Playin' in the rain

This weekend was our 10K race for our pre-marathon training program and we were all signed up to run the Blue Bell 10k with my dad and his mom, who was going to walk the 5k. We made our plans and were excited about it. Then yesterday, we checked the weather. It said that in Brenham, at race time (830am), there was a a 100% chance of rain. Actually, it said a 100% chance of thunderstorms. Perfect. :) We had a good laugh about it, went out and bought hats to wear to shield our faces from the rain and kept on with our plans to go out there. Nevermind that the MS 150 first half was cancelled today because of the bad weather, we were running the Blue Bell 10k dang it, rain or shine!

Landon and I and his mom braved the weather last night and headed out to hang out with his grandparents in Bryan last night and then got up and made the short trek to Brehnam High School this morning, where we met my dad. And immediately found out that the race was delayed an hour. So, we sat for two hours on the gym floor, wishing we had known this and been able to sleep in a little past 6am.

But, the conversation was good and we still managed to have a good time, praying that we would actually get to run at 930am. And around 9am, Landon's dad showed up on his way to Austin, expecting to see up finishing the race. Instead he hung out with us in the gym for another 30 minutes.

And, around 9am, when people started getting antsy, they had a raffle and gave out a bunch of gift certificates for a free half gallon of Blue Bell ice cream. My dad said he definitely didn't remember them doing that last year. But, guess who won one?? And guess who wasn't too jazzed about taking a picture with me of it?? He was just jealous. And mad that I'm not going to buy his favorite flavor with it.:)

Around 9am, they let the kids go out and run their 1k. My dad said "I guess they figured if none of the kids got struck by lightening, they'd let the adults go out and run." We had a good laugh about that, as all the little kids and their parents trekked out into the rain--they were so cute, but I felt kinda sorry for them. :) Then again, they're kids...they probably enjoyed being outside playing in the rain!

The kids all made it though their 1k, so around 930am they sent us 10kers on a 10 minute trek up a hill to the starting line. We were soaked, literally, in 10 seconds. Head to toe. It was pouring. We reached the starting line, we heard a high clap of thunder and a huge strike of lightening lit up the sky and we were told the race was delayed again. Soaking wet now, we walked the 10 minute trek back down the hill, only to find the new plan was to make the 5k and 10kers all start at the 5k starting line. But I guess they were still undecided as to their new plan, because they made us stand in the starting corral for 15 minutes in the rain and thunder and lightening, while they debated. Finally, we heard the blare of the horn we'd all been waiting for.

It rained the whole time. I think I carried about 5 extra pounds of water in my shoes alone. It was hilly. Mile 5 was all uphill--I thought I was going to die. But, it was a fun adventure and a fun memory. The rain really wasn't too bad to run in, once you realized you were just going to be soaked. And the hat kept the rain off my face. And the course really was pretty--we were running through lush trees and a pretty neighborhood and over a cute little bridge that ran us over a flowing creek. And I had my husband there, pushing me the whole time to keep up with him. I think I told him to shut up once during the horrible hill on mile 5 (sorry about that babe) but I was proud of our time. I know he could have run faster but I was happy with our 9:11 splits and about 56 minutes overall because it really was the best I had in me. I'm just hoping the best I have in me gets better over time, haha!

My dad finished right at 52 minutes, so he waited in the rain at the finish line for us as we came down the glorious downhill towards the finish line. There was a girl that we were running around the last few miles that I was trying so hard to beat but I just couldn't--she beat me by a second. I'm so mad.

We met up with my dad and walked back to the dryness to find Pam (who had decided to walk her 5k in the school gym, smart woman) and some water and of course, our Blue Bell. And it was GOOD.

I love how I wore a white shirt today--obviously I was in denial about the 100% chance of thunderstorms when I packed my bag. :)

We left Brenham around 11am and then headed out to my parent's church for a crawfish boil they were having to raise money for the youth group's mission trip to Mission Lazarus in Honduras this summer. That place is definitely one on my 100 things to do before I die list--and I've heard once you go, you're hooked for life. It sounds like such a cool ministry.

So, we made our donation and hung out for a couple of hours with my parents and some friends I grew up with at church and ate some good crawfish and potatoes and corn and sausage. All that good crawfish brought back nice memories of going to crawfish boils at my parent's friend's house out in Austin as a kid. We talked and laughed and joked around and told stories about running in the rain this morning and various other things; it was fun.

And now we're home, vegging out, splurging on a pizza dinner,watching basketball and Star Wars, listening to our dogs snore in their bed beside us and listening to the rain fall outside, glad we're not out in it. We are blessed beyond measure.