A few things that didn’t make it into the NODM recap:
THE BUG
I think it was around Mile 5 at NODM that a huge bug flew directly into my right eye. I was walking and blinking and rubbing, but it would not come out. My eye actually hurt! Finally, it started to feel better and I pretty much forgot about the fact that there might be some dead flying creature in my eye socket. About three hours later and halfway home, I got a little emotional. Not about the bug.
I just felt so lucky. Blessed to be able to afford (time and money) to do these races, to meet amazing people, and to have fun. And I thought about seeing the boxer, too. I just don’t think it’s a coincidence that I’ve seen boxers at every half. I don’t see boxers every day when I’m just out and about. How is it that I’ve seen one every single time I’ve done a half marathon?
I started to cry a litte, which was a huge mistake as I was driving on a particularly curvy stretch of the highway through Bremerton. Salty sweat mixed with tears and stung my eyes, and I had to force at least one to stay open so I didn’t crash.
Left hand on the steering wheel, my right rooted around in my pile of stuff in the passenger seat of Mr. T’s ‘Bu: my sweaty race shirt, NODM shirt, jacket, bag o’ crap I brought that I didn’t need, napkins I got with my chocolate-dipped cone from McDonald’s… Napkins! I grabbed one and dabbed my eyes till I could see.
And guess what I found when I pulled the napkin away?
A big black insect carcass. Still intact. I’m not even kidding about the size. It was big, like the size of the lead on a sharpened No. 2 pencil. That’s a pretty substantial bug to be hanging out in my head for three hours. Gross.
COLD BATH
After 13.1 miles and a nearly 3-hour drive home, I needed to take care of my legs. I did not want to hurt myself again.
So a very cranky (sick) T Junior accompanied me up the stairs to the master bathroom, where I filled my soaker tub full of cold tap water and some bubble bath. Then I pulled on my bathing suit, a sweatshirt and two pairs of socks per foot, and eased in.
It hurts when you first get in, but it gets better after a couple minutes. My legs felt so much better after 10 minutes in there, and I practically felt normal the next day! Totally worth it.
AN ANNUAL THING?
I really, really loved the NODM half course. It was so beautiful. And I loved walking it. I don’t know if I would’ve enjoyed the course as much if I had been running.
But I was thinking that maybe I should make this an annual walking race. I have some friends who don’t like to run, but enjoy walking, and I’m wondering if I can recruit them. You know, get them to sign up next year and then train to walk it at about the same quick pace as we did this year.
What annual races have you done? Ever walked a race before? What difference did you notice?
10 comments
One word: GROSS!
OMG, ew ew ew!! I have had that happen .. okay, not as bad but same idea! Glad that sucker finally came out!Good for you on the cold bath. It makes a WORLD of difference.And I can't wait to meet you too! 😀
That is crazy you had a bug rolling around in there for that long, and not just a bit gross!! I do two races annually (Toronto Goodlife & Vancouver BMO), and love it that I have a time comparison on the same course year after year & different partners to enjoy each race with. I have not walked a race before, but have thought about doing one with my mom, who usually walks when I run in Vancouver. Good to hear that you enjoyed it!
That's just nasty – you're a trooper for dealing with it! And no worries I get emotional about silly things too 😀
Somehow I have lucked out on the bug flying into my face thing while running! Yikes, it would freak me out too!!I wanted to do the NODM and was able to, but when I went to sign up it was already filled 🙁 Hope you had fun besides the bugs though!
I think its hilarious that you referred to it as “hanging out of my head.” You're such an author. You're great. :-Dps. I'd also like to add that my captcha for this comment is “busty”
That bug sounds terrible! One flew into my husband's eye the other day. They're painful!The cold bath sounds like it helped, but you should get an award for hopping in after such a long drive home. I'd be too tempted by a warm shower.
@Navy Wife: LOL! “Busty” Hahaha!@Steel Springs: Cold bath first, then warm shower. Aaaaahhhhhh!
I've walked in races but not the entire distance. Sorry. I would be willing to walk a race with a friend or friends but haven't had the chance.As far as annual races, I've only been running since 2008 but I've done the Camp Pendleton Mud Run three consecutive years. That one became a tradition quickly since we all enjoyed it and it was my first big race and the first race I signed up for (though I ran another race before).The other race I did in 08 and 09 was the Mission Inn Run, in Riverside. It's a local race so that one's cool for that reason. I did the 10K the last two years and will do the half this year. Last year was the first time they added a half so that's cool. I hope to make both those races annual things.
Gross! I can only imagine how painful that probably was. Wait, you wear the sweatshirt and socks in the cold bath? I always thought people just take the Ice Bath naked or with a bathing suit on. haha.