The road to the Kentucky Derby goes through King Tut

Well the time has finally come to run half number 2 on the road to becoming  a half fanatic.  This race takes me and Megan to a new state..Kentucky.  Can you say Road Trip?


We set out bright and early on Friday morning for the race that was scheduled on Saturday.  I figured it was going to be a long day, but sometimes you just don't realize how long.  Luckily Megan was trippin' with me so at least we did not have to go it alone :)  We hit WV around lunch time and decided to look for somewhere to eat.  Well it is the age of the iphone, so lets see what Yelp has to offer.  Looking I find The Meeting place..however it seems we already passed it so that is out of the running for our place for lunch.  Next up a place that has gotten great reviews.  4 1/2 stars on yelp.  Want to eat at King Tut?    

Yeah it looks a bit scary...but what a great drive in with great food!  It was so good that we stopped by when we were on our way home to have lunch.  When you pull in the first thing you notice is that the menu is on the side of a large fence.

We didn't really know what to do.  We had never been to a real drive in before.  We watched the locals and figured it out pretty quickly.  The waitress recommend the stuffed potatoes (which most people on yelp recommended too) and some milkshakes along with a nice cheese steak sandwich. 

I'm so glad that we found this great place!  Thanks Yelp!  We finished eating and figured out what we had to do to have the waitress take our tray.  Then we were back on the road. 

 Soon (as in 8 1/2 hours later) we came to Louisville, Ky!  Finally our race city!  We checked in to the hotel and then headed for packet pickup. 

The Expo was a traditional expo.  Nothing outstanding.  We then headed outside and towards the Spaghetti Factory.  I guess we were not the only runners with that idea...the wait was 2 hours long!  I don't think eating at 9pm would work well as a great pre-race meal.  So we headed down the street aimlessly trying to find a replacement.  Finally after asking a local we were pointed in the direction of fourth street.  Thank you local!  You saved our lives!

Fourth street was great!  A band was playing in the middle of fourth street and all of the restaurants and bars had their large windows open so it felt like you were right up front listening to the music.  We headed to a bar that had a small bowling alley in the middle of the place.  It was here that I had the pleasure of meeting a young drunk rugby player..Doug I believe is his name.  He was drinking long islands like they were water.  He was curious about my race bag.  Once he found out we were running the half ("its pretty respectable I guess" says Doug)  He tells us about his 25K that he runs.  First he warns us about all of the blisters that we are going to get on our feet.  Megan informs him that we have run a half before and we do not get blisters.  Maybe when you run a bunch of 25k's you get blisters. :)  I quickly figured out that drunk boy was going to be fun to talk to about racing!  He then proceeds to tell me that he usually wins his races..well except when the Kenyans win.  Well..hello...everyone finishes behind the Kenyans! lol  He doesn't remember what place he usually finishes, but he is fast.  And really if you are not going to finish in the top 16 (why he picks this number is beyond both Megan and myself) why race?  Also he advised us on how to run.  You must go all out so that you die at the end.  If you run half way and then just finish there is no point in running..you must die at the end!  I loved Drunk Doug!  He was so entertaining.  Unfortunately the night had to end early because we had a race to run in the morning.  Fingers crossed that we both come in the top 16.

As we head out of the bar I notice a wonderful man in a white suit..in Kentucky who would of thought that I would get to take a picture with the man himself!!!

 I love people dressed in costume!  Thank you Colonel for being there...you brought such a smile to my face. :)

We headed back to the hotel and went to sleep early.  Dreams of placing the top 16 ran through my mind. 

Race Day Recap coming next!

