Keeping Austin Weird

Wednesday Morning I left Dallas and went to Austin for work.  I had our semi-annual Construction Benefits Group conference.  It actually is something I really look forward to as I really get a good idea of what our peers are doing for benefits and I like the people!  The conference started at 2:30 that afternoon and went until 1pm on that Friday.  Preston and I wanted to make a weekend out of it so he drove down Friday afternoon.  This left me some free time on Friday so my friend Erin joined me on 6th street for some old time fun.  By early evening her husband Mike had joined us and Preston and made it into town.  We eventually went to dinner together at a super yummy Mexican joint.  

I wish I had taken more pictures but this was the only one I got.  It is Erin and myself on the rooftop patio at Shakespeare's Pub.  

Saturday we slept in and then took our time getting the day started.  Prior to going to Austin, Preston had found a run that Sunday!  It was called the 10/20.  It was 10 miles with 20 bands!  Kind of like a Rock-n-Roll Half...only it was 10 miles.  AND we found a hotel that had rooms right by the start/finish.  Yeah!!  We went to lunch, did some light shopping, then found a place to watch the Master's for awhile.  The night before we had purchased iPic tickets to the movie Evil Deal.  The show was at 3:30pm so we had some time to kill.  

Fast forward to the exciting parts.  Movie was good, dinner was yummy, drive home was silly as a train broke down on the tracks and we were blocked in, but we found our way back to the hotel.  We had to get up early for the race so bedtime was early.  Which brings us to the race!

I hadn't done my own 10k training since Wednesday because I was doing the conference so I got up with Preston and went with him to the starting line.  I then ran around the area to get my time in, glad I did it.  I felt so good afterwards.  The course went right by our hotel so I posted up on the corner with my camera I had won at the company Christmas party.  I still haven't used it much so this was my time to try it out.  You can tell that I got more comfortable with it as the pictures progress.  Hopefully I can find more time to use it in the future.  Here are the pictures!

The 1st place winner at the start of the race.  

Strangers running

More strangers, but I like this tree

There was an estimated 8,000 runners!

The starting line

The finish line

There's 1st Place!  He did it in record time.  47:13 mins! (think about it people, 10 miles in 47 mins)

1st place crossing the finish line. Officially.

  

Here is 3rd place.  This guy made me happy as he was so excited!  Smiling, pumping his arms and cheering.  Really got the crowd excited for his finish.  I wanted to high five the guy!

1st place women's runner.  Didn't even act like it was anything.  Just a little jog. 

Here is my FAVORITE runner.  It's Preston!!

Finishing strong at his personal record for 10 miles.

Unofficial time was 1:28.  

Finishers Medal

TaDa! Race complete

crowd at the post race party

Camera settings fun!  

Finishers Medal

All the winners and their awards. (1st - 3rd place)

My favorite picture of the weekend. 

 Nothing was really weird about this trip to Austin, but I have had NUMEROUS other trips there that were flat out weird.  It's the slogan for the city for a reason.  See you in July Austin.  GPhi reunion!