Alamo 13.1..The Best Little Half in Texas

Because I’m such a big fan of local races and, especially the organized races of Purpose. Race. Events, I had signed up for Alamo 13.1 long before I started prolotherapy. 

I had prolotherapy session #3 9 days before the race. I swear I have been religious about physical therapy, but I feel like that hip is getting weaker, not stronger. I asked the doc and he said it was not unexpected. (I love doc double-speak and do it all the time myself.) For 3 months, we have been poking little holes in my gluteus medius tendon and injecting inflammatory agents. Of course, my gluteus medius was not firing properly. It was not working so that the tendon wouldn’t be strained while it heals and regenerates. Something about my butt being smarter than my head …

Anyway, let’s keep going. I know races require volunteers. Purpose. Race. Events volunteers have always been great and in the week leading to the race, there were a few messages on Facebook and email asking for volunteers. I wrote and said I would volunteer for packet pick-up on Saturday. It was raining cats and dogs and Packet Pick-up moved indoors in La Villita.  I met the organizers and was just as impressed as always. They are really really nice people who care about individual racers. They really summed it up when they said they appreciate the support because they are all racers themselves and want to make their races “special.”  I wore my INKnBURN Amigo and Lace Capri because it seemed appropriate. I was given my volunteer shirt and wore it over Amigo. Before I put on my shirt, I did get lots of compliments ... as usual ... on my clothing. 

 I was assigned the final stop and bag check-out. Simply my location made me a sort of de facto information booth which was sort of fun. I tried to answer questions … or find answers … or just give support and advice (and platitudes). I got to meet lots of really nice people. Several folks came from Austin. A few people were in town on business and thought this would be fun. One couple traveled from Oregon just to do this race. I ran into a doc from SAMMC (she came in 4^th in her age group), Coach J, IronMama Bel, and Amanda –another  INKnBURN ambassador who was visiting from Arizona. It was funny … I recognized her at a distance because I noticed, and coveted, her shirt. I checked Facebook to confirm it was her. Small world. I also picked up my race number and sweet swag.  Always a nice Technical T-Shirt without logos. And, always a nice bag … this time the half-marathoners were given a small lightweight duffel.

Set up on Saturday night. I knew it was going to be a lonelier run than usual. The Accountant was sick. Sorority Girl was sick. But, PowerBroker was still going … we have different paces, but she would be fun to follow and she would hang back with me a bit. Heather was running. We have similar pace, but she is steady, where I’m all over the place.

 

Sunday morning, the alarm went off at 5 AM. PowerBroker texted 5 minutes later to cancel. It’s been a rough week. So, I drove down town, found parking, and walked to the Alamo. Took a few fun pictures. Said "Hello" to IronMama Bel. Met up with Heather. Amanda zoomed by us. 

Before the start, we were told about the purpose of this race … support of Trisomy Awareness and some inspiration. A prayer was said. The racers sang the National Anthem. There was a musket volley followed by a cannon blast to start the race.

 I seeded near the back and figured I would follow my usual plan … start slow and get slower. As I passed the start, there was Karina hanging out on the Bike. Lifetime Fitness Bike Club was providing support and she was the sweeper. Shout out and keep going. The first mile and we had circled back to the Alamo. The community was out cheering on runners. Just after the first mile, we had our first water stop and then the 5K split off. After that we had water stops about every mile. I always carry my own, so not really important to me, but important to other people.

Between Mile 2 and 3, we crossed a bridge and had a spectacular view of the city. Until this time, we had been running past beautiful old homes in cute neighborhoods. After this, I knew the biggest hill was behind us and there shouldn’t be much elevation change for the rest of the run.

Somewhere around Mile 3ish, we entered Brackenridge Park and did some running along trails and paved paths. Alongside the Golf Course. Through beautiful tree-lined paths. A variety of waterfowl just hanging out at the lake. Oh … and a wee bit of mud that was covered with rugs, but still soggy. In this area, there were a few sections of two-way traffic, so it was fun to see the leaders coming back a bit. At least at my pace it didn’t get congested. The bike support was encouraging with shout-outs and they did make space for the oncoming runners to make sure the speedy folks didn’t get slowed down by the turtles.

