Kentucky Derby Mini/Marathon Race Expo....

So before we say anything, let's just put out there, I did it & I finished.

Yahooo!!!!

It has a story of its own & I'll do the recap tomorrow, but today, we'll start with the day before - the race expo...

Friday I ran down to the Louisville Convention Center to get my race packet.

I will say, this is the one thing I HATE about this race.  It's not convenient to get into the convention center during work hours.  Parking is a night mare.

Last year, I ended up driving so far DOWN in a garage, the ceilings were so low & it was like dirt paths, I literally had a panic attack & felt like all the walls were closing in. I seriously FREAKED OUT & had to call Ricky to talk to me until I got out of there... so I refused to park in a parking garage this time. 

I drove around for 10 minutes until I said "screw it" & went further out & found an empty meter.  It only took me 15 minutes to walk to the convention center... geez...

Good pre-day race workout - right?

Got in the expo & immediately had a camera crew following me to get my stuff.  OK then... they never asked me my name, never said they were going to follow me, but stuck right with me.  I figured they would just use it as snippets since they didn't need my name.  But I tell you what, it made me walk a lot straighter & smile a lot more then usual.

A lot of Vincent's in the race

Found my name on the list & got my race number & I headed to get my packet...

To a guy who could NOT get my number right.  16,700... Seven Zero Zero... I saw him kept thumbing through the bibs, going the wrong way so I repeated it again... he still was going the wrong direction.  I don't know if the camera's being on us were making him nervous or what... so he asked me AGAIN what my number was & then  he just stood there.

At this point, I'm feeling like the camera's are just a part of Candid Camera (did I just age myself) or Punked (is that even still on too?) ... & then the lady next to him just reached in & got the packet myself...

Thanks Mr. Man... you probably ruined my chances of being a star.  The camera people were probably like, "let's find someone else to follow"... because they left at this point...

I walked around & decided to take time to look at more booths this time instead of zooming in & out like I normally do...

Glad I did... I found a booth that would tape you up.  Now, I believe 120% in KT Tape - but this was different.  It was called Spider Tech...

& it's precut & they apply it on you for the race.  Only $10?  Sign me up...

there were 2 ladies in front of me getting their shins & feet taped up so I had to wait...  OK - time for more shopping. 

Literally, the booth right next to them held these HB Tunes hand held things I've been wanting... I seriously was going to the expo looking for this & it was right in my face.  The lady was like, "Let me know you how it works"... I told her, I don't care, just sell me one.  I've been wanting one for so long...

She took my phone, found out which one fit best & BAM - another product in my bag...

Still waiting for the 2 ladies to finish getting taped up.  They were taking pictures & enjoying themselves - I don't blame 'em - that's what these things are for - enjoyment, so I went shopping some more...

Found another product I'm anxious to try... Primal Sports Mud.  I heard the guy say it works for tendonitis & I was sold.  My bicep tendonitis is ridiculous & I'll try anything ANYTHING to ease it up...

Apparently its some sort of mud you put on, put heat on it & it does some sort of magical thing & eases it up... we'll see... I have read up on it since I got home that night & I did read a lot of good things about it.  Fingers crossed.

MAGIC!!!
This is how awesome I hope it works
Unicorn on a pink shirt kinda awesome!

I headed back & it was my time to get taped up... good thing I came back.  There was a line of other people to get taped up.

I had to lift up the back of my shirt & lean over & the lady slapped that baby on me in 5 minutes... I was nervous it would come off because when I try to apply KT Tape to my back, the curve of my low back makes it slide right off.  That's why I was happy to have someone else apply it. 

Side note - its Monday morning & after the race, Easter, showers, a LOT of moving, its STILL on... & you'll see in my recap, my back didn't cause me one bit of issues. 

I need this lady & this Spider Tech tape in my life every week... please...

I was ready to leave & head back to my car, happily swinging my bag full of goodies...

the only bad thing?  They had no Honey Stinger products... what? 

I hate gels.  They give me diarrhea for days after (TMI?) so I try to avoid anything that isn't natural based. 

So after I got off work, I headed to our local running store & loaded up on my favorite products...

The rest of the night, I just tried to relax...

I made some yummy spinach ravioli & incredible bread & carb'ed up... the best part of a race...

I tried to get my mind where it needed to be.  I think I was more afraid of this race then any I've ever done. Which I'm not sure why.  But I just was trying to switch on the mind to be positive... visualize myself finishing...

I normally can't sleep well on race night, but luckily, I've ran so much during the week doing everything in life, I was exhausted...

& I hit the bed early & slept right through the night...

so tomorrow - race recap & how it all went down....