Is it Runners tan or Runner's farmers tan..either way I'm getting one

I set out on a long run today..only made it to mile 5.  I guess I will try again tomorrow :)  I just waited too long in the morning..it was getting hot on that last mile.  I did run a bit naked..only the garmin came along for the run.  I have yet to decide if I want to run the Kentucky Derby Mini with just the garmin or do I want to also run with the ipod.  I'm almost leaning towards no music.  Sometimes running with my ipod and the garmin I feel a bit electronic heavy on my left side.  I have a week to decide if the ipod is in or out.  I will say if I do not get new headphones, that choice will be really easy to make :)

I did notice that on today's run I was starting to get a bit of a runner's tan (or runner's farmers tan) on my arms.  I know I should put on sunscreen.  I just sweat so much that I never put it on b/c I usually end up sweating it off.  I definitely do not put anything on my face prerun.  The sweat stinging my eyes is about all I can handle.  I don't think I could do sweat and sunscreen.  So I am starting to get some color on my arms and legs..as long as I do not wear any tank tops or cute strappy dresses soon it will look great with my shorts and tee's. :)  Maybe I will break out the tank tops to run in so I can break  up the crazy tan lines I am slowly developing. 

Thankfully my tan lines are not this bad :)

One week till the Kentucky Derby Mini...I'm getting a bit excited!  I've never visited Kentucky before!  And Eddie Money is playing a concert the evening of the Mini..I believe he has two tickets to Paradise for me and Megan.  Other than that I do not know any of his songs! lol  But a concert is a concert. :)

Pitter Patter of my running feet

I came home on Friday and decided that I must run..must run because in two week I have my second half marathon in Kentucky.  Normally I am pretty tired from work (I know I only worked 4 days this week, but still tiring).  But I came home and it was a beautiful afternoon, so I decided to lace up the running shoes and head out.  I put some music on and headed out the door.  I think I grabbed my old headphones because all I was getting was the background singers singing..which is pretty annoying.  So when I ran past the house I ditched the tunes and just ran to the music of my own two feet.

 I didn't run that far..just a few miles but it was a great afternoon for a run.  I loved hearing my own feet hit the pavement and watching the kids in the 'hood out running around.  My last mile I stopped and picked up Riley.  He's ten years old but still loves a good "run".  Now to be fair I don't think he really runs that much when I run..I may be a bit slow for him.  So we both got to enjoy the beautiful afternoon.

After the run I headed out to see my friend's boyfriend's blues band.  It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

Cherry Blossom 10 miler..no blossoms but lots of runners

I have been up since the a.c.o.d. (the a$$ crack of dawn).  Actually before the a.c.o.d. I met Megan at the lot to head up to the Cherry Blossom run.  Parked and Becca and Zack pulled in front of us..it was as if the time gods were on our side.  We headed to the metro and ended up on the front car with not a lot of people and we could sit.  When we got to the race we headed straight for the portapotties.  Once again time was on our side and not that bad on the line.  Checked our bag and headed to our corrals.

 

Once in my corral with Becca and Zack I look over my shoulder and there he was..

the juggler!! 

I just saw him in my half in March..I was hoping not to see him during this race.  I feel like he mocks me and the fact that 10 miles is so easy to him that he has to juggle to make it challenging..Curses juggler!!!  Although it took him til mile 7 to pass me..so I guess that is good.  Although I knew when he was behind me because there was a school of rock singing and the lead singer sort of stopped and went "oh my god, look at that"..yeah juggler..grrr...

Enough of the juggler..as you know I have not been logging the needed miles.  So today I was running, just to run.  No garmin, no time worries.  Just run.  Well turns out I had a pretty good run.  This is one of the few runs that I can say I started off on my own pace..not trying to pass or keep up with anyone.  I held a pretty steady pace too.  Slow, but steady. I was pretty pleased with my run.  I did not see the beer and oreo guy at mile 8.  I think he ran out by the time I arrived.  He was on the course, I just didn't run fast enough to see him.  The run was great.  The day was great, a bit overcast so I didn't have to worry about sun.  I tossed my long sleeve shirt before mile 1 and was comfortable the entire run.  At mile 9 I had a cramp in my quad.  Really?!  Mile 9..you couldn't hold out another mile Mr. Quad??    I ran up the last hill to the finish (which is a big deal..I hate hills) and ended up PR'ing by a minute.  Not bad for a race I was just running and wasn't keeping track of time. 

Thanks Cherry Blossom...this will be my final run with you and you gave me a pretty good run. :)