Monday, August 9, 2010

A Plate of Wet Served with Sauce and Sweat

Hubby and I spent part of last weekend at a ranch in the middle of Nowhere, Texas.  Before we settled in, the high temperatures and instability of a stationary front brought Nowhere some much needed rain.

That didn't stop us from driving back to "town" to eat at a local BBQ joint.  The amount of food on our plates could feed several starving children or one super-sized Texan.  They were a bit skimpy on the sauce which was brought to us in a small flask but they were quick to bring us some more once our flask was running on empty.   I topped off my dinner with a yummy slice of Peanut Butter Pie!

Afterwards, back at the ranch, we captured a sunset photo as another thunderstorm was doing its best to dazzle us:

Hubby was trying to photograph the lightning before it got too dark.


Saturday, we enjoyed a pleasant day in Nowhere, walking dripping sweat all over the 5-mile nature trail before spending most of the afternoon in the shade at the pool.   

 Two geeks in Middle Earth Nowhere

At the pool, we soaked ourselves in the warm water a few times.  It was almost pleasant outside while we were wet.  After dinner Saturday evening, Hubby drove us back to civilization so I could get ready for my race and attempt to get some sleep.


Sunday, I got up at the quiet, non-shining hour of 4:15 am.  This must be before that Crazy Early Girl Dawn but after the crickets and night owls have finally gone to sleep.  I left Hubby snoring softly although he tells me he doesn't sleep well without me beside him (Neither do I when the situation is reversed.)   As I drove out of the neighborhood, I disturbed a baby fox.  He was adorable but I told him to go home to Mommy.

 No, this isn't "my" fox.  It was dark outside, remember?
  My fox was close in size and color to this little tyke.

I found the event without incident and got all my stuff ready.  There were several newbies and since I've done this before I played coach.  Evil Twin tried to intervene and tell people they had to swim naked and wear their bike helmet while running but I didn't let her ruin their experience.  

Sheesh.

The swim was held in an outdoor pool.  This time of the year, the water is Texas warm (cooled bath water).   Although swimming is still tough for me, the water felt great.  

The bike route was reasonably scenic for Texas country; beat-up pickups on the side of the road, trees and shrubbery, a few *old-style churches here and there, cattle and horses in the fields, and flattened and chopped up armadillos in the middle of the road.  Yeah, just the normal stuff.

The course had Texas hills (just ask my legs) and the prevailing southerly summer breeze (My legs didn't like this but my face did)!

It wasn't really hot on the bike since I was still wet from the swim.  My backside was more than ready to be off that bike, though, after the 16 miles.  Places that shouldn't be numb....er...well.....were.

By the time I was off the bike, I was reasonably dry.  My legs were noodles, formed from quicksand.

The running course was on part of a golf course.  I felt like I was wearing an oven.

The best part about the event besides the finish line?  It was the post-race ice-cold water, pancakes and watermelon.

YeeHaw!


*In the larger cities, we have numerous what I call "new style" churches that meet in strip shopping centers.  What the no steeple?

Photo credits:  Geeks: Jan Powers,  Storm: Hubby,  Baby fox: Here Be Dragons on flickr. com, Creative Commons license (see sidebar).

27 comments:

Unknown said...

Congratulations on finishing the race. Sounded really grueling. Next time let Evil Twin do most of the work, though maybe scaring people off as you approach is a good thing. I liked the pre-race warm-up with hubby.

Belle said...

Loved your whole story.

Deb said...

I am disappointed in Evil Twin. Swimming naked WITH a bike helmet on would have been more her style. Talk to her for me, will ya?

Congrats on surviving another Texas Oven Baked Runner race!

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

Yay, Reffie! I agree with Deb, though. Evil Twin is losing her touch!

ReformingGeek said...

@Lauren - Thanks. Evil Twin is working on some masks..

@Belle - Thanks!

@Deb - Evil Twin is hot and tired. Maybe after she gets some sleep she'll be back to her old self.

@CatLady - It's scary to think that Evil Twin may be mellowing. I'll speak to her.

Unknown said...

That is so awesome about the race! you have inspired me....think I will wake up at 4:15am too
=)

Unknown said...

YAY! great job on finishing! Ice cold water and watermelon sounds like the perfect ending.

Anonymous said...

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enjoyed your post, btw

00dozo said...

Egad! I could never do a triathalon in Texan heat! I sweat my ass off just folding the laundry these days. Congrats on finishing!

Marissa said...

The event sounded grueling for you, but I think those flattened and chopped up armadillos were just slightly worse off.

Unfinished Rambler said...

4:15? And I thought I got up early on Sunday morning (at 5:15) to go to a race too. No, I didn't run, swim and bike like you. I spectated ;) and wow, was that tiring! Anyhoo, glad you finished and did well. See you on the flip side (whatever side that is).

Tgoette said...

What an awesome weekend, Reffie! I'll have to ask my son about Nowhere. That sounds like a cool (though hot) place to visit! Great story as always!

Anonymous said...

I'm with oodoozo!

I sweat just walking from the bed to the loo!

I'm just glad you didn't melt into a Reffie puddle!

*grin*

ReformingGeek said...

@Georgie - Go right ahead. I won't be joining you unless about the same time next year for the race!

@Amy - Thanks. I could go for some more watermelon about now!

@Anon - Thanks.

@00dozo - Thanks. I sweat folding laundry, too. ;-)

@Unfinished - I thought I saw you. ;-) Flip side? Pancakes. Yum.


@Marissa - Don't stop for stew at the local cafe.

@Tom - Thanks. It was crazy. BTW, Nowhere is near Glen Rose.

@Quirky - If I turn into a puddle, I won't be eaten by your zombies.

MikeWJ at Too Many Mornings said...

I've been to Texas and really don't understand how people live there, let alone run races there. That seems like awarding the Olympics to Satan, as far as I'm concerned. But good for you for being able to handle it, even enjoy it. I'm very impressed!

Mike said...

I got to the BBQ part and got hungry and now I am craving a Bar B Q Plate! LOL

Bee said...

Woman! Can't you just chill under the shade of an oak tree? I now have a puddle of sweat in between the girls just from thinking about all your activity!

ReformingGeek said...

@Mike - You get somewhat used to it although we complain when we have triple digits day after day after day....

@otin - Burp. I hope you enjoyed your BBQ!

@Bee - Apparently not. ;-) The girls can be so rude about sweating.

@joven - Thanks.

honeypiehorse said...

You sure do travel a lot... those ribs sound good right now

MrsBlogAlot said...

All I heard was BBQ.

And Evil Twin...I always hear her (-:

ReformingGeek said...

@honeypie - Not as much as you!

@Mrsblogalot - You might want to clean out your ears. ;-)

Anonymous said...

COME BACK!! I did what you asked.....I finished the $#%* story for YOU...just YOU.

http://www.danamazing.blogspot.com

Ed & Jeanne said...

I would have competed in the float and bob water event...

ReformingGeek said...

@Dana - Hum....I don't remember insisting on a part two but I do remember wanting some apple pie!

@VE - You'd still be floating in that pool, wouldn't you?

The Constant Complainer said...

Congrats on the race. My brother-in-law was in Dallas for work this week and he said it was unbearable with the heat. That's the cleaned-up version of his profanity-laced statement about the Texas weather.

Jean Knee said...

I barely have to move to work up a hearty sweat these days.

ReformingGeek said...

@Constant - Yeah, effing hot is what we say.

@Jean - Just walk outside.


"1.00s, 1.50s, 1.75s for the short arms. If you know what I'm talking about, you're probably old, too."

"Boomer brain fog: What was the last, middle, and first part of what you just said to me?"