Well, let’s start with the bluebonnets.

I’ve learned many things since I moved to Texas seven years ago.  And with this “here’s my kid in the bluebonnets” picture, my assimilation is about complete.  Don’t mess with me.

I love how almost every bluebonneted road median has a kid or two sitting in it and a parent with a camera crouched nearby.  The only thing I like better is hearing moms caution one another about the snakes lurking in the bluebonnets.  It’s like telling someone you run ultras and waiting for their “I don’t even like to run 100 miles response.”

“I’m going to take pictures of the kids in the bluebonnets today.”

“Be careful. There are snakes out there.”

Yes, that tractor trailer is full of bees.  Free range bees.  Large groups of them were flying around the cars that drove past on the highway.  I should have taken this a some sort of sign about how the weekend teaching in Dallas was going to go.  Right?  I mean a tractor trailer full of free range bees is a definite sign of something.  For me it ended up being a sign that I wasn’t going to get anymore running in after a really great 22 mile run on Friday — and that I was going to eat an entire box of Hot Tamales candies at the airport on the way home.  (PS. Yes, that’s “EAT TURKEY, DON’T DRIVE LIKE ONE” on the bumper… of the tractor trailer piled high with bee hives.)

My co-instructor and I did get this bit of feedback from one student, so the weekend wasn’t a total loss.

This was probably written by the giggly young co-ed who I spent most of the weekend glaring at in a school-marmish-stay-on-target-squinty-eyed way.  I’m glad she interpreted that as “super happy” and “awesome.”  And honestly, the “I love them!” did make the lost training weekend a lot more bearable.  It didn’t keep me from downing the box of Hot Tamales at the airport, but then, it was a 4.5 hour run I’d missed.   Why didn’t I fit that run in after class ended at 5pm or before it started at 8am?  I was a bit sick, a lot exhausted, and I had a ton of work to do on the computer.  Good excuses certainly.  But I should have gotten it done.  Bleh.  So that’s what’s on my agenda today.  No, that’s not ideal since Umstead is on the 5th, but I need the confidence boost.

And last, Fat.  People, I’m not at racing weight for Umstead.  I was — and now I’m not.  I’d drown my sorrows about this in Hot Tamales, but the 8 x 12.5 mile loops looming in the near future means that’s not the best idea.  Black coffee it is.  😉