Red Flannel Run Race Report

Saturday morning it was a balmy 5 degrees for the Red Flannel Run.

I layered up in three long sleeve merino t-shirts of varying weights, Mountain Hardwear Power Stretch pants, Darn Tough boot socks, then a wool jacket in plaid and an old down vest, and my mountain man fur hat.  Easy-E picked me up and we documented the moment.

E wore J Crew merino leggings.

We also took a picture with Holiday.  I thought about taking the little pup, but as she is a total spaz when running, and she believes, truly believes, that every dog wants to be her best friend and romp and play with her all day, I decided against it.

The face of puppy-depression. 

We were pretty early, so we found a good parking spot and went into the Y to pick up our t-shirts and chips and race numbers.  The Des Moines Register photographer was hanging around and I secretly wished he would ask for our picture.  And, he did! 


The Rice sisters were publicly acknowledged for being the style-icons we are in the Des Moines Register.

Fair is fair, so I insisted we get a picture of the photograph too.  Here's David Purdy.

Now, that's a photographer!

Then, we walked over to Java Joes for a cup of coffee and some breakfast.  We split a delicious Scotcharoo and E got a Cupid Latte (raspberry and white chocolate). E on caffeine is a little intense. 

Once she metabolizes that caffeine, it's all downhill.

We met up with E's friend, Megan.  Then, we re-applied our layers.  Megan didn't have enough warm stuff, so I lent her my top level merino.  Then, we walked back over to the YMCA.  Actually, I walked.  E did a sideways run thing that made her look like Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain. Thanks to her Cupid Latte.

Back at the YMCA, the crowd of more than 2,000 very chilly folks were gathering.  Someone brought a fire pit and lots of people were standing around warming their rear ends.  Others were hopping up and down manically.  The only person who was warm was the guy dressed in a head-to-toe frog suit.

In E's caffeine induced mania, she imagined that the frog would trip, then get mauled by thousands of red-flanneled runners. 

The icy masses.

After a handful of false starts, that put us out on the bridge, out of our wind breaks, the race began.

E and Megan were running the 5, and like fauns, they sped off into the distance.  I happily chugged along, trying to keep myself amused with people's outfits and trying to stay ahead of the walkers.

Though, I was very cold, I was also getting warm.   Perhaps, my non-technical wool jacket and down vest were a little much.  Maybe I didn't need to have my fur hat battened down.  I made a few outfit adjustments.  Then, moved on.

The route is mostly flat and pretty easy. 

The Red Flannel Run

I tried to keep running, though, I ran into the twin problems of a) I am not a fan of running and b) when I ran I got hot.  A few times I slowed to a brisk walk, but when I would do that I had the twin problems of a) feeling guilty for not running and b) getting cold.

Here's a not-totally-accurate recreation of my walked stretches. 

The Red Flannel Walk

I did manage to stay ahead of the goldendoodle wearing pants, and the father walking with three toddlers.  I high-fived E on Robert Ray Drive, and I spotted "mini-Chuck Norris," Forey Jacobson, who looked like he was recovering.

I didn't take any photos during the race because my phone was frozen.

Finally, I made the final push around the YMCA and over the bridge.  I hoped to catch a glimpse of E and Megan finishing the 5-mile, but I was too cold, so I made my way inside and waited for them on the couches in the basement.

There I spotted the coach of the Des Moines Australian Rules Football Team, Chico.  Yes, Des Moines has an Aussy Rules Football team.  No, I don't know what Aussy Rules is.  Chico, not his real name, though, is a total bad-ass and a total sweetheart.  I took his picture for his friend the Thunda.

Go Roosters!

Eventually, Megan and E arrived, both frozen to the core. 

Trying to warm up.

We recuperated for a bit.  We thought about going to get the free food, but the crowd was way too thick, so instead, we left.

Little did I know that when E offered to drive in the morning I would get roped into an East-Side Odyssey, that invovled picking up my brother then picking up his baby, but when E and I discovered the little nugget was wearing a matching hat, we were quite pleased.

Their heads are the same size!

There wasn't any time for relaxing Saturday.  My parents were staying with us, and I had an appointment, and E's birthday dinner, then a work-wedding.  I ate some leftovers then got back to work. 

