Out of the Cold and Into the Desert

I’ve lived in Michigan my whole life, so I am well aware of how cold it gets in January. That’s why I said, “F this crap,” and found a race in Phoenix, AZ. Bonus: it was a Rock N Roll Series Race, like Cleveland and Las Vegas.

I needed some fun in the sun. The Holidays were pretty rough with the loss of my father-in-law. I’m not ready to write about him just yet but I will soon. Yeah, a few days in the desert was just what I needed

I flew into Phoenix early so when I got to the hotel it was too early to check in. Do you know what it was NOT too early for? It was not too early to lay out in the sun and catch a tan. So, that is exactly what I did. It may have been only 65 degrees but to a Romeo hoodrat like me, that’s great suntanning weather. Yeah, I’m pretty hardcore, b*tch!

After a couple of hours baking in the desert sun, I checked in into my room. My view was amazing. As I looked out the window at the mountains, I was overcome with emotion at how surreal my life had become. This journey to run 5Ks in all 50 states was taking me to places I’d never been, forcing me to do things I’d never done, and teaching me things about myself I never knew.

I have always thought of myself as an independent woman. Going on these trips and running these races by myself (for the most part) and for myself, however, continues to be a liberating experience. I realize, of course, that I am not going into the jungle with just a plastic jug, a coconut, and a rusty butter knife to try to survive. You know what, though? I’m still proud of what I have accomplished so far and what I will accomplish in the future.

Tacos, Tequila, and Tunes

When I finished reflecting on how awesome I am, I freshened up and headed over to the convention center to pick up my race packet and check out the expo. There were tons of cool things I could buy, from shoes to shirts to shorts, they had everything. I was good, though. I kept my MasterCard holstered.

Since I showed so much restraint at the expo, I decided that I deserved some tacos and tequila. I did a quick search for restaurants nearby and what pops up? Blanco Tacos & Tequila! This was clearly a sign from the Aztec God of reward and nourishment…and booze.

I took an Uber to the restaurant and spent the ride listening to my driver yell at someone in Spanish who was on the other end of his phone call. I was able to deduce, with my limited grasp of that language, that either he wanted steak for dinner or had overdue books at the library.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when arrived at the restaurant. It was in an outdoor fricken MALL!

Let’s explore my situation here. Warm weather, tacos, tequila, and shopping. Seriously??? I don’t know what I did to deserve that but all I can say is, “HELLZ-TO-THE-YEAH!”

At the restaurant, I ordered chips and salsa with queso dip and a Blood Orange Margarita. Holy crap, were they good. I should probably confess something here. I have an addiction. My addiction is to chips and salsa. If left unchecked, I will eat a metric ton of chips and hundreds of gallons of salsa. Do you remember the restaurant chain, Chi-Chis? Yeah, I’m the reason they are no longer in business.

I also ordered some tacos and one or two (or three) more margaritas. Everything was delicious. You could tell that the food was made with fresh, quality ingredients. I was so happy I found that place.*

With my belly full and a good buzz on, it was time to shop. I wandered into William Sonoma and got into a discussion about running with the woman working there. I told her what I was doing and she was crazy excited about it. It’s so nice to get encouragement from complete strangers but I’m still surprised at the enthusiastically positive reactions I get when I tell people about 50 Before 60. It hypes me up to press on with this journey.

My new friend at William Sonoma told me about a wine superstore not far away from the mall called Total Wine & More. O! M! G! This place was the size of a large supermarket and was nothing but wine, beer, and liquor. Aisles and aisles and aisle, as far as the eye could see, stuffed with bottles filled with the Nectar of the Gods. I could have stayed there for hours but my Uber driver was waiting for me, so I just grabbed a bottle of Chardonnay and got the hell out of there.

Uber Driver Spotlight: Tai

My best Uber driver of all my trips so far was the one who picked me up from the mall. He was a cute, young man from Vietnam named Tai (I may have the spelling wrong). First of all, he was nice enough to stop at Total Wine & More on the way to my hotel. That gets a five-star rating right there. He asked what kind of music I would like to listen to, as any good driver would, and I said that I’d love to hear some rap. Yes, this hoodrat loves her some Luda. Tai admitted that he didn’t really know much about rap. This meant that I would have to school him.

I got in the front seat when I came out of the wine store and connected my phone to his radio. We jammed for the rest of the car ride. I had to introduce him to my hometown boys, Kid Rock and Eminem. of course. Then some Ludacris, J-Kwon, and DMX. We had so much fun on that ride dancing in our seats and just jamming to the music. Tai was adorable. He said he was having too much fun to drive any more that night. He was going to go home and “have more fun” with his husband. I didn’t ask for details on what that meant exactly but I assume they were going to play Battleship or something.

Five stars, Tai!

