Fit with Ruthie

ok..heres the issue going out of town tomorrow.. long run on Sat planned 9 miles, I dont want to run that far in a strange neighborhood.. .. so. i have decided to do my LONG run in the morning! that means.. shorter runs while i am gone.. which is good.. but.. also means that the "bad run" i had today must have been for a reason :) funny how things work out :) so.. heres to tomorrow morning and a GREAT run. on a siden note we are going to san antonio tomorrow.. so i will hopefully get to drive the route of the marathon while i am there! dont know if that is a good or bad idea.. it will def show me how far 26 miles is ! ouch. more tomorrow after some time "alone" running :) ------UPDATE------ THURSDAY 7-31-08 614 am.. fixin to walk out the door for the long run.. got up at 545am. no problem... was a bit dizzy this morning but i think it was cause my brain was still asleep while i was trying to walk around... a glass of OJ and about 15 mins later and i am fine. more...

this mornings run was not good. only 2 miles and i was exhausted the whole time... I "ran" out of time (like Josha) cause i had to take the kids to track.. my plan was to run sprints at track but didnt get to it. ... so.. i am back home with only 2 miles under my running belt. I will lift weights after i take DH to work.. I know the key to this running this distance stuff is MAKING myself get up super early.. with no excuses... and get out there before it gets so hot. Aug and Sept are going to be even worse as far as heat. . so running past 730am isnt really an option. (unless its my long runs) I am not sure why i had such a hard time this morning.. could it be the 6 oz of DP i had last night.. its been a while since i had soda.. wonder if thats the problem.. hummmmm off to lift weights. remembering progress is the key.. i can't have perfect days everyday :) r for now.. two inspirational videos: UPDATE! ok.. i just finished lifting weights.. feeling better.. still no ener...

guess what my husband surprised me with today? i was surprised speechless!!!!! whats better for a gal who NEVER watches tv anymore.. :) on the workout front. i missed my lifting session.. ended up being a crazy day.. but i will do upper body after i run tomorrow morning :) so no worries. thanks for all you folks on the last post who commented.. its so neat to find new faces who are striving for the same goals! so motivating and inspiring to know we are in the same boat together :) ..

Its interesting when things "hit us" isnt it. I had just gotten off the phone with my friend and was sitting "alone" on the back patio for just a few minutes when i a feeling of joy swept over me and i began to cry. I am crying as i type this.. because i am so over whelmed with where i have come from. As i sat on the patio, i remembered back 2 years ago and in that instant it seemed like yesterday. My life then was happy but i was filled with self doubt, low body image, and little energy to get through the day. I had aches and pains from head to toe, I couldn't roll over in bed at night without pain. I wanted it to stop.. i wanted to feel good again.. and i knew i couldnt do it alone. I prayed. Just me laying quietly in bed. prayed. When i was finished I drifted off to sleep with a sense that I could change. I also new that it wouldnt be easy and that it would be work. As i sat on he porch this morning i realized i have come so far! 2 years later i am TRAININ...

ugh.. that was tough.. got up too late even though i got to bed early. 8hours a sleep was great.. but i wish i would have actually woken up when my watch went off :) LOL.. so i didnt leave the house until 7am. and by then it was already hot! i decided to try and beat my fastest mile time.. but didnt.. my first mile time was 8:37...... i think my best is 8:32.... the rest of the run was hot hot hot.. its amazing how quickly it get hot here and Aug isnt even here yet :) i can tell you for sure i MUST get up and out by 6am in the future.. and for the long long runs that are coming it will have to be 5ish. so i ran and stretched really good. Trying to get at least 10 mins of stretching in after each run. my left shin is acting up.. so i am trying to stretch it though out the day. i think it just from wearing some high sandals yesterday... more later. r

ok.. so i havent shared something that was a "first" for me. Yesterday was a first,, and after this experience I can honestly say i feel like a runner :) LOL all this reading about marathons i have come across many references to "hot spots" when it comes to running .. and references to "Lubricate well". Well.. my friends. i have since learned that long distance running does bring with it some interesting learning experiences. I have never had much of a problem with things rubbing me in the wrong areas. The whole reason i LOVE running skirts is because they prevented the dreaded bulging up in the middle which usually caused .. with me anyway.. the dreaded hot spots on each inner thigh. I have read where people apply jelly to their chests, arm pits, inner thighs,, and yes.. even their feet! I was horrified! I didnt want to go around all stick all over before i even started sweating! So.. last week when i did my 7 mile run.. i wore my new .. smaller size runn...

