My legs ache so bad!. This is one of the worst cases of shin splints I've had in ages!
No, I didn't run in the Austin Marathon. But I did run/walk 28 zig-zagging, uphill/downhill blocks in record time, camera bag ricocheting around my body, trying to reach the finish line in time to see my oldest baby son victoriously cross it after running the Half.
I didn't make it.
I'm not sure who that is in the photo above, but I know it's not my son. He doesn't usually wear sports bras. (But congratulations to whoever you are, anyway! Way to go!)
I staggered up, sweating more than the runners, about ten minutes after Tommy crossed. I'm glad he had his cell phone so I could find him…
A few minutes later, I spotted Kirby (the pretty redhead) just after she crossed.
That's right! … I ran (okay, walked/ran) 28 blocks just to take pictures of my son and his girlfriend and tell them congratulations. I am Mom!
A bit of Marathon Mayhem, Austin-style…
The champs together, already discussing next year's half-marathon…
Look at these medals … aren't they beautiful?
After walking back 28 blocks to our car (parked at Daniel's apartment), we met Tommy and Kirby at Trudy's for a celebratory dinner and Mexican Martini toast. They clean up pretty nice, don't you think?
I'm thinking I might join them in the half marathon next year. I mean, these people make it look pretty easy, don't they?
And you're entertained along the way…
But then, there are the hills (oh, my aching shin splints…)
Well, I have some time to think about it. But you know, if I'm going to be sore the day after, I'd rather be able to say it's from running it rather than running to it.
We took our time walking back, coming upon the full marathon runners as they made their way across the University of Texas campus. A few stood out. There was the blind runner, using his cane to check his path – how inspirational is that? And then there was this one, who just, well, stood out…
Now we know what Santa does in the off-season…
If we weren't planning to meet Tommy and Kirby for the celebration lunch, we would have rested for awhile near these guys and just listened to the music. They were really good!
I first spotted this sculpture of wild mustangs fifteen years ago, when I chauffered Tommy and other fifth graders to the college for a career project. I've passed it several times since and wished I could take a photo, but either didn't have my camera or the time. Sunday I had both.
See? No time limit on wishes…
We passed some other interesting houses, graffiti, wall art, along our trek back to Daniel's apartment. (The day was just full of adventure!) Check Confessions tomorrow for those (as well as a few others I took downtown.)
If you've run a marathon or half-marathon, tell me about it. Help me decide if I should give it a try or not.
(This is my contribution to week 7 of focus52 sponsored by Jan at twoscoopz. Click HERE to see the other contributions to the prompt "Close Up".)
Long Hollow 
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