So yes, I was a bit tired after catering to a bunch of soon-to-be-first-grade boys. But last week, it was the racing company catering to me.

I was surprised, pleased, and happy to see that the race directors that I already adore had stepped up the support even higher for their inaugural endurance event. There were both 6 and 12 hour options. I chose the six, and then recruited Laura so that we could make it a team event.

I was amazed by the people who ran alone for 6 or 12 hours. Some of those people looked pretty fresh for having completed ultra-marathon distances. But I was also pleased with Laura and my performance. In fact, we placed second for two-person teams!

The weather was fabulous: cold and windy, making me shiver when I wasn't running, but giving me a perfect temperature when I was actually in motion. I am glad I brought a blanket, and thrilled that the sun didn't beat down until the last portion of the race.

I had run on this course before: during a 5k last Thanksgiving, and during a 10k last month. I ran the course four times last Saturday, so I am now intimately familiar with it. Save one hill, the majority was flat. Midway through the course, there was a long incline that felt spectacular. Luckily the end of the 5k loop was similar: a nice downhill.

During the last hour of the event we ran a "turbo track" loop that was anything but "turbo." It was a .6 mile loop that had several uphills, and while they weren't dramatic inclines, the steady elevation gain was a killer. Yes, I know that since it was a "loop" it had to go down at some point. I think it was a sharp down right after a set of porta-potties, because really, all I can think about for that loop is "trudge." During my second run on that loop I think I was running in place. The sun was actually hot, my legs were putty, and I just couldn't go any faster. (Embarrassingly, I was passed up by a trio of Elvii who no doubt were roasting in their golden-piped suits.) I ended up finishing my second loop 20 seconds after the 6 hour cut-off. But because the race folks are super-nice, they gave us that distance. (Plus, that extra .6 miles didn't matter for the standings, anyway. Whew!)

I ended up running a little more than a half marathon distance-wise last Saturday, but with lots of breaks. Next weekend I am running a half-marathon with "no" breaks. I'm a bit nervous since the last time I ran that distance all at one time was my first half-marathon in February and the Tiarathon a month later. I've since become more lumpy, as the summer heat and kids-at-home have made running regularly a thing of the past. So... this could be hard. Plus, there is a time limit - eek!

I'll then do another 10k the week after that, and that will provide ample warm-up for the BlogHer 5k. I'm rather in shock that it is almost BlogHer time, especially because then the "back to school" madness begins. I'm not quite ready for all that.

But thankfully, there is plenty to distract me from the rapid approach of autumn!