13.1 Pictures

I wasn't always running so smiley though. There were certain times I felt downright miserable and wondered why I was doing this!

13.1

Whew! So glad to be done with this!! And happy the way it ended, although I am sad about the time.

The race was to start at 7am, I got there at 5.40am to find a parking spot nearby. Cold and slightly windy morning that promised to turn out to be a great day. I met a very nice girl at the start who mentors the Fleet Feet Alpharetta running group. She helped calm my nerves so much. I squeezed my way to the middle of the pack and I crossed the line at 7.04am.

My plan was to run-walk. I didn't do the exact 2:1 that is recommended for me; more like run a part of the song walk a part. But it seemed to be good as I was feeling fresh when I crossed the half way mark. I was making the time I was supposed to and still under 13:00 pace. At that pace, I felt that I could even do a 2:55 finish! Sigh ... big un-real dreams.

I guess I started to fall back after mile 8 when the hills started getting more challenging. My biggest challenge in the past has been cramps and IT band issues after 9 miles. Every little twinge in my leg scared me and I took stretching breaks. And at mile 10.5 I took a nice long time to stretch my muscles, I even sat on the sidewalk to stretch out my inner thighs. Luckily, there were quite a few people doing the same, so I didn't feel weird.

Thats when I think I accidentally stopped the Garmin. I realized it was off only after 0.5-0.75 miles, so I don't have the mile splits for the most important last 3 miles.

The last 2 miles were more hilly than should be, or it could just be my feet being tired. I crossed 12 miles and started running strongly again. I knew I couldn't beat 2:55, but wanted to make that 3:00. Guru and the girls were there cheering me at the finish line. I love love the big wide grin both Sudha and Brinda gave me as they saw me running towards the finish.

Really happy that I didn't cramp or have IT band issues (either due to my sports chiro adjustment or due to the right combo of gatorade/water or due to the weather being awesome and me not sweating too much or the run/walk combo or taking time to stretch out at miles 8, 10.5 and 12). But sad and surprised that I didn't break 3hrs. I had thought I would and I was off by 2 whole minutes. I guess I still need to strengthen myself and learn to tackle the last 4-5 miles well.

My final time was 3:02:52.

And I have until Nov 25th (Thanksgiving) to try and shave 3 minutes off my time.

Randoms from the past month

At the Doctor's office (for Sudha's visit).

Yes, she does make weird cute eyes. :))

Poor Sudha. She has this bad lingering cough. The nebulizer cleared out her lungs so much.

A beautiful misty morning at 7.30am when I started on my 8miler at Columns drive. It was eerie and I'm surprised that paranoid me enjoyed running in that mist.

Kids 10k classic on labor day.

Sudha on the trampoline.

With classmate Alex at the race. They ran together for 70% when she stopped to encourage me to run faster (lol). Alex actually won a medal for their age group. Luckily Sudha didn't notice that he had something different :)

This totally cracks me up !! She is one cute personality.

At the Atlanta Zoo.

Wearing all of Sudha's "silly bands" on her hand.

Just chillin ... love this pic !!

Raiding my cereal cupboard :)

Thats the difference between Sudha and Brinda. Sudha asks and waits/whines until we give it to her. Brinda asks, and if we are busy or ignore her, she gets it herself.

A Trip to the "Dinosaur" Museum

From the last time we visited the museum in March

http://smithabarki.blogspot.com/2010/03/tellus-childrens-museum.html

Swamped ... and yet Proud

I've been swamped with work these past 2 months. Yet, I'm proud of myself.

Why? Since I can find 20 things to criticize about myself.

Because,

• After the initial 1 month of madness, I've settled into a routine.
• Other than a few isolated incidents, I've managed to not yell at my kids when everyone is cranky and hungry. I've just let them be cranky/whinny until I've managed to cool off and then taken care of their needs. Everyone is happy that way.
• I've started back my training for the 13.1 on Oct 3rd, and I truly feel happy about it.
• I've managed to juggle work and home (i.e, meet deliverables and deadlines; AND get lunch and kids ready) and I still survive.
• Sudha actually tried carrots this week. She ate them sliced, raw, and dipped in yogurt. That's an achievement on its own!
• I'm taking decent care of my new kitchen! Its clean every other day (or two) and that's a good start.
• I just feel happy today. Thats a good enough reason to feel proud.

And because I am a hard taskmaster and find faults in what I do always

• I need to get the kids out of the door at the correct time. I'm usually late when its me doing morning duty.
• I need variety for lunch other than idli, dosa, pasta and chapathi. And I need that salad for myself.
• I need to do something so my hair doesn't look like a frizzball every morning.

Making Faces

My Little Artist

Sisters Together

Day at the Children's Museum

Guru was recovering from his operation and I took the girls out of his way to the Children's Museum.

Totally tired out and sharing the stroller on the way back to the car

My New Favourite Pic

Dr. Sudha