Much Ado About Humor… #Yup #UnCanceled

We are on a roll (run) folks! What have we accomplished so far?

Well, Gratitude? Done. Then there was Hope. Got it. And this week, we un-canceled HUMOR, and it is right on time. It’s like Teddy Riley knew I needed to end this race week with a laugh, because yall have SENT ME with these memes, and tweets, and comments during the IG Live! Let me tell you, I. STAN. for each and every one of you. I’m not sure if I burned more calories during Saturday’s 15k or while watching the #VERZUZ that wasn’t Teddy Riley v Babyface unfold!

Anyway, you have my laughs and my thanks. And I offer in return this week’s race re-cap and HUMOR(ous) reflections!

 

10k = 6.2 miles

Running: 4.20 miles

Exercising: 40mins/2.0 miles

   [The Math: 6.2mi – 4.2mi = 2.0mi; 2.0mi x 20min = 40mins; 40 mins of exercise/ physical activity]

8k = 4.97 miles

Running: 4.02 miles

Exercising: 19mins/0.95 miles

   [The Math: 4.97mi – 4.02mi = 0.95mi; 0.95mi x 20min = 19mins; 19 mins of exercise/ physical activity]

3k = 3.1 miles

Running: 1.38 miles

Exercising: 35mins/1.72 miles

   [The Math: 3.1mi – 1.38mi = 1.72mi; 1.72mi x 20min = 34.4mins; 34.4 rounded up to 35 mins of exercise/physical activity]

Here's that 3.6 mi courtesy of my ZOOM Group Run!

15k = 9.3 miles

Running (outdoor): 4.9 miles

Running (treadmill): 3.6 miles

Exercising: 16mins/0.8 miles

   [The Math: 9.3mi – (4.9mi + 3.6mi) = 0.8mi; 0.8mi x 20min = 16mins; 16 mins of exercise/physical activity]

E-Boogie & Big Meek (on tha Block) are still rocking and running with me! This weekend, they were due for an 8k.

Big fun at #ClubElkGrove

…and then there’s me, over here kee’kee’n to myself, but honestly, everything is funny to me. I was on the phone with my child that I didn’t birth in Tennessee (who lives in Georgia right now and is pregnant #GrandbabyNumbah2, #ColeyColeHadGBabyNumbahOne) and we were having a very special mommie–daughter moment which was quickly interrupted with my text, R.I.P. to yo’ sleep tho reminding her that soon, she’ll have bags under her eyes caring for her baby girl. She went from crying (out of love and affection) to having the tears fall away into laughs. And there you find me. Laughing in, joking through, giggling because, of everything. Laughing, like running, has been therapy. I am thankful that as serious as life gets, I tend not to see it that way. Even the hard stuff, with a little time, transforms itself into a smile, and eventually some with some percentage of humor to it.

I thought, this week, to fill the posts with running jokes, kinda like the way E-Boogie made us laugh with the madness of running… But nothing compares to the HUMOR that was Saturday night! If you have ever helped a person from a generation prior to yours, understand the technology of the day (no shade, cause i’ve been that previous generation person HELLA times), then you know what it was like watching Take 1 of #VERZUZ, Teddy Riley vs Babyface. Babyface took Teddy out in three rounds with a nokia phone, dial-up internet, and 1^st generation headphones, yall. I live to achieve the levels of unbotherdness of Kenny! Black people and Black Twitter will always, and forever, be undefeated! #MastersOfTheUniverseOfJokes

Get ready for #VERZUZ Take 2 tonight, Teddy Riley vs Babyface! 5:00pm PST! I hope that it not only inspires more jokes, but that it connects us back to music that we loved, memories we had connected to those tunes, and gets us up and moving!

This week is all about INSPIRATION! Whoever, Wherever, Whatever inspires you, I hope you find some gratitude for it! LOL #seewhatididthere? #nerd

A Wedding On The Run #doyouknowntheway

Yea, I know the way. I’m back on my home turf. Rerunning the fourth race of #14in2014, but the first official race of #2015Kin2015 #1253milesIn2015? Why am I here? Doing a repeat race in a repeat challenge series?

I’m here because while it doesn’t count for my one of my three new events, it does count towards my #Make4NewFriends. And he’s an oldie but a newbie to the pavement.

It’s interesting what happens when you do something you love. You start to talk about that thing you love. Because it makes you incredibly happy. When you love something, it consumes you. It becomes all that you are. And, you want other people to love it. The hope is that it will make them as happy as it makes you. But you can never know that for sure. Though inside your broken little heart, you know that they too will find a way to love it. You know that.

