Ramp Run...... April 24, 2010

This is us after the race.... he gets his typical first place, and I am in second... AGAIN!!! will I ever beat him?????

OK.... let's DO THIS!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, April 24, 2010. 9 am. Some moron out there decided it would be great to do a 5K around Purdue's campus and throw a 5 level parking garage ramp run in the middle of it! And we PAID them to let us do it!!!!! We left the older 3 children at my moms for a sleepover, and brought Jill with us, Jackie was willing to push the stroller around while we did the race.... THANK YOU JACKIE! After packet pick-up, including the worst ever 'running gloves', we walked around for a while, and *gasp* NO port-a-potty's!!! We were able to use the bathrooms in a building. With plumbing!!! and sinks, and soap!!!

I was really nervous about this particular race, because in the week prior to it, my gramma died. I had a miserable week with the viewing, the burial, and the depression! I had only gone for 1 run, and it was a piddly 2 miles, and it felt awful. I hated being alone with myself, and I hated that I was mad at God. I use my runs as my me time. My time with God. I pray, I reflect, I ponder, I worry, and I pray some more. That run was awful, because I refused to talk to God. I was mad, I was angry, I was furious. It wasn't fair. I love my gramma so much. I can't bear to think that I never get to see her again. It's not fair. She was fine. She wasn't sick. She went into the hospital with severe stomach pains, and was with God less than 24 hours later. It's not fair. I need my gramma here. There's still lots left to talk about, lots to do. It's not fair.

So, this particular race is bittersweet. I feel bad getting back to my 'normal' life so soon. I know my gramma thinks I'm ridiculous, I can feel her rolling her eyes and giving that little laugh that really means "Oh, Julie, you're so silly" So, I run anyways. The race begins innocently enough. This race had NO crowd support. Seriously, NO crowd support. I've never been in a race where the only non-runners you see are holding signs, or pointing which way to go. The first mile was actually painful. It hurt, everything hurt. Chris was only about 15-20 feet ahead of me, and kept glancing back at me. I think he was worried about my mind for me, he's so sweet! I'd be lost in this big ole world without that man! Just past the 2 mile, I could see the dreaded parking garage come into view. I had been pretty worried about this, because I live in flat-land -- there is nowhere to do hill training out here!!! Turns out, the parking garage was nothing..... it's all pretty gradual hills, 2 uphill ramps per level.... I was actually gaining on people on the uphill, I decided I was gonna pick off one person per level... and I did!!! There were only 2 people between me and Chris when I got to the top! Turns out, I am a wimp on the downhills though!!! I have heard so many horror stories about downhill falls, I went into mommy runner here, and went very s-l-o-w-l-y down those ramps! Shortly after exiting the garage there was a 1/2 mile to go sign!!! Wow, that was fast! Then, the cramp hit! I normally drink 2 20oz bottles of water about 2-3 hours before any race. Not today! I only had 1 water before I had my Coke. I guess it was a little dehydration cramp kicking in, it sure did make that last 1/2 mile slow and rough. It was really sad to see Chris's shirt get further and further away!!! The second I crossed the finish I went straight to the water table and chugged some water, within minutes my cramp was gone. Whew!!!

We both PR'ed (although, I have a sneaking suspicion this was NOT a 3.1 mile course) Chris finished in 26:42, I finished in 27:21..... and I placed in my age group!!! I got 2nd place in the 30-34 women, and got an award!!!! Poor Chris, he beats me by 39 seconds, and gets nothing :-( His age group is just full of such quick competition!!!