Patrick Henry Half Marathon vs. Hurricane Irene

Well, as expected, it was rainy.  And windy.

Conditions at the start (7am):

Rainy, 74 degrees, 94% humidity, variable winds 7mph (which totally increased in the two hours we were running).

Honestly, I had fun.  But that's only because of my running partners...

Heather, Me, Anna and Katherine.
Can you tell which one of us is super excited about running their first half? 

I am not a fan of running in the rain.  I like to run.  But I do not consider myself a die-hard runner, running in all conditions.  Much less a HURRICANE.  Okay, the beginning stages of a hurricane.  Either way, I think it was a miserable run.

It started raining just a few minutes after the start.  It was a drizzle at first.  And then it slowly increased the entire time we were running.  The winds increased as well.  At one point Heather said something and I said, "I'm sorry Heather, I couldn't hear you over the wind."  And we were shoulder to shoulder.  Not good running weather, to say the least.

We kept on feeling like we were running fast - and we'd look at our Garmins and our pace wasn't nearly as fast as it felt.  So deflating!

They changed the course this year.  Last year we ran through the cornfields and cow pastures (well, on the streets that went through the fields, I mean) first, ran a long mile at mile 4, and then went through the little town of Ashland close to the finish.  Frankly, I liked it that way better.

This year, they reversed it, and we ran through the town first, then the pastures, then the hill at mile 11.  The bad thing about it, which they could never have predicted of course, is that we ended up in the pastures and cornfields - with no protection - as the winds and rain increased.

One thing I liked about this run last year was the sound of all the tennis shoes hitting the pavement.  With no other sounds around, it was really cool.  This year our shoes were all squishy sounding.  Not so good.

Oh, and this year the start and finish was in a different place.  And it was RIGHT next to the railroad tracks (I could touch it).  And as we turned the corner and approached the finish (close enough to see the finish, too far to sprint to it) a train came through - and it was so LOUD.  I guess the conductor thought he was being supportive by honking that stupid train horn as much as he did.  I think I temporarily lost my hearing.

Anyway, we finished just in time.  My time was 2 hours and 10 minutes.  Every time I do a half marathon, my time is substantially slower.  (My first was 1:58, second 2:05, this one 2:10) But, we were not going for a PR (personal record) today, and considering the conditions, I'm happy with our time.

This is us at the finish:

Me, Heather, Anna and Katherine.
Congratulations to Katherine for her first Half Marathon!

FYI - the dude to the right (you can see his shoes with the orange laces) wears A LOT of cologne when he runs.  Wearing cologne should be BANNED from all running.  And I can't believe that someone has to be told to REPLACE cologne with DEODORANT. We were next to him at the start.  Then we passed him twice during the run.  He was SMELLY and I thought I was going to pass out.  Ugh.

Oh, I debated on whether to wear a running skirt or shorts.  Which is better in the rain?  I guess I can't really say because I haven't ever been as soaked as I was today, in shorts.  But, I think the skirt was a good call.  I was able to wring it out several times during the run.

When I got in my car to come home the rain really picked up.  I had to use the speedy wipers, that's how hard it was raining.

Looking back, I'm glad I did it.  But, boy am I glad that it's OVER.

Okay, must finish this before we lose power.  Good luck to all my family and friends who are in this hurricane.  I hope all is okay tomorrow!

Thanks!
~Christy

Appointment with the surgeon...

...eh, not what I hoped for.

She wanted Harlie to wear the brace for another month.  But we compromised with two weeks.  That way she will have it off for school.  I told her that she doesn't complain - it's me that hates it.  And I recognize that the long-term goals of healing are more important than the pain of dealing with the brace, so if she really wanted us to keep it on, I would.  But, she said that two weeks will be fine.  That way when she goes potty at school, she'll be able to do it on her own.  It is hard to get her shorts up and down with the brace because it goes past her hips.

So, I'm thinking her surgeon would not have approved of this activity...

Notice Cooper posing.  What a ham!

Weeee!

And of course, some video...

How could I deny her this fun?  There is only so much activity I can make her miss.

Anyway, when she gets home after school, we need to put the brace back on her for the rest of the day.  And over time we can wean her off the brace by waiting longer and longer to put it back on her.  She said that it can actually be more of a discomfort to stop wearing the brace cold turkey because all those muscles haven't had to work much over the last five plus months.

I asked if she could resume normal activity once the brace comes off.  I had my hopes up for a gymnastics birthday party for her since she loved it so much and hasn't been able to go since the surgery.    But she said no.  No gymnastics until she sees her next and she will decide then.

So, the next time we see her?  MARCH 2012!!!!  I am SO bummed!!!  She loved gymnastics!

On a positive note, the surgeon said that her x-rays looked "beautiful."  On the side view one, she is much straighter than she was.  She said that she could start to curve forward over time - but she hopes that doesn't happen.  Of course.

Harlie is so cute getting x-rays.  She stands there and does everything the x-ray tech asks her to do.  And he was hilarious because he said, "okay, move your little foot back some.  Exactly." and then "bring your little feet together.  Exactly".  He was cracking me up.

Oh, and she can only carry a light backpack.  Which, I already knew, really.  But it just goes to show you how long this recovery is taking and how many things are affected.  Spinal fusion surgery is no joke.  I think I would have to say it has been the worst surgery so far.  And I sure hope we don't have to do it again.

On the way home there was an earthquake that measured 5.9.  The epicenter was in Mineral, VA, 25 miles from our home.  According to FB, it was felt from North Carolina to Canada.  We were in the car not that far from home, and we felt nothing.  I guess when you're moving 70 miles an hour in a car, you don't notice the ground shaking.  So, I apparently missed the biggest news story of the day.  Oh well.

Oh, and would you believe our luck?  We decided just a few days ago to try and take the kids to the beach - together - all of us - as a family.  Harlie has never been.  Tom took Monday off.  And after I run the Patrick Henry Half Marathon this Saturday, we were going to go to Virginia Beach to stay with some friends who we haven't seen in a long time.  We were going to go to the beach on Sunday and take a baby pool and umbrella for Harlie (since she cannot go into the water - other than just her feet, of course) and we were going to have so much fun!

And now Hurricane Irene is totally screwing up our plans.  The only FUN plans we had for the entire summer.  I am so, so disappointed!!!!  And I don't think we can squeeze it in after the storm passes.  A whole summer and the kids have done nothing exciting.  The boys and Tom went camping and boating a few weekends ago - but Harlie had to stay home with me.  I am so mad at myself for not making more of an effort earlier in the summer.  But it was SO busy!!!  Well, I am not giving up hope yet - but according to reports, it is not likely to happen.

Oh!  And my nephew, Charlie, is playing in the Babe Ruth Little League 13-year old World Series Tournament in NY.  Well, tonight his team won and Charlie got MVP!!!  He hit the winning run.  So now they play again tomorrow night.  What a great experience for him!  Congratulations, Charlie!!!

Okay, that's it for today.  More later!
Thanks,
~Christy