a 6 miler turned into a 7 miler turned into a 8 miler :) and add a half mile to get up there and back and thats 8 and 1/2 mile this morning :) I said in the last post i wanted to up my miles.. I have been a bit confused about how to organize my miles since i had trained for the half marathon... i didnt know if i should start over or start where i left off.. so.. i have decided to take a balance between the two.. of course i could change my mind and alter it again after i read a few more books.. but for now.. the training schedule on the side bar is what i will stick with :) My first mile this morning was relaxing mile 3 was a bit tough .. dont know why... but wow.. mile 5 and 6 and 7 were oh so good. I love that light and free feeling i get when i get to that point.. like i could run forever. :) (but know i cant) .. I did 7 miles in 1 hour 9 mins. aver pace was 9.8 min per mile and i am happy with that.. anything under 10 at this distance i am happy with.. I decided i need to start a ...

i must be on some kinda roll these days... i just finished lifting weights a few minutes ago.. heres what i did: bis, tris, back, leg extension, chest flies, shoulder flies, deadlifts I went up on all weights.. and with bis i am up to 15lbs in each hand ... slowly slowly i know i will get back to my 30lbs in each hand i use to curl.. someday. I am looking forward to a early morning run tomorrow.. and i have figured out a bit why i am nervous about the full marathon.. i am not sure that my training plan is up to what i want.. so i have checked several books out from the library.. and should have one waiting for me called "running your first marathon" .. anyway.. i have decided to adjust my training schedule a bit.. I remember my friend who is currently training for a full tri said that she would suggest getting at least 23 miles in before the race.. .. so i am going to up my miles to that.. I really want to finish strong.. i dont want to be one of those people DIEING as they ...

(ATTENTION this might be to much information for you... esp if you are a guy who is lurking here.. if you dont like to talk about TOM.. then skip this post) ok.. we girls know that running effects our monthly visits :).. in fact.. working out in general, being healthy, has a big effect on every part of our bodies and our cycles are no different. Why am i talking about this? well.. because i know some gals (remember i use to live with 200 different women every year for 9 years and thats a lot of girlie stuff going on!) .. anyway.. i know (knew) some girls who had horrible experiences once a month. I, thankfully, was never that bad .. but.. for a few years before i started up my program again in 2006 i too had my share of not to great issues. Cramps like no bodies business for 2 days, heavy for 5 days, no energy .. literally needing to lay down for 2 days prior, horribly sore upper body (if you know what i mean) for a week prior. the list goes on and on.. Fast forward to 2008 and I have ...

when will i get it through my thick head that i AM running the WHOLE marathon and that ITS GOING TO BE OK. I keep doing this back and forth back and forth thing.. I think it would be easier if i were training with someone.. or had a bit more experience.. or believed. i could actually finish.. then.. i get this in my comments tonight "I am STILL blown away by your before and after pictures on the side bar. And then knowing the injuries sidetracking along the way. You are a warrior. This marathon has NOTHING on you. You will kick it and eat it for breakfast. How dare you doubt yourself when the proof is right there, staring at you everyday in the mirror?" BOOOM. WOW.. ZINGER. .. YOU ARE RIGHT>!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU..... (speachless)... (insert here a long silence.. and a prayer of thanksgiving for my wonderful cyber friends) that .. my friends.. was the slap in the pants i needed... thanks for that change in perspective. That reality check. I needed tha...

I stayed up way way too late last night sitting on the back porch talking to my sweet husband :) I love our back yard at night... its a little retreat! As a result of not going to bed until after midnight.. i work up late this morning and missed my run. I left the house with the kids about 745am and went to the track .. the kids ran three laps, did 4 4 by 100 relays, stretched and did 3 50 meter sprint relays. .. I ran a combination of 2 miles.. with sprints and race pace running in between.. some walking spurts to give instructions.. but wow.. those sprints are killer. Life is good. would be fantastic if i could find my nikeplus sensor (again)... .. so what is the big secret to keeping up with this little piece of equipment. ?

