Run the Reagan...

Don't ever believe a word I say... If my fingers are typing, I am probably lying. Well, not intentionally. Remember when I said I was only doing three races this year? Maybe it was four, can't remember. Anyhow... The call of the race was too much for me today. My first race EVER, or at least EVER since I started actually training for such things, was the Run the Reagan. It all started with a 5k back in 2008 and then last year I ran the half marathon at Run the Reagan. This year I wasn't going to run at all. Not because I didn't want to but more because I had to work. As luck would have it, I was blessed with a blanket of snow and ice yesterday. As luck would also have it, the race directors bumped the start back 4 hours. How could I say no to one of my favorite races that not only would be run in the snow which makes for a great story but also doesn't require me to get up early? You see my point.

I stepped outside this morning to this and it all fell into place from there...



I ate some oatmeal (must share this fab recipe with you sometime...), chipped the ice off my windshield, brushed my teeth and headed out.



The thing with "snow" in Atlanta is that it usually is more ice than snow so driving can be a scary proposition. Thankfully, once I made it out of the neighborhood, the roads were mostly clear and I had almost no trouble at all making it the 15 minutes to the race. (Another reason this is one of my favorites - the short drive time). I only had to pause twice for cars to get pulled out of ditches. I am assuming they landed there last night although it did make me think twice about continuing my journey!

I arrived at the race and was pleasantly surprised at the number of people who showed up. I had envisioned me and 5 other people so my chances of an age group win were looking pretty good in my mind - ha! The race directors did an excellent job of pulling this together. Like I said yesterday EVERYTHING closes here when it snows so it is quite the effort to convince people to leave their homes. This particular race is run on a highway which they close for 24 hours each year just for the race so keeping the roads closed in order to delay the start apparently wasn't an issue. I am so glad I ran it. It was just what I needed to kick the last bit of the crud out of my lungs and get some miles under my belt. I also loved the fist pump I got from a random stranger at the start. Funny, the little things make you happy. :)

I also got to try my new GU flavor, Vanilla Gingerbread. Truthfully, I have had it for a month or so just haven't had a chance to use it. This one is a winner. Not too sickeningly sweet. I think the ginger kind of cuts down the sweetness. Good thing I like it since I have 2 boxes. LOL.



When I got home, I was starving. I really wasn't feeling the usual banana, granola bar, bagel offering at the race - even though they did have cream cheese and peanut butter which was a nice touch. Hubs had not eaten either as he has been glued to the TV for the Daytona NASCAR races this week. Being valentines and all I decided to make something instead of heating up leftovers. Winner, winner, mid-day dinner!

I heated up two of these sausages. I am pretty sure they aren't part of the eat clean diet plan but neither is the tub of popcorn I plan to eat later so ... it is still a work in progress!



With a side of rice, tomatoes, chili peppers and zucchini... This is actually the leftovers so imagine TONS more zucchini in the mix.



and a little kick of this and that. Tabasco in the rice and mustard for the sausage.



It was given two enthusiastic thumbs up from hubster. He never eats zucchini. I am pretty sure he was just REALLY hungry. He said something about me being the best cook ever. Again, just REALLY hungry. Hope you are having a great weekend. I think the race is almost over which means I need to get ready to go see The Wolfman. Talk to you soon!