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Race Happy Too!


Remember when I said that we shouldn't take out training too seriously You'll Never Get Out Alive!? Or when I said that we should enjoy our runs Yes! Positive Energy!? Beyond that and beyond normal running, I want to get into different types of races/running.  This will end up being something I'll circle back on, but today I want to go to the type of race that's closely related to "normal" for most of us - theme races.
Most 5ks have some sort of theme, fun name, and/or charity that they're donating to.  A true theme race, to me, also involves the participants.  They dress the part.  The decorations all feed into the theme as well.  The whole race ties together in more than just another run, but an experience.
Over the weekend, I paced Mila during Free-Da's Run, a 5k celebrating Frida Kahlo put on by Huarache Turbo, and more specifically Ceci.
Huarache Turbo is a San Antonio shirt printing and race promotion company.  I've had multiple team shirts done up by Ceci and Roge and we've run a couple of their races.  What they specialize in, other than really nice singlets, are Mexican-themed races.  If you look at their race calendar (Huarache Turbo), you'll see races celebrating not only Frida Kahlo, but also El Dia de los Muertos, Loteria, and La Llorona.  Like I wrote previously, they become more about the experience of the run than the actual running of the race.
Mila and I did Huarache Turbo's 2014 Dia de los Muertos run and it was enough to convince her to run occasional 5ks.


This year, the heat slowed us down a little more than we'd hoped.  It was 97 at the start with the heat index at 103!  Even so, Mila ran pretty well for herself.  The course at Ladybird Johnson was a little tight over the first 3/4 mile or so but once it spread out, it was great.  Just being honest, Scotty Dog is probably the premier race report writer in San Antonio, so I'd go check it out.   Our team did well for themselves, with Ryan taking 3rd in the men's 20-24 division, Jason winning the men's 25-29 division, Terri taking 2nd (by .6 second!) in the women's 55-59 division, and Rose taking 2nd in the women's 65-69 division.  As always it was a great race and definitely worth the 6 hour round trip!  My phone died on me so many of these pics are from other sources.
Gotta get that Frida hair right (and maybe we just wanted to go see Britt for a bit)

Then Jillian added more hair accessories

Pre-Race hanging out with friends
 
Photo courtesy of Scotty Dogg
He told me that the ladies made me look good
Photo Courtesy of Anne
Reviewing how training's been going in all these long months apart

Dem Eyebrows



Kid's Run!

My friend Marco's daughter Elle.  She said she was going to do the 5k too


The Start and on the course

Getting ready

It's Scotty Dogg!
Rose and Evelyn!


The Finish



Photo Courtesy of Anne
I love these two ladies.  Always gotta jump on a chance to hang out

Post-race party
Photo Courtesy of Anne
MilFrida

Photo Courtesy of Anne

Photo Courtesy of Anne
Showing some traditional Mexican dancing

Photo Courtesy of Andrea


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