Four days in sunny Arizona...being it's February and we live in the upper mid-west, you would think this would be GREAT, especially since everyone down there made sure to tell us it only rains about 7 days a year - two of which we were there for and one of which was race day!!! However, we are now back and the weather is definitely better down there...there is ice covering everything around my house and it was in the 50's when we left AZ at 10 am.
We got in somewhat late on Friday night and had to find our way to the hotel. Our rental car was a pimped out Ford Focus - awesome rims and lighted cup holders, I kid you not, with multiple choices of the color of the light. We ate at the Macaroni Grill next to the hotel and crawled into bed.
Saturday started with a typical AZ sand storm that blew all the tumble weed away...and then it started to rain. We spent Saturday getting our bearings and went to the expo, which was pretty nice for a somewhat smaller race. We spent most of the rest of the day trying to trace the race route with a less than detailed race map...Michele is pretty talented at figuring out scale and direction on a race route map. We also did a bit of shopping. You would be amazed at how the locals respond to rain and what they believe is a "down pour"...which would be a sprinkle here. After locating the race route, we found out that 4 miles in the middle of the race was truly barren land...I literally mean nothing to look at whatsoever - maybe could have looked at tumble weed if it wasn't all blown away in the sand storm but that was gone already!!! Better to know ahead of time so you can prepare. The rest of the route was actually pretty cool with palm trees and residential beautiful houses to look at. Finish line was next to the University of Pheonix Stadium in a quaint little shopping plaza area called West Gate. Actually as we were tracing the route I turned down the wrong side of this street heading against traffic (although there was no traffic there) and had to whip the car around quickly...Michele and I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants! Had supper at McGrath's fish place next to the hotel and crashed early.
Up bright and early Sunday to catch the shuttle to the start line...sprinkling at the start but temps were quite good for us. Michele took off after about 1/4 mile or so and left me to my waddle/jog. The route was awesomely staffed and lots of people cheering...aid stations at mile 2, 4, 6 and 8 and then every mile after that and each one had porta pots which was desperately needed by me every single time. Baby Clabaugh had a way of hitting that bladder pretty hard the entire race. The barren portion of the race did not seem as long as I thought it would because there were so many people to watch and I kept keeping an eye open for the next porta pot:) I stayed on track to finish in 3 hours until mile 8...at which time the waddle jog became more of a waddle. On and off rain for most of the race with a complete down pour at mile 9 - at which point I looked at my watch at realized Michele was already done with the race!!! The last 4 miles actually seemed to go by really fast. Believe it or not, this is the first finish line to ever get my last name pronounced correctly...and they got Michele's right as well!!! Lots of support, food and water at the finish. Michele got a PR and I came in 5 minutes over my goal (although I am pretty sure those five minutes were taken up with bathroom breaks). Actually, I would have just been happy finishing so I was ecstatic to come so close to my original goal.
Only complaint is that because we were rained on, once we stopped running we got very, very cold...to the bone cold. The shuttle bus was very nice in getting the heat jacked up and warming us up. We met up with John (from our Ragnar race last year) to eat dinner at TGI Fridays...John had to drive through a snow storm to get to us!!! Then Michele and I pooped out...I could bearly move as my calves were totally locking up and the lower back was quite sore. We ended up ordering pizza delivery to the hotel for supper!
Monday was fabulous spa day...massage, facial, spa lunch, mani, pedi and make-up. Really nice technicians at the Red Door Spa...it was very relaxing. The technician that did Michele's pedi was also pregnant and literally showing less than me...she was due in 10 DAYS! When she found out I was only 27 weeks along she said "Well don't feel bad, I have already gained 30 pounds"...OMG!! I am 27 weeks along and have gained 35 pounds - I don't even know what to feel at this point...other than I just finished a half marathon:) We were pretty wiped after such a relaxing spa experience so we went to a mexican restaurant recommended by the gals at the spa (Ariba's) and then headed to the hotel for an early crash after we packed up.
Tuesday had us leaving the hotel around 7 to catch our flight at 10...however, we did not take into account real rush hour traffic nor the possibility of accidents - both of which were the case. We spent over 1 1/2 hours on the interstate and then when we arrived at the airport the line for checking luggage was at least 40 miles long...not to mention the security line after that. However, all ended well as our plane was in the middle of boarding when we arrived:)
Now we are both back to the daily grind and trying to find another race in March since this one went well and Baby Clabaugh seemed to tolerate it alright...if we are able to find one, it is very likely most of it will be walked by me since I am clearly the size and weight of a 9 month pregnant woman!!! More adventures to come:)
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