I’m
trying to get my Cali Combo Medal RnRSJ is soooo happening… That
was me 22 weeks ago (says
Instagram) when
I was in #100DaysOfHappy mode.
I’m certain Pharrell was not thinking about this when he was happy.
The night before a race is spent
eating all the pasta in a 10 mile radius and resting. Because, miles and miles
to go before I medal, right? Typically. But not this day. I ran a 5k. Then I
went to a wedding. And it was homecoming at my place of employment. And because
tailgating and tickets to the game are free, at 8:00pm the night before my
race, I’m in the stands of Spartan Stadium with JRock.
See? Genius.
I know what you’re thinking,
you went home right after that right? So you could get some rest, right? Wrong.
Good Idea: Staying on campus the night before so you
can walk to downtown where the race begins and ends. This means you can sleep
longer and not have to worry about parking.
Bad Idea:
Realizing you left your iPod with your running playlist in your car parked at
your Uncle’s place. He lives 20 or so minutes away. And you can’t get there –
because your car is there. And you’re 20 or so miles away from it.
So you get out of the bed, wait for your Uncle – who
will probably never do anything for you, like not even open a can of soda for
you, because he hates everything you represent – to bring you to your iPod. And
car. Because he’s not taking you back to campus. He doesn’t like you. At all.
Good Idea: Getting comfy in the bed to recoup the
sleep and rest you did not get because you did the worst job planning your day
and you don’t know how to deal with peer pressure very well.
Bad Idea:
Deciding to stay on campus during Homecoming because students are so well
behaved throughout the year, especially during Homecoming. Because nobody will
pull the fire alarm in the building you’re staying in, which also activates the
alarm in the parking garage making a normal fire alarm activation a 2+ hour
ordeal, beginning at 3:00am.
Like I said, I am literally
the smartest person you know. And yes, I signed up for 2 races. On the same
weekend. #ThisChallengeIsSilly
Race Day: *fire
alarm hangover*
I could just stay in this bed all day.
Start Line: I don’t
think I can do this. Like seriously. Unlike any other start line, in any other
city, for any other race… I am literally in fear that I won’t make it. But I want that medal tho. #ChallengeBackOn
Mile 1: I
need to use the bathroom. Dammit.
Mile 2: Awwww,
lookie at one of my old student staff members volunteering at the race! That’s
so cool. Now pass that water bruh, it’s hot out here. *sees
bathroom* *Thank the Lord*
Mile 3: I
wonder if JRock still out here? I might need somebody to come get me. #iHurt
#ThatsNotAnApp #ThatsMeInPain
Mile 4: *wondering
why I seem to be hurting this early in the race* Ooooh Yea. I ran a 5K
yesterday. Then went to a wedding. And wore heels. Then a tailgate. And a
football game. And a fire alarm. Oh, okay. Makes sense.
Mile 6: I
could almost be done right now. Like my friend I think I see passing me. You
know, the smart one that’s doing to 10K.
Mile 7–9: Don’t
ask.
Mile 10: Why
do I make life so difficult for myself?
Mile 11: You
couldn’t pay me to walk down this street. Ever. Wait… I’m actually paying to
run down this street. #FacePalm
Mile 12: This
isn’t Rock N Roll San Jose. This is Rock N Roll Hades. Who in the hell *literally*
turned the heater on in the Bay Area?! It’s October. Ain’t nobody got time to
sweat 2 week old braids out!
Mile 13: Hump.
This looks familiar. *shrugs*
Mile 13(0.1): *realizes this was the
same corner I was turning just a day ago* Yea, I’m not doing another
remix challenge again. This is stupid and silly, and the people who organize
events and challenges like these should have to appear before Congress. This may
not be too hard for God, but this is extremely difficult for me.
Finish Line: *queues
up choir* I just want to Thank…You…Lord…
The day prior, I thought to
myself, I will live to regret this. And
I did. Only it did not even take a full 24 hours. I was in pain most of the
race. Between that and the sauna known as San Jose, I was miserable for the
last half of the running. I feel like, if the race starts before the sun comes up,
then it should stay where it is until I cross the finish line. #mannersSJ
#manners
Though so many things
connected to this experience pounding the pavement sucked (by my own design and piss poor
planning/preparation),
there were a few bright moments. One in particular that made me smile.
As I was stretching, convincing
myself that this was totally a great idea and I was going to have the most
amazing time ever, a woman got my attention. She asked if I was part of the Black Girls Run group. I
responded No because I realized right
before I answered that question, that I never actually “signed” up for it. A
friend added me to the Facebook group, but aside from that, I did not complete
my membership application or apply for my card. Hell, I don’t even have a Black
Girls Run tee yet.
But I’m in the group. I’m
connected to the community of black women who buy things at running stores. And
she is too. She also did her first marathon in San Diego. You know, that place
where I had an #EpicSummerRun and learned a
lesson in chivalry? Yup, she was there.
And, she’s going to be in Los Angeles when I do the ridiculous again and run in back to back events. Only this
time, I was brilliant enough to put a flight and 340 miles in between them. Oh,
and she is planning to rock the #StripAtNight too!
We took a picture and went to
our separate corrals… #SheIsWayFasterThanMeTho
#GoGirl #RunBlackGirlRun.
And I thought, you were kinda
creepy asking her all those questions…you really get real weird about this
running stuff 'Teezy…you need to chill out. And after that I realized
that she will probably run away from me in Los Angeles.
Eventually, I saw the novelty
of it all. We all do this for our own reasons. We register ourselves. Commit to
our training with varying levels of effort. Safety pin our bibs. Find our
corrals. Start. And finish. And many of us never meet the thousands of people
running past alongside us. But we are all there. All connected. All
together. And we all get it. Unlike all the other people watching us run,
cheering us on, or wondering why we would ruin a perfectly good weekend with a
20-mile training run, we understand it. It makes perfect sense.
Kind of like working in
student development. It looks crazy from the outside.
From the inside, we know
exactly what kind of crazy it is. And we show up again the next day. That’s the
genius in all this. #LevelsAndLevelsAndLacesToThisBro
#LevelsAndLaces
This
Race: Rock N Roll San Jose, Half Marathon, San
Jose CA
Medaled Miles to date: 67.47 miles
Medaled Miles to date: 67.47 miles
Total
Raced Miles to date: 80.57 miles
2 Medals To Go ǁ 86% Complete
(Challenge Medal 1, 13 Medals ǁ 93% Complete)
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