The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (Route 66 Recap)

Center of the Universe

The Route 66 Half Marathon is in the bag.

Did I run the time I wanted?  No, not even close.

Was it a great race experience?  Absolutely!





The Good



First and foremost, my youngest son and I had a wonderful visit with my sister. One of our highlights was visiting a glass factory to make our own hand blown Christmas ornaments.  We also visited the zoo and the Center of the Universe, among other things.  It was a whirlwind long weekend.


This race is very well done and the expo does not disappoint.  There were many vendors but the venue is large enough that it doesn't get too crowded. I picked up a really cool item that I'll be giving away in December.  Be sure to check back on the 1st.

Tulsa truly supports their race and the spectating is greater than any I've seen.  I lost count of the trios, bands, combos, drummers, soloists, or other musical entertainers.  Some people were just blasting music through their stereo speakers.  There were so many folks outside...in the yard around fires, lounging on sofas pulled out to the curb, at the street handing out Jello shots, ringing cowbells, holding signs, or just shouting words of encouragement. I even saw one lady showing off her lassoing skills. {Was she a cowgirl from days gone by?}  Thinking back, I did not have to weave around one single parked car either. Thank you city officials!



Glass Making

The Bad

I have mitral valve prolapse.  I've known about it almost 20 years now. Typically it's a none issue and not even worth a mention.  I've learned over the years how to manage it.  It very rarely bothers me, but occasionally it shows itself...like it did about mile 4.  My heart rate was bouncing all over.  So, I slowed considerably and even walk a bit to get it under control.  At this point, I knew there would be no sub 2:00 and shifted focus.  Maybe I could still make it in under 2:05.  Just a little hiccup in the race, right?

The Ugly

I was soon feeling better and started increasing my speed. {Good, OK-I'm feeling strong.}  At some point in mile 6, I realized both of my feet were on fire.  Holy moly, the balls of my feet are blistering. Really?  The Feetures socks I've trained in, with no problems whatsoever, are failing me.  Really? Me--who is not a half newbie (this was #26) and obsessively tests every piece of clothing, especially socks.  Really?  I briefly considered taking them off, but felt it was too little too late.  Without socks, my feet would just blister in other places anyway.   I also knew stopping for Band-Aids would be useless.  So, out came the mantras and the "It's a Dig Deep Day" attitude.  I ran with the hand I was dealt.  For 6 plus miles I ran on blistered feet. Yep, one is quarter sized, the other more like a half dollar.  I'll spare you the pictures.  And yet, somehow, some of the last miles were the fastest of the day.

I'm not making excuses.  Not at all.  It is what it is.  It was what it was.  And I loved every stinking painful minute of this race.  It flew by quicker than any other I've run.  One thing I've learned is that you run with whatever circumstances you get on that particular day.  It's part of why I love it so much.  It's never the same.  If they were all easy what would be the point?  I have no doubt I would lose interest. 

It's what you do with the bad and how you handle the ugly that makes a good race experience.  I ended with a hard-earned, scratching-and-clawing-for-every-step 2:08 plus change.  You move forward.  You finish. You learn. You do it again.

Here I come Run for the Redfish...only I'll be wearing different socks!

Has anyone else had an epic sock failure?  Does anybody run with MVP?  I'd love to hear your comments.