Despite my best efforts, I slept so badly last night. It wasn’t that I couldn’t fall asleep, I just kept waking up every half hour or so thinking that I must have overslept the alarm and was missing the race. However, when the alarm went off at 7:30, I was sound asleep. After a few cups of tea and a solid breakfast, though, we were ready to go rock the Medio Maratón de Córdoba.
Kim, Amber, Becca, my mom and I all started as a pack, but the three of them quickly separated out ahead. I know I could have run with them, but that wasn’t the point of today; today was about running with my mom. When I did my own half marathon a few weeks ago as part of training I made it in less than two hours, so I wasn’t running to test my capacity or push my limits. We were running to run together and to finish it. And we did…together! Here are the results:
Out of over 4500 runners, I/ we placed 2998/2999, within my age bracket 42, and overall amongst female competitors 219. The race was 92% men and 8% women.
WE DID IT!
Mommy, Kim, Becca, me, Amber
The other three girls finished five to ten minutes ahead and were there to greet us as we ran across the finish line holding hands. It was a long race, but it was a blast. I’m so impressed that my mom did it, too. Not that I had any doubts, but considering that she was recovering from major surgeries a year ago and that she only started training in earnest six weeks ago, I’m impressed. I certainly don’t know anyone else’s mom who runs half marathons with them!
We only had a bit of time at home to get packed and head for the train to Madrid, so you can imagine how tired and surprised we were when Carlos and Maricarmen arrived home and wanted to take the three Calle Postrera runners for tapas and a beer. They served free beer at the finish line of the race, and I didn’t want it then, and I didn’t want it at tapas, but it was an offer we couldn’t really decline. We went to a little restaurant in San Basillio, and the three runners just stared at our beers after taking about three sips. I can function after running long distances, but I can’t have a bad night’s sleep after a week of running around Spain and then run a race and be expected to drink a beer. Luckily we had to head home for real lunch relatively quickly. Any more beer and I would have taken a nap on the table.
Lunch was quick, and we said our goodbye and gracias and headed for the train to Madrid. I was planning on studying for my Photography exam again, but instead I slept… oh well.
Needless to say, our evening here in Madrid has not been too wild. We went to the free hours at the Prado and saw some of the more famous paintings that we weren’t able to see last week since it was closed to elections. We were also planning on going to the Reina Sofia to see Picasso’s Guernica, but, like last week, it was closed. Both our guidebook and the website said it should have been open for Sunday evening free hours. I can’t figure out Spain’s scheduling. The websites never have accurate information and places never give notice about other changes in hours. The only things that are consistent are siesta, general tardiness, and ham.
We’ve been eating our falafel picnic on the beds here in the hotel and watching Spanish game shows on TV, but now that I’ve written this update its finally time for bed. This week has flown by- don’t leave tomorrow, Mama! On another note, I need to study for my exam tomorrow morning and get back to Córdoba to take this darn thing… Shoot, I’m so tired.
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