Here’s the thing tho. I’m a runner, sure. But I’m not that great of a runner. So, while I’m preaching this running gospel, it’s not like I’ve done any research. You’ve read this blog; plenty of serious runners would read what I’ve done and just…not. Like, not even…

And OldieButNewbie was so worried. What was he worried about? A bunch of silly stuff like: You’re going to take off at the Start Line and run off and leave me… … I’m not going to make it… … I can’t run 5 miles… … It’s going to be too hard…

He threw all that at me, and I knocked it out the park. It was easy to respond to those worries with so much confidence because they were once my worries. And, as figured out they weren’t real, race after race, I became more confident. I mean, I made it. I survived. And there was no way that I was going to leave him. We start together, we finish together. We got this. Our race, His pace.

Yea, that wasn’t good enough. It was like he didn’t believe me. Didn’t believe that he was going to be okay. Sure, you’ve never ran 5 miles, but um, it’s 5 miles. On city streets. In a running event where you can walk the entire time and still make it.

We went on a field trip. Because having successfully survived #14in2014 was not expert experience enough. Nor the fact that, literally a year ago, almost to the date, I did this race – nope, not enough. Just like #ConferenceHubby, it seems that #RunningHubby doesn't listen too good. But the trip served multiple purposes. If you’re not running with confidence, you can at least do it with new feet. So, we talked to a man about a pair of proper running shoes. Well, I didn’t need a pair. OldieButNewbie did tho.

Also, if you didn't catch that, I’z married now! I say I’z married now!!!! I'm registered at all Running (related) Stores, and will gladly accept race registrations... We're (read: I'm) registered at those too... #seewhatwedidthere #happilyeverafterthepainpillsandstretching 

Maybe it was a gender thing. Maybe it was the sun shining on the Bay Area. Maybe it was all the awesome running paraphernalia in the store. I can’t be too sure. But he left out of there a new man. You would have thought I was preparing to run my first race and he was encouraging me!

But I love running. And he loves (read: cool with) running too. It’s tough. Sticking to a training plan. Fighting to through the pain. Combating the negative messaging that starts with that 5:00am wake up alarm on race day. Realizing that even though you know that you can start and finish (because you’re stubborn and like challenges), when you have a heart to heart with yourself, you know that there’s a really good chance you should have your medical card with you, just in case… #ifallDownStandingStillSometimes #ItsALostArt #IGotThatCoverageTho #DontLetEmTakeMeToCounty

Race day was awesome. I knew where to go, how to get there, and what to do. He followed along. Not even attempting to step out in front or veto a decision – not once. Blind trust or blind faith? I suppose a little of both. It was a humbling moment. Being on the other side of my confidence. I ran much of #14in2014 in fear. I always found my confidence though, on the other side of the finish (interchange with: fear).

And that’s where his was waiting. Only, he had to make it through the sea of rear ends. Apparently, and this is news to me, if you want to entice a heterosexual male such as OldieButNewbie #RunningHubby to run with you, you don’t need to outline:

1. Meeting awesome people,

2. MEDALS!,

3. Bomb race swag,

4. Beautiful scenic views, or

5. The inadvertent health benefits.

You need only say, would you like to look at the women’s butts for a couple of hours? They’ll be wearing colorful spandex and other tightly fitting running pants/shorts.

Apparently, if you say this, you don’t have to try to figure out a way to massage the costs of the running events, or sweet talk that early morning start time, or mention the whole “training plan” thing. It’ll just kinda happen.

Perv.

So… We killed the #408K. And it was even more amazing the 2^nd time around. The weather was nicer. My running clique was with me #SquadLacedUp #ProudRunLeader and we were moments away from the first race medal of the year.

…and mile one was awesome! It went by so quickly, I could have been on pace for a PR. But, this was “Our race, His pace”…so I took my time. Honestly, he’s naturally probably faster than me, but I had already done this. I already got my greatness. It was his turn.

For the most part, it was “our” race, right? Perfectly timed breaks. Brief conversations. Exchanges of encouraging words. Random questions are we there yet?… I mean, having the time of our lives.

As we got closer to the end, I made sure to let OldieButNewbie know, so he could prepare for the finish. You know, hit the nitro #TooFastAndFurious and speed through the finish with me, right? I didn’t want him to hit the button too soon. Our race, His pace. Right? Well, by “our” he was like, yea, we’re both here…and “his pace” he was like oh, you were here running next to me? I didn’t see you, so I left.

Yea, he totally left me. I jogged the last 0.25 miles by myself. Because I wanted to get across the finish line. And, catch up with him. So we could take a picture and have mimosas.

What were the lessons learned on this day?

1.    You can have all the experience in the world. And you’ll still have to get another opinion. #YourFriendsWontBelieveYou #You’llNeedMorePeople

2.     A woman’s butt can be a man’s motivation. #concept *shrugs*

3.    Witnessing someone’s first will never get old. There is so much joy in seeing someone see/do/experience something for the first time. Like a baby’s first step.

