It’s May! Boy, that really snuck up on me. Since it’s the first Friday of the month, I’m linking up with Coco and Deborah for the Ultimate Coffee Date. After a series of race recaps (Recap, Questions Answered, and What I Learned) I’m almost ready to move on. I do have some race-related things to share over a cup of coffee (or, tea) though. Let’s get sipping!
The first thing I would share is the story of my ride home the day after my race. The soreness was epic. I must have looked hilarious (or, horribly pathetic) hobbling through the hotel parking lot and loading my bags into the car. Stepping up onto a curb felt like scaling Mount Everest. But finally I was ready to go! I started the car… and my tire light came on.
Seriously? At any other time this wouldn’t be a problem, but today of all days, putting air in my tires was a daunting task. But, I found a gas station, unscrewed the tire caps (which, obviously involved getting down low to the ground- that didn’t feel good) and filled the tires. SIGH.
Okay, on the road at last! Then, I got a text from my daughter. She needed certain feminine supplies and it was an emergency. “Can you stop on your way home?” FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. How many times have I told her not to let this become an emergency??? They didn’t have what she wanted at the Turnpike service plaza, so I had to make an extra stop at Walgreens (again- hobbling painfully through the parking lot and into the store, grr).
FINE. Finally, after five hours on the road, I arrived home! As I turned the doorknob to open my front door… I got a splinter in my finger. I can’t even explain how this happened- it’s never happened before (I mean- my doorknob isn’t made of WOOD?!?) It really hurt (as splinters do) and it was deeply imbedded- not one you can easily pull out with a tweezers. It seemed like, after allowing me to finish my race, the universe decided to screw me over in a thousand little ways.
I shuffled slowly into the house, my finger throbbing in pain. My husband was working, and my daughter was busy in her room (probably watching a very important TikTok video). But the cats were there to greet me! They REALLY missed me- I know this, because that night they both slept in bed with me.
Charlotte slept on my pillow, and Muffin slept between my legs. Remember the Simpsons episode where Marge goes to Rancho Relaxo, and when she comes home, the family missed her so much they’re all sleeping in the same bed? That’s what this reminded me of. Yes, it was a little crowded, but the cats don’t like each other much, so I was living my dream of snuggling with both of them at the same time. Charlotte eventually jumped down to the floor right next to me, and both cats slept the whole night like that. It was so, so cute.
The last thing I would share over our delicious hot beverages is, I got some pretty snazzy race swag!
But my favorite was this sticker, which is now living on my phone case:
How was your April? Are you excited for May?
Top photo by Jocelynne Flor on Unsplash
27 Responses
Hah! That sticker is a great way to sum it all up!
A long drive home after any race is tough, but I think your drive counts as another leg of the ultra.
Glad the kitties gave you the welcome home you deserved.
Ha, yes that drive was something. A giant Coke Zero was the fuel I needed for that leg ; )
OMG that sticker is perfect! Love it! I swear post-race, whatever-you-want food is the best! Hope your recovery is going well!
Thanks Marcia! Yes, I’m feeling pretty good now- other than a few nagging issues. Nothing serious though!
That sticker is just perfect! Congrats again on your race
Thank you Deborah! I will be embracing foolishness (or, continuing to) from now on.
That drive sounds horrendous after your long race! For future tire issues, they actually sell tire inflators you can keep in your car to fill your tires when they get low! I got one for probably under $50 with a rechargeable battery but they also have ones that charge off your car’s cigarette lighter and it’s so much more convenient than having to find a gas station. Highly recommend!
I love the swag and the sticker!
Oh really??? I’ll have to look into that, thanks!
That sticker is the best! I’m so far behind in my blog reading so I still need to read your recap. Congrats on your race!
Thank you Michelle! Here’s the short version- I showed up, I ran, I finished. There! I just saved you quite a bit of time : )
Aw! Kitty snuggles!
Very important Tik-Tok video… lol
I hope you get to take care of all your post-race aches and pains and come out of the weekend feeling like a badass!
Thanks Maya! I bet I’ll be feeling pretty good after the weekend.
That’s great race swag and I love the sticker. Oh gosh, I remember how hard it was to walk after my 50-miler. I was grateful to have someone else driving me home. Hope you’re recovering well!
Thank you Debbie! Hmm, you had someone to drive you home??? My husband offered to come, but it was more helpful to have him home with my daughter.
Ha! That sticker 😉 Your drive home certainly wasn’t without incident (the tires, LOL). I might have mentioned this previously, but after Barb and I ran Route 66, we stopped at a rest area about 30 miles of of Tulsa. Almost everyone else was hobbling around like zombies…we knew exactly where they had been that morning, and what they had done as well. I hope all is going well with your recovery 😉
That’s so funny- I can just picture everyone hobbling around. Anyone not from the race would be like “what in the world happened here?”
That is pretty nice race swag. I love it all.
YES!! May is here! Forget that April rain foolishness. The temperature is consistently trending up, flowers are here, and I am HERE FOR IT. I hope you’re still not hobbling around and things are back to “normal” a week out.
I’m definitely not hobbling anymore! But things aren’t quite normal- I still have a few reminders of what my body went through.
I am so ready for May! Though, how are we actually this many months into 2025???
OMG Jenny (JENNAY) (that’s never going to get old) (for me, maybe it will for you) I think I would just burst into tears about the tires. Honestly I would burst into tears even without running for sixteen hours because I literally don’t know what to do. I mean, I can’t even figure out how to pop my hood, I am the worst when it comes to car maintenance. There’s a car fairy around here who takes care of that for me, and I am a strong invincible woman, and yet I just let that car fairy do his thing. His name is Rob.
Also I don’t even want to think how you could possibly have gotten such a splinter! Unless it happened earlier and you didn’t notice, and the pressure from opening the door pushed it in? But how would you not notice? So many mysteries here.
Your daughter’s emergency reminded me how great it was once the boys started driving. Get it yourself! Not that they needed menstrual products, but you know what I’m saying.
Oh no, the drive home sounds rough! Glad your cats were on the case to help you sleep cozy and feel better. You ran 50+ miles Jenny!!!! You are amazing!!!
Ouch ouch ouch!!! I know the pain of driving for about an hour after a half marathon. I cannot comprehend four hours after 50 miles.
I love that the girls missed you so much that they both slept with you. The Most Improved bed status of this year is that Doggo now sleeps with us. Now that it’s gotten warmer she’s usually not in the bed as much though.
April was…fine. May is going to be so much fun with the big trip to CA and getting to meet our friends!
Omg that is a terrible turn of events! I would be like – am I on candid camera or something? I am glad you got lots of love from your sweet kitties, though!
I am so ready for a new month. April was rough between getting sick twice and Will’s surgery and recovery!!
Congrats on the race! But ouch to the long drive – I bet the build up of lactic acid was not good on your legs. I do my long runs before work and sometimes sitting all day after a long run is worse than if I’ve had a really active day! And OUCH to the splinter! What a mystery – and not a fun one!
I love the swag and the sticker!
A splinter in your finger! Absolutely not! I don’t love that for you!
What I do love is the cats snuggling! The pugs are tough to have in bed. They play musical chairs around my legs, which is fine until it’s not.
Will you get a massage? Soak in epsom salts? Sleep for a week?
That drive home sounds rough!! 🙁 I’m glad you made it back ok and hooray at least for the kitty cuddles though! I love that sticker too!