the things i do for free cookies

I survived - enjoyed, even - the Straub Kapiolani Women's 10K. I think I ran a total of just a little less than half. Walked intermittently but made sure I sprinted the last quarter mile. I had a neoprene ankle support on for the first fourth of the race, but it started to bug me so I stuffed it in my bag and ran on. Right: a snap of the gorgeous ocean view from the course as we ran back through Diamond Head toward Kapiolani Park.

No Joey Pouch* today - couldn't find it this morning! And thank goodness, because where would I have put the ankle support? Kept a reasonable pace so that the right foot wouldn't give out on me, and finished the race at 1:24:17. I don't know if it's posted anywhere; I wasn't about to whip out my camera this time - too many people standing on the sidelines yelling "Run! RUN!! You're almost there, RUN!"

During the second half of the race, I tried to keep up with or stay slightly ahead of a runner with a purple shirt (partly because she ran like me and seemed like a good match, and partly because her shirt was really purple and she was easy to find in the crowd). I thought this was a good strategy until I got home, logged on, and read Rule Number One. Apparently I am one of those pain-in-the-ass rookies. Sorry. Guess I'll go back to my strategy originale: Stay ahead of the stroller brigade and everything will be all right.

A lot of the ladies had these cute running shirts with a little zipper pouch in the back, where you can keep an ID, some cash, and a few other (flat) things. Went to Sports Authority right after (because my extrinsic motivator for running these things, besides the free fruit and cookies afterwards, is a self-issued pass to buy myself something cute) but couldn't find any. Maybe I'll try Running Room this week.

So, I know we're doing Race for the Cure, but that's not till October ... I was going to say small potatoes but that's only in light of the GAR and today's race; by day-to-day standards, anything over 1 mile is a big deal to me. Plus, it's right after I get back from Oregon, and who knows how much extra weight I'll be carrying around after that?? Anyway, I'm wondering if S. and I have the time/discipline to train for the Hibiscus Half-Marathon in June. It would give us something to work toward, which would make us schedule runs during the week instead of just catch as catch can. And it would really force encourage us to clean up our diet, something that badly needs doing.

One thing at a time, though ... while the limbs recover from today's outing, vacuuming with my new Dyson shall be my preferred form of exercise. I love this thing. And will blog extensively about it soon. For now, it's off to lunch. Do I deserve a cheeseburger? And even if the answer were yes, would it be worth undoing so much of what I did this morning? Decisions, decisions.

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*Not to be confused with The Joey (potbelly), the the Joey Pouch is a small, stretchy, very mini fannypack-like thing that holds a few cards, a very slim cell phone, a key or two. AND. Pay attention because THE Joey Pouch is not the same as the article-free Joey Pouch, designed to hold catheter clamps. In case you were confused. Because for a minute there, I sure was!