The Little Rock Marathon Race Odyssey...COMPLETE!

The Reward for Being Miserable.

And Cheryl and I both survived it!   Did it rain?  Yes!  Was it cold?  Yes!   Was there wind?   Yes!   Did it HAIL?   uh...  Yeah!    And Cheryl managed to finish the race with 8:52 minute mile pace.   Not bad for someone under trained, 10 lbs over weight, Old, and Female.   Given the conditions,  I would count this as a WIN for Team Allenbrite.   She also placed 5th in her age group.   That is pretty good for a Marathon distance.  And Yes!  It really did hail on the course...  Hail!   Frozen chunks of ice coming from the sky.

Early morning rain. 

But let us begin from the beginning...  Er..  This morning.    Rain!   It was raining and not in a misty foggy way.   It was a steady soaker.  Things were not looking very good.

Inside the Staging area.  Waiting for
the Bathrooms.

We skipped the Shell Station for our Donut and Coffee day starter... because Arkansas does not seem to do convenience stores like... well   everywhere else in America.    I managed to get a cappuccino and Cheryl found some diet coke... But that was it.   So much for a warm fill up before the race.

We discover a secret Port-a-jon near
the back. 

Once inside the race area.  There was only 2 bathrooms for 6000 runners!   And they did not let us go upstairs to the other bathrooms.    Better hope you did not have to do anything that took longer than 5 minutes.  At other races,  the lines for the Port-a-jons can wrap around the perimeter of the staging area.   And they almost always have several dozen. 

The Rain begins again.  

We found ONE near the start line.  There were others on the other side of a wall,  but there was no easy way to get to them.    However,  Cheryl confirmed that MOST of the port-a-jons were located ON the race route.   Meaning.... you could go while you were running.   I guess that beats going in some one's yard.   But that did not make my life as a spectator very easy at the start.

Almost ready to start.

She looks Cold. 

The rain was a on again -off again thing.   It would rain,  and then stop and blow cold wind.   Cheryl dressed to keep dry over keeping warm.   Even with my Gore-Tex,   I eventually got cold standing outside for 4 hours.  But Gore-tex does break the wind and keep you mostly dry.   Cheryl knew she could not run in her tights, since the start temp was 38 degrees.  So,  at the last minute,  I was to take her pants and coat from her so she could race in shorts.   A bold Move! 

Where is Cheryl? 

On the bridge above the Start Line.

I had to run around a building and climb a bridge to get her at the start.  I thought I had missed her, but we found her after carefully studying  my "crowd shot" pictures.  It is always fun to play "where is Waldo"  with Cheryl being the target.

Like a Waldo Book. 

The race wove back and forth through the city.  It was a great race to experience Little Rock.   AND   Best of all, I go to see her at several points along the route.   Early on at mile 2.

Mile 5

Cheryl keeps the coat.

Then at mile 5.

Mile 9, Cheryl refuses the beer. 

Then at mile 9...  Where they had Bathrooms and Free Beer Samples from a local brewer.   Cheryl did not sample any, however:   Saying that the smell of the hops was  not something she wanted to mess with on the run.

Mile 11,   Cheryl hands me her
sunglasses.

I had to find the lens that fell
out.  Lucky me,  I did! 

I asked her several times if she was good with her jacket.   By mile 3 you normally hit your peek inner temp and are ready to throw cloths off just to maintain a cool running temp.  She eventually gave me her wind breaker at mile 14.

Where the Pack Separates!

Mile 26.  I almost run the remaining
.2 miles.   BUT... I'm too slow. 

Cheryl finally gives me her rain coat.
Mile 14

At mile 14,  the half marathon folks separated from the full marathoners.   Out of the 6000 or so runners, only 1500 went on to complete the full marathon.   In that group...  four women in the age group of 40-45 were faster than Cheryl.   Perhaps they did not have to deal with a polar vortex where they were running.   OR they are just lighter, younger, and faster.   Either way, No age group award for Cheryl

Cheryl with the Bundle of
Goodies!

And the HUGE, heavy Medal.

But who needs an age group award when the FINISHERS MEDAL is so big and heavy, it feels like an anchor around your neck?  The Arkansas marathon finishers medal brags that it is the largest marathon metal in the U.S.   I was not very impressed with the colors.   With all the stuff they try to cram onto the medal, it almost seems like a chaotic mash of kitch.   However!

Looks kind of "BLA"  Doesn't it?

It glows in the dark!

Until you turn the LIGHTS OFF! 

And it has moving, spinning parts. 
For the Kid it all of us. 

The Glow in the dark paint makes it.

Ok,  Reverse what I just said.   It is just plain cool now.   Yes,  I'm that shallow that a glow in the dark paint can win me over.    Why?  Because ...It Glows!     In the Dark!   And that is just plain COOL!

Cheryl was surprisingly mobile after running 26.2 miles.   She still has all of her toe nails.  Only a couple of blisters, and a bit of a rub on her left ankle.   Even though her hamstring is sore,  she was still able to walk.   Oh!  And before I forget,  I tried to run the last .2 miles with her.    She beat me.   I guess that says more about MY shape than it does about hers.  Maybe I should try to run a little more and bike a little less.   ( And stop eating so much!)