The rest of the night I chilled in my room. It was actually pretty great to just relax, sip some wine, and watch TV. At about 9:00 that night, I realized that I should probably carb up and get some protein for my race the next day. What’s the best way to do that? Who said protein shake? No, sorry. My solution tastes so much better. I ordered a meat lovers pizza and some cheese bread! So yummy! It’s a balanced meal. Protein from the meat, carbs from the crust, and veggies from the sauce. BOOM!

Race Day

The race started at 8:00 am on Saturday. The early start wasn’t a problem because I woke up at 3:00 am (5:00 am Detroit Time). I tried to go back to sleep but it just wouldn’t happen. Yay jetlag! I gave up at about 4:00 am and got out of bed. This is a good time for me to give a shout out to the fine folks at Homewood Suites. Not only do they have nice rooms and friendly staff but they have free coffee available in the lobby 24 hours a day. I greatly appreciated that.

Quick tip: Their Robust blend is amazing and will get things moving in the morning, if you know what I mean.

I got some coffee from the lobby without scaring anyone with my fresh-out-of-bed look. Back in my room, I turned on the TV and enjoyed my coffee. There isn’t much on at 4:30 am unless you are in the market for magic chicken roasters, miracle spring water, or liquid rubber in a can. I did not need any of that so I just drank my coffee and questioned the future of humanity.

After a bit, I showered, got dressed, then went back down to the lobby for breakfast. I don’t like to eat a lot right before a race because I don’t want to have a blowout at the first mile. Just a couple sausage links and toast is perfect. And of course more coffee.

When I finished eating, I ordered an Uber to take me to the race location. The timing was perfect to watch the sunrise over the mountains on the ride. It was breathtaking to watch the sky turn from violet to red to yellow and finally blue. So beautiful.

The race kicked off at a park near Camelback Mountain. It was a Rock N Roll Series race so many people were in costumes or at least fun shirts. I got several compliments on my outfit. I love that shirt. Yes, it is a llama wearing Freddy Mercury’s golden “Rock Soldier” jacket and it says, “LLAMA…JUST KILLED A MAN.”

 

The race course took us past some gorgeous views of the mountains and the city. There were a lot of hills and it was a bit colder than I expected. I didn’t think I ran a good time at all. I found out that here was an app for the race so I could see my results. Guess what? I actually ran my best pace ever! I ran a 10:02 minute mile! That’s more than 20 seconds faster than my previous best. I couldn’t believe it. I had to double check that I actually pulled up my own results. I did pull up mine! I was so happy.

I walked around a little bit and listened to the live band play, then I got an Uber back to my hotel. It had warmed up enough to…yep, you guessed it…lay out in the sun. Come on, how many chances will I get to lay out in January?

Once I was fully baked, I decided to go back to the mall from yesterday. Of course, I hit Blanco Taco and Tequila again. Did I tell you how good those blood orange margaritas were? So. Freaking. Good. Then I did some shopping, of course.

Earlier I looked for places to go in the area and a place called GenuWine popped up, so when I was done shopping, I decided to try it out. I love the concept of this place. They have like 20 bottles of wine in dispensing machines. You are given a card that you slide into a dispenser, pick the wine you want to try, choose the size (2oz, 4oz, or 6oz), and it pours the wine. You can try what ever you want. The card keeps track of what you had so when you’re done you give them the card back and they cask you out. Brilliant. Oh, they also have charcuterie boards that you can order. Love it!

I had a good time trying thge wines, eating meat and cheese, and chatting with people. The day started to catch up with me, though, so I Ubered back to the hotel, packed up, and crashed.

The next morning I said goodbye to Phoenix and flew home. I went straight to the map when I got there and pushed a pin in Arizona.

That’s 7 down and 43 to go!

*Blanco Tacos and Tequila did not compensate me in any way to say those nice things. However, if they want to hook me up with free chips, salsa, tacos, and margaritas, I’ll say all the nice things they want. 

Christmas Trees and a Cute Pittie

I love Christmastime! My house has seven themed Christmas trees. Yes, SEVEN! Does that mean that I love Christmas seven times more than the average person? Yes, it does. Plus there are the lights, decorations, and costumes for our dog.

The best part about this time of year is getting together with family and celebrating traditions like making Christmas cookies and singing carols. Or in my family, eating pasta and yelling. It ain’t Norman Rockwell but it ain’t boring either.

For the past several years, my sister-in-law has hosted an ornament exchange party for friends and family. I had such a good time last year, I was really excited to go this year. Now, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tim and Lora, live in North Carolina. I figured since I would be there anyway, I might as well find a race to run and knock out NC.

Party Plans and Racing Camps

The Huntersville Holiday Run took place on Friday, December 7, 2018. I flew out Thursday so I could visit and help with preparations for the ornament exchange. Lora and I have been best friends since high school, so that meant food and wine would be involved. And it was.

After having Mexican food (and margaritas), we came back to Lora’s house, cranked up the Christmas music and finished decorating (and drank wine). The race was the next day, so I didn’t go too crazy but we definitely had a good time like we always do. Lora is more than my “sister-in-law” she is a full sister to me, so it meant a lot that I was able to spend the time with her and that she would go see me race the next day.

