I decided to go ahead and join the crew in Houston for the marathon weekend. I'd like to see how the rest of my team's races go, and I already booked a non-refundable hotel room (that was some daring do, eh?). Flights to Houston are cheap and plentiful, so I'm going to head up on Saturday afternoon and enjoy some marathon spectating!
It looks like the weather for the race will be perfect, so nearly all the Powermilers are expecting to PR. That will be exciting to watch! And fun to celebrate afterward, too! I won't be alone spectating, because nearly everyone who has one is bringing a spouse.
A lot of people have asked me if it will be painful to watch this race, or if I'll be jealous or sad. No, I won't. I'm not a very jealous person anyway, and I love to see my friends succeed, so I am really excited, actually! If the weather was crummy (hot or rainy) I probably wouldn't attend, because I'd be cringing to see everyone suffer. But I think the weekend will be ideal, and I expect to see a good number of my team crush their goal times. As far as missing running or just feeling like I am missing out, I'm not there yet. My foot is still painful, and just the thought of running makes me wince. So the timing is good: watching the race won't tempt me to cut recovery short.
It's been a long time since I spectated a race, especially a marathon, so this will be a fun outing watching a sport I love. I'm looking forward to it!
Neat! Perhaps I'll see you there. (after the half, I'll be cheering the full. I'll be wearing red gear with the "capital area runners" logo in white.
ReplyDelete(and you're a much better person than I am - I sulk when I'm injured)
I might be in the grandstands at the finish! A friend is trying to snag some tickets! Will keep you posted!
DeleteSounds like a fun, no pressure kind of weekend!
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you're going to spectate. I had to defer a marathon due to medical reasons...one that I was going to run with my sister. We had planned on this race for years. Was initially really bummed but I got to spectate with my mom and niece which was so much fun. Have fun this weekend.
ReplyDeleteHey, that's exciting! I actually love spectating races when a critical mass of teammates or friends is running - it's always fun to look out for them and then get together and listen to war stories afterwards. Plus you get to drink as much as you want and stay up as late as you want the night before. Heh.
ReplyDeleteI was registered to run the Chicago marathon in 2013 with some other blog friends but then I got a stress fracture and then got diagnosed with RA. I still went, though, as my plane ticket was purchased way ahead of time and this was my chance to hang out with girls from far away. It was a little bit painful to be there, though. I cried after I went to the marathon expo. But my situation was different as I was in a lot of pain from my RA and was not sure when I'd be able to run again or if I'd be able to run a marathon. I can see how you don't feel as sad as I did, though, as this should just be a bump in the road. On marathon day I had a great time cheering on friends and didn't really feel sad. Spectating is a sport in and of itself! Especially the way we did it as we took a train to one spot, then took a bike share to another spot and it was quite a long bike ride. So I still got a workout in that day!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I broke my ankle in 2015, I went to the marathon anyway, I had plane tickets and everything, so why not? And since I usually run San Antonio the wknd before Dallas, I usually spectate Dallas since I have tons of friends running, and that's always fun. FYI, the best marathon sign I've ever seen was when I ran the full in Houston. Make a fun one, runners will appreciate it! Also, Meb's going to be at the expo in Houston.
ReplyDeleteI was so pumped when I saw you. I also was standing at the start line near someone with a Power Miles singlet. I was about to ask him if he knew you, but then our corral moved to the race start and I lost track of him! It's awesome that you can be so supportive of others and not be too upset about your own situation. That's true strength.
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