Blue

That's what came home around my neck yesterday:

Only living in a small town would I ever be able to win a first place medal for a 10k race!

Lets backtrack!

I woke up at the crack of dawn to finish prepping for the 10k race, along with the 6 miles I had to run before to get in my 1/2 Marathon training 12 miler in!  I knew it was gonna be tough but I would get it done somehow.

Since I've been better about fueling for my long runs I had my normal pre-race breakfast that always sits well with my belly: Arnold's Thin, PB and an Apple.

I filled up my camelback, packed away my Gu Chomps and electrolyte mix then headed out the door to register myself for the race (Yes, I procrastinated and never registered before...would have made life so much easier this morning...but since when do I live an easy life?!)  I registered the second they started accepting applications, exactly one hour before race start, so as soon as I got my racing bib (NO CHIP, still OLD SCHOOL PULL THE TAG OFF!) and shoved it into my pack I headed out on my 6 mile loop.

I was so nervous the whole time that I wasn't going to get back in time, so I high tailed it along those roads and finished the 6 in 52 minutes!  Probably not the smartest thing since I still have a 10k race to run, but hey, I got there on time!  And to boot, they were late starting anyhow, so I had a few second to swallow down three chomps and some water to get my fueled for the race!

The course for our 10k is along some neighborhood roads that are dirt, hilly and even higher in altitude even though they're just a bit up the mountain!  Anyhow, I ran the course a week or so ago to ready myself for the monster hills it would present, but some people did the same thing and called in to complain about the hills and the CHANGE THE COURSE at the last second. What?!  They made on of the hills shorter and added a short there and back to suffice for the swap.  Come on people, races are supposed to be a challenge and never easy!  Asking for a change of the course because "It's hilly" is kinda ridiculous.  Maybe it's just me...but I think it makes it a good challenge!

Anyhow, I set off without the intention of running fast but my body was feeling good so I went with it!  I didn't track my time during the race because I'm lazy like that and just kept trying to pick off people as I went, especially the "older" woman...I couldn't have them beating me!  I took three more Gu Chomps at the turn around along with some water and headed back down the hill to the finish.  And I was feelin' good to boot!  How exciting is that!

The end of the race was on a sweet downhill that I took full advantage of to get to the finish.  I got about 3/4 down it and got a nasty stomach stitch in an instant and almost crumpled over. Alas, I came in after two people I had been racing down the hill at a finish time of 56.23!!!  I'd say that a pretty good time, especially after running 6 miles just before that!

I was pumped at how great I felt after everything was said and done and lo and behold, I DIDN'T HAVE A HEADACHE!  FYI, when I run long I always always get headaches, it's horrible and always devastating especially for the rest of the day!

But I got some water to mix with my electrolyte mix and hung around with my running buddy before finally going back to my place to shower and clean up!  Upon returning I also realized that I had some nice chaffing going on where the camelback sits on my back....makes me feel hardcore, but ouch. HOLY.FREAKN.OUCH.  There might have been a scream that escaped from the bathroom while that was happening.

When I finally made myself a second breakfast, or lunch (??) it was huge, filling and put me right into a food coma for a nice mid morning nap.  Oh yeah.

Can you guess what's in it?  Anything and everything.  Ok, that's a lie.

• PB Chocolate Spirutein Powder
• frozen mango
• frozen raspberries
• spinach
• USVAB
• 1C Honey Nut O's
• Chocolate chips.

So tasty I wanted another bowl.  Too bad I passed out before that could happen.

By the time I woke I needed to get down to the fair if I wanted to get to the dinner I got invited to on time.  So I walked the about 4 mile round trip jont down to town to see the arts and crafts festival.  There were a few things I wanted to buy but I refrained, since I did just get back from Chicago, am going to Portland, and haven't been paid in a month.  Yeppers.

I was getting hungry again so what else would I do while I was in town?  Fro-yo baby.

I debated over this for a long time, wondering if I could make it home for some real food after that run and walking so much but I figured hey, how often do I really get fro yo?  Even if I did practically have some for breakfast vai my style?  Whatever.  No need to justify right?  I wanted it and had it, end of story!  My mix included a vanilla and chocolate swirl along with a little bit of pistachio that I wanted to try...and didn't live up to my standards.  Anyhow, I topped it off with some graham crackers (way too much, their dispensers are not very efficient!) and dark chocolate mini chips...tasty good.

I got home and showered again since it was hotter than I thought and was soaked in sweat again (Means I'm re-hydrating right, right!?) and started on dessert that I was in charge of for dinner at my friends!  I used a simple Vegan Chocolate Cake recipe that I've had forever and drizzled it with a melted chocolate bar I've had on hand for a while...came out perfect!

And of course I have no picture of that or my dinner.  I didn't want to bust out my camera and ya know, be that foodie...I just wanted to enjoy the night with my new friends.  Dinner was good though, and new!  I've never had Chile Rellenos and probably should have looked it up before to realize that well, they're filled with cheese.  Yes, not too great of a thing for someone who is lactose intolerant.  But I made do with the situation, had some of it that I thought I'd be able to tolerate with the salad, veggies, beans and sauce and turned out fine. 

It basically looked like that, but drowning in red sauce.  And boy did it have a nice kick to it!  But I liked the heat, definitely something different for me!

I hung out for a bit before heading home and totally crashing on the floor trying to write this post....which is why you're getting it this morning.  Or afternoon, depending on where you are.

I woke up absolutely famished and the first thing on my mind was FRENCH TOAST!!!  So you know I totally had it for breakfast.  Plus an insane amount of pb and fruit

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Best plate ever.  I used TJ's Cinnamon Swirl bread and when I make my egg batter I always add just a dash of ginger to add some pzaz!  Oh yeah!

I guess my belly is catching up from yesterday because even after sitting blogging all morning I was getting hungry and noshed on this snack bowl:

Who can see Honey!?  Ok, I'm sure you can tell what this bowl has so I won't say it and feel lame. :)

Now I'm off to the store (ie grocery store because there is no where else to go in my little town) and wait for my Aunt, Uncle and Cousins to come down and visit from Mammoth on their way home!  And they're bringing my favorite freshly baked bread!

[[Edited to add: Lunch was lazy and a bowl of Cinnamon Sugar Squares from Mom's Natural's with vanilla almond breeze.  I love (being) lazy weekends. ]]