hey.. this makes two weeks in a row i have actually lifted weights LOL.. its kinda crazy how i have flipped.. I use to HATE running and LOVED to lift.. and now.. its opposite! ha.. I spent a few hours cleaning out the garage.. which is our catch all for.. well.. ALL. feels nice to have it decluttered (again).. heres what i did: chest flies shoulder flies tri extensions (to burnouts) leg extensions dead lifts :) felt great! i am taking it very slow on the weights.. i am not even up to 15lbs yet.. my goal is to keep the muscle i have and move slowly back to lifting heavier weights.. its a tricky balance with my shoulder .... trying to baby it back into shape. I haven't had many problems with it "popping out" but it did it this afternoon .. in other news i had a dr appointment and my dr suggested a tummy tuck. .. which was funny. He said "you know.. that (my belly) is ALLLLL skin.. you could get that taken care of.." :) to which i asked if he wanted to "foot...

this is where i will post my completed workouts each week.. thought it would be fun to look back and see how far i have come .... literally :) wk of July 20th Sun: rest (DONE) Mon: 45 min run (DONE) Tues: 30 min weights (DONE) Wednesday: 40 min run (DONE w/kids) Thur: 40 min run (DONE) Friday : 30 min weights( DONE) Sat: 6 miles (7milerunw/total of 8) wk of July 27th Sun: rest (DONE) Mon: 45 min run (4m37:08 ) Tues: 30 min weights Wednesday: 2 mile "bad run" Thur: 9 mile long run 1hr:29min Friday : 30 min weights (fiesta texas swim etc) Sat: 40 min run (2 hour swim.. with laps) wk of Aug 3rd Sun: rest (DONE) Mon: (off.. sick) Tues: 2.5 mile walk (still sick) Wednesday: 1.33 miles (still sick) Thur: 4 miles! 40:12 Friday : 2 miles walk jog Sat: 10 miles 1 hour 42 min wk of Aug 10th Mon: 50 min run (40 min stop-n-go run) Tues: 40 cr training (bleacher work-2.5 mile walk) Wednesday: sprints (4 mile run) Thur: rest day Friday : 45 min run (45 min 3...

just back from 4 miles in 35.30 min. thats 8.8 mins a mile not my fastest but i had a horrible side stitch for about a mile and a half of that. I am not sure why.. but i tried hard to keep running.. walking only 13 paces of the 4 miles. I kept telling myself this was a mental test of being able to run through pain and if i could do it at home on my favorite running route then i could do it on the race day. It was tough though.. i got a new running skirt.. yes.. its just like my old new one .. just blue.. one sale at target .. 13 bucks. off to track.. almost late :) I feel fantastic! and i just had to post the picture above.. we were invited to a local tv stations tailgate party.. and we got to take our picture with two Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders! .. Now.. i can scratch that off my "what i want to accomplish before i turn 50" list :) LOL ..

OK.. .. after a much needed two hour nap, some family time.. and feeling like i am back to normal :) I have these thoughts: so i know throughout this journey i will have moments of self doubt. Moments when i think i have officially gone off the deep end :) and Moments when quitting would be much easier than moving forward. I think i should be use to this .. after two years of talking myself into and out of working or not working out.. I have a strong background (i hope) in over coming my negative self talk :) .. I .. by no means think this Marathon training and race will be in any form a breeze or easy. I understand it will probably be the most difficult thing i have ever tried to do. I am just soooo blessed and so thankful that i have sweet friends like you all to go on this journey with. Thanks for your encouragement! so.. now what? well.. I have taken another look at the mararthon in San Antonio and feel more at easy as it states something about walking the full marathon.. sooooo.....

when I started this blog two years ago.. I made promise to be open and honest with myself .. and .. you. so.. here it goes all week i have been having doubts. doubts that i could really and truly complete a marathon. its just such a HUGE HUGE thing for me. here are some of my fears: I will get injured and not be able to compete I will pay for the marathon and end up not being able to compete. I will be the last person to cross the finish line. I will not be able to get to the finish line and have to quit without completing it. They wont have enough restrooms and i will need to go potty! (silly.. i know.. but true) I wont be able to figure out how to eat to keep myself going through the race.. and pass out with a crowd looking at me like i a just nuts. the long training runs i will have to go on will be so exhausting i wont want to actually get the starting line. maybe i should run the half .. i know i can finish that. its soooooo far. the unknowns. so there you have it.. just a few of...