First Ray's,  Then Tee's...  Now
SHARKS! 

Fish and Chips!   Post Marathon
Food at it's Finest.

Speaking of food!   We wanted to see of the south knew more about Catfish than I did as a Fisheries Biologist and Alaskan Chef.   They DO!   Leave it to a DIVE called Sharks Fish and Chicken to show us how to do Catfish Nuggets and Fillets.  I can only guess that the reason the catfish tasted good is because of the freshness.

Can they do catfish better in the south ?

Cheryl seems to think so. 

 That is a guess.  Because the breading is nothing grand,  Not spicy, and the the only dipping sauce they had was ketchup!  Still, for fried food at a dive.... after a Marathon.  The fish and chips were pretty good.   I was impressed!    (I should have asked how they kept the catfish from tasting like mud.)

Little Rock Marathon is added
to the list. 

Sticker Ceremony for Subie. 

She could not wait to put the new sticker on the Silver Bullet Subaru.  We almost did not get the sticker.   We realized it only at the last minute when Cheryl saw it at the Official Race Merchandise area.  Now we can claim another marathon completes.   Along with another State.( Arkansas)  Another Season.  (our first WINTER Marathon)  And a new area of the Country. ( the SOUTHERN part of the country.)   One more state and we can claim the entire Mississippi drainage as our area of Operation.  And A seventh Marathon to Cheryl's growing List.

Cheryl is very happy to mark another
one on the list.

5 stickers.   7 Marathons!  

I'm not looking forward to the Trip home tomorrow.   First of all,  the Hotel we are staying in is great.   But mostly,  while we have been experiencing rain and wind,   Iowa has been threatened with snow and more cold!   The roads were clear and dry on the way here, but they may be treacherous for the way home.   Meaning:  It could take several additional hours longer than the already Long road trip.  But I have  all day to get home.   Drive safe and steady to arrive alive.... Or so they say. 

So basically,  the second part of MY marathon will begin tomorrow.  Wish us luck!

Little Rock Marathon EXPO And A Small Tour Of Nature.

On our way to the EXPO

5 and 10 K races finishing. 

The day before the Marathon and Cheryl and I are taking a day to recover from travel and prepare for the race.   What better way to do that than go to the EXPO?

Inside the Expo. 

Cheryl and I make Several "Wishes"
for tomorrow's events.

Actually,  we have to attend the EXPO to pick up our packet.   We scoped things out and surveyed the race course. There were races today.   A 5K and 10 K were run by the folks too wimpy...I mean...  Less ambitious than the Full and Half Marathon people.   Small trivia:   The Marathon Medal is HUGE! (3 lbs!)   The Half Marathon is .... you guessed it!  Half as big.  And the 5 and 10 K are equally proportioned.    So... If you want the BIGGEST,  then you have to put forth the Largest effort.

Bill Clinton is Very Popular here.

And so are  Zoo Animals.

While waiting to get into the EXPO. ( we arrived about 45 minuted early)  We toured the notable sighs.   Bill Clinton had an entire section committed to him.    As well as other celebrities.

Show me the Alien!

Warning signs never kept me out
before....

Once in the EXPO,  we moved to gather our packet and information. It was easy to find the area...   All the signs suggested that it was a restricted area.  Everyone knows that restricted areas are the most desired area's to explore.   Human Curiosity is a funny thing.

Space!   Say Hello to our little green
men.

Alien Autopsy.  Fun for the whole
family.

The theme... in case you did not figure it out by now...  is SPACE!   And everything that comes with it.   I think they opened the door for space ships and rockets, but instead got aliens.   Lots and LOTS of aliens.  Everyone likes little green men.

Pay no attention to the green man.  

 I enjoy battling them in my XCOM game.   Folks like performing Autopsies on them.   And sometimes people get Beamed up by them.  Pay no attention to the Green Blow Up doll behind the man.   I'm sure he is doing something for Science....

Pinning in Wellman, Iowa.

We are the first folks from Iowa...
so far.

Cheryl posted a pin to show that we were from Iowa.  We were the first ones to put a pin in from Iowa.  I'm sure we would not be the only ones though.   Someone was there from Alaska!  Others from Australia!

Alien  greets Cheryl using
 a version of the Vulcan Greeting.

Checking out the Route.

We posed for pictures,  greeted some aliens,  and bought a shirt and a sticker.  The entire event took a little over an hour.

Exploring Nature. 

Hidden Gems.

With all that left over time,  Cheryl wanted to do something while in Arkansas.   I did no want to shop, eat or do much driving.   So...  We found a park with a pleasant walking/biking trail.   YEAH NATURE!

Baffled by the Green.

And they're Yellow! 

Wild Daffodils. 

It's still winter?  right?

And purple... something. 

Can you see the Moth on the Moss?

How about now? 

By the way,   Spring is  already peaking through here in Arkansas.  Trees are budding,  Flowers are sprouting, and some plants are turning green.   There was a limited selection of items to discover, but the ones we noted were new in their own way.   I even accidentally took a picture of a moth and did not realize it until I got the pictures home on the Computer.