The race was Friday night. We spent the day shopping and preparing for the ornament exchange. Then, I put on my costume. Since it was a holiday race, I dressed “Christmas Carol.” I know. I’m adorable.

 

Just about everyone at the race was there to have fun so I had a blast walking around, talking to people, and taking pictures. There were a lot of great costumes, which I love to see.

It’s funny to see the camps of people who run these 5Ks. You’ve got the very serious runners who are there to “win the race” and come in first place. No costumes for those folks. No smiles either. They are “mentally preparing” for the race. I try NOT to think about the race too much beforehand because I’ll remember how much my legs and ass are going to hurt afterward.

At the other end of the spectrum are the people who are strictly there for the fun. They don’t care about race times or rankings. Many of them are half in the bag before the race even starts. Others are walking with dogs or kids in strollers. The race is really just an excuse to spend some time outside with friends and family. And eat tacos from a taco truck.

The largest group are in the middle. I count myself with these people. Yeah, we like to run a decent time, maybe even have a slight competitive need to rank near the top, but we are going to have a ton of fun doing it. And, yes, we are also there for the taco truck.

Christmas Carol-ina

This race was really special for me because when I crossed the finish line, I had a posse cheering me on. Lora and Tim were there with some other friends, Angie and Joe. It meant so much to me that they were there screaming like idiots for me. I love those guys!

Once I caught my breath and had some water, we walked to the Hickory Tavern where the rest of my North Carolina Fan Club were waiting. I was overwhelmed by all the support. I felt like a celebrity, except you know, without the fame, fortune, and leaked sex tape.

 

 

Party Time Then Home

On Saturday, we had the ornament exchange. What a party. In the interest of protecting the good names of all involved, all I’ll say is that at least one of us ended up on the floor…while singing Christmas songs.

My original plan was to fly home on Sunday, but a HUGE snow storm was barrelling down on the Carolinas so I flew out Saturday night instead. It turns out it was a good thing I did. They got 12 inches of snow! That shut down pretty much everything in the area.

I got home and stuck the pin in state number six! That leaves 44 to go!

Vegas Baby!

This race was a big one. It was the furthest away from home so far and I went by myself. I am running these races, not just to prove that I can run 5Ks in all 50 states, but to reassert my independence for myself. I know I can handle doing for others, I do it all the time. I am running 50 before 60 for me. This Las Vegas trip was the first one to really test that.

SPOILER ALERT:  I nailed it!

My flight to Vegas left Detroit at 6:00am. I don’t know why, on God’s Green Earth, I booked that time but I did. I am a very nervous flier. I like to get to the airport a couple hours early so I can relax before strapping into a giant metal tube and defying the laws of nature by flying. That meant I would have to get up at like 2:00am so I could get ready, drive thirty minutes to the airport, park my car, shuttle to the terminal, have a TSA agent get to second base with me, grab a coffee, and chill all by 4:00am.

Then, a great idea hit me. I would get a hotel room near the airport and save myself some precious sleep time. Genius? Perhaps, but I’m too humble to say that. It worked out great! I got some extra sleep and still made it to the gate with plenty of time to chillax.

The woman sitting next to me on the flight, it turns out, was a distribution rep for Atwater Beer. If you don’t know about Atwater, they are a Detroit-based beer brewery. They were one of the companies that lead the resurgence of microbreweries in the Motor City.

She and I talked about how great it is to see Detroit experience a rebirth. I moved into the city more than 20 years ago, when Detroit was still synonymous with decay, poverty, and murder. Over the past few years, the city has become known for great restaurants, trendy nightspots, cool shopping, and of course beer and spirit makers. It is a testament to the faith and determination that drives the people of Detroit.

In Sin City

I stayed at the Golden Nugget, which is just off the strip. My room had an amazing view of the mountains and desert. I started to feel like I was in a Martin Scorsese movie. Like I was waiting to whack some rat who couldnt keep his mouth shut then bury him in the desert.

What? You got a problem with that?

I didn’t think so.

I unpacked and put my stuff away, then it was time to get something to eat. For some reason, I was craving an omelet, so I went to the hotel restaurant to see what they had in the way of eggy goodness. They did not disappoint. I got their Mexican omelet and it was delicious. Whoever had the idea to put avocado on an omelet is a culinary genius! I tip my whisk to you sir or madam.

After I wolfed down my breakfast, I went to the convention center to pick up my race packet and check out the expo. This is when I found out that 50,000 people would be running in the events that weekend. The 5K was Saturday night and had about 6,000 people running in it. Then Sunday was the half and whole marathons. It was crazy. People came from all over the world to participate in the races.

I got my packet then took a walk around the expo. I wasn’t looking for anything specific but, you know me, if I find a cute shirt it’s going home with me. Well, I found one. It says “Running is My Happy Hour.”

