Texas Half Marathon 1/28/12

Well I was supposed to run a half marathon in Allen (Dallas-ish) on NYE, but I didn't. I wasn't ready, but I had been putting a partial effort into training, so I wanted to follow through. I looked around for another race, and I decided I could be ready for another one in Dallas by January 28th. It was around White Rock Lake, which is where another popular marathon/half marathon takes place (but that one was expensive). I figured this was perfect other than the fact that it wasn't in Austin. 

The morning of the race, I ate a breakfast of champions. (As much as I could eat.)

I only brought a short sleeved shirt because I would be running. I would get hot. Right? My mom let me borrow a long sleeved shirt, and I grabbed one without caring much about it because I was sure I'd take it off pretty quickly.

Beck, Matt, Olive, and I headed out a little late, but I wasn't too nervous about that. We got on the freeway, and it was pretty much standing still. I was getting more and more nervous, and with that I was feeling sicker and sicker. Eventually we were able to get off the freeway, and I ran into Whataburger for an emergency meeting with the bathroom, which I'm finding is very common with me before races. Anyone else get the nervous poo?

Off we went again, and I was feeling nauseous. We pulled over and I puked on the side of the road. We kept driving, and then I puked in a cup that we had in the car. I cried because I didn't want to go to the race, but I didn't want to skip out on another one. And I had been training for it, too. We decided to keep going and see how it went. 

We got there 15 minutes before the race started, but we couldn't drive very close, so I jumped out of the car  while Matt went to find somewhere to park. I saw a Mile 1 marker, so I was like, "Are you serious? It's a mile to the start? I'm not running because I have 13 miles to run in a minute." But then I saw some other people running, and I knew I'd have to if I wanted to be there when it started. By the way, I also had to get my packet. I ran the mile-ish there, got my packet, stood there for a few minutes, and we were off. I was totally fine once I got there. 

After the first mile there was this bridge that moved. It looked like a regular concrete bridge, so I thought I was lightheaded or something because I was feeling really weird. I heard some girls going, "Ohhh!" so I figured it was the bridge and not me. I was not a fan. 

Since I didn't run my last half marathon with music, I decided I wouldn't have any this time either. Plus I don't have earphones I like because I watch movies in the theater room at my gym. (Quite delightful other than the mugginess in the room sometimes.) Here were some thoughts that occupied my mind (not in order, really) for those hours (yeah, I'll tell you how many hours eventually):

- My legs are numb

- I missed the memo to wear running tights

- My butt's numb too

- Should I eat a Shot Blok?

- Is that Matt and Beck? 

- Nope

- I wonder how many miles we've gone

- I should've worn my watch so I would know when to eat a Shot Blok

- I'm pretty stupid to think I could've worn a short sleeve shirt today

- I'm glad my mom gave me a shirt

- I'm glad my mom let me wear her fanny pack thing

- Why did I return mine for a smaller one? This one is nice.

- Is that Matt and Beck? 

- Nope.

- My shirt underneath is all the way up to my boobs

- Wow, there are some runners over there. That will be awesome when I get there.

- Oh, I almost forgot...I'm leaving that spot where the other runners were.

- Smile for the camera!

- Is that Matt and Beck? 

- Nope.

- I'm feeling good!

- Oh, it's Matt and Beck!

- I'm not feeling awesome.

- Another freaky bridge.

- That girl has cute shoes.

Then I talked to the girl with cute shoes and ran with her for maybe two miles (~miles 10-12). I may have divulged too much information during our first meeting as I told her that my runners trots have ceased since being religious with Metamucil. I'm sure it was normal in the conversation we were having...right??? Well she stopped for Gatorade, and I kept going. I promise it wasn't right after the Metamucil talk. I don't think... 

At the very end of the race was a hill (mean), so in the pictures Matt took of me, I look like I'm barely moving. Maybe I was barely moving! (You may have to wait for this animated gif below to load up before it goes fast. If it's not working, click on it and then it should work.)

Summary: That was the day I ran 14-ish miles instead of the expected 13.1. And it was better than the first half I did. I give credit where credit's due: my beloved Metamucil. 

Here are two of my fans (who hung out with MATT during all this, not in the car alone!!) on the way home.

This is my barf cup.

This is my sleeve that I used to wipe the barf from my mouth.

Finisher!

Oh, I almost forgot. My time. 2:22. It wasn't awesome, but it was two minutes faster than my other half, and this one was windy and a little hilly. Also keep in mind that I usually run on a treadmill with no incline, so I was pretty happy! Oh, and also keep in mind that I'm like three feet tall, so my legs really have to work! OK, I think I'm finished with my excuses.