so.. one of the side effects of me eating too much sugar is not sleeping good. and so it was for last night.. waking up many times is so annoying! so.... today.. going easy on the sug :) I just finished my 7 mile run.. it was more of a 6 mile run with a 1 mile walk.. but thats ok. I did 6 miles around campus and then came home to see if any of my kids would want to do the last mile with me in the neighborhood. The boys said no and Cat was still sleeping! (she's had a busy few days :) so .. i took the only family member who was so excited to here me ask if anyone wanted to GO.. Su.(our jack rus.). I did the 6 miles in 1hour1 min :) thats averaging 10.1 mins a mile.. which was what i was shooting for .. the last mile (#7) was about a 16 min mile :) but it was a nice relaxing walk. feels good to be done.. felt good to be out and enjoying the run. Its still strange to me that i dont start feeling really really good until about mile 5... mile six was a blast! i felt great! (weird) its...

ugh.. yeah.. i feel tired, boated, and like i could sleep for a week :) this week was fun.. but exhausting.. and i am so very thankful i dont work full time :) I dont know how moms who do work full time do it.. to be this tired at the end of every week would be so hard. This week reminded me some what of when i worked over full time in the residence hall..... yep.. glad i am a homeschooling mom who works part time just for fun :) I ate way to much sugar this week.. but i must admit it got me through camp :) .. but tomorrow i am back to eating normal. sugar from fruits, drinking water, and ahhh.. the salad that has been missing from my daily lunch for a week now! I miss my veggies :) so tomorrow i am planning on my 7 mile training run and am looking forward to it.. :) off to chat with my wonderful friend Jes. in China! she is doing amazing feats of fitness over there.. like hiking the great wall.. and training for a 5k with plans to run a 10k.. .. wow.. she is so inspiring.. to be fit i...

its late.. should be in bed.. will in a few. I didnt run this morning.. i came home after work yesterday and felt the evidence of a shin splint coming on.. so i decided to rest. I know it was from wearing bad but cute shoes during the morning camp session.. so.. i feel much better today.. but doubt i will run in the morning.. unless i just feel great. i am exhausted. a lot of it has to do with not eating on schedule like i am use to.. not drinking all the water like i am use too.. and just being on my feet so much :) looking forward to some down time :) plan on a nice relaxing long run on Saturday (7 miles) :) cant wait.

ok.. heres a question.. how do you get use to waking up while its still dark? ugh.. its sooooo hard to get out of bed when its still dark.. but i did it anyway this morning . :) our the door by 630am.. 4 mile run..RAN the WHOLE THING no walking breaks. I slowed my pace down so it was a bit slower than my fastest time.. for that distance 38.30 I am pleased with that time esp cause i wanted to walk for about a half a mile cause i got a side stitch.. I used a new technique of just grabbing the side with my right hand and pressing hard.. but is didnt stop running :) ok.. busy. day.. today makes half way through my "marathon" week of art camp :) today is jackson pollock :) and splatter painting! FUN more tomorrow .

busy day.. short post chest flies chest press pushups bi curls tri extensions crunches feelin it already loving to be back at the weight training shoulder holdin up nicely so far :) loving this song .. found these guys and ran to them on my monday run.. have a blessed day!

well I was able to do 2 miles in 17.47.. my plan was to do 45 mins.. but my body wouldnt cooperate this morning.. i guess it will take me a few days to get use being awake at 545am :) but i left the house at 630ish and was going to do 4 miles but decided i needed to get back and get ready for work. I am going to have to get up and get going tomorrow so i dont have the pressure of getting back.. and running out to time :) but it feels good.. I ran the first mile fast.. and the second a slower.. but still feels good. so.. today is done and i am off to gether my picasso stuff and get to art camp :) tomorrow morningn will be a reall test.. to see if i can do this this week :) hope your day is great!

Ok.. I have spent the last hour.. figuring out my running schedule and getting it all lined out. I have posted it on the side bar :) so take a peek if you like . My only question is how to up my miles on the 20 to 23.. the friend i have that runs marathons suggested to run atleast 23 miles before the race.. so i guess i will bump that up .. but i am not sure if i should bump all the other long runs up too.. and .. at which point. I will be emailing her again and asking :) will let you know .. Some things that need to happen in the next month or so: buy new shoes (1/2 larger than what i have now for the longer distance) figure out how to carry water and snacks with me on the run OR if to stash them and where. buy a new running bra(too much info? sorry.. but if you have a favorite brand.. please share.. .. i need a good one.. AND .. "all the support i can get" LOL figure out what sports drink i like that doesnt leave me cotton mouthed. register for the race find something to ru...

