The Everyday Life of Braden and Jenn: May 2010

After living down in Charlotte for 4 years now, there was one event I was almost sure I would never go to. NASCAR. For some reason, cars driving around in a loop 400 times didn't sound too appealing to me. So as race week approached, I assumed it would be like every other year and I would spend the weekend at home or camping somewhere. However, Thursday night Jenn and I were invited out with friends to "speed street" in Charlotte where they close down part of downtown and have vendors and shows and a concert. It's all free and it was actually a lot of fun (even though it was country music: Rodney Atkins? and the headliner-don't remember his name- was some new guy with a song about rain making corn and corn making whiskey and whiskey making his girl get a little bit frisky). So Jenn and I and some friends all hung out downtown for a bit watching the concert and some dirtbike freestyle jumping which was pretty cool.

The next day though one of my fellow teachers had a boyfriend who had an extra NASCAR ticket. So I was offered a free ticket to the NASCAR event- Coca Cola 600. As I still had little interest in car racing, I was unsure whether to go or not, but decided I might as well see what all the hype is about.

The hype- drinking before the race. I was surprised to see that many of the people who came to see the race were not southerners with confederate flags and mullet haircuts. Almost all the people there were normal people. Driving in, we saw some odd balls (group of topless guys playing football in daisy duke cut off jeans and confederate flag bandanas) and that made the trip worth it. We arrived around 12ish for some pregame cookout and I took a walk with a couple friends-KC and Jessie and Jessie's boyfriend Paul. We were looking for some real southern hillbillies to get photos with, but didn't meet any. We did, however play some cornhole against a couple groups of northerners and one group of diehard NASCAR southerners. After that game, though, it was time to go to the race.

The race is basically what I thought it would be- a lot of cars driving around in circles. This race was 600 miles, or 400 laps around. I made it until about lap 30 before I got too bored. Luckily, KC was also bored so we left and walked around which was enjoyable and made it back for laps 300 to about 350 before we left for good. If I had to describe the race in one word, it would "loud". Think of a really loud rock concert, then substitute music for car engines revving and you know kind of what it is like. So I'm glad I went and I'm thankful to Paul for giving me a ticket, but I don't think I'll be going to another 3 or 4 hour race like this.

Jessie, Me, KC

Jessie, Paul, Me at the pregame cook out

Southern hospitality- read the beer cans

Our second victims in cornhole before the race

Hardcore NASCAR fans

Me and KC at the race

The race

One word- LOUD

After 4 months of training (see previous entry in January to see all the training completed), Jenn, her dad, and I finally had the marathon before us. As the marathon was on a Sunday, Jenn scheduled an extra long weekend and I took off Monday to give time to recover and drive back to NC. Friday after school Jenn and I drove half way to Pittsburgh and stayed the night at a nice Hampton Inn. It was a good way to break up the 7+ hour drive and give us time to relax and rest for the upcoming events.

We arrived on Saturday morning in Pittsburgh and waited for Jenn's parents to arrive. Unfortunately my sister was not there as she recently moved to Canton, OH and was sick the previous day. My grandparents did make it though which was a really great surprise for us.

Once Jenn's parents made it to Pittsburgh we took the T into the city to get to the Expo and pick up our race packets. It was a pretty nice expo with the usual things-shoes, clothes, fuel packs, energy bars/gels/drinks, etc. For our race packet, we did get a nice bag and moisture wicking shirt along with lots of coupons. The shirt was definitely a bonus for us. When we looked around enough, we headed back to my parents' house and relaxed with great company and a great pre-race dinner of chicken on the grill, spaghetti, and burgers.

The race was scheduled to start at 7:30 on Sunday morning, so we caught the T to go into town at 6:15. The people on the T were very much unlike most of the passengers you usually see on the Pittsburgh T. Almost everyone was in good shape. It makes sense as the runners would be the only ones going into town at 6:15, but it was still a bit strange. We made it to the starting line a little after 7:00 and couldn't move up further than about the 5:20:00 grouping. So we would have to make up the time during the run.

When the race started, it took us almost 7 minutes to pass the starting line. Jenn, her dad, and I stayed together during the first mile or so. It was incredibly humid and slow moving during that first mile and so it took us about 11 minutes. Within that first mile, I was sweating like crazy (usually it take 2-2 1/2 miles). So luckily around mile 2 1/2 in the marathon it began to rain which was actually very refreshing. Unfortunately it did not stop raining. The whole time.

The marathon was long (obviously). The memorable moments were running around PNC Park and Heinz Field, running across bridges, running through Station Square, the Southside, Oakland, and back to the Convention Center. After the first mile, I was able to keep up a steady 9 minute mile pace for the next 10 miles or so. Around mile 10, my right hand was half swollen and pruned from the rain and sweat. Around mile 16, my legs died on me, not wanting to be lifted more than a few inches off the ground on every step. Around mile 18, my feet started REALLY hurting from being wet for 3 hours (and running 18 miles). At about mile 20, my band-aids covering my nipples came off (due to the water), so my nipples were once again rubbed raw. I was very proud of myself though. I only stopped jogging briefly to use the bathroom once and walked for a few seconds three times near the end to get water. My half-marathon time was 2:02 and my final time was 4:15, which is an average of 9:45 minute miles. I am pleased enough with my times and my effort to be satisfied to never run another marathon again.

Jenn and her dad had a little rougher time racing. Around mile 10, Jenn's dad was getting dehydrated and cramping up really bad. Jenn stayed with him the whole race, making sure he didn't overdo it. She said they walked a lot on the second half of the race, but they both completed the marathon, which is a feat in itself. Their time was 5:20. Jenn dad is thinking about signing up for another marathon to "redeem" himself. Ridiculous.

The afternoon after the marathon, Jenn, my mom, and I went over to Drew and Brie's new house they had closed on a few days earlier. I know they are both very pleased with the deal they got on their house, as they should be. It is a great house all around. We look forward to visiting again when they have all their furniture and everything set up.

That evening, we had friends Dan, Sarah, Drew, and Brie over to my parents' house for dinner and games. It was a lot of fun catching up. It made me miss the days after senior year when the crew would hang out nearly every day and just play games and goof around.

Overall, we had a very nice trip to PA for the marathon. A little soreness in the legs. My nipples and underarms were rubbed raw from the dampness. I got a black toe. But I also got a marathon medal, so it was worth it.

Now Jenn and I plan on running shorter races. Focusing on building up our 5k speeds and also running some 10ks and half marathons. My goal is to get a less than 23 minute 5k by the end of the summer.