Olympic Trial Spectating

I am exhausted (and I didn't even run!) but just a note to memorialize the day.

This morning J4 and I (and every other runner in Houston) were up early to watch the Olympic Trials.  We were all goggly-eyed as we watched Shalane and Kara run around the corner right in front of us and then do strides back in forth mere feet away as people non-stop snapped camera and cell phone pics of them.  [They are just the tiniest people ever!]  Occasionally J4 would toss his camera to me and I would take pictures of him with other elite runners he recognized (the non-trials competing ones).  We saw two sprinters he is fans of and Brian Sell (3rd place in the trials in 2008).  [Brian wished me luck in my race the next day!]  J4's facial recognition for elite runners is unbelievable.  He was definitely the right person to stand next to at the race as strangers were listening to him reading from flotrack.org's continually updating feed and they were asking him questions about who was in the lead when the runners were out of sight.  He is also someone you want on your side if you're running.  My normally quiet boyfriend will cheer you on by your nickname or the state you're from, chant your college cheer, and/or yell happy birthday (if it's your birthday).  We definitely got a few smiles and chuckles from today's "back of the packers" and it was fun for me to watch the race with someone who knew more than me (or most people there) about the competitors.

Kara and Shalane pre-race (photo credit J4):

The Trials are just so cool to watch b/c you are literally RIGHT THERE and have an upfront and perfect view of the competition.  The loop course is amazing as you see the runners often and with the men's and women's race going on simultaneously there is always lots to watch.  Besides the elites, I really enjoyed watching the runners who were just happy to be competing in the OLYMPIC TRIALS!!  We did see a few tears, of course, from a couple of people who dropped out.

As for my upcoming race: In the food realm J4 has been good to me a I regain my strength from my food poisoning.  Last night my dinner showed up completely fried and he switched dishes with me (I don't eat fried food even when I'm healthy) and right now he is out picking up dinner for us b/c i don't want to walk around anymore before my race.  I am toasted from today.

I can eat more now though, I am getting less and less dehydrated, and a night of good sleep has left me feeling a lot better.  Due to the food poisoning I lost the confidence I had in my ability to run a fast race tomorrow, but I honestly also have a different perspective.  I am SOOO HAPPY to quickly be so far from that low (low) night on the bathroom floor that I am thankful for my health and tomorrow will be a good day.  But no pre-race excuses!  I am certainly going to go out and try my hardest and I am going out at goal pace until my body lets me know otherwise that's a bad idea.

A last note...I am in the first corral tomorrow.  Yup...I was a lot worried about something that turned out to be a non-issue.

Mile 9:

Comments

[Danielle in Seattle]

I'm impressed he can recognize them all so well!