Long-O-Bongo: We all RUN? for Ice Cream!

     Coby has been so diligent in posting I felt like a slacker and decided I better get in on the action. I don't have much new to add, but I do want to catch you up on the Blue Bell Fun Run A. and I participated in the middle of April. The boys had football games that day and A. and I were heading to Killeen to attend Athena's baby shower so it was a perfect plan!
{For those of you not from this part of the World/States, Blue Bell is a YUMMY ice cream brand found in the south and made (among other places) about a 1 hour drive northwest from Katy. They sponsor the Fun Run every year to support the local high school sports program.}
     Our good friends the Shurtz family do this every year and I had planned to participate last year, but my brother and his new bride had their wedding shower in Lawton that weekend so it was a bust.
This year I wasn't going to be deterred!
     Along with the biggest loser competition I started training using the Couch to 5K program. I loved to run as a younger person, but after years of child rearing and "real life" I had let this love slip. This was the year!
     I trained from February until the day before the race. I had lots of motivation...watching Audra compete and make it to the podium at IronMan Galveston was awesome! Although I don't believe I will ever be to that level, it feels great to go out for a 2-3 mile run and not give in to the cramps and shortness of breath after a 1/2 mile!
     Well, April 14th was the big day. Our family had gone up to Brenham the day before to tour the Blue Bell Factory (yum!) and pick up race packets. EARLY Saturday morning A. and I woke up and rendezvoused at the Shurtz home for our caravan to Brenham. We made it in great time, parked and started to enjoy the festivities! I was feeling a little sick (nerves and a funky digestive system are NOT a good combo!), but with the music and the anticipation of a good run and, of course, the FREE ICE CREAM BARS - I was ready.
     A. and her friends were the first to run - a 1 mile kids run started at 8. She did great and had a blast! After her run she started off with the frozen treats - enjoying a Bullet first. After all the kids got back from their run the adults headed up the hill to the Starting Line! The Shurtz family was joined by a few siblings and their families so it was fun event!
      At 8:45 the horn blew for the 5k to begin. It was PACKED. People everywhere. I stared to run with Jen and her daughter L., but with all the people (and the fact she was pushing a jogging stroller) I soon had to just find my way. There were people walking, jogging, and running. I started at a comfy pace, but wanted to get away from the crowd so I soon made it around to a nice pocket and set into my comfy run. I was doing great...my best time...UNTIL - the hills started. In Katy we have NO hills. My runs no matter where I go are all flat. Brenham is getting into the Texas "hill country" towards Austin and they have hills! I was doing ok still, relying on Pandora - Erasure channel to keep me moving. But then as we entered more of a rural part of the course my internet connection went down and the hills increased. I pushed myself through dreaming of the ice cream I would be eating soon, until I came to the last 1/2 mile. I turned the last right hand corner and there it was...a MONSTER hill! My heart sank as I was already wearing down. I ran until about a 1/8 of a mile before the hill...speed walked and once the hill began I picked up my pace to a jog and slowly made my way up (some speed walkers passed me). Once I reached the top it was all downhill from there...literally...into the high school parking lot and to the finish line. The members of the Shurtz family that didn't run or had already finished cheered me on as I ran down the hill and A. joined me for the last 1/8 mile.
     VICTORY...I had finished my first race! I caught my breath, climbed back up to the Shurtz cheering camp to cheer on the rest of our group and then we made our way to the ICE CREAM! I was NOT disappointed. Ice cream bars of all varieties! I started easy...a fruit bar, but soon hit my stride and made up for every calorie (plus more) I had burned on the run. WHAT FUN! Next year the whole family plans to attend and Jen has told me she thinks we should run the 10k together...we will have to see about that. :)