OKC Half Marathon Recap

It is amazing how good a race feels when you actually pace yourself!  Before Sunday, I had never wore a watch, calculated my time, etc. for a race.  Sure, I watched the race clocks and hoped for the best, but making those calculations in your head is so difficult while running.  Jodi's brain while running: no oxygen = no math.

I picked up this gem of a freebie at the race expo on Friday and decided that I would give it a go:

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, I also had this handy thing to keep me on track:

Yes, I got a Garmin.  Yes, I love it.  Yes, I am a true runner now.  Yes, I needed it.  No, I don't know how to work it. 

Leading up to the race, I thought I would try and run/walk combo and just enjoy the crowds, etc.  However, last Saturday, I had a pretty decent 8 miler which gave me confidence to actually try to see what I could accomplish given the amount of training I was able to put in.  I thought 2:15 was a conservative effort and felt pretty confident that I could meet that goal. This neat little tattoo provides split times for each mile so that you can maintain a consistent pace throughout the race, something I have never been able to accomplish.
 This race was all about not doing anything stupid that would negatively affect the runner's high that I am currently floating on 24/7.  I DID NOT want to be miserable by the end of the race, swearing that I would never run again as long as I lived.  I have been there and its not pretty folks.

Anyway, I carpooled to the start with my newly found group of running friends.

at the start; OKC bombing memorial 

Katie (in the pink) ran the half in 2 hours!! The other three all ran the full marathon and totally killed it!

We all started the race together, but it was pretty evident from the start that they were going out to fast for my comfort level.  So, after about half a mile, I was racing solo.  It was so hard in those first few miles to go slow.  The pace felt unnatural to what I was usually running, granted I have usually only been running 4 - 5 miles at a time, so I knew that if I want what felt natural, Bill would be picking my butt up at the medical tent on mile 8.  So I made a game out of my tattoo and Garmin combo.

After my legs warmed up, the miles seemed pretty easy.  Bill and Evan, dressed in team Jodi garb: 

planned to meet me around mile 6.  The day before we drove the marathon course looking for good spectating spots.  However, I did not realize that the first one we choose was the exchange point for the relay (go figure) and was therefore blocked to traffic.  Instead, they went to mile 9, where they were able to see the winners passing by: 

 

 

I followed shortly behind.  You know, give or take 40 minutes. 

 

This picture was taken at mile 9.  Obviously, I am the one running like a total dork on the wrong side of the road.  I had to stop and get a kiss from my two favorite guys! 

I was feeling really good at this point.  I have only ran this course one other time and it was here that I decided to speed it up last time. I regretted that decision in that race and was determined not to make the same mistake again, so i just kept trucking along at what felt like a comfortably, slow pace.  Life was good. 

I next saw Bill around mile 11.  It was here that I began to really realize that I was going to be able to run this entire race without stopping.  Granted, it was at a slower pace than I have previously ran, but all things considered, I was making good time for my current fitness level.  Most importantly, I was staying on pace, loving the race, and actually was not cursing myself for signing up for such a ridiculous event.  This is a miracle people.  I can only remember one other time when I ran a race, whether it be a 5K or marathon, that I did not feel like giving up at the end.  Go figure, that pacing thing people yap about actually works. 

That's me.  Still in the neon pink and black biker shorts.  Yes, I realize my outfit looks like Jane Fonda meets Richard Simmons.  Deal with it. 

Miles 11 - 13 were through one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in OKC, Heritage Hills.  It was right about this time that it started raining, big time.  I welcomed the rain at first, but it got to be a little annoying toward the end.  At about mile 12 I was still feeling strong and actually was able to encourage another female runner who was running alone.  She had stopped on this final stretch before the big turn to the finish and I let her know that she could run with me and that we would finish this race.  That is one of the greatest things about running.  I have been in races were someone helps me past the final push when I want to give up and walk so bad.  I remember those times like it was yesterday.  I am just glad that in this race, I was able to be that support for someone else.  

When I reached the final half mile, I decided just to go far it and increase my pace.  It felt a little silly sprinting at that point because, lets face it, I just ran a half marathon averaging over a 10 minute mile so if I had juice left, I could have wasted a little more earlier in the race.  However, it felt good to have that energy and finish strong.  Final time:  2:16.  Tattoo goal: 2:15.  Not a bad day, folks, not a bad day at all.  

Bill had planned to meet me at the finish, but given the rain decided to wait with little man in the parking lot.  I was so excited to see the two of them! 

 mommy's biggest fan

At that point, my friends running the marathon were in the last 1/3 of the race, and Bill and I decided to cheer for them on Classen, which is the longest stretch of road that spans for a few miles.  We were able to watch them in between 22 and 23 and they were looking so strong: 

Yes, they are amazing!  When it was raining on me in the nice, tree-covered neighborhood, they were running at the lake where the wind feels doubled and there is no cover in sight.  I could not be more proud of them.  

Overall, I felt the race went great.  No it wasn't my best time ever, but I went into it with a goal and stayed on target the entire race.  I learned something very very important in this race.  Training is for getting faster; racing is for pacing.   For once, I finished a race excited to plan for the next one.  Excited to get a tattoo with a lower time.  Excited to continue to float on this runner's high.

