IRON this ...

This morning at 9am I braved the 45 degree temp and ran my little REDLADEE heart out..heh.

The night before I had indulged with an O'douls and good convo with my homiez at Oregano's down the way. All day I had been battling a head cold that was trying to ensnare me in coughs and itchy throat, but I said no to its flirtations and acted like I didnt' hear its lines.

However, I didn't realize that Oregano's was outdoors with lil illy space heaters that did good for the top on part of my head, but did nothing for my lowerback or legs that were starting to ache. And like a dumbass, I had worn a shirt that was slightly cropped so that my back was exposed to the cold draft and my ass was numb. In the hopes of some sort of style, I had also worn a jacket that was more about "look" than about "warmth." I also didn't realize that the night had gone on without me and it was 11:30 when we departed.

Good nite with the homiez, bad though for my scheduled 10 miler the next morning. Oh well, I felt ready and able., so I really wasn't too stressed about it.

Upon returning to my mudhouse (heh), found the two loves of my life still awake and ready to party..lol. Stayed up till 1 am doing my playlist for the run, creatively entitled," IRONGIRL 06". Crashed.

Woke up the next morning at 7:15 am. Not to shabby, everyone else was still asleep, so I grabbed a Propel and settled down to a wake-up call of "MY SWEET SIXTEEN" on VHI. I got so engrossed in the show that 8:00 was there before I knew it and I was running late.

Pulled on my old-standby running shorts, pulled on my top, laced up my shoes, and grabbed my ipod after the stupid computer wouldn't let me download my playlist, and I was off. I told D-man to just meet me at the race as I wanted them to sleep in.

Peeled off down the dirt road, but then discovered I didn't have my gel with me and I needed a longsleeve shirt as it was hella cold. Back to the house I went. Grabbed a longsleeve cotten T, my gel, and was off again.

I was going to go to the Chevron down the street to grab a powebar and maybe a banana, but my forgetfull bootie killed those plans. I wasn't too worried as I wasn't very hungry because of my stuffiness and sore throat. I figured my gel would have to cut it. Besides, I felt good.

Got to Tempe Town Lake and it was mobbed! 20 minutes and counting till the start and I had to freaking pay $5 bucks just to park, so I made my own spot and ran for the registration. I had already pre-registered but I had to pick up my number and my chip. Got there, picked up both my chip and number, but my fingers had me fumbling with the safety pins as it was freaking cold and my ass was nervous, as always before a race.

10 minutes till go time, and I had to freaking go! I tried to find a short line to the porta-johns but to no avail. Damn..5 minutes. I still had to stretch (ha ha), load my ipod, and retie my shoe. Damm...

Now, I know the layout of Tempe Town Lake pretty well as I had shot there before and have run here many times as well. I knew there was a secret spot just off to the left of the starting line underneath the bridge. I nonchalantly siddled over, looked around, and made my own porta john, REZ STYLE.

Lightened and kinda ready to run, I jogged back to the start line, getting questioning looks from the other runners. hehe.

The start line was hella packed, enough so that I was smelling other peeps stank morning breath..eww. I tried to loosen up, but the mob was pressing on me and the low buzz from all the women's voices was messing up my mellow vibe.

Before I knew it, we were off, and as usually follows a big event like this, I was still walking. Passed the chip buzzed/start line and I had moved it up to a sloowwwwww jog, finally about .23 in the crowd had broken up enough to up the pace to where I should be at.

Mile One had be ducking and dodging the chicas in the race that were slowing down my flow, and those whose peeps flow I was slowing down passed me..heh. Evenflow. Still packed enough for me to jump off the concrete path and take the grassy route.

Mile Two was on the bridge already hitting up a water station. I learned my lesson with that mess. I have a tendency to drink too m uch water when I run a race, as my body is not used to taking so much WATER, I tend to get stomach cramping and overall gross stomach problems. I bypassed the station and glided down to the path on the side of the lake an by the old CLUB RIO (pours some out).

Mile Three was under the bridge on the otherside of the lake, and I had spied a woman who I thought was gonna power down soon. She was kinda hefty, had a funky stride, and ran like she was covering more ground side to side than back to front. Funny this is, she totally kicked my ass! I was behind her most of the run, catch up to her a few times, then she would power up and run off, at the end, she beat me by 30 seconds. Whew...never judge a book by its cover.

Anyway, Mile Four was on a steady slighty incline up to Priest Dr. By this time, I was running almost solo, up ahead and back below were the peeps. I felt good and was keeping time with my ipod which was not playing the playlist I selected, Boo.

Mile 5 was back to the beginning of the race..I felt strong and able to tackle the last 5 miles like cake. Waved to peeps and checked the crowd for my men...easy sailing.

Mile 6 was back to the bridge...4 miles babee. Here I was breathing hard and trying to get back in control, coming up to the bridge was an incline that I used to push myself faster to pass some chicas, but had me running almost ankle deep in some loose rocks. On top of that, my zhiccc(mucus) was not coming up. I kept clearing my throat and trying to suck it out so I could have a clear breathing path, but it was like I had a saranwrap cover over my windpipe. It would not come loose. Those poor ladies around me, had to duck and dogdge what I could get to come up as well as my loose nostrils. Sigh, It was getting tough.

Mile 7 had me finally stopping for some Gatorade and my lone Powergel Packet of Pure Energy. I had felt my energy dropping down from lack of anything to make me go, I knew my Gel packet would help me out. Took it down as fast as I could and drank some gatorade with a quickness and I was back on the trail. I really hated to stop, but I knew I needed the packet and I have a tendency to choke on anything while running.

Mile 8 right before the bridge. I was feeling good from my gel, and my legs were on their doing their thing on their own. I was feeling a bit tired at this point..anxiously imaging myself crossing the finish line and drinking some diet coke...yum.

Mile 9 on the final stretch. Passed more peeps on the last mile, and some passed me, wound up the slight hill to finish it off, and then bam. We didn't turn to the left like on the 5mile loop, we headed straight into the finish line. Sweetness.

I hit the last buzzer over the finish line mat in 1:33:10 clock time.

I have to wait until the official chip time's are displayed on the irongirl.com website. According to my Nike+ system, I finshed in 1: 33:00. Hmm.

Im proud of my time which I believe will be 3 minutes better than last years, and with a cold and little in the way of food. I rock.

No matter ...Im feeling good and ready for Las Vegas babee..

Except for now, my legs are achy and my head cold has grabbed me in a headlock. Just chugged down some Nyquil and waiting for the drowsiness to hit me.

I NEED to run my 20 miles tomorrow...damn.

Guess I have to push through this and suck it up.