Post-marathon Euphoria

I have heard it said many times before, but it wasn't until I crossed that finish line myself that I could truly appreciate that I-can-do-anything feeling.  It was incredible!  Honestly, it was like nothing I have ever felt before.  It was an honest-to-goodness euphoric feeling.  And despite the fact that we had to limp the 20 yards to the gear check buses, barely able to put one foot in front of the other, I still felt as if the world was my oyster.  And I would do it again...not right away, mind you.  But I have a very good feeling that this was not our last marathon.  This is just the beginning folks...a monster has been created!

Check out our photos!  The race photographers were mostly at the start and finish line, so you're missing a lot of those great pain shots at miles 18 through 24, but I'm sure you can imagine some of the faces we were making.  The race was going really well until we began to fall apart around mile 18.  We were keeping a great pace, faster than any long run we've ever completed before, but that relentless ITB started acting up just before we hit our own neighborhood and I thought for a few minutes my race was over.  But I was not about to let a little pain (ok, not even a great deal of pain) stop me from finishing this race for which we trained 20 weeks.  And I knew I had coworkers working the water station at mile 19.5, which was motivation enough to pick it back up.  I was not about to look weak in front of them...not after all the smart-ass, "betcha-you-can't-finish" comments I've been putting up with all summer.  Flying past them was just one of the highlights of the race.   

But now it's time to get back into "real world" mode.  Sigh.  It was so nice using that "I'll do it after the marathon" excuse for everything I didn't think I had time for (or didn't want to do).  I guess it's back to reality yet again...

So now to get back to those Halloween photos that I promised...even though it is now closer to Thanksgiving.  We haven't been cooking as much these days.  Or I should say, we haven't been cooking anything that is photo-worthy.  And when we do cook, it isn't around long enough to take a photo.  We have been eating like there is no tomorrow.  And pretty soon we're not going to be able to use the training excuse any more.  I'll be better tomorrow... ;) ...just as soon as we finish the pizza that is currently in the oven. 

Our big Halloween festivities were hosted by the two gentlemen in the photo below.  As you can see by the photos, they took the holiday a lot more seriously than we did.  I have to commend their efforts.  Their apartment looked fabulous and they definitely won in the costume contest.  In case you're wondering, Thing 1 did have an accompanying Thing 2...and she made both of their outfits.  Did you know you could buy adult-size footie pajamas with honest-to-goodness butt flaps?? 

I was a black widow, but you can't really see the rubber spiders glued to my hair piece in the photo.  I guess that makes Jason my millionaire prey, but I think he was going for grumpy old man...or he was just not trying at all.  (Regardless, I think he looks cute in his old man sweater!). 

I made a graveyard cake for the party.  It was supposed to be a full graveyard, but the dog (and not my dog I might add) found the tombstones on the counter top while we were out that morning.  So I had to ad lib with some green sprinkles instead of the crumbly mud and only three dead people. 

Did you know Duncan Hines cake mixes (most of them anyway) are vegan?  You just have to substitute something for the eggs.  I used pumpkin puree for this cake.  I used the spice cake mix and added a can of pumpkin puree and voila!  Instant graveyard! 

And, just in case you are feeling deprived of pizza (and because it has taken me that long to finish this blog), here's a photo of the dinner I am about to consume.  We've been using Bob's Red Mill gluten free pizza dough mix.  It's really pretty good, and a heck of a lot easier than making the 4-flour combination that's required by most of the gluten free recipes.  This one comes in a bag, with the yeast included!   I prefer it when the dough is rolled out really thin, otherwise it stays kind of sticky and doughy even after the top begins to burn. 

Do you like the vegan/non-vegan divide in the center?  :) 

Time to eat!