4.    If you’re both at the 0.25 miles left mark, just run. He’s definitely going to leave you. He’s not loyal.

#15ThingsIn2015 Challenge

5 new states

4 new friends (OldieButNewbie #RunningHubby – 1 down, 3 to go)

3 new running events

2 back-to-back running events

1 Half Marathon PR

MEDALS MOTIVATE ME: Race 4, Medal 3

"The Legend of Extraordinary Luck"

…so here goes it. Question? What do Mariachi Bands, Banana Republic, Pizza and Green/Camouflage Sperry’s have in common?

Easy! The San Jose 408K Running Experience! Race to the Row 2014! Yes folks, the 408K is in the books! I literally woke up Sunday winning. And it wasn’t just because my very first love, my Daddie was born March 2^nd! Happy Birthday Pops! I did though, you know, wake up winning, even in the drizzle of San Jose. When I called him after the race, he said:

Daddie: You ran 5 miles? Hmph. I don’t think an ambulance could help me get that far! #He’sHilarious

I convinced my Bay Breeze FB friend turned running buddy to drive down for the race even though she planned to run it virtually. Talked one of my employee-running-friends to do the race as a precursor to the Tough Mudder, KD a.k.a. Dr. Splits On Trees came to pound the pavement with me after our January trail adventure and my Angelica Rollerskates even showed up for some post-race fun!

Told you. #WINNING

       

Friday Race “Expo”: ugh. Orange race bib. I should have said I was going to run faster than my actual pace so I could have gotten a different color. That teal over there is everything! I would have even been able to better accessorize that grey. What in the world am I going to do with this?

*smile for the camera! #anotherraceexpocherrypopped*

Saturday, Pre-Race: The devil is a lie. Chance of rain? Welp, that means no chance I am running without braids.

*spends Saturday watching He-Man & the Masters of the Universe, braiding hair*

Sunday, Pre-Race: *this is my excited for #medal3 face* -_-

Start: This is going to be fun. I think. #doingthisforRFII

Mile 1: No rain yet. Sweet. Even though I spent all day yesterday doing my damn hair. Anticipating rain, that isn’t coming. #bestweekendever

Mile 2: I kinda like this route. San Jose got some nice stuff. What neighborhood is this again? #MeLikey

Mile 3: I want a taco. Ooooh! The cherry blossoms. I want to live on this street. And eat tacos.

Mile 4: I know damn well it's not about to rain right now! Dammit. #justsprinkles #notthecupcakes #TillmanMemorialMile

Mile 5 (0.97): Um, how about you finish the race. It’s not necessary to take a picture with EVERY Mariachi Band you see on the Mariachi Mile.

*pause*music*selfie/groupie*run*repeat*

Finish: This one was for you Roc! Okay, now where are the mimosas and tacos?

Post Race: Included hitting KD (aka Dr. Splits on Trees) in the face *kinda* trying to take a picture jumping at the photo station and the best pizza and mini cupcakes a girl could pay for! Yasssssss!!! There was even a chartered bus ride back to my free parking spot on the street near the SAP Center. Did I mention I probably had the best post-race pizza ever?

Angelica: She’s never been here; she might need a minute to check out the menu.

Me: I know what I want. I want pizza. I want the pizza with the most meat on it.

Waiter: Then you might want to try this one.

Me: Okay. But that doesn’t look like enough. I’ll have it, but um, add that fennel sausage to it too.  #noroastedonions

Everything about this race was awesome. Great neighborhood route. No backtracking. Happy runners and walkers. A Mariachi Mile of music and smiles. And of course, Medal #3. I could not of asked for anything more. And I didn’t. But I got it. At the Race “Expo” I stopped by the Athelta table. The nice young lady there gave me a bag, a purple and grey hair tie, “Power of the She” tattoos and a card to redeem a surprise gift card ($5 to $50) on race day at their store in Valley Fair.

I crossed over Santana Row to the Mall to get my goodies at the Athelta store, right? It just so happened to be a $20 gift card to Banana Republic…which turned into the cutest top I am going to wear to some special event soon! Because a $20 gift card, plus 40% off = WINNING! #mymathisgettingbetter

I accidentally stopped by DSW because it was in the way of me getting home, right? Just so happens, there were some Sperry’s I accidentally left there. Which happened to be 70% off. So, I was basically just picking up shoes that were already mine, because, camo everything, is everything to me.

AND…hello? My 3^rd Medal! I am sooooo winning!

Yep Mrs. Bradshaw, medals totally motivate me too.

Today’s Race: 8K, 408K: Race To The Row, San Jose CA

Medaled Miles to date: 17.37 miles

#theycouldhaveroundeditupto5milestho

Total Raced Miles to date: 20.47miles

11 Medals To Go ǁ 21% Complete