Did someone say "Beer Run"?

Comeback Week continued...


Nothing like a good beer run to start the day off right….It’s not what you think, although as all 57 of us gathered this morning for our run option, some that had not heard that term “beer run” before were wondering…
It’s the nickname of the route that takes you outside of Bryan Park and past the beer distributor’s warehouse –thus, beer run.
So I got up this morning at my typical 4:13am - yes, 4:13am because I am obsessive-compulsive about odd numbers and 13 is my lucky number and because I have to be one of the first, if not the first, people at workout 5:45am workout.
I woke up easily and quickly and jumped out of bed, tried to wake the Hub, grabbed my robe and the fur kids and headed down for the morning temperature check! Yay me, shorts day! This excited me because I was already feeling good channeling Sunday’s awesome run and deeming this my comeback week, had I had to wear pants it would have totally put a damper on the day.
I grabbed the bulgur wheat from the fridge, threw a bowl in the microwave, mixed up my mini Accelerade and guzzled it down then headed up stairs to get dressed.
Poor Bob was back to sleep and sawing some serious wood, and so I wasn’t going to bother him again, so I let him sleep.
This day was a good one, I could tell and called for some pink action for the run. I love wearing something of color to SealTeam because almost everyone wears all black or navy blue clothing and I like standing out.
So my pink and black Nike tempo shorts and the hot pink Nike zip up won! It’s 38 degrees out so I don’t need a thermal or gloves today.
I giddily slipped on my pink no-show Nike Dri-Fit socks (this is beginning to sound like a Nike add), kissed Hubs goddbye and tiptoed downstairs and out the door! I was slightly irritated that my second bathroom stop this moring had me 2 minutes off my normally planned departure and I may not be the first one to the park, but I decided to not let it phase me…not during Comeback Week!
As the members started gathering in the parking lot before workout, I noticed how much clothing everyone had on.
It’s 38 degrees people – and once you warm up it will feel like 58!
Anyhoo, so they called out run option and we lined up and took a head count then off we went!
The Beer Run!
The Beer Run!
I was so excited – I had been requestng the Beer Run for weeks!
I started my Garmin, mumbled “Comeback Week” and off I went. Per usual I could hear my footsteps over all other 56 runners.
Bam bam, bam bam…everyone says they hear me before they see me. I noticed that the guy running one step behind me was only taking one step for every two of mine - oh to have long stems!
Towards the back of the park...past the spooky shelter (eeks!) out to the suddivision...what? What is this pace? I couldn't believe itI was going faster than my usual slow-poke pace! Yay me!
Down the road past Cadmus and then, what? The Beer Run hill? Got it...
I love hills, I love passing someone on a hill - ha - eat my dust...
In the shadows I spied CM's leg brace and shadow outline. He is right there, I can catch him! And there is LO, speedy woman...got her. Passed  a few more and then settled in, I had this.
Once I realized PJ was in front of me I decided to encourage him to keep me going - "Keep it up PJ, you are pulling my pace, dont' slow down", and just like a teammate does, he didn't let me down. There we were, running in the "zone", pushing and pulling each other and loving it.
Two rounds of the Beer Run hill, two rounds of the Bryan Park entrance hill (encouragement from RM, CC and AM) and then off into the park for the final push!
Two more big hills and I am done! I looked my watch and then looked up and saw SSB walking! How deflating to see that. I yelled to her to push through and she started up running again. That was it, that was all I needed to get my final surge...I didn't slow down and I felt amazing!
Beer Run done - 5.76 miles in 50 minutes! Not amazing but enough for me!
Comeback Week continues!
Run safe, run happy!
-d

PS – PJ called me a cheerleader with a cattle prod AND I was the second one to the park this morning…hopeful to regain 1st place status tomorrow!