I wanted to take "before marathon pictures" and "after marathon pictures :) Heres my before. Lots of people say running a marathon is hard on your body. I am determined to actually gain muscle when i am training being focused on weight training, stretching and resting correctly. I want to come out of this more fit than i am now. :) hey look.. i still have a little bit of a gun up there :) ok.. so i am fixin to leave on my morning run and wanted to show you my new running outfit :) more after i run :) UPDATE: Ok.. I am back from my run i decided to go ahead and just do 2 miles because i dont want to over do it on my heel. I can add my long run on monday or tuesday if all is well :) after my run i hit the garage for: leg extension: 2 sets of 10 squats: one set of 12 mens pushups: 3 sets of 10 bi curls: 1 set of 12 with 10lbs and 2 sets of 12 with 15lbs each hand the above weight routine is a far cry from my squatting over 100 and curling 30lbs.. but i am offiicially back ...

PHOTO PHRIDAY Reinstated :) just got our fun superman t-shirts tonight! (now i have a shirt to match my hat LOL).. and then.. FUN with iphoto!!! I am reinstating photo phriday.. care to join me? consider yourself tagged! Ok.. I have decided officially to train for the full marathon.. even with allllll those people being there... wow.. thats a lot of people! I will sign up for the race in San Antonio next week.. its on Nov 16th click here to see the races homepage I have 16 weeks to get ready. My heel is feeling great today.. i will prob run tomorrow morning.. taking it easy .. :) My marathoning friend answered some of my questions.. she has great advice.. and what said just gave me the mental go ahead to give it a try. :) crazy huh.

OK.. so its coming down to the wire.. I am turning 40 in 11 weeks! I cant believe its getting so close.. I have lots to decide and i need to make some of these decisions in the next week or so. I am 90% sure i am going to give a full marathon a try. I have emailed a friend i know that runs marathons, has kids (younger than mine) etc.. with a list of questions. I am holding off on the other 10% in case i might find some other reason to not do it. I am debating on the race in San Antonio or the Marathon to Marathon. It seems so impossible.. but so did 13.1. I hear people say "its hard on your body" but I think its all about proper training, an resting when your spose too! (like i am today :) I have begun weight bearing exercises back up this week.. I will lift this afternoon and post an update when i am done. But i must get back into the weight lifting.. I have promised myself to become more focused on stretching.. to reduce injury but also because as we get old we loose a lot...

I think i have BRUISED HEEL> i have been totally fine.. no pain.. today after i ran i felt fine.. until about 4 hours after i ran.. left heal feels like it has a huge bruise on it :( heres what i found: What is a bruised heel? The heel bone (calcaneus) is protected by a pad of fat. Repeated pounding of the heel can cause the fat pad to be pushed up the side of the heel leaving less of a protective layer causing heel pain. This injury is also sometimes known as Policeman's heel. It is common in sports requiring a lot of impact onto the heel and in particular soldiers marching up and down on the parade square. What can the athlete do about the heel pain? Rest until there is no more heel pain. Pad the heel of shoes with a shock absorbing insole. Replace running shoes if they are old (more than 400 miles of running) or the soles are weakened through use. SO.. resting restin...

its seems i am getting faster and faster.... and most the time i dont even realize it. did 2 miles with an average pace of 8 min 20 seconds! wow. is under 8 in the 2 in my future. hum. i am sore from yesterdays body weight exercises.. all the more reason to start lifting. i didnt realize until today i am post to rest on my off days instead of cross training.. so i will do that. i love my new running outfit.. but my camera broke.. so i will try and take a picture on dh's computer later tonight .. off to fix breakfast for my hungry track children :) ... the three of them ran hard today.. practice was longer and they are starving :) "never quit" :)R

this morning at track i: ran half a lap ran bleachers did squats with a 10lb weight (2 sets of 15) did situps, crunches, planks pushups (20) tricep dips felt great more later when i have time.. its seems being busy is the way things will be for a couple of weeks. wow.