Later, I checked the results:

Whoo-hoo!  Not the loser.  Again.

72 out of 86 people in my age and gender group.

I can't remember how this compares to the Olathe 5K or the Beaverdash, but I was pleased with the results.  I feel encouraged that should I attempt running without the searing pain of frost in my lungs, I might actually be able to complete an 11-minute mile or something awesome like that.

Now, on to the stairs.

Bread Puddin: I Cooked! A Bunch!

So, I enjoy kale.  And, my sister, who is doing a "juice cleanse," had some extra kale, and parsnips, and pears, which she gifted me.  Apparently, you can only eat so many vegetables when you are juicing. 

And, it just so happened the New York Times had a series of recipes called "Kale for Everyone," which I thought was going to refer to the "Eat More Kale" tshirt guy versus the mega-corporation Chika-a-fila.  )It is currently my favorite controversy.)  Instead, it was full of kale related recipes.

Like this one, Savory Bread Pudding with Kale and Mushrooms.  

Kale is going through quite the renaissance right now.  Everyone is eating kale.  It scores a perfect 1,000 on some food scale thingy. 

The new cookbook.

I love bread pudding, though, I usually eat it covered in caramel sauce.  Since I had kale, eggs, stale bread, milk, I thought I would give it a try. 

Then, at the last minute, I balked.  How much is a bunch of kale?  I only had a half a bag?  Is that enough?  So, I bought more kale.  Thankfully, it was on sale!

Free kale + auxiliary kale

The Tiger was nervous about this so-called bread pudding.  He thought it was for dessert.  But, soon, he got on-board.  He even volunteered to write a letter to the New York Times asking for a more specific definition of "a bunch."

Flash +Reflective Jackets = Arm Halo

I have found that recipes from the New York Times are rather complicated.  The booze-pie is an all-day, serious concentration kind of pie, with results that are 50/50. 

The bread pudding proved to be similarly complicated. 

I had to par-boil the kale.

And, I had to cook the mushrooms just so. 

Until "fragrant"

And, grate the cheese.

Gruyere.  Maybe more than a 1/2 cup.

But, finally, I got it all mixed up. 

Mixed and soaking with eggs and milk.

While it was absorbing into the bread, I prepared the parsnips. I hated parsnips as a child, but I thought, since they were free, I would try them again.  Roasted with a bit of olive oil, they weren't so bad. 

The dreaded parsnip. 

Finally, it was time to cook.  The bread puddin' went into for 40 minutes.  When it came out, it looked glorious! 

Add caption

And, it tasted glorious too. 

We enjoyed it with a salad and the latest episode of Downton Abbey.  And, while I can't ensure that Mary doesn't have to marry that upstart scoundrel Richard Carlyle, I can ensure that my dinner is packed with nutrients. 

Finally, Savory Bread Pudding with Mushrooms and Kale was Tiger approved.  He even took it to lunch today!  So, we will be putting it in the healthy/easy/tasty dinner repertoire.  Good thing, because there is still auxiliary kale in the fridge. 

Smoothie Day!

The usual suspects at my college signed up for Live Healthy Iowa, an annual 100 day fitness challenge.  Our team is "The Fab Ten."  This is our second year in a row. 

Fab, not Flab.

LHI is supposed to encourage Iowans lose weight and get more active.  Some offices take it very seriously.  We are pretty low key.  Mostly, we just meet for lunch and discuss healthy topics. 

Today, we had a smoothie pot luck. 

Awesome idea!  Try it.  Everyone brought ingredients to share.  We had a couple blenders, and we all got to sample our concoctions, rather than being stuck with one ginormous mango smoothie.

Behind our "Front Desk Information Wrangler," Kathy, is just part of the buffet of health.

Doesn't she look like a healthy Iowan!

We got to hold our meeting in the super cool kitchen upstairs, leftover from the building's former corporate overlords.  We use it for our culinary program now.  And, because we have the best IT guy in the world, we got to broadcast ourselves on the televisions. 

Behind Julie and Jenny, Daryn does what he does best: makes technology happen. 

Daryn said he wasn't into "this sort of thing." i.e. smoothies. 