That is so true. Running really does make me happy. It doesn’t have to be a race. Just running around my neighborhood is one of my favorite things to do. I put on my headphones, rock out to some great music, and leave stress and worries in the dust. It’s like meditating. I don’t think about anything but what I am doing at that exact second.

BONUS: It’s making my legs and ass look great. I think I might sell hats:

The Concert

One of my favorite singers is a small woman with a big voice who comes from Canada. No, not Shania Twain. Not Sarah McLachlan either. Not even Justin Bieber! No, I am speaking of the incomparable, Celine Dion.

Ms. Dion, or Cece as I and her friends call her, is doing a residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Guess who scored a ticket? No, not Shania Twain…OK, I did that joke already. The answer is ME! I got to see Celine Dion in concert Friday night! Amazing does not do justice to describe the show, but it’s the best I’ve got.

She opened with my favorite song of hers, Because You Loved Me, so right from the start I was crying. That song makes me feel so many things, but the strongest is that it reminds me of my mom. I’ve said this in other posts but I’ll say it again. My mom is the strongest woman I know and she has supported me through everything I’ve done…

…And here I go with the waterworks again…

I wept through most of the concert actually. Seeing that show made my entire trip. I could have gone home right after and been perfectly happy but I still had a race to run.

Race Day

This one was a night race, so I had time to kill on Saturday. You know what that means? I got to lay out in the sun and get my tan back! Woohoo!

After a couple hours in the sun, I wandered around a little bit, did some shopping, and got something to eat (surprised?). I wish I could tell you more but, as they say, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. OK, napping and more sunbathing. That’s what happened.

Of course, I had to have to my pre-race meal, which was lunch for this race. Normally, I like to have chicken piccata the night before, but it’s good to switch things up a little bit. Especially if you can’t find a place that serves chicken piccata. I went with the next best thing instead. Chicken wings and wine! YES!

Am I an Olympian? No.

Am I OK with that? Your damn right I am!

I’d much rather eat chicken wings, coney dogs, and pepperoni pizza than run across the country carrying a torch. With my luck, I’d trip and fall, and set a small village on fire. When you think about it, those chicken wings probably saved lives.

There was so much energy in the air for the race. Almost 6000 runners and their supporters filled the streets along the course. People were dressed up and there was neon everywhere. There was no doubt that this race took place in Las Vegas.

The route took us along part of The Strip. It was unlike any of the previous races, which took placed in parks or through city streets. This was the Las Vagas Strip! An oasis of buildings and lights in the middle of the desert. I couldn’t help but be pumped up. Plus it was a Rock-n-Roll series run, so it was like a giant party with live bands people everywhere.

I wanted to stick around after the race was over, but man was I exhausted. My pillow called to me from the hotel and I answered it. The next morning I flew home and stuck a pin in Nevada!

That’s FIVE done now. Ten percent! Holy crap!

Next up will be North Carolina! Stay tuned.

“There’s 106 miles to Chicago, we’ve got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark out, and we’re wearing sunglasses.”  –Elwood Blues, The Blues Brothers

Windy City Wicked Wine Run

Fun is the word of this race. What a trip. It started on the train and just rolled on for the whole weekend.

Chicago is not that far from Detroit but I decided that, instead of driving, I’d take the train. And I am so glad that I did. I hadn’t taken a train trip since I was in high school, so I was looking forward to just sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying the ride…by that I mean napping, reading, and drinking Bloody Marys.

My train left Dearborn just after 7:00 A.M. and as we hit Westland (about ten minutes after boarding) I heard the unmistakable POP of a champaigne cork leaving the bottle. I perked right up and yelled, “I know that sound.” Turns out it was the ladies sitting behind me making mimosas. I figured if they started I could too, so I got out my bloody mary mix and tiny vodka bottles. Let the party begin!

That five-hour trip went pretty fast, so before I knew it we were pulling into Union Station. A friend of mine told me that there are lockers you can rent there for your luggage. My plan was to drop my bags in one of those and then wander around Chicago for a while. Well, after looking around for these lockers, I finally asked a worker and found out that the lockers were removed during a recent renovation.

There was no way that I was going to haul my bags all over Chicago, so I called for an Uber and went to my hotel. I stayed in the suburbs because it was close to where the race was being held. It was also half the price of a hotel in the city. After checking in, I relaxed for a few in my room (drank wine) then headed back downtown.

Uber Driver Spotlight: Boring Dude

The guy who drove me from the train station to the hotel gets a spotlight but for the wrong reasons. He was as exciting as watching a PowerPoint presentation about the drying characteristics of enamel vs. latex paint. We drove in silence for 35 minutes! That is torture for me. You know how sharks need to keep swimming or they drown? Yeah, similar for me with talking.

