Pink, PR, and Pinot Noir

This last Sunday morning wasn't my usual "sleep in, lounge around, drink a pot of coffee and relax" kind of day, but rather a "get up at 5:00am, eat a banana, drink a cup of coffee and run the 31st annual Napa Valley Marathon" sort of Sunday.

Hoping to push through to a personal record (PR), I knew it would suit me best to wear something pink. From head to toe I wore a Vivid Pink Nike Visor , my sister surprised me with an Asics Core Long Sleeve running shirt in fuschia, I ran in my favorite Smartwool Adrenaline Light Micro socks in Orchid, then treated myself to a pedicure with La-Paz-Itively Hot pink varnish by OPI, as it is more than likely I will only have all of my toenails for another month due to continuous pounding they endure during a 26.2 mile run. Delightful.

Between the few measly hours I was able to sleep, I woke up to the sound of rain that wasn't letting up. I stumbled out of bed at 5:00am, dressed for the occasion, ate a little snack, threw on a trash bag to keep me as dry as possible before the race, and was out the door.

My good friend drove me to the start as I nervously, single-handedly carried on continuous inane banter. Looking for Sherry while hiding under my Glad Bag, I listened to one lady crack on about how many more marathons she was running this year and how the last one would be "slow, like four hours or less. Just for fun..." While others were performing high kicks and slamming power gels. One man wasn't wearing shoes, and another man was wearing briefs, tube socks and rubber sandals. Ugh, runners. So weird. Anyway, with only minutes to spare I found Sherry and before we knew it we were clipping away at mile one.

Despite the fact that the morning was cold, somewhat windy, and certainly wet, I was able to break my PR by 17 minutes! If Sherry and I hadn't been able to lie to each other during those last 8 miles, saying how great we felt and how fun it was, I may not have had the spirit to continue, but deception at its best kicked me all the way to the finish line.

Best part of the race? Our amazing support team. Our friends and families covered the entire distance, cheering us on from mile to mile in the rain. Even my 7 month old nephew toughed it out in those conditions. You're the best George!!

After slamming a cheese burger and sweet potato fries from Taylor's I took a short break before dipping in to a celebratory glass of Schramsberg Brut Rose. Hours later I was more than making up for the calories burned, thanks to my mother and sister who slaved away at the world's best Mac and Cheese from the Jimtown Store cookbook. And as determined prior to all of this, we had one of my favorite Pinot Noirs, Williams Selyem 2006 Rochioli Riverblock Vineyard. Oh my God, it was heaven.

How To Reign In The Rain

With six days left until the marathon, I have been checking the weather forecast every hour in hopes that it will magically say something different. All reports suggest steady showers with highs in the 60's and lows in the 30's. I think above all other concerns of a possible running injury, missing a long run, or not finding something pink to wear, this was my biggest fear of all. Rain on race day.

Having consulted as many articles as I can muster up the interest to read, I gathered some helpful tips for successfully running in the rain. It is best said that failing to plan is planning to fail, so being prepared to run in a downpour is the most important consideration.

1. Wear a trash bag over your clothes while you wait for the race to start. Stay as warm and dry as possible.

2. Don't overdo it with extra layers. Your body will become overheated as you warm up.

3. Wear running attire made with wicking fabric. Not cotton. A waterproof cap is good idea to keep the rain out of your eyes.

3. Don't start out the race too fast. It is tempting to speed up when you are cold, but remember to pace yourself.

4. If possible, have dry clothes at the finish to change in to as soon as possible.

5. And of course try to have fun. You have worked hard in preparation for this day

There is still a chance that the weather forecast will miraculously change. So keep your fingers crossed for me!