Gulf Coast Half Marathon

I'll wait to give the full race report until the official pictures come back, but I will tell you that the race went well.  I accidentally came within 1 minute & 5 seconds of my half marathon PR.  Seriously.  This was definitely an accident.

My plan was to take it nice & easy.  A couple reasons why:

1.  The weather was hot and muggy.  A bank flashed 74 degrees as we arrived before sunrise.  Felt a smidge like doing a duathlon with both the swim & run at the same time.  Besides, this was intended merely as a training run for Nashville.  Don't go crazy.  Just do the miles.

2.  My Garmin decided to not turn on this morning.  This is the second time it's done this ever.  Last time was the Little Rock Marathon.  I even checked to make sure it was charged last night, so I have no effing clue what happened and am kinda pissed since it's only 7 months old.  It wouldn't even turn on for a second to show me it was a dead battery (that is, until after the race.)
Saved

3.  I was in costume.  Sorta.  Not a full costume, but Goldilocks & I found some killer $1 bunny ears at Walmart that were too good to pass up.  Added to this, we made some clever signs to pin on our backs.  It was a big hit:

Goldilocks & I

The ears were kinda a pain to keep steady until 3-4 miles in when my hair was nice & sweaty - gave it a little grip.  Let me just say that there is nothing so gratifying as passing a ton of people when you're in costume and they're not.  Plus, on an out-and-back course, it's a huge boost to see the smiles on people's faces as they catch sight of the ears.  You can't help but smile yourself.

Ever run in costume or get a boost from someone who did?

Double fisting

Nope.  Not alcohol.  Just my favorite hot weather treat.

Not to rub it in for all you Northerners (my parents are still toughing out 30 degree weather) but down here in New Orleans we managed to catapult directly from winter into summer.  As per usual.  We've had sunshine, highs in the 80s and humidity of 4783%.  It's lovely.  The good thing is that you will never be salt overloaded.  In fact, you lose about 5 lbs everyday until your remember that you haven't had anything to drink all day and decide to rehydrate.

But I have a secret weapon.  When it's crazy hot out and I have a long run I don't want to do, I dangle a carrot.  Ok... not really a carrot.  Even better:  POPSICLES!  And not just any popsicles... they have to be the real fruit kind.  (Sorbet also works in a pinch.)  If I know I have them in my freezer, they can get me through a run.  Today, just when I wanted to quit my 18 miler, the mere thought gave me that extra oompf.

Mmmm is for motivation.

DE-licious.
Yellow arrows:  proof this is post-run.
Popsicles > Shower