Before the Half Marathon

Well, I ran the Gary Bjorkland half marathon yesterday and I figured I might as well blog about it for the thousands of people who constantly ask me about my blog!

The race was on Saturday and I was at the cabin sailing all week. Being a good trainer, I also brought my shoes to the cabin and did a run there to get ready for the big race. (I call it a race, but it was more of a "can I do it or not?")

Well, on the way home from the cabin.

-Hello

- Hey rob, its your sister.

-Hey, whats up?

- Do you have another pair of running shoes at home?

-(Silence)

- Hello?

- Oh no, did I leave them there?


Which, of course, is a dumb question because I had obviously left them there!

I was an hour away and I really did not want to drive back, so I told them I would be fine. I ended up buying a brand new pair of shoes The Day before the Race!! I also bought four gel packs and some nice running socks.

So that night I wore my shoes for their only break-in to the sign up. It was at the DECC in Duluth and by the time we made it there and parked, my sister was coming in a couple of hours so I thought we would be and out real quick and grab my goodie bag.

Well, the sign up was in a huge room full of vendors and local stores. It was funny seeing a respectable store like Austin Jarrow right next to a guy selling socks and various bags off of a flimsy table. It reminded me of a computer floor show I went to in Rochester where I was convinced that everything was stolen. (Where else could I get 50 jewel cases for my cds though? )

Well, I got the ticket from a woman who was secretly upset that I "came all the way from Duluth." Sorry lady.....

We then cruised some more boothes (Jenny stopped at almost every one) and finally went to Grandmas for a dinner of spaghetti before I was to run 13.1 miles the next day.

Finally, my sister showed up right as we arrived home and we watched the office as I prepared for the next day by putting together the outfit. I decided to put my name on a lot of stuff after I saw it on some ad we got in the goodie bag. It turned out to be one thing that actually went right for me. I also charged up the old forerunner 305 so I would be able to keep track of the paces.

I had already decided on my out fit and I decided to represent St. Olaf football. ( It was my way to explain why I didn't look like your average runner.)


I got all set up without incident and then I went to sleep at about 11:30 but it took me almost an hour to fall asleep and I had about the worst sleep of the world. Parties were going on around us, cats started fighting, and it was too hot.

I started to get a little nervous about making there on time. ( I had to be at the bus by 5:15 the next morning)

On the plus side I don't think I had any running dreams. That would have been too much. More to come!!



Obviously this man is a professional. (Notice the bagels)