Half Marathon Kit Pickup

On Sunday I'm running the Meia Maratona das Pontes (Half Marathon of the Bridges) here in Brasilia and I went today with my posse to pick up my kit (number, t-shirt, little towel). Sorry I don't remember the English term for that but here it's called a kit. Races here don't really have expos like in the States, even half marathons. It's mostly just waiting in line, picking up your bag and then heading out. They usually have them at hotels downtown that have no parking so it takes me longer to find a parking spot than it does to pick up the kit.

Luckily this time it was at a store with a huge parking lot! And a playground near by! So I convinced Eleanor and Gus to come with me by promising them a trip to the playground. It was super hot so they spent most of the time digging in the sand under the play structure because it was shady.

Then we dragged Gus kicking and screaming off the playground (he's having trouble with transitions right now) and went to the Mormaii surf shop to get my kit. There was no line and no problem finding my name so I got my kit and we were good to go! My number even has my name on it so all the spectators (not!) can cheer for me! I double checked that they had me down as a Feminino since last year they moved me to the Masculino column, I think that was because my time put me in the top 10 for women but they didn't give me a trophy. Boo!

A portrait of Gus and me by Eleanor-our official photographer!

Me with the kit! (and snowboards?!)

That surfboard was huge compared to Gus!

I found out that the race starts at 7:30 but I have to be there between 5:30 and 6:30 for chip pickup. They won't just give the chip in the kit-I think because they're afraid you won't show up for the race and they'll never get their chip back. There's another race organizing company here that gives out disposable chips which is a much better idea. I'm not looking forward to waiting around for an hour for the race to start. Especially because I know there will be people arriving at the last minute and the chip pickup will still be open. Grrrr....

There's some sisterly love

Here are my goals for the half (in order of importance)
A. Beat my time from last year (1:51)
B. Break 1:45
C. Take control of the hills and conquer them
D. Don't get passed at the end (happened last year in the last mile and I'm still upset I didn't fight back)

And of course: have fun, high five my fans, smile for pictures, relax my shoulders and run like a mother!!!

Me and my crew!