Beat the Blerch 2014...This is a post about friends and a race.

I am very lucky to have come across some really great girlfriends across the years. We all have different interests, but some of us share some of the same interest in getting out and getting fit ... even if we do it differently. I have loved the running comic by the Oatmeal for years. I understand, and know personally, the evil fat cherub living inside me that tells me it's OK not to run .. or bike ... or swim. I was that chubby girl. I am still that fat kid inside.

I met Ultragirl in high school. For a semester as pages, we were connected at the hip. Inseparable. She is a genius engineer and an ultra distance athlete. I became friends with the X-woman with mutant special powers  and another genius researcher through Facebook. We knew each other in high school, but didn't know how much we would love each other until our adult years. I became friends with the Powerbroker while resuming running in San Antonio. If not for a friend like her, I might have succumbed to the Blerch. Honestly, she will text me at 4 AM to get my butt out of bed.

We heard about this run and had to sign up. We were going to make a girls weekend of it. It took some work, but we were registered and planned our travels. X-woman made the hotel arrangements. Powerbroker and I traveled together. It all worked out.

Powerbroker and I headed out from San Antonio on Friday morning. We had our bloody mary fix before 10 AM and were laughing all the way to Seattle. Best line of the day from Powerbroker ... "look at all these strapping young men, and not one will help me with my bag." Up jumps 60+ gentleman to help and she says "you look great for 40." He beamed. His wife beamed.

X-woman picked us up at the airport and then to packet pickup. If you know me, you know I hate lines. I stood in line for 2 hours to get the book autographed. The Oatmeal was younger than I expected ... and hot. He had been told all day that he was thinner than people thought. Powerbroker and I made suggestive comments. He blushed as red as his Sriracha T-shirt. His mother came up just in time. There are 3 more Inman boys!!! OMG!!! If I weren't married, I would move to Seattle and stalk them!!! He was so kind to everyone. He engaged conversation. He talked to all the fangirls and made them swoon. I had 6 books for various friends. He signed all of them and drew a picture for one special fangirl who couldn't get there. He took pictures. He's a really nice guy!!! I have a crush. Maybe I will add him to the freebie list. The book speaks to me. I didn't know I wasn't the only one who has these crazy thoughts in my head. OK ... I think I'm a fangirl, too.

I loved the swag. The wicking quarter-zip is the bomb. I love that it is a finisher shirt. Maybe we could be done now. Or, is that optimism and positive thinking?

Off to dinner at PCC and then hotel for the night. An aside about PCC. Amazing food bar and lots of vegan options. It was better than any restaurant we could have found. Better than some other grocery stores I know with hot bars. I might move to Seattle just for the PCC. Ultragirl from Colorado arrived via Boston. No rest for the weary. 

Look how beautiful the spiderwebs are. Just amazing.

Saturday morning, off to the races. We stopped at Tully's for coffee and snacks. Off to Carnation and Tolt McDonald Park. It was such a beautiful location and the weather was perfect. Said hello to a No Meat Athlete. We took our group finisher picture before we started. Again, positive thinking. X-woman and I had been following a group of Team Fatties on Facebook and met up with some of them.

Ultragirl took off for the half-marathon and then the rest of us took off for the 10K. I honestly had low expectations. Inaugural race. Out and back trail. 2000 runners. No way it wouldn't get bogged down. I was so very pleasantly surprised. Plenty of nearby parking. Plenty of porta-potties. They spaced the races so that it really didn't seem to bog down anywhere. As we started, there was a cute blerch running upstream saying "what are you guys doing? why are you doing this? Come back and eat cake." So funny. Did I also mention it was beautiful. Beautiful weather. Beautiful trail. The locals walking the trail were friendly even though 2000 runners/walkers/costumers were invading their serene Saturday morning space. Some came out to cheer us on. Incredible.




I was wearing my InkNBurn skeleton kit and seemed to be recognized. Funny little InkNBurn family. We all recognized the kits and gave shout-outs. I got tons of compliments and heard people say "there's the skeleton girl." I felt like my own little rockstar.

Stopped to pet an elderly black lab on the trail at mile 2. I went to the turn-around. High-fived Powerbroker on her way back. High-fived the Oatmeal on his way back. Hung out at the couch, but didn't get held back by the blerches. I ran back to find X-woman and then back to the aid station and turn-around. And, then I saw him, he is real ... Sasquatch exists in the woods in Seattle. I ate some birthday cake and Nutella sandwiches. The volunteers were awesome. Also picked up a Gu and Larabar mini ... just in case. Walked with the elderly black lab a bit on the way back. Found a nice policeman who told me he wasn't lost, he belonged to a house the street over.

I ran to the 6-mile point and then turned around to find the X-woman. I wanted to finish with her. Got lots of people telling me I was going the wrong way. Found the X-woman and we walked and jogged our way in together. Powerbroker had already finished and set a 10K PR and came back for us at the end, too. We skipped across the finish line and felt like silly little schoolgirls again. Plenty of food at the finish. The Oatmeal was again signing autographs and seemed just as engaged as the day before. Shortly after, Ultragirl finished her half. After a little hanging out, we headed home ... with a detour to Tullys. Can you believe it, yes, you can if you know me ... I left my handbag. I called and Jake said "did you leave a handbag?" Such a friendly area. Lunch at PCC, showered, and rested up. Dinner with Team Fatties. Such a great group of people.

Powerbroker

Ultragirl

X-woman

My total distance 8.6 miles. Results think I did a 10K.

Ultragirl had an early morning, so off to Tullys and said our good-byes ... until next time. We liesurely packed and headed in to town for a trip to REI Mothership. They built a forest with waterfalls in the city. This place is AMAZING!!! Then to the airport and home. What a great weekend with the girls. I am glad my friends are now friends.

On a sad note, found out later that a young man full of life died in the final mile of a half-marathon. A memorial race is planned in his honor. The running community is truly a community. Please consider supporting his family by running this race ... virtually if you aren't in Carnation area.