Rando

I'm not into Twitter, and I'm not into posting every thought I have on a facebook status (like SOME people!), but sometimes I want to express my random thoughts. So maybe I'll start putting them here. Let's call them Random Thoughts by Kari. Rando for short? I like it. It's like how we called my brother Brandon Brando. It's decided.

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Latest Rando:

I don't get why people like the quote "All you need is love." Yeah, it's in a Beatles song. Yeah, I guess it's romantic. But you know what? Money is pretty freaking useful too.

Thank you and goodnight.

You just don't know

You know how you're a great parent before you actually become a parent? Things are always different when you're there.

Well, not everything. I've never been a huge fan of babies/kids, but I figured (hoped) it would be different when I had my own. And it really is. So that part wasn't different than I expected.

I always thought I'd have three kids. Maybe four. One or two were completely not an option because that would be way too boring to be an only child or only to have one sibling. Recently I've been feeling like one kid would be fine. Not because I don't like parenthood, but I just don't want to start ALL OVER. And Beck is so much more fun now than during the whole baby phase that I'd like to have a baby and then skip the first year. Maybe I'll completely change my mind when I have another baby...surprise is the name of this game, anyway.

I was really oddly happy when I juiced a zucchini last summer and Beck drank it. REALLY ODDLY HAPPY.

Today Beck peed in the toilet while standing. The REALLY ODDLY HAPPY thing happened again.

This parenthood thing is weird. If you're not there yet, just you wait.

Look closely at our 'staches.

P.S. The other day Beck was saying, "Mommy, wook! Wook, Mommy!" I went to see what was so exciting, and I saw that he left a log (not the wood kind) on the bathroom floor. The REALLY ODDLY HAPPY thing didn't happen then. If you want to see a picture, let me know.

Must look

It's funny how we do things just because someone tells us not to. (Shiz, I ended the sentence with a preposition. Speaking of shiz, did you see that video about Mormon cussing? If you're Mormon, you'll think it's funny and see yourself and/or your friends in it.) Here are some examples from my life:

A:
Weird people: The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials) books are so evil!

Me: Must read them.

B:

Website: Beware of graphic pictures (like in one of my favorite websites Find a Death or a thing I read on Snopes about people putting firecrackers in a dog's mouth and making it so he couldn't open it. It blew his whole mouth off, and he wandered for five days, unable to eat. The story was true. I cried a tear or two.)
Me: Must look to the side of the screen while looking in my peripheral vision to see basic image, then end up looking for real.

C:

Facebook friends: I can't believe the news is showing the video of the luger practicing for the Olympics. (Remember that? Where he flipped out, hit a pole, and died?)

Me: Must find it online and watch it.

D: 

Facebook friends: I'm so offended by Nicki Manaj's Grammy performance!
Me: Must find it online and watch it.

I bought nine books for $32.22 the other day ($3.58/book!). That has nothing to do with this post, but I didn't know how to wrap it up, and I've been pretty excited about the deal. (That sentence reminds me of Kevin McCallister.) Also, $23 of that was just for shipping. Amigos, shop online at Half-Price Books. You're welcome. (For this helpful tip, feel free to send me money or a gift card to HPB.) Tomorrow, if my first batch of books arrive, I hope to start reading The Guernsey...Potato Peel...Society...something. Whatever it's called, I hear it's hella good.

A Year of Hobsons

Since I'm already so good at updating this blog and Beck's, I decided to add another one to the mix. I've had friends that took the picture-a-day challenge, but I never really got into it. Then on Pinterest I found this blog post, and for some reason I liked the idea more after that. So we'll see how it goes.

A Year of Hobsons! (I couldn't think of a cooler title.)

Lack of blogging and amazing people

Wow, I have been on a huuuuge blogging break, haven't I? I kind of see blogging as a huge drag, but I feel like I have to do it because it's cool to look back at later. It's kind of journalish but without the deep thoughts and feelings like, "I ♥ Matt! He is sooooo cute!" And sometimes my blog is somewhere for me to put cool stuff that I doesn't fit on facebook or pinterest.

Speaking of cool stuff, some people are amazing. You know how Facebook is going over to the timeline thing? I was thinking about how I can't do a cool connecting picture thing now without the picture tiles at the top, but man are there cool things you can do with the new layout. You just have to think outside the box.

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Food addendum

I forgot a place to mention on my Texas food post. There's a place here called Freebirds. It does burritos. I didn't love it, but I'm willing to give it another shot sometime. Sorry for the blurry picture (as if most [if not all] of my pics aren't blurry). Maybe one day I'll use a camera that isn't also my phone. I don't think you can really appreciate the size of the Monster and Super Monster burritos. That Super was B.I.G., like Notorious.