All of the other smoothies were fine and good, but Professor W. and I decided we wanted to shake things up a bit (har har).  She brought almond milk and almond butter.  I brought flax seed oil.  We combined them with a banana, vanilla Greek yogurt, and blended. 

Omega, what what.

Wha-la. How do I describe the flavor?  Nut-meaty?  Fatty?  Slightly sweet?  Delicious!  I am not normally into smoothies, but I could get behind a slightly savory nectar.

No one else liked it.  One of our academic advisers said, "I don't hate it enough to gag, but I don't like it."  Whatever.  Professor W and I loved it so much we made a second. 

The Fab Ten is going to try to submit our activity photo to Live Healthy Iowa because I guess we might be able to win something.  We are not into the LHI as much as the other teams, some of whom, we have heard, have lost like 10 pounds already, geez.  

But, we have fun and we get to have lunch with a crew of like-minded folks, and that seems healthy to me. 

EXTRA CREDIT: Jenny, who teaches our high school nursing program offered this bit of extra credit to her students: find a package of bread that doesn't involve sugar (any kind of sugar) in the first 4 ingredients. 

How does your bread stack up?  (Geez, I am on a corny joke roll!  It must be all those fatty acids.)

Snow Day!

Steven, over at See Teacher Run, has long inspired me with her blogs that are so succinct.  I can't seem to write a blog that wouldn't be better suited as an essay.  Here's my attempt: Saturday's snow day.  

Saturday I woke up at 5:30am and there was no snow on the ground.  So, I went to Beav-X-Yoga with Ed and Jen.  We stretched. 

Then, I went home.  It started to snow, so I skipped Tomoko's spin class, and the Tiger decided not to go into work.  We hung around the house.  I rode the trainer and watched a bull riding documentary.

Holiday was very excited.  She loves snow. 

I know I have already been out 187 times today, but can I go out again?

Later, we decided to take a walk. 

Check out the Tiger's new adventure hat.

The streets were mostly clear. 

Half-ass-shovel

And, some people had shoveled, but some didn't do a very good job. 

Magic.

The trees were glorious. 

like a donut.

They were frosted. 

Headed home with supplies.

We walked up to the Kum & Go.  On our way, I saw some college students hiking home.  One was carrying a case of Miller High Life on his shoulder, but I couldn't get close enough to get a clear shot, but I was impressed by his priorities.

The Norman.

At Kum & Go, I waited for the Tiger outside and took a picture of the building that shares my nickname.

Ready for adventure.

Once the Tiger had his "supplies" we made tracks towards the Library. The Cafe, not the biblioteca.

What is that impressive snow sculpture?

As we walked west on University, I noticed something I hadn't seen before.

Oh, you Drake students.

You guessed it.

My surprise and delight face.

We got a table at the Library, which was surprising.  It is very small.  It is so small that there's really no point in going there with more than three friends.

Stoic and bearded.

The Tiger was non-plussed at the seating, but happy to be drinking one of his favorite brews on tap: Fullers.

Frightful.

It was cold and wet outside, but we were cozy at our little booth.


We ordered some clam strips.

Clam goodness.

I couldn't recall ever having clam strips.  They were delightful.

Still frightful.

The sun went down.

And, we ordered some nachos.

Then, we ate them.

They are the Library Cafe specialty. 

Then, we walked home. 

Feel the burn!

I decided that I needed to do something to burn off some nachos and beer.  So, I decided to shovel snow.  I did the sidewalk, the plow-mountain in front of the driveway, and because I hadn't felt like I had been out long enough, I did our whole driveway.  This was completely superfluous shoveling as we never use our driveway, not even in the summer.

Holiday was in the backyard, so we played a game called "Snow Storm" where I shoveled snow at her and she tried to duck it, and then eat it, before the next snow storm happened.  It was fun.

Part of me was jealous of Steven and the Mayor.  The snow storm had hit on Friday in Colorado, so they got a snow day.  I just got a snow Saturday!

They did put some of their snow day to good use.  They hooked up the video chat on the Google, so we could have a plenary meeting, regarding the RAGBRAI (165).