Warning signs never stopped Cheryl
before....

The trail was paved and skirted along a ridge.   There were a number of signs warning us about the dangers so we would not get too close to the edge.   But everyone knows that Signs warning about the Dangerous of an area only make it the most desired area to explore.   Human Curiosity is such a strange thing.

Quite the View.

And even more. 

Looking at the pictures,  you really can't tell just how high we are.   I'm sure that had we jumped over the fence,  and leaped off the cliff...  we might have been is a really bad situation.   However,   With the signs AND the fence... and the nice little path along the fence... I think we were perfectly safe at all times.   So much for those warnings signs.

Check out the City, 

Cheryl points out the Race location.

I noted other people walking along the fence as well... so I'm sure it was not that big of a deal.   And there were lots of trees to break your fall.  But seeing the city from the other side of the river was pretty cool.   We could almost see the Race Route from there.  Had there been 3000 runners running it, I'm sure we could have seen the exact path.  But for now,  the buildings were the only landmarks.

Time to get back down. 

I really should be more careful when tempting Cheryl with those off road places.   She is always up for adventure,  and climbing.  But when it comes to direction and getting down... she is seriously challenges.   And she breaks so easily.    Marathon runners are so Fragile.

Subaru from Iowa!   And a Sporty WRX version.

Twice today, we were followed by some people from Iowa.   Once at the EXPO. And finally at the trail we noted that someone  parked next to us in with a Subaru WRX!   With Iowa Plates.   We did not see these people, but I would not be surprised if I discovered that they were  here for the race as well.

Fish and Beer?
Sounds good to me. 

Well,  That is all for now.  Big Day tomorrow.   Perhaps we will celebrate with some Catfish and Frog legs...  Or maybe some Gumbo.   (Still don't know what Gumbo really is....)  Hopefully,  I will not be too tired to blog and can give an immediate   report of the day's proceedings.  We shall see.   Wish us Luck!

The Ice, The Dryer, The Little Rock Marathon.

Running in Cold and Ice

Well,  Walking over the ice

Cheryl has been kind of bummed this week because she has had fairly bad running conditions.   Mostly,  the Ice refused to melt on the days where it warmed up to 24 degrees!  ( I wonder why?)   This forces us to run/walk over large patches of ice where the plows and salt spreaders miss.   Not a very good training opportunity.

The GUTS of the Dryer.

Lots of Ice Patches. 

And then yesterday,  the Dryer in the apartment started squealing very loudly.  I Set out to fix it...knowing little to nothing about how dryers actually work.  ( They spin...and dry clothes....  that is about it.) That is not entirely true.   I took our dryer apart once, and cut my hand in the process.  In a sense,  I learned what NOT to do.

Kinda Dirty in here

HUGE lint Build up

But the "squealing" mostly sounds like a cleaning and lubrication issue.   Perhaps a bearing is going out in the motor, but let's hope for the best.   I popped open a couple of the panels and discovered huge layers of lint covering everything.  A quick vacuum and things should sound a little better.

Baseball sized chuncks!

The Motor looks dirty too.

Not quite,  so break out the WD40.   Hose down everything that looks like it moves and the squeal becomes an intermittent squeak.   Still,  I'm positive the problem is in the motor.  I disconnected the belt and spun the drum around freely...no squeaks there.   So only the motor was making the noise.   Looks like the landlords may have to solve this problem long term.   At least the sound is not ear piercing ...for now.

This is where they put Arkansas on a Map!

And lastly,   We are in Arkansas.  Add a new state to my total states visited!   For those of you from a Public High school, 
Arkansas is this state... above Louisiana and below Missouri.

It's Below Missouri

 We only just arrived and already I have been called "honey" by the lady attending the Register.  Must be that Southern Hospitality they sell on TV.

Destination:  Little Rock.   No Singing,
Please!

Finally!   The State Line.

But what brings us to this state?   Randomly?   Why,  They Little Rock Arkansas Marathon!  Tomorrow is the packet pickup and Expo.   The medal is the largest finishers medal in the US.   IT is about the size of a dinner plate.   We have had our eye on this for several years.   Cheryl's injury prevented her from going last year, but they offered us  the opportunity to push our race back to this year.   Lucky Us! 

Our Digs for the next three days. 

And I thought Iowa was Flat!

Well,  Cheryl does note that her training has been lacking this year.   Winter being so hostile compared to previous years means we are going into an unknown race without the confidence of completing a bunch of long training runs.   I point out that those Hypothermic half marathon and WTF runs were 13.1 miles and under grueling conditions.

Rock Hound in Little Rock.   Makes
sense.

Can't wait to sample it. 

  The goal is to have fun,  see the sights,  get Bill and Hillary's Auograph,  and possibly eat some  Gumbo.  ( I don'r really know what gumbo even is...)  I'm just kidding.  I'm not a big Bill and Hillary Clinton fan.  And I doubt they live here anymore anyway.  Still,   the people seem friendly,  the Weather is nice,  and I get to add another state to my list of Visits.   We shall see what tomorrow brings, but for now,   We  will be enjoying a Local IPA  brewed here in Little Rock.... I think.   Thanks for stopping in.