Let’s go with the stats first. I ran the Geico Race For Freedom. I finished in 1 hour 15 min and something seconds. I walked approximately 25% of the race. (Basically, anytime I came to a mountain hill minor incline I walked. There were about 3 biggies.) It was overcast (good) and incredibly humid (bad). It was like breathing in water. Very hard for me.

Tunes were important. The playlist included: David Crowder, Creed, Gnarls Barkley, Eminem, U2, Alanis Morissette, Christina Aguilera, INXS, Rod Stewart, Amy Winehouse, Billy Idol, Creed, Bow Wow Wow, and Justin Timberlake. Oddly enough, “I Want Candy” was the most fun song today. I don’t know how people run without music or someone to talk to.

And here are my thoughts as I mentally wrote this post at about the 8K mark:

• At the very least, walk the course before you have to run it. I hate not knowing where I am going and how much longer I have to be tortured.
• It would be nice to have fun little signs at every Kilometer mark so when the dork at the water table tells you he is the 8K mark and the actual 8K mark is 1.5K ahead, you already know not to listen.
• COLD water. Not warm on the run. I guess there is a good reason for this, but I was jonesin’ for a COLD water on that trek.
• There should be a separate 10K for runners who are attempting their first race. Without mountains, hills or inclines of any kind. C’mon race organizers! Throw us a bone already.
• Don’t be intimidated by the “real runners”. They have seriously hard bodies, and finish the 10K in about 35 min. (My friend Erin finished 3rd in her age group. Yes, she’s one of those. But I still love her.) Just start at the back of the line waaaaay behind them and you never even know they’ve seriously kicked your butt.
• When you see the little girl who has no legs in the wheelchair pass you; you will feel like an idiot.
• Coffee only makes you need to pee half way through. I was tempted to stop at someone’s house.
• They don’t always stop the traffic for all portions of the race. You can’t always hear the traffic with your tunes going. I think I only blocked half a dozen cars for 5 min or so. No biggie.
• On the ride home, your salty sweat hardens into a body mask of sorts.
• When you are finished, you will vow to NEVER do this again. By the time you get to your computer, you will be looking for the next race.
• I was pretty bored after 45 minutes. Even with tunes. I needed to chat a bit w/ someone. It ended up being the kilo marker people. “Hey, how ya doing?” “How’s the weather for you?”
• Take Ibuprofen BEFORE you go.

Ok, I guess that’s it. I have my next run with Kelly on Monday morning. I guess I’m a glutton for punishment.