did a two mile run this morning.. under 17 mins. :) felt good. Just a tad under 8 and a half a mile. we are off to the zoo.. and then to take the kids swimming.. busy day. :) more later. -r UPDATE i am so excited! i bought a new running skirt and shirt today! hot pink and black! size.... small! no more running while holding my skirt.. or running while trying to roll up my skirt :) yippee

Hello all.. below are a few pictures.. the first is in response to Sarah's post about a dream backyard.. this past week we put in a birdbath, new flowerbed and got some great lights from target to string up from our large pecan tree to the corner.. My new favorite past time is sitting on the patio now! the next photo is of the 4th of July parade that is in our neighborhood every year. the fire truck parks in front of our house! .. this is a shot with our home in the back and many of our friends in the yard waiting for it to start. There were prob. 200 people in the parade.. a great tradition and one reason we love living in our neighborhood :) Well i have had two days to recover and today i am tired but not near as sore. I felt great after the run.. tired.. but great. A few hours later i started feeling tiredness in my thighs. I have been very very sore on my front thighs .. so sore infact that i can only discribe it as nothing like any weight lifting or leg extension machine cou...

Yep.. now i found a bit of time to post quickly about the run. I went to bed WAY late last night.. did hit the hay until midnight!!! but i must have been ready cause i woke up without my alarm at 5:48am! Josha wanted details.. so here they are: I dressed (running skirt that is too big and have to keep pulling it up) and an old tank top that was red... I mean it IS the 4th.. i had to wear some red. .. my socks aren to thick or too thin.. perfect :) I loaded some extra songs on my ipod and fixed up my nikeplus. all this while i ate half a blueberry bagal and drank half a glass of OJ.... Hair in ponytales, sun glasses and oops forgot the sunscreen. i headed out the door with a large water bottle... it was 620 am. weather perfect.. sunrise beautiful I started jogging and when i got half way around campus on the first lap i hid  my bottle in some tall grass landscaping .. All was grand until mile 5.. i kept say.. ugh mile five is always hard! .. (cause it is)... but i just walked...

13.1 miles in 2 hours 20 mins! thats under 11 min a mile.. but i dont have the exact time I do have more details i will share later.. but we have family here for the 4th.. and i need to go eat :) i am starving. cant believe it!

yes josha.. i am resting today :)  thanks everyone for your encouragement..  i cant believe this time tomorrow i will be knee deep in mile upon miles!  crazy I might have to make my own t-shirt :)  off to take the kids to track.  were late again :)  hehehe

34.20 8 1/2 mins per mile feeling better about 13.1 now feel awake feel alive feel happy gotta go to track we're late :) r

ok.. so.. i have had a rough week or so.. and you know why.. i think it is directly related to my food intake.. and the lack of quality nutrition.. as well as lack of sleep..but mostly less exercise!!!! I am happy again tonight to announce today was a soda free day.. I weaned myself off for one day last week.. but went back to it after little sleep and having to teach ... so.. I steadily have been working my way off yet again.. and today although I was very tempted around 4pm .. i stayed clear of the dark stuff :) instead i had a nice little glass of fresh ice tea... it perked me up and got me through the day. I am still trying to figure out what is really going on with me.. but i am thinking more and more it is mostly low blood pressure. I need to buy a blood pressure machine to test myself and see.. but you see. .NOT running makes me feel bad .. NOT running makes me have a lower blood pressure.. and as a result all day I crave things like sugar, salt and caffeine to increase my energ...

today is to be 30 mins of cross training.. so i will run some bleachers, take my hand weights and ex. ball and do some weight training with the other moms at the track :) I took a much needed nap yesterday and got to bed at a decent hour last night so i feel great this morning .. YEAH! now.. my goal is to have no caffeine today.. and push the water :) UPDATE: ok.. so i walked a mile and a half today and visited with my sweet friend b .. but no other training. I need to try a either a run or weights tonight.  I am secretely dreading the 13.1 on friday.. concerned my week off is going to kick me in the pants and i wont be able to finish. Its like this big cloud that is looming over me and I am just wondering if i should put it off..  I wont though.. and i will finish.. might be crawling at the end.. but i will make it.. I am just ready for it to be past me.  Is this normal? to be stressed over this... i cant imagine if it was a REAL race and not just me out there!  off to clean house fo...