It was nice to discuss some of the logistics, and to see them both, though the Mayor, of course, had to taunt me. 

Chat!

Here's what it looked like.   

I added the beach party stickers to protect Steven's privacy.  And, I added the snow too.

On a business note: we are looking for friends, family, cousins, business-partners, etc. who inhabit homes in Sioux Center, Cherokee, Lake View, Webster City, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids, and Anamosa.  If you know anyone in those locales that would be willing to home their home and their hearts to our small but mighty RAGBRAI-crew, please contact me!  

Icebreaker Triathlon: Not the Loser!

I did my darnedest to be a good girl before my first ever triathlon.  I took a day off.  No BeavX, no Japanese Spin Torture with Tomoko, nada.  I slept in.  I read books.  I very sweetly allowed myself to be taken to Costco.

And, I was going to get plenty to eat, plenty of water, and hit the sack early.  I was scheduled to be "on-deck" for my 7:05 swim 20-30 minutes early.

The Tiger and I went out to eat with our friend and mechanic all-start Little Buddy, then, I went to bed.  Well, I tried to go to bed.

Saturday night was the route announcement party for the RAGBRAI.  I checked the live feed, but they weren't announcing until 9pm, so, like an adult, I said that I would "just hear about it in the morning."

Sleep never comes easy when you are excited for a big event, or worried about over sleeping an alarm, or your gentleman friend is watching the live streaming in the living room at just enough volume that you can catch snippets of town names.

Sigh.  I got up and watched.

My 8 newest favorite cities.

It's going to be a fun RAGBRAI, the 9th easiest in record, and a map of the ride shows it crossing the state like the sash on a beauty queen. 

Then, I thought I would send a quick text to Steven. 

Me: Sat, Jan 28, 2012, 9:18 PM "70 miles on Saturday.  That's going to be painful.  Can't wait!!!" (Message failed)

But, my message failed. 

Steven: Sat, Jan 28, 2012 9:18 PM "9th easiest, 'same climbing in the first three days as the first day last year', downside...last day is 69 miles.  Marshalltown to cr is only 44 miles.  Three long days in the middle." 

Probably because she was texting me at the same time! 

(message sent) 

Steven: Sat, Jan. 28, 2012, 9:20 PM "hahahaha....we need alternate transportation on the last day for sure."

Then, we overlapped messages again.

Me: Sat, Jan 28, 2012, 9:20 PM "I just sent you a message, 70 on Saturday, brutal.  We should just do 69 + 44 on Friday and beat ragbrai." 

Me: Sat, Jan 28, 2012, 9:20 PM "Billy says, 'don't worry, we will have a limo.'"

Steven: Sat, Jan 28, 2012, 9:22 PM "Mayor says we only want to win ragbrai not beat it.  We know someone in cr."

This went on until I sent my last message and turned the phone off.  I could have just texted Steven that I was going to bed, but I don't like to admit that I have a toddler's bed time.  Her last message arrived at 9:33.

My nervous sleep ended at 5:15 when I woke up and started the coffee.  The Tiger was going to go with me, but at the last minute, I felt guilty for dragging him out of bed and making him stand around, bored, while I rode immobile machines.  Finally, we agreed that he would sleep in and show up closer to the start.

I ate my breakfast and headed to the Walnut Creek YMCA for the Icebreaker Triathlon: 400 yards of swimming, 10 miles on the spin bike, and 2 miles on a treadmill.


The mommy-triathletes were waiting.

The first heat finished before I knew it started.

Part of me was like, ugh, I am in the 30 and under category.  That sucks that I have to compete with 15
 year-olds.  Then, I remembered the mommy-triathletes, virtual Amazons of the day-care set, with abs like cooled lava, who inhabit the 31-40 set and I shut up.

I checked in and got my first ever bad-ass triathlon tattoo: 6B!  Then, I asked for a special addition.

Representing for my team, over my road rash scar!

Finally, heat 4 was ready to get warmed up.  The Tiger hadn't arrived, so I thought I might have to be undocumented for the first leg. 