I’ve been to Chicago a few times so I knew exactly where I wanted to go for lunch. The Grand Lux Cafe is one of my favorite places. I had to go there for my pre-race chicken piccata meal. They did not disappoint. In fact, they introduced me to one of my new favorite drinks. The Blood Orange Martini.

Blood Orange Martini

This recipe will make two martinis (it’s up to you whether you share)
– 4 ounces Vodka
– 2 ounces Blood Orange Juice
– 0.5 ounce Cointreau (or Triple Sec)
– 0.5 ounce simple syrup

After lunch, I needed to do some shopping. Have you ever been to an Eataly store? If not, you HAVE to go! I’m Italian, so if I’m within six miles of one I black out and wake up in the cheese section creepily sniffing some parmigiano-reggiano.

The place is a piece of paradise on earth for my people. They have everything from fresh meat to cheese to wine to utensils to soaps. That last one is what I went for. They have an Italian soap that I just love. It smells amazing. No, it does NOT smell like olive oil, garlic, and chianti. Although, I would buy it if it did.

I made it out of Eataly and just wandered around a bit, then went back to the hotel. I was snuggled in bed early to rest up before race day.

Race Day

I woke up craving Starbucks like the Kardashians crave attention. No surprise, there was one just a few miles away (a Starbucks, not a Kardashian). I got my standard Fall drink, a Pumpkin Spice Latte with just two pumps of pumpkin. I know, there is something powerfully wrong with me. Who gets only two pumps of pumpkin in their PUMPKIN Spice Latte? I’m a weirdo, what do you want from me?

I stepped out of Starbucks and immediately smelled something delicious cooking. Like a Blue Tick Hounddog, I let my nose lead me around. I made it a few doors from Starbucks before a different calling grabbed me. Malloy’s Finest Wine & Spirits. When I walked in, I swear I heard the Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s Messiah.

The owner’s name was Michael (like my son and husband, so easy to remember). I told him about my 50 before 60 goal and this angel of a man said I must have “what, 15 years to get it done.” I almost kissed him right there in front of the fire-extinguisher-shaped vodka bottles (yes, those are real things).

Then he took me over to a table where he introduced me to FitVine. It’s a wine with less sugar and sulfites. So it’s healthy! Like a protein shake or a kale smoothy. But you know, WINE! I got a bottle, of course, and tried it later. Not only is it good for you* but it tastes good too.**

I spent some time talking with Michael about wine. He was so knowledgeable and so nice. You could tell that he genuinely loved talking to people and giving them great service. I am definitely going back to that place the next time I visit.

Time to Run

After grabbing a bite to eat at Jersey Mike’s (that’s where the delicious smell came from, by the way), I chillaxed at the hotel for a bit, then got ready to run. I wore my wine tutu and “Run All the Miles. Drink All the Wine” shirt. It’s my signature outfit. Then, I got an Uber to take me to the race.

Uber Driver Spotlight: Rocko

I was really amped up for this race and I think Rocko, the driver, could tell. He asked what I was dressed for and I told him. It’s still strange to me how excited people get about my journey. I appreciate it but it still catches me off guard sometimes.

Rocko, it turns out, plays tennis. I used to play tennis too! It’s been a few years but it was nice to talk about playing. Rocko encouraged me to get back on the court. You know what? I think I might. Thanks, Rocko! Five Stars, buddy!

This race event was so much fun. You could just feel that everyone was there to have a good time. The race was sponsored by Capo Creek Ranch Vineyards, so there were plenty of tasting opportunities. I was in pre-race mode, and I have a strict rule about drinking wine before a race. No more than two glasses.

I met a bunch of great people as I walked around before the race. That’s nothing new. The people I meet at these races are always so welcoming and fun.

 

There was one guy who took having fun and drinking to a new level. As we lined up at the starting line, I saw this guy walking up and down the corals drinking wine right from the bottle and hyping up the runners. I had my earbuds in and my music playing but I still heard this dude yelling. I assume he was either there to support a runner or he just really likes watching 5Ks.

The course was pretty flat and easy. I ran to my AC/DC playlist again, which got me pumped up and kept me going. I was a bit disappointed to find out that they were not tracking times or paces but I would guess that I ran about a 10:30 mile. It felt really good, especially when I crossed the finish line and someone immediately handed me a glass of wine. I’ll say it. Every race should end that way.

I was starving after the race, so I walked over to take advantage of the food trucks that lined the field. The decision was pretty easy once I saw that there was a taco truck. As I stood in line, I heard a familiar sound. You guessed it! The Loud Yeller was just a few feet away, surrounded by a group of older women, and pouring wine in their cups. For the sake of the women, I hope it was not the same bottle he drank from earlier. For his liver’s sake, I hope it was the same.

After I finished my tacos, I got an Uber back to the hotel. I was wiped out from the race, so I just had a couple of glasses of wine in my room and watched TV.

