Last November, I was home in Ohio and met up with some old high school girlfriends for drinks and dinner. In between talking about the same memories we rehash every time we get together (and still laugh like we've never heard them before), Emily, Lisa and Shannon committed to come to Austin in February to run the Austin Half-Marathon. Lisa would be here to cheer us on (and get the hell away from her kids!) and Emily and Shannon were going to run with me (and get the hell away from their kids!) Truth be told, I didn't think it would actually happen. I mean, how many times do we say we're going to do something and then come up with every reason that it can't be done?! These girls didn't back down and for that I'm grateful! Plus, my cheeks still hurt from laughing.
We laughed, we ate too much, we drank too much, we slept too little, and we ran our little butts off! The four of us haven't spent more than two hours together in almost 20 years and we picked up exactly where we left off! I'm so glad I never threw away my high school yearbooks :-) In the three days they were here, we hit so many of the Austin hotspots--Mt. Bonnell, Alamo Drafthouse, Hula Hut, Oasis, Barton Springs, Hey Cupcake, and so much more! And, in between, we ran a little 13.1 race around the hills of Austin. Shawn was amazing (as usual) and had a rockin' Valentines Day dinner at Vespaio with four cougars!
All in all--it was a perfect weekend. While they were getting blasted with snow storms in Ohio, we were watching a sunset and drinking margaritas at the Oasis. Rough life, eh? Emily and Shannon rocked the Half-Marathon even though the hills were slightly daunting. It wasn't until Mile seven that Shannon told me the farthest she had ever run was FOUR miles!! What?!?!? This girl is insane, spontaneous and amazingly upbeat and positive. She made it a point to not walk one step and guess what, she didn't. She ran the entire 13.1 miles. Shit--even I wanted to stop and walk some of the hills.
While we were at Hula Hut yesterday relishing our accomplishments (and more margaritas), Martina McBride's song "This One's For the Girls" came on. I can't think of a more appropriate way to end the weekend!
At the Start Line with Shannon and Emily. My balloon broke and drifted away at Mile 2!
Running on South 1st Street. Still laughing and smiling!
Loving the fact that I was running for pure JOY!!!
Last dash to the Finish Line!
We did it!! Shannon signed up for the Full when the Half sold out--but she did the 13.1!
Everything's Bigger in Texas! Hook 'Em Horns, baby!!
3 comments:
Looks like a BLAST Carrie!
How awesome to have good friends and to RACE together!
Great that everyone followed through and finished well. And I know you must have been ecstatic to be out there running too!
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