The buzzer blared and we were off.  My goal was not to be sucking wind and end up in the pool after everyone else was done, or finish in about 8 minutes for 400 yards.  I had no idea how fast or slow I swim.  Because I am blind as a bat, I can't always see the clocks or keep very good track of my progress.  But, a minute a lap seemed solid, so that's what I shot for. 

A few laps in, I noticed the Tiger in the bleachers.  

I swam hard into my last lap, hoping that I hadn't lost track and it actually was my last lap, and my timer announced: 8:20:97.  Alright!  And, there were still 5 people in the pool.

The Tiger came over and told me how awesome I did, and we took a picture.

It's hard to tell if I am posing, or if I am just trying to hold all that stuff.

I headed into the locker room the change, where, thankfully, our transitions weren't timed, because trying to get my spandex workout pants over my damp legs was like stuffing sausage. 

I found a bike, but then decided I didn't want to be in front of the mirror: too distracting.  So I moved.  Then, I fiddled with the seat.  Then, the handlebars.  Then, the seat.  Then, the seat.  I just couldn't get it right.  So I gave up and started riding feeling a bit crouched.

Why am I so crouched?

The bikes were set at level 10, which I think is about halfway through the range of the bikes.  I started spinning and got into a groove.  The Tiger took a few pictures and then made himself scarce, bless him.  I spun along at about 100 rpms.  The music was good.  The ladies were rocking.  It felt great.  This was my leg.

Fire in the hole!

One of the clock watchers came over and cheered me "home" for the last half a mile, so I really pushed myself, and I came in at 20:25.  I don't really know how to do math, but 10 miles in 20 minutes, isn't that about 30 miles an hour?  (20 * 3 = 60) (10 * 3 = 30) eh? The Tiger and I were estimating that it would take me almost double that time, so I was very please with myself.  I even finished before a couple of the ladies that started before me. 

Then, the leg I was dreaded.  Two miles on the treadmill.  Ugh.

I hate running.  I know that at some magical point, something will click, and I will love it.  I only know that because a) that's what everyone says.  b) there are a lot of people that seem to enjoy running.  But, I am not there yet.

In fact, I am in this yucky in between place where I am so slow that I get bored and tired before I am supposed to be done.  "Two miles," I think, "that will take forever."

So, I chugged along on the treadmill.  First I tried a little game, called every minute increase your speed by 1/10th of a mile.  I started at 4.5 and made it 5.2.  5.2 felt hard.  I tried to "sprint" at 6.0.  That hurt.  I slowed to a 3.5 walk for a minute. Then, tried to creep back up.  And, on and on.

The Tiger took my picture, then went on walk-about.  I slowly got more and more discouraged.  All the folks around me were so much faster.  I wasn't supposed to be walking.  My time was going to be so bad.  Ugh.

Trying to look fast for the camera.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, I closed in on 2 miles.  I tried to push it for the last half mile.  The clock-watcher kept telling me "I am liking the push!"  And, then, finally, done.

It took me 25:24 minutes to "run" 2 miles.  It took me just three extra minutes to do both other events.


In theory, I think I am probably fit enough to run 2 miles.  I just don't believe I can run two miles.  I don't have the mental fortitude to push through the ouch and the groan.

The problem, I think, about doing more triathlons is that it seems like most people who do them, come at them from the runner's perspective.  They are runners who dabble in cycling and swimming.  I, on the other hand, am an okay swimmer and a devoted, if not talented, cyclist.  But, the running.  Sigh. 

After the event, I met the Tiger in the lobby.  We decided to go for breakfast at Mullets.  That breakfast burrito was so good.  Then, we went home for naps.

The Tiger and Miss Holiday found a mutually beneficial position for cuddling.  The Tiger's winter mane is perfect for snuggling.

Vampire puppy.

The results were posted that afternoon.  Check it out!

Penultimate!

Whoo-hoo!  Not the loser! 

So, readers, now that I have complete a triathlon, but am feeling ambivalent about them, here is my question(s).

A. Should I attempt the Copper Creek Triathlon in Pleasant Hill this June?  Or should I focus my time and energy and money on what I really love, the cycling? 

B. If I do, what are some good resources for chubby-newbie-triathletes? 

C. If I don't, can you think of any equivalent challenges that just involve cycling?  Preferably in Central Iowa and low priced?