Uber Driver Spotlight: Brittany

I felt a kinship with my driver, Brittany, right away. I think it’s because we’re both moms. She told me about her kids with the happiness and pride that only a mom can have. To be honest, I was a little jealous of her. My kids are in college and about to start their own lives. She still has all those special, growing-up moments ahead. Cherish them all, Brittany. Five stars, Supermom!

I got up crazy early to make it to the train station for my trip back home. I slept for most of that ride, no Bloody Marys or Mimosas that time. Just coffee…OK, yeah, with a little bit of Bailey’s. When I got home, it was automatic this time. I went right to the map and stuck the pin in Chicago.

Holy sh*t! I’m doing this! Four down!

Next up…Sin City!!!

*I’m not a doctor or a nutritionist so this might not be true.
**I am an expert in drinking wine so this is true.

Something hit me after the Detroit race. It’s kind of a downer so I didn’t write about it then, but now I think I should. I have eight years to run a 5K in every state and I know it will take me close to that long to do it. The sad thing is that I have a lot of cheerleaders on my side who may not be around to see me finish. That breaks my heart. At the same time, it is a great motivator to get out there and get it done.

This came up because my mom told me she was worried that she won’t be here when I stick that last pin in the map. We all have moms, we know how they work. Could she have just asked to go with me to a race or two? Absolutely, but toying with my emotions was much more fun for her.

I said, “Of course you’ll be around to see me finish.”

I realized, though, that she may have a point. Just as she planned, then, I asked her to come with me to one of my races. She agreed  and laid out her terms:

1) No flying. It had to be within driving distance.
2) Driving distance is less than five hours.
3) And I quote, “I want my own damn hotel room because you snore.”

This brings me to race number three.

I didn’t know what my next race would be after Cleveland, so I scoured the internet to find one. There is a great website called Running in the USA that lists races of all kinds by location, by date, and by length. So, on that site, I found the perfect race. It was in Indiana and was called the Vineyard Trail 5K because the course ran through a vineyard. Oh, and every runner got a free wine slushy at the end! Even better. I thought, hey, my mom is a bigger wino than me and this race fits all of her demands. I’ll bring her. Thus, I found my next race and her plan came to fruition.

We drove down to Fort Wayne, IN Friday morning. When we got there, we went straight to Fleet Feet to pick up my runner packet. Since we were there, I figured I might as well look around at what they have on sale. I’m glad I did because this is where I found my infamous running shirt that says, “Run All the Miles. Drink All the Wine.” It sums me up perfectly.

When we arrived at the hotel, we had priorities. We both needed a cocktail and I needed the biggest steak to be found in Fort Wayne. After I dropped my stuff in my room, I went to mom’s room to have a cocktail. She was already on her second one. Now, I hope you all understand where I get it from.

Cocktails done, so it was time for food. We asked around the hotel for some restaurant recommendations.

Quick Tip: When asking for recommendations, be specific about what you want. Simply asking for a big piece of meat did NOT return the suggestions I’d hoped for.

Eventually, we found a steakhouse where I had a big-ass steak (protein), mac & cheese (carbs), green beans (dietary fiber), and of course, wine (um…fruit? Yeah, fruit). Then it was back to the hotel for some mother-daughter time (more cocktails). We didn’t stay up late, though, because the raced started at 8:00 the next morning.

Muddy Race Day

I had fun, don’t get me wrong, but this race was rough. The organizers told us at check-in that if we were worried about getting a fast time, we were going to hurt ourselves. There were hills, mud puddles, muddy hills, ugh! I had to use little trees sometimes to pull myself up some of the hills. There were mud puddles so deep that the water came up to my knees. Now, I’m a tall gal and I’m mostly legs, so those were some deep puddles.

I mean, was I running a 5K or training for jungle warfare?

I got through it, though. It was really nice to cross the finish line and see my mom there supporting me.

I went over to her, she looked at me and said, “Oh my God! You’re so red!”

“I just ran 3 miles, mom,” I replied.

“Are you sure your heart is OK for this?” she said.

“Are you serious,” I said, “Let’s just get the free wine slushy.”

“I’m going to buy you a hot dog,” mom said, “You just don’t look good,”

That’s my support system, people. Now, do you see why I drink?

Inspirational New Friends

One of the best things about doing these races is meeting people and hearing their stories. I met Deb and Vicky at this race and we became fast friends. I told them about my goal of 50 before 60 and they were so encouraging. But then they told me why they run.

They lost a dear friend to cancer. They wanted to do something to honor her memory so they started running together. They don’t do it for a fast time or a shiny medal. They do it as a way to accomplish something together. At each mile of the race, they stop and high-five each other as a way to celebrate the journey. Deb and Vicky are such an inspiration. I love these ladies already.

Back Home

We drove home after the race. It’s my habit now to go right to the map and put a pin in my race, so that’s exactly what I did.

This trip was emotional for me. It meant so much to have my mom with me. She is one of the strongest women I know and is my hero. Thank you, mom, for teaching me so much. How to be strong, how to be funny, and how to mix a drink.

