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Saturday, July 11, 2009

Running Through the Lavender

Saturday morning, Camille, Rachael and I, went to Mona to run a 5K through the lavender fields.
( This picture taken off the website)
(I use the word “run” very loosely) I felt like I had prepared myself for this race. I wanted to do a good job since our running time will be posted on the website. I got plenty of rest last night, got up early to stretch and get warmed up.
Knowing that it’s easier to run with a “beat” I asked my 18-year-old son, Jacob, if I could borrow his Zune. Sitting in the passenger seat on the way to Mona, I had some time to figure out the Zune and see if there were any songs I would want to listen to as I “ran”. Colonel Claypool’s bucket of Bernie Brains… ahhh…. no thanks, Murder by Death, - I think I’ll take a rain check. Then I found The Beatles, Cake, and Dave Matthews Band. I put them on a play list, thinking in my mind how much easier it will be to run to songs that have a good beat and that I actually know!
We arrived in time to get a lovely shirt and our numbers. Then it was off to the restroom, drink some more water, stretch and to the starting line.
We were informed that since there were about 1,000 people who signed up, we would start the race 15 minutes later. We walked around to get more warmed up and I was feeling good. The guy with the megaphone said that all serious runners were to move to the front of the line, the casual runners move back. I moved a little closer to the front, after all, who wants to be at the end of a thousand person line when you know you want to have a good running time!
I put in my ear buds, ready for some music, and the gun went off. I hit play and started to run…Imagine my surprise when I heard Spanish music! I had no idea how that happened (Jacob later informed me that it came with the Zune) and decided to figure out how to get back to my play list. People were passing me and I realized I needed to forget the Zune and kick it up a notch or two. So I ran the whole race listening to Spanish music. It had a decent beat but I wasn’t emotionally tied to it.
I have a question. Isn’t lavender supposed to be relaxing and soothing? How can I run quickly through the lavender when I’m so relaxed? That must be the reason so many people finished before me! I thought in my mind, as I was panting, sweating, and barely moving down the home stretch, that maybe my time won’t be so bad when I’m put in with my age group! When I got the card with my time, I read that my age group is 40 – 99! Quite a span!
Oh well, we all had a great time, it was good exercise, the lavender was gorgeous and the weather was perfect. What more could I ask for? (Maybe a younger bladder - but that's another story.
)

13 comments:

Valerie said...

Yay Connie! Good for you!

Ha, ha about the music!

I imagine your run through the Lavender fields like Dorothy and her crew (Wizard of Oz) running through the poppy fields! Getting sleepier and sleepier! :) At least that's what I'd be doing...lying down for a little snooze!

The Lavender fields are gorgeous right now too!

Ann Marie said...

LOL!

I don't know which seems funnier to me.. The spanish music.. or that you don't mind cake. I don't know why it seems so funny to me!

I had no idea there are Lavender fields in Mona. I thought they only had fruits and apple trees. You learn something new everyday! :)

You are so good to be running! Who cares about the time! Good for you woman!!

Camille said...

I'd rather listen to the Spanish music than Celine Dion! The aroma of lavender combined with "My Heart Will Go On" is the perfect formula for a nap - not a race!! Hopefully the next one will have "Cake" blaring from the speakers (and port-a-potties)all along the race course! You're my hero!

gigi said...

A whole field of lavendder, oh my, how wonderful.

Kazzy said...

You go, girl! I can just see you now trying to figure out the tech stuff. :)

And the younger bladder? hmmmm Let me know if you figure that out.

musingwoman said...

You rock! and the lavender fields are just lovely.

Rachael said...

Thanks for letting me crash your running party! It really was a good time.

You forgot to mention how you and Camille totallly left me in the dust with your mad running skills. I should have started training a few years ago.

Nana said...

I would have run away from the Spanish music. I have wanted to go to Lavender Days or whatever it is called. Is it fun? More important is there good food there? What goes on, besides running to Spanish music I mean.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.

I have always wanted to attend Lavender Days, since I just love lavender smell, color, the way the plant looks. Since I have started to get in shape again. Maybe next year I will run this event.

Barbaloot said...

The only part of that race that sounds fun to me is the lavendar. I was a "runner" for about two seconds. Then I ran a half marathon and can NOT get back my motivation to run anymore.

Yvonne said...

I signed up to take a "learn to run" class. I start the end of the month. I'm excited.

Good for you. I bet that lavender was wonderful.

Sondra said...

I totally laughed through this whole blog.. Quite funny. I have a Zune too - I don't hear that too often (only iPods). Too bad that you had to listen to Spanish music. I love to listen when I walk - it always motivates me. I would NOT have liked listening to the Spanish music - it would have drove me crazy - I like music I can understand and with words when I walk.

I love the lavender fields - wow! But your reference to relaxation made me giggle. Fun-Ny.

I hope you did better then the 99 year old.. That is a huge age span..

You are quite the woman - a running woman. You totally have all my respect.. I don't run :(. Actually - I don't want to.

Macey said...

This is hilarious. I'm younger, but I wouldn't even make it accross the starting line! The spanish music would have totally thrown me off my game, I would have obsessed about it the whole way. : /