idea. It was cold cold cold. the wind gusts got up to 20 miles an hour while were running. So before the run started it was pretty cold. I drank some hot water and stretched and used the porta potty. We lined up, I was in the back, and got ready to start. We met these two sweet gentlemen who were friends that compete against each other every year in a marathon. One was from Texas and the other from a state llike Alabama or thereabouts. They were older and he said they would be slower than most. We laughed and assured him that he would at least be ahead of us. This was more true than we thought. The run began! immediately I knew I was out of my league. Rolling hills? I dont think so! We started on a hill, I thought "this will be the biggest hill" and the rest will be flatter. NOPE! This was actually the smallest hill and ended up being on I looked forward to for miles. We knew right away that we would be alone in the run. All the other runners )and the one walker) were ahead of us from the start. They only got smaller and smaller in our view. Soon enough after the first mile (which is torture for me) some of the 10k runners started passing us. Good news, they thought we were in the front of the pack of 10ks. Bad news, we weren't! At the 3 mile marker they would all turn around and go back and we would keep right on going. But for the moment it was nice to have people around with encouraging words and laughter. At one point some of the 10ks started back to the finish and told us to keep going that the wind would be at our backs soon. We just smiled knowing that it would be a long time before the wind was at our backs. As it turned out the wind was NEVER at our backs! Every mile and a half was an aid station. Water was general but on a few there was food and at one a porta potty.
Here I will insert the first funny story. I will warn you that all of my funny stories are, as a general rule, gross! So you have been warned:
About 2 minutes after the start we were both sniffling. Robin asked me if I brought any tissues? I had not so we were both sniffling and knew that at some point we would need to blow. So, a few minutes in I was really needing a tissue. Having small children I have been snotted on in many different places. So I grabbed my sleeve and blew my nose. It was gross but necessary. Well it want for a moment that I realized that what came out was MUCH more than I expected. It was huge and my sister had to turn away in order not to vomit. So I knew I needed to get it off somehow, But how? We were far from a station and we were in the land of nothingness. So I took the underpart of my shirt and removed the subject from my sleeve. unfortunately, it swung around and hit mu bum. I, of course, did not know that. It was much later that it was noticed and commented on. So, we got to the 1 1/2 mile mark and I asked if anyone had a tissue (I was still in need). The gentleman there went to his car to see if he had any. Meanwhile, one of the ladies had some in her pocket. She offered them and I took them. As I turned away robin said "I dont think she wanted you to take them ALL". I very apologetically gave back most of her tissues and was laughing when the gentleman came up with a box of tissues. So i took some of them also. I was stocked up now, at the time I didnt really need them anymore. We almost entirely forgot about the buggers on my butt until later that day when we had checked into a NICE hotel. I was embarrassed but it WAS funny.
2 comments:
This seems like such an understatement but... WAY TO GO!!
THat was a way funny story. Good for you. That is really awesome.
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