The Devil went down to Cleveland

Linda: I’ve never ridden in a pick-up truck before.
Anthony: I’ve never driven the Devil before.

Here we are at race number two. I guess I am really doing this. It’s crazy and exciting.

My first race was literally just a couple of miles from my home in Detroit. I didn’t go too far away for this one either. Cleveland is only about a two-and-a-half-hour drive away (if you don’t stop 17 times to pee).

The race started at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I was so pumped because I love music. My taste is eclectic but my roots are in Rock and Roll. I grew up on bands like AC/DC, Queen, and Aerosmith. I’m still coming to terms with the idea that they are now considered “Classic” Rock. That just ain’t right.

I drove to Cleveland Saturday morning, dropped my stuff at the hotel, then took an Uber to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I did NOT want to deal with parking downtown. I hate parking more than Kim Kardashian hates turnstiles (think about it).

Uber Driver Spotlight: Steve

Steve picked me up at the hotel and took me to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was friendly and talkative, which means he and I got along just fine. It felt really good when I told him about my 50 Before 60 plan and he got excited for me. He said that he had a similar dream to visit every major league baseball stadium in the US. He then told me, proudly, about how he had been kicked out of Fenway.

Steve, you see, is from Brooklyn. While at a game in Boston, he got into a heated exchange with a Red Sox fan. The man foolishly compared the New York Yankees to a pile of poo. In order to defend the honor of his beloved team, Steve replied by chucking a hot dog at the loud-mouth’s head. Steve has a good arm and pin-point accuracy, so he hit his target dead on. A security guard saw what happened and escorted Steve from the park.

I’m going to use Uber a lot throughout this journey and I hope all of my drivers are as entertaining as Steve. Five stars, buddy!

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was close to a religious experience for me. I saw exhibits of the Rock Gods I’ve idolized for years. It was surreal to stand inches away from instruments played by Hendrix and ZZ Top.

Oh, and the MTV exhibit! It took this 1980s girl right back to all those afternoons spent watching videos by Prince, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, and Debbie Gibson (don’t judge me).

For you younger readers, way back in the day, MTV was kind of like YouTube. It’s how we watched the videos of our favorite bands. No, we couldn’t watch what we wanted on demand. We had to sit through a lot of crap in order to see the good stuff. You kids don’t know how good you’ve got it.

Oh! That’s why my music is called “Classic” Rock. Yep. Makes sense now.

I hit the gift shop of course. I wanted to get an AC/DC shirt to run in, so I asked the clerk where to find them.

“What about an AC/DC body suit,” she said.

“No way,” I replied, “I would need the jaws of life to get that thing out of my ass crack.”

The lady just shook her head and lead me back to the shirts where I found exactly what I was looking for.

I pried myself away from the hall of fame and went in search of dinner. Along the way, I passed by FirstEnergy Stadium, where the Cleveland Browns play. I was surprised to find a statue of Jim Brown out in front. I loved him in the movie I’m Gonna Git You Sucka! Did you guys know he played football too? Crazy!

Anyway, I found a nice chophouse and settled in for my pre-race dinner. Read my post for the Detroit race and you’ll learn that I don’t follow your typical race regimen. I’m Italian, so I love food and I love wine. I run so that I can have both as often as possible.

Chicken piccata is one of my favorite dishes and this place served up some of the best. I was starving so I woofed it down in like five bites. I’m pretty sure the faster you eat, the less time calories and fat have to stick with you. That’s just science. Trust me on this. I have a biology degree.

This is where the night got crazy. After finishing my dinner, I Ubered back to the hotel and was in bed by 9:30. Yeah! I’m a party animal. Buckle in!

I was so amped up the morning of the race. The 5K started off at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There was music blaring from giant speakers getting all of us hyped up to run. Maybe it was because I was there by myself, but I felt the comradery of everyone more strongly than I’d noticed at other races. It felt like a big family there to have fun. What a great vibe.

The course of the race took us through the area around the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It was nice and flat with no surprises. I was very happy with my performance:

Time to finish: 32.18 minutes
Pace: 10.24-minute mile
Rank in age bracket: 9 out of 46

I should say at this point that even though I pay attention to my time and stats, I do not run just for the time and performance. For me, it is about the experience. It is a time to be in the moment. A chance for me to do something exclusively for me. I am not running for anyone else. Don’t get me wrong, I love the support you all show me and if my running inspires you to get out there and do something for yourself, I say, “Hell yeah! Good for you!” But do it for you, just like I do it for myself. The journey is yours. It doesn’t belong to anyone else.

After the race, I was dying for Starbucks. Luckily, we are blessed to live in a country where you are never more than two blocks away from one. It felt so good to relax for a few minutes and sip my coffee. It’s the little things, ya know. Also, I had just run 3.1 miles, so it just felt good to sit.

With my unwinding done, I got an Uber and headed back to the hotel to pack up and go home.

