Hot Half Marathon, Bob Suffers - Sun., Nov. 17

After our wonderful cool temperatures earlier in the week, today turned out to be quite warm...to the tune of 88 degrees and high humidity. This weather is not conducive to running marathons or half marathons.

One time when Bob ran a full marathon in Kona, Hawaii (very hot, no shade), he passed out at the side of the road and mobile medics rehydrated and cooled him. He could not finish that marathon.

I called Bob 4-1/2 hours after his approximate start time and there was no answer. He didn't call for quite a while. Because the full marathon passed very close by our RV park, I kept hearing ambulances. Even though the half marathon didn't pass by here, hearing the sirens made me wonder if Bob was okay. If you know me, you know I worry. 

He finally called while I was walking at the Mitchell Lake Audubon Wetlands. (He hadn't taken his phone with him.) Apparently toward the end of the race, Bob was really dragging. After crossing the finish line he had to go to the medical tent for very low blood pressure and dehydration. He was treated with IV fluids and ice packs to his head. They kept him for a while. He was told by medics that quite a few people needed medical care today because of the high temperature and high humidity. Scary stuff. Three years ago, someone died on this course. After relaxing all afternoon, he is fine now.

Around 12:30 p.m. I headed over to Mitchell Lake Audubon Wetlands for a 10K Volksmarch. When I started out, it was hot, but there was a little breeze blowing. However, by the time I walked down the hill and into the trees, no more breeze. It felt almost as hot as a summer day and it was miserable. Not to mention that  spiders must have hatched because I kept walking through single-strand webs. Ugh! I hate spiders.

Today, the ducks were out in force! It's the first time I've seen so many ducks in the polders.

Hundreds of ducks in East Polder.

Explanation of polders.

Northern shrike

American avocet and ducks

Northern shoveler

Blue-winged teal

Cinnamon teal

American avocets eating

Two turtles

Spider with butterfly (?)

Checkered white butterflies mating.

Checkered white butterflies

Checkered white butterflies

When I looked up the above butterflies online, the description said they can only be found in Raleigh, NC. I beg to differ because these two were at the Mitchell Lake Wetlands Audubon Center in San Antonio, TX!!

Turtles on the opposite shore.

Great egrets and American white pelicans.

Snowy egrets

Black-necked stilt and two American avocets

Just plain hot trail.

Weird-looking beetle

Northern shoveler - adult male

Northern shoveler - adult breeding female

Ducks and American avocets

Ducks with small shorebirds.

I was very happy to finish this walk and hop into my car and blast the air conditioner on my way home!

As promised here is a photo of my hair. It's very blonde and very short. She chopped off my sideburns which I wasn't happy about. (Are they called sideburns on a woman??)

Cheesy selfie, but you can see my hair.

Tonight Bob took me out for dessert at Olive Garden as a pre-birthday celebration. I had Black Tie Mousse Cake and he had Chocolate Mousse Seven-Layer Cake. Very decadent.

Tomorrow, I am going to see "12 Years A Slave" with Sharon from our RV park. She's as much a movie buff as I am, so we'll probably be seeing lots of movies together.

Enjoy your week before Thanksgiving. Safe travels everyone.

Marathon...Nevermind N -- Tues., Apr. 16

In the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge my N words are: Nevermind N.

I am going to skip N and go back to M for marathon. Yesterday afternoon, two bombs exploded by the finish line at the Boston Marathon. Three people died and over 175 were injured. At this point no ones knows who did this or why. 

This deeply affected runners around the world. I know. I'm married to one.

Bob finishing Hilo, Hawaii Marathon, March 22, 2009

Bob has run marathons for the past seven years. He started out with the help of Team in Training who taught him the basics of running. At age 50 Bob completed his first marathon (Honolulu) -- the same age that his dad ran his first marathon -- and has since completed over 30 marathons. Bob's father passed away in April 2001. Running the Honolulu Marathon was a tribute to his dad.

Bob just crossed the finish line, Honolulu Marathon, December 2006.
Look at that smile!

Bob's first marathon complete. Here he is, totally happy in
the recovery tent. Great sense of accomplishment!

Maui Oceanfront Marathon, January 25, 2009

Bob: Finisher, Kona Marathon, June 2009

When we lived on Oahu, Bob joined Runner's HI. Every Tuesday evening he ran with the group to stay in shape. Bob and his friend Mike also ran together on the weekends. Wonderful friendships were formed. Runner's HI welcomed us into their running group ohana (family).

Bob, Johnny Landeza (ran Boston 4-15-13), Mike Passmore -
finishers of North Shore Oahu Marathon, May 2011.

Fifty seven runners from Hawaii ran the Boston Marathon. Thankfully, all of them are safe.

Runner's HI ohana in 2008.

In response to the egregious attack in Boston, Bob is gung ho to sign up for more marathons. Most marathoners feel the same way. They will not let this incident keep them from running marathons. My friend, Danielle, in Washington state ran the Boston marathon last year. She did not run it this year and wasn't planning to run it next year due to injuries. However, because of the bombings, she has "decided to try and qualify again in 2014, and run for those who no longer can."

Fierce independence characterizes marathoners. They like the "high" that comes from their personal efforts on the course. Running 26 miles is not easy. Deep commitment and strength is needed to train for and complete a marathon.

Kauai Marathon finisher, September 5, 2010.

I hate to run as I prefer walking, but I respect runners and their quest for a personal best.

Bob and I are appalled by the cowardice of the perpetrator of the bombings! If they find who did this I think their punishment should be to run 100 marathons, at the point of a gun, if necessary. Maybe it would change their life. (Or maybe not, who knows?)

Because Bob is the runner, I'm asking him to write his thoughts. What follows is Bob's take.

It doesn't matter if it's a marathon finish, the Super Bowl or a Little League game, as a culture, we love to compete, participate and be spectators. Regardless of the actions some will take, this spirit to pursue our happiness and well being will not be put down.

When people who run 30 or more miles per week for months to prepare for a marathon are faced with adversity they use it as motivation. I predict the number of people running marathons over the next year will increase. That is how we are wired, as individuals and as a society.

When you do a marathon, you learn to run through your fear ("Can I do  this? Will I get hurt? I might come in last. Am I good enough?"). The reward is the sense of accomplishment at the finish line.

As a society, I believe we will outlast the fear of terrorism and realize the thrill of victory as we continue to live our lives to the fullest.

I am motivated to train harder and run another marathon in the next few months.

Travel Bug and Bob out.