Gentlemen, start your engines!!

Actually today it should have gone like this: Gentlemen and ladies, put on your running shoes!!

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I did the inaugural Talladega 21000 (aka 1/2 marathon) this morning.

13.1 miles around the superspeedway and surrounding areas...how could I resist!?!!

So decked out in my Dale Jr. t-shirt and new black skirt just for the occasion, I embarked on my Nascar running experience.

We started on the track, ran down pit road, went around turns 1 & 2, then went out and above the track to run around turns 3 & 4.

{looking down at those turns from above them was crazy cool!}

Then we ran out behind the track and around the grounds for a few miles.

We came back to the track about mile 8-9, ran through the infield, through the grandstands/under all the towers, and ran above turns 1 & 2.

The final 2.5 miles was 1 lap around the track.

And that was good stuff!

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Look at me trying to catch this guy at the end!
I had stuck with this guy for about 7 miles and then he took off, leaving me in his dust.
I tried to keep up but totally ran out of steam at about mile 8.

I think he ran out of steam about mile 12 because I could see him ahead of me and I was gaining on him!
Please note that I am crossing the finish line before him.
I am pretty sure he hated me.

My goal was under 2 hours and I was so, so close!

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After the race it was picture-taking-around-the-cool-track time!

I was amazed at the steepness of the turns.

I mean, I knew they were steep.
I have witnessed my fair share of Talladega races.

But I guess until you see it for real, you don't really comprehend it.

This is as far as I could walk up the track at turn 1.
I just slid down if I went any farther.

I don't know how the cars don't topple over!

{I guess going 180 mph helps a little}

And these pictures don't really even do it justice!

And now I am going to go nurse the 2 large blisters I have on the arches of my feet.

Happy Saturday!

gretchen