Uber Driver Spotlight: Antonio

Antonio arrived in a pick-up truck. Now, I know you are going to find this hard to believe, especially since I grew up in Romeo, MI, but I had never ridden in a pick-up truck before. It’s also important for you to picture what I was wearing: Guitar pants, leopard print AC/DC tank top, and devil horns.

I opened the door and said, “I have never ridden in a pick-up truck before.”

Antonio replied without missing a beat, “I’ve never driven the devil before.”

I knew we would get along just fine and I was right. He was from Atlanta and was a big football fan, so of course, we talked football the whole ride. He was sure that the Falcons would have a good year. I told him that I had no faith in the Lions. Sorry, I’ve lived with the Lions too long to get my hopes up.

Antonio dropped me off at the hotel and wished me luck with my races. Thanks, Antonio. Five Stars, buddy!

I packed up the car and got on the road back to Detroit. This should come as no surprise, I was starving about halfway home so I stopped and got a calzone. This thing was as big as my daughter when she was born. I had to two-hand it and grease ran down my chin, which made driving difficult. It was so good though. Totally worth it.

When I got home I went straight to the map and pushed the pin in Cleveland. That’s two down!!!

What’s next? Stay tuned to find out.

One down. Only 49 more to go

The adventure is underway and I could not be more excited about it. I barely slept the night before the race because my adrenaline was pumping so hard. But a midnight ham sandwich and a couple glasses of chardonnay got me through it.

Like any undertaking, that first step (literally) is the hardest part. You can plan to do something, tell people you’re going to do it, buy stuff you’ll need to do it, but until you actually take that first step it’s just something you might do. Now that this first race is in the books, my 50 Before 60 journey is something I am actually doing and that feels great!

Detroit is where my heart is

The race was called the Ice Cream Sundae 5K and was held in Detroit. Yeah! It was in my city and there was free ice cream at the end? Sign me up! No brainer.  The race was held on Belle Isle…on a Sunday. Very clever. If you’re not familiar with it, Belle Isle is one of the gems of the city. It’s an island park in the Detroit River with an aquarium, botanical gardens, nature center, and a ton more. It’s a beautiful place to run.

It was really important for me to run the first race in Detroit. I grew up north of the city on the mean streets of Romeo, MI (yes, where Kid Rock is from). We lived in constant fear of being trapped on the road behind a tractor — in a no passing zone. NOOOOO! I was one of the lucky ones who made it out. I lost a lot of friends to cow tipping accidents.

For the past 17 years, I have lived in Detroit. Not in the suburbs like a lot of people who claim to be from Detroit. No, I am an actual Detroiter. I love this city, so I had to represent the “D” to start things off.

Love, Support, and Bitching

This race was extra special because my daughter, Kendall, ran it with me. It was her first 5K ever! I can’t describe how much it meant to have her there at the beginning with me, even if she did bitch and moan the whole time. Before it even started she threatened to just go home at the sound of the pistol. But she hung in there and made it to the end. I am so proud of her for doing it. The highlight of the race for me was seeing Kendall do a cartwheel across the finish line. I love that kid.

The support I have gotten from family, friends, and even strangers when I tell them about my goal has filled me with inspiration. I cannot thank you all enough. I will take all of the encouragement (and wine) I can get along the way, so please keep it coming (especially the wine).

Not a typical process

If you ask anyone who knows me they will tell you:
1) I have no filter between my brain and my mouth
2) Your outside voice is my inside voice
3) I am far from ordinary

That last one is obvious when you look at my pre-race rituals.

The night before this race I ate pasta for dinner. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “But Linda, all runners carb up with pasta the night before a race.” OK, sure. Do all runners wash it down with a glass or three of chardonnay? I didn’t think so. #drinkingoutsidethebox

The morning of the race, I kept it light with peanut butter toast and coffee. No wine…I swear. I also peed like eight times. That is very important, by the way. Always pee before a race. If I don’t go right before that gun goes off, I can almost guarantee that 2.5 miles into it I will piss my pants. Sorry to everyone behind me, but you should have brought a towel with you.

Music is probably the most important part of running a 5K, at least for me. Since this race was all about representing Detroit, I went with my boys Bob Seger, Eminem, and of course Kid Rock. Can you imagine that concert? OMG! Anyway, they rocked my run and kept me on a good pace.

I was pretty happy with my stats for the race:

Time to finish: 32.36 minutes
Pace: 10.44-minute mile
Rank in age bracket: 12 out of 74

When I got home, I pushed the first pin in my 50 Before 60 map. This map hangs in my kitchen to remind me, several times a day, of the goal I am working towards — and that it’s OK to have a second bowl of pasta.

I pushed that first pin in Detroit, smiled a satisfied smile, then made a Bloody Mary. Hey, don’t judge me. I deserved it.

Next race is in Cleveland, OH so…

WATCH OUT CLEVELAND, HERE I COME!