Fight to the finish - part 1

I ran the Alamo 13.1 this past weekend. With this run, I’m writing the highlights in reverse order.

1. The Last Runner 

I misread the times and was really worried I’d finish after the award ceremony. I wasn’t, but I was there to see the last runner cross the finish line. I joined everyone else in their cheers. 


It’s great to the amount of support she got. The emcee even reminded the people helping her to grab her food ticket from her running bib, which brings me to...

2. And the Winner is

That award ceremony I mentioned included a cash giveaway. Winners are randomly selected by their food ticket. The last runner’s name was called. She won $100.

This was after someone helping her won also. I was sitting nearby. I joked to my family that I should move close to the woman, as people near her kept winning.

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3. Race Bib MIA


You had to be present to win the cash giveaway, so I hung out at the finish area. Then I noticed I was missing my race bib, which matches the number on the ticket used to name winners.

I tried to desperately remember what my number was. My mother took some photos earlier, so I checked those to verify my bib number.

It was all for nothing, as I didn’t win. But I am curious as to where that bib ended up.


4. Post-Race Race

I’ve mentioned this before. Hotels don’t have friendly check-out times for slow runners. The Menger, which was located right next to the finish line, had a special rate for Alamo 13.1 runners. But the rate didn’t include Sunday night. Soon after finishing the run, I ran (waddled really) back to my room, stuffed everything into whatever bag I could find, and checked out.

5. Potato Time

The Alamo 13.1 includes a 5K/10K Donut Dash. Participants of those runs have donuts waiting for them. I was jealous that those wouldn’t be available for the half-marathon runners. When I finished, there were baked potatoes waiting for us. It totally hit the spot. 


6. Missed Signs

I made a sign for earlier races that read, “Malena, stop your watch!” (Yes, I made it myself.) Because I always forget that. My mother made a makeshift sign, but it wasn’t easy to read and I thought she was yelling encouraging words. She was actually yelling, “Look at the sign.” 

I eventually stopped my watch about three or four minutes after I finished the run. I suggested in the future, perhaps my mother should just yell, “Stop your watch.”