Choose Your Own Title for Today

As I was thinking about what I wanted to write for today's entry, I kept thinking of titles--some longer (not necessarily better) than others--but so many kept popping into my head that I decided to make the entire post in title form.

Thank Goodness We Spent the Night on the Mountain, Because 7:00am Was Too Early To Get Up As It Was

Not Sure Why I Bother Setting a Time To Leave Because My Husband Is Always on Moroccan Time Anyway.

What's Taking You So Long? I Was Waiting for YOU. Well, I Was Waiting for YOU. Hmm.

Weird. Despite Starting on Moroccan Time, We Got There an Hour Early.

Thank Goodness They Didn't Check ID at Registration Because I Left Mine at Home.

Apparently This Is a Laid-Back, Casual Event as they Let Me Switch to the 4K (WHEW) at Check-In.

Interesting. Several People in Costumes.

Casual Race=Registration Check-In Lady Literally Said It Was OK To Have Alcohol in Hydration Pack.

This Is Bad. Toes Numb Already and Race Doesn't Start for 40 Minutes.

Thanks to the Miracle of Chemical Science (Instant Hot Packs), My Toes Defrost Just In Time for the Race.

Casual Race=Briefing Consists of "Trail Marked by Yellow Cones and Flags. 4K=1 Lap, 8K=2 Laps. Any Questions?"

Casual Race=Right Before Start of Race, Announcer Says, "Oh, If You're Racing--That Is, If You Have a Number On, You Might Want To Start In Front of the Gate...Ready, Set, Go!"

Starting at the Back of the Pack Was Wise as Otherwise Clearly Would Have Been Trampled.

Oh Dear. Joked Earlier Than Someone Has To Be Last, Might As Well Be Me, But Now Worried It Might Be True.

Smart People Bring Sunglasses. I'm Not One of Them.

Casual Race=Your Dog Can Come With You. (Seriously, People Did That!) (Not Me Though.)

Thank Goodness for Bikram Yoga Acclimating Me To Exercising While Overheated Because Only 100 Yards from Start and Sweatshirt Proving To Be Bad Idea.

Goal Today: Doesn't Matter How Slow, Just Keep Going.

Note To Self for Future on Proper Equipment: Rental Fees Worth It vs. "We Have It So It Will Do."

Bad Part of Dog Racing with You Is Doody Duty. (At Least I Passed Someone)

Worse Part of Dogs Racing with You Is People Who DON'T Do Doody Duty.

Holy Bad Words, We're Snowshoeing Up THAT Hill?!

Whatever Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger?

Okay, If that Last Bit Is True, Tomorrow There Will Either Be a Funeral or a New All-American Powerlifter.

Wait a Minute, I Can't Find Any Flags. What Happened to the Trail?

Don't Blame Me, I Was Following THEM.

LOOK! There's the Trail. Hmm. I Liked the Other One Better.

Wow! I'm Not Even at the Halfway Point and I Just Got Lapped.

I'm NOT Going To Be Depressed that I was Lapped Before Halfway. Instead I'm Going to Cheer Him On!

I Swear This 4K Is Harder Than the Triathlon.

Elevation *Gasp***Pant***Gasp* Sucks.

Right as I Was Excited to Start Downhill, My Legs Went Wobbly.

Smart Me Packed "Gel Shots." Not-So-Smart Me Hadn't Actually Tasted One Before.

Note to Self on Snacks for Events: Try Some Before the Race as May Be Gross.

Another Weird Hangup I Have Is Certain Food Textures: Gel Shots Like Glue, But Harder to Swallow.

Not Sure If Gel Shots Are So Much Like Glue as Like That Horrible Liquid Dentist Used To Put in Trays and Leave in My Mouth When I Was a Kid. Both=YUCK.

When Needing To Eat SOMETHING and All I Have is a Gel Shot, Large Gulps of Water and Swallow Like Pill Make It Slightly More Tolerable.

Casual Race=I Just Passed People Drinking Beer.

At Least I Will Beat Someone.

Have Decided Anyone Running--Or, For that Matter, Anyone Passing Me--Deserves Cheering and Clapping, So I Do.

Hmm. Apparently Need to Research Blister Prevention as Right Foot Not Feeling So Good.

Trail Beautiful But Narrow. My Just Keep Going Rule Is Suspended To Get Out of Way of Fast People Running Through.

Some People Kick Up a Lot of Snow.

Thank Goodness They Let Me Switch to 4K Because Feeling Sorry For Myself About Blister.

2-Way Radio Husband Made Me Carry Is Nice. Inform Him of Blister. Sadly, No Sympathy.

Radio Conversation with Husband. Him: Are You Done? Me: Thanks for Your Vote of Confidence, But Nowhere Near It.

Love Husband Who Places Great Faith In Me.

So Nice To See Husband While I Was Out On Course. Then Sad Because There Would Be No One for Me at Finish.

Left Foot Now Adding To Reminder about Blister Prevention Knowledge.

My Mantra: Please Don't Let My Blisters Break Please Don't Let My Blisters Break Please Don't Let My Blisters Break Before I Finish.

At Least the Race Workers Cheered Me Across the Finish.

YAY ME! 1 Race Done!

It Was So Nice To Have People Cheer Me In at Catalina, Even Though I Was Almost Last, I Will Do the Same for Anyone Finishing After Me.

Good Thing I Decided To Cheer on Finishers Because Husband Locked Car.

Glad I Stayed To Cheer Finishers After Me Because Toward the End, Even Race Staff Left.

Too Bad We Couldn't Afford the Race Shirt Because It's Cool.

A Raffle? Pick ME Pick ME! Seriously, You Picked Me?

How Lucky Am I? Couldn't Afford the Race Shirt, But Number Drawn First In Raffle for Free Shirt, YAY!

Husband On Radio: Are You Coming Up? We're Eating. Me: Are You Kidding? I'm Done for Today.

Note To Self for Future Events: Tell Husband To Be AT Finish So I Don't Have To Wait One Hour and 25 Minutes To Get Into Locked Car.

Saw Many Costumes Today. ACK! Just Realized a Heineken Beer Bottle Beat Me.

Overall Winner of 8K Amazing. Finished 8K BEFORE ANYONE from the 4K finished.

Some Raffle Prizes Cool. Others? Well, One Lady Won a Cow Femur (Seriously). Even Her Dog Looked Confused.

Apparently Feeling Better. Not Only Did I Snowshoe a 4K, But Lifted Pooped-Out 85-Pound Golden Retriever Into Car.