 Mile 5 and the 10K split off. The sun was starting to come out and … remember the rain from yesterday …well, that meant humidity today. As we crossed over into University of Incarnate Word, we stopped a bit to let some of the traffic thin out. I didn’t mind at all … forced rest!!! Nice run through the campus and we didn’t do the really big hills. Then another forced break to cross back to the Park.

Honestly, this is worse than usual. I blame
prolotherapy and weakened gluteus medius.
And, It really hurts right now.

Then it hit. Mile 9. Since Gluteus Medius is taking a break, Gluteus Maximus and Minimus and Piriformis were working harder. They revolted. No more lateral support and my left knee kept hitting my right knee and the pain in the butt was real. I remembered some words from my doc “…..blah blah blah …. don’t push …. blah blah blah … impact … resistance …. blah blah blah … Tendon Rupture …” My run was done. I was going to walk it in from here. Yes, demoralizing. Passed a guy who was suffering more than me. Said he had been doing great until Mile 7 when his knee quit and he was walking it in, too. Despite walking, I still passed a few folks and many passed me.

Mile 11 … Riverwalk is always lovely to run along. The flowers are in bloom and smell great. Heather caught up to me. We talked a minute and she kept going. She was pacing now exactly as she had targeted from the beginning. That girl is steady.

Mile 12 … Black Girls Run had the most encouraging, enthusiastic, energetic water stop. There were a couple of guys I had seen earlier with the funniest signs. “If you were a vegetable, you would be a cutecumber.” “The guy behind you is checking out your butt.” First time I saw them, I said …”He better be checking out my butt” because the new lace Capris from INKnBURN are awesome. He said “fo sho.” This time, another runner was passing me and I asked … “were you just checking out my butt?” He stuttered and blushed, so I think the answer was “yes.” We were then back up on the street and a girl I had been close behind for the last few miles was on a stretcher, crying, being put in an ambulance. I don’t know her. But, I almost wept for her/with her, too. 

 Finally … I see the Alamo and the finish line. I am not going to walk the finish chute, so I kick up a bit for a final run. OUCH!!! MY ASS REALLY HURTS!!!!

Agony!!

Happy to be done!!!

Thanks for the medal and the water. No thanks for the Chocolate Milk (but I’m sure other people appreciated it). Heather was a minute ahead of me. We said our congratulations. Her boyfriend had been finished for a while. He was so cute and attentive taking care of her. Went to get some food. Yes to the fruit boat. Yes to the Baked Potato ….they gave me mine plain as requested. No thanks to the Pizza, but I wanted it. Then a slow meander to my car. Along the route to my car I saw a few final runners coming in. Karina told about how much she was inspired by those final runners who “Fought to the Finish.”  I’m really ready to be done now. And, if you have read this far, you are too.

Yes, I will share my shame

 

Just a few final notes …

See how much happier she looks than me?
I think she's famous for her cheesy grin.

1.   My INKnBURN didn’t fail me. Comfortable in the sloggy humidity. Really fast wicking. And cute enough to get attention. Amanda wore the full lace kit and got lots of comments. But, she’s so stinking cute that she gets a ton of attention anyway.

2. I love the Purpose Wall. People wrote messages of the purpose of their run.

3.   Although I didn’t stay, I love that the organizers have a raffle at the end of the race … after the final runner … for CA$H!! It keeps folks hanging around to support those final finishers. Here is an amazing Blog Post about the final finish line experience. Trust me, it's worth the read and far better than anything I could have written. Now I regret that I didn't stay for the finish. 

4. Congratulations to Amanda and IronMama Bel for sub-2-hour PRs

Thumbs up all around for “The Best Little Half in Texas.”  And, thanks for the free race photos. 

Aaand ... Purpose.Race.Events has a new race planned this year. Sign up for the Masquerade Half at the JW Marriott on Halloween. What a great way to show off your running costumes. And they are having a Masquerade Ball in the evening. Super cool!!!