Pinterest

I followed through on a couple Pinterest finds.

First I made a wreath. Foam wreath + 100s of thumbtacks = sore finger. Sometimes when I look at this wreath, I hope its welcoming vibes deter the Beast from chewing me out.

Then my bobby pins went from blah to ah! Nail polish, baby. Paint is the answer to almost everything.

Sunday Bloody Sunday

On Sunday, I was smart. Rily smart. As I was about to leave for church, I stepped on our air mattress* to get my phone. In my high heels.

We went to church and came back to this sad sight. Is it site or sight? Now we sleep on the couch. So far, I don't mind. You all probably know that I'm an amazing sleeper. I've thought about going pro, but I'm not quite sure how.

Excuse the disarray.

I tried a new 'do that day (a faux braid), and now I almost do this every day. It's so easy that it's pretty much equivalent to not doing my hair at all. But it looks better. From certain angles.

Matt had to go to downtown Austin that evening because one of his projects (Chase Bank) was opening the next day and he thought his superintendent was stressed. Beck and I accompanied him on his voyage, and B wore his Clark Kent glasses that he refused to wear on Halloween

Then he tried on my sunglasses. Upside down. With a finger up his nose. Boys.

He also let me try on his CK glasses. Talk nerdy to me.

*Remember how we're poor? Yeah, we've been sleeping on an air mattress since we've lived here. Neither of us have minded because it's actually pretty comfy. Just maybe a little ghetto...we'll look back and laugh.

The Color Run

Facebook alerted me to a cool 5K race called The Color Run. You wear a white shirt and get colored dust stuff thrown at you as you go. It reminds me of the Festival of Colors in Spanish Fork, Utah that I've never been to, but I've seen pictures of it on facebook since a lot of my friends have been. The race in Austin is in February, and I'm thinking I should do it. Anyone want to do it with me? They will be all over the country next year: Vegas, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Boise, NY, DC, Raleigh, etc. I kind of just want to follow it all around!

Here's a video:

Flashback Wednesday because I feel like it

Look, Natalie, just for you! I was going through old pictures today and found this gem.

I hear that Texans are a fat people.

I think I know why. We have good food. Good bad food.

Beck at Salt Lick

When our friend Jared was here, we had to go to the cool places to eat. I had just read about the Salt Lick in a magazine on the plane and other people recommended it. I do not. A letdown for sure. It's supposed to be great barbecue, but Smokey Mo's was better. And Rudy's. Oh I almost forgot Rudy's.

Rudy's is in a gas station. At least this one was. And you don't have plates! They give you this crappy bread to make sandwiches, but I just ate my meat by itself. Texas is not for vegetarians. Except my brother was once. And a vegan for a while. My aunt made some kind of amazing meat for Christmas dinner, and he was like, "That looks too good!" so he ate it and got so sick. And that's a lesson on why you should never be a vegetarian.

Round Rock Donuts. I saw this place on Man Vs. Food, and I knew I had to go. They cut out their Texas donuts with a bucket. A BUCKET!!! Not a let down at all, and the fact that we've been there four or five times proves this. The only other place we've been more is DQ because I love their Chocolate Xtreme mini blizzards. Yeah, I've gained seven pounds.

Texas-shaped tortilla chips!

My aunt, cousin, and grandma planned a trip to visit my mom, and my other aunt and cousin surprised her. We went to Babe's Chicken. I knew this one wouldn't let me down because everyone I know loves it. My mom and Matt are missing from this picture because they're behind the cameras.

Texas State Fair. Each year that I lived in Utah, I would see what crazy fried food my friends were eating at the fair because they'd post about it on Facebook. Since I now live in the state again, I knew I had to go. Food ordered: turkey leg (good), fried cheesecake (not very cheesecakey), fried brownie (it was ok), funnel cake (I scarfed it even though it was "Matt's"), and my mom got some kind of weird nut ice cream bar thing (didn't try it, but she liked it). I wish I tried the fried Oreos and/or fried Snickers. There's always next year.

There was a self serve frozen yogurt/soft serve ice cream/custard place in Utah called Farr's Fresh in Riverdale. It had these weird orange-yellow fish egg-looking things called bobu fruit. They are liquid in a thin skin, so when you bite down, it gushes. (Much like some women's water as they go into labor.) We always look for them at frozen yogurt places, but we never find them. Until now. They had strawberry weirdo things here. They're so crazy. If you ever find 'em, try 'em. But maybe you won't now that you relate them with birth.

And that is a post all about food.

P.S. Here's another place I forgot.