Three Things Thursday: The Cheering at Midnight Edition

Last year at this time, I ran this little race in Fort Worth called El Scorcho Quatro. Technically I guess I ran La Scorchita, since I only did 25k, instead of 50k. It was a big party in the park along the river, and it starts at midnight and runs until 6:30 or 7 AM, whenever the organizers get tired and decide to go home. I got into the groove of it by sporting a tutu for the first time and basically hanging out all night with a bunch of cool folks. it's a 3.1 mile lap so you see people all night long and folks set up tents and stuff all along the start/finish line areas. Remember these pics?  Yeah, good times.

Tutu crew! First time to run with Libby, Mel, Greg & Dat. Not the last time!

The tutus in action! 

So there will be no running for me at this race this year, since I knew that I would be having the surgery and wouldn't be recovered enough yet. Or rather that it would be cutting it close to my recovery time and that I probably had no reason to try to run 15 miles within a month of a major operation. So I didn't sign up, and let the limited entry race close so that there was no choice - I wasn't going to run. But that doesn't mean I don't get to party with all the crazies who ARE running it! So, without further delay, the Top Three Things I am looking forward to at El Scorcho Cinco!

1. FRIENDS! There are at least four other frunners* who for one reason or another (didn't register in time, injury, common sense) aren't running, so we have banded together to set up the most awesome of cheer stations.  We will have food, cold drinks, yoga mats and blankets for the ground, and GLITTER SIGNS! WOOT! So for all the other friends who are tackling either the 25k or the 50k - way too many to list - we will be yelling, clapping, harassing and otherwise hazing them all night long. Until they get done and come hang out with us. Tutus are optional but highly, highly encouraged!!
2. The Official Un-official Soaker Station. Last year was hot. No doubt about it. Even with the sun not blasting down on us, there is no way that summer in Texas in July is going to be cool. One of the best things about the race was the aid station halfway through the loop that was giving out cold wet paper towels. Those things were greatness. So we have decided to take it up a notch and cheer armed with SuperSoakers, to douse those runners who request it with a blast of cold water. Refreshing, yes. Stupid fun? Absolutely!
3. 
   The Drum-Ninja showdown. For a while, Greg and Michelle have been in a friendly competition with all the races they have entered and run together, including Cowtown Half, Grasslands, and the Chattanooga Stage Race. So for El Scorcho, we're raising the stakes. There's been trash talk. There's been secret training runs. There's going to be a showdown!! WOOT!

So, yeah, if you're running, come on out and make sure you introduce yourself to us. We'll reward you with a blast from the super soaker (or a gentle mist from the sprayer if that's more your speed) and probably give you a cookie (as if I would set up a cheer station without cookies!!).  When you're done, bring your camp chair and towel and hang out with us.  We plan to be there for the duration. And if you aren't running, find a cowbell or clapper or vuvuzuela or something and come out to cheer with us. I guarantee it'll be the best time you ever had at a race you're not running. 

Oh, and, in case, you're wondering, YES, there WILL be pictures!

*frunner –noun 

Someone who I met through running but through time and shared experiences has become more than just a runner I know. More than just a friend. As my friend Marci says, running brought us together, but it's not why we're friends.

How Am I Doing? How You Doing?

Time for a mid-year check in, now that the 4th of July festivities are behind us. I've kind of had a roller coaster run here in the last month or so, and my goals have definitely been impacted by that. So, let's take a run down the scorecard and see where we are and what we have left to do in the last 5 months and 3 weeks of this year... 

• Get the body healthy, keep the body healthy - hmm, well, Operation Girl Parts Be Gone was definitely part of getting the body healthy, and the corollary benefit is that the mandated break from running has helped all my twinges and tweaks in the legs heal and rest. So, I guess this is a good thing. Plus, the recovery has gone pretty well, which I can very honestly attribute to being in pretty good shape to begin with.  So, for this goal, I give myself a mid year grade of B. 
• Run a Sub-5:00 Marathon - Not yet. Oklahoma City didn't turn out the way we expected it. And that is fine. I made my choices and I am content with them. It was the right thing  to do. So that means I need to run another marathon and shoot for that sub-5:00 Which will it be? Tyler in October? White Rock? Don't know yet. Probably White Rock. But if it doesn't happen, well, that means I keep to keep trying, right? Mid year grade: Incomplete. 
• Run 3 or more 50K Trail Races - Bandera is done. Hells Yeah Hills is done. Palo Duro Canyon and Rocky Raccoon are on the schedule. Yeah, baby!! Mid year grade: B+
• Complete a 50-Mile Race (November) -  On the schedule. Training plan drafted, including lots of cross training, swimming, cycling and many, many miles. Double-long runs on weekends, on trails and roads. Will be signing up as soon as we get done with family trip in Florida. It's on, baby. Mid year grade: Incomplete
• Become A Marathon Maniac - Didn't complete silver level like I'd wanted, as I made the decision not to travel to Minnesota for the June race on the schedule. In retrospect, that was the best decision I could have made, as there was a lot yet to come in June that I'm not sure I would have been able to handle if I had run that last race. So, I did meet the goal of making Maniac. And there is plenty of time to level up. So, I give myself a mid-year grade of A-.
• Complete 100 Pushup Challenge - Um... Incomplete... shut up. 
• Complete 200 Situp Challenge - See above... shut it already!!
• Run 1600 miles this year - Well, hell. At the end of June, I was at 642 miles for the year. That's about 150 short of halfway point, of what I need to reach this goal.  The training plan for the Wild Hare 50 miler runs through mid-November and has 876 miles on it. So if I hit every single run on it, I get a total of  1518, with December still to go. So, this is still feasible. Considering I was out of commission for most of June because of family stuff and the surgery, I think I will be happy if I hit 1500 total. So, I think even though I am behind pace for now, I will give myself a B. 

• Complete two sprint triathlons this summer (August & September) - Still on the plan, but have been moved to September and early October. I have started looking at bicycles, and swim training starts as soon as we get back from the Mouse in late July. OMG... Grade: TBD...

So, there you go.  Two more weeks of restricted activity and then The Comeback begins. And oh what a comeback it will be!! WOOT!!