Bill, being the amazing husband that he is, grilled our buffalo burgers from the farmer's market as a celebratory post-race meal.  I am so lucky for a husband who cooks!  

Farmer's Market

This will be a picture-less post. Sorry, I know.  I am a horrible blogger.

I really wanted to go to the OKC farmer's market this morning.  So, I excitedly woke Bill up around 7:30., begged him to come with me, hurriedly got dressed and was out the door by 8:30.  A quick stop at Starbucks on the way and we were downtown in no time.

Farmer's Market Tip 1 - find out what time it opens before you leave.

Turns out that the farmer's market did  not open until 10:00.  Weird, right! Aren't farmers suppose to be up bright and early each day?  Don't they wake up to a rooster or something?

Not to be dismayed, we decided to go to the farmer's market at OSU-OKC.  Although it was rather small to other markets I have been to, it was a lot of fun.  We carried Evan around in his new carrier:

See not a picture-less post after all :).

We didn't get much at the market, but Bill did pick up a few Buffalo patties that he plans to grill this afternoon.  I picked up a block of sun dried tomato cheddar cheese that I plan to eat while sitting on my butt after the race tomorrow.  Should be fun!

After the farmer's market, Evan and I got together everything for the big race tomorrow (more on that later), and Bill worked out with a friend.  He came home with this thing making some noise about spring cleaning, blah blah blah.

My Favorite Lunch Date

Don't get me wrong, Bill is a pretty decent date.  But lunch dates with this little guy are the best:

Although I haven't been able to visit Evan much this week, I really am grateful that his daycare is so close to my work.  Having just thirty minutes with my little man makes the day so much better.  The daycare has a little room where I can nurse Evan and we usually take a few moments for pictures too.  I know I am biased, but I think I could make millions off this cute little face:

Can you blame me for not wanting to go back to work?

The not so Fabulous Family picture..

One night Bill's mom asked us to take a picture because she missed us.  It was late, we were tired, and here is the product:

Not sure why but this picture cracks me up and is too funny not to share:

We Bought a Zoo

Not really, but we went to the zoo and that counts for something right?

Bill and I had one of those weekend where you attempt to cram in everything in two days.  We traveled out of towns the past two weekends, so I guess I felt like I had catching up to do this weekend.

 Earlier Saturday morning I met some friends for one final long run before the half marathon coming up this Sunday. I ran a little over 7 miles.  The out and back loop was suppose to be 8 miles, but according to my friend's Garmin, it was a little over 7.  The two of them kept running until 8 because they are crazy like that.  I stopped the second I reached the finishing point and declared that 7.something was plenty.

I got back home a little after 8 and took over Evan duties so that Bill could get a workout in.  When Bill got home, he wanted to mow the grass, but I told him that simply wasn't an option because I wanted to go to the zoo.

I got Evan dressed in his zoo clothes:

He then asked if there were giraffes like Sophie at the zoo and if he could eat them:

When I told him the giraffes were much bigger than Sophie and wouldn't take kindly to having their noses bitten off, he said, Aww mom, that makes me mad:

I'm not sure what I had in mind, but there are some really crazy people at the zoo.  As in grown men walking around without their shirts on, women in corsets and high heels, etc.  I'm pretty sure Bill got tired of my repeated "seriously, people wear that to the zoo?"  Turns out that I was both way over and under dressed in my tanktop, jeans and tennis shoes.

I don't think Evan really grasped that there were animals at the zoo, but he loved the people watching.

 First stop, muddy rhinos.

We watched the stand off between the snake and turtles for a little while, then I insisted that we move on since I didn't want Evan to witness a murder at such a young age.

I'm pretty sure this frog is named Freddy and used to live in our backyard.  Well hello Freddy, so nice to see you again. 

 This is the Silverback gorilla, who is the leader of the gorilla troop at the OKC zoo.  Obviously he was not happy with the visitors on Sunday.

Chillin

Bill is getting really good at using our big fancy camera that has 100,000,000 buttons.  He took all of the following pics using manual mode:

Photo Shoot

My little man is becoming quite the model.  Probably because there is a camera in his face every time he turns around.  :)  We have taken 1200 pictures with our new camera since January 1.  Granted, these were not all of Evan and several are multiple shots of the same thing, but still, things are getting a little crazy over here.  Anyway, here are few pics of Evan at four months.

Bon Appetit

Evan had his four month check-up today and received clearance for baby food.  Actually the doctor encouraged it since he has been waking up more frequently.  We didn't waste any time, but headed straight to Barnes and Noble for baby cookbooks and Target for baby cereal.  

Online, you will find a mix of reviews about when to start baby food.  Some say 4 months, other say 6.  Because of this, I thought I would be more nervous about introducing baby food to Evan.  I also thought I would be more skeptical of rice cereals because some experts say that it isn't nutritious and is unnecessary.  However, after talking to our doctor and having her encouragement, it was so fun and exciting.  I was ready to drive him through the drive thru immediately.  OK, I am only kidding, but I was excited for him to experience something new and a little hopeful that this will help him sleep better at night.

Evan did a great job with the spoon and seemed really interested in the food.

 We will continue with rice cereal for a while until he really gets the hang of eating.  Then it is on to purees.  Any suggestions on first food?