Caracas maratón...medio

Last year we signed up for the Caracas maratón...medio, and due to the instability at the time it was cancelled. Our entries would be good for the next year and I thought- "perfect a whole year to train and get race ready!"

I wouldn't say I was race ready- but I was ready. What a great day. We got to see some areas of Caracas that frankly I wouldn't be smart to drive through on any other day. There were close to 5000 runners in the medio maratón but none as ridiculously good looking as the Simpsons and the Isoms. That might be a stretch- Venezuelans are a very good looking people

Here is the pre race "fresh" photo

okay guy on the right hand side- I see your compression socks and raise you a pair of beer socks

This is Juli Allison- well her stunt double at least. Juli wasn't able to run so her bib (8984) found its way to this gentleman, whom we henceforth called Juli.

Unlike Norte Americano races where you get your shirt after the race, here you get it before and it is great to see most runners wear them to race in.

Hey, everybody else was selfieing
(race note- notice how the race has yet to begin and Lisa is already way ahead of us?)

and here we are post (not so fresh) race


They had statues in the park that summed up my pre and post race feelings as well.
pre:

post:

and one for Lisa

So how did we do? Well downright fantastico thank you very much! I did have a few thousand runners ahead of me but also a few thousand behind. In my age group I was 350th at the 10k mark and finished at 284! Clearly this means I was stalking the other runners like a jaguar or they had clearly started way too hard. Mike almost cracked 2 hours, which after his strict adherence to a no run training -training plan is very impressive. Stacey finished right behind me after spending the whole week with a stomach bug. Juli Allison had a respectable 2:28! And Lisa... yeah she was all right- just finished 3rd out of 300 in her category. Overall 333rd out of 4700. (overall women- 24th out of 1600) You know- give me another year and I might just be race ready to catch her.

Best part of the race? We rode the metro home! Seriously who would rob us- we were smelly! Then we  stopped at a great little arepa joint and had a rocking breakfast. Reina pepiada and bacon!

While Lisa was in Aruba, we thought we might save some parrots

Lisa was able to spend some time with her sister a few weekends ago in Aruba. And although I was quite happy for Carrie and Lisa to relax on the white sandy beaches without a care in the world... there was still much to be done! There was to be no sitting still back in Caracas I can tell you.

First off, a mere hour after Lisa left I had Luca stop by the classroom. I thought for sure he was sick because he looked really nervous and quiet. My mind racing to thoughts of how am I going to swing this as a single parent, he says "dad, I just ripped my shorts." Now this is even more dire as Luca has been underpants free since September claiming they "ride up and give me wedgies."

I don't think I gave him the parenting response he was expecting when the first thing I said was "that's fantastic." But I did rally my senses and sent him down to the lost and found to grab a sweatshirt and make a wrap around. It must have worked as I didn't hear from him again.

That weekend was a traditional ECA event: the run for the parrots. Which returned after a threatened lawsuit from Millie Simpson was dropped from last years event. (details here) Luca was excited to be running with his mates Blythe and Hunwoo. They did a great job and worked really hard... which is more than some sisters did on a beach just off the coast (but I'm not naming names).

Each lap you get a rubber band (makes it easier to count for people like me with faulty memories (and I heard that Steve Leigh- it is actually hard to remember 7 laps)

Some of the wonderful volunteers (like Luca's teacher Ms. Annie) give you your band with a smile.

Others make you earn it- thanks Dan- it still stings.

The kids had fun and money was raised to save yellow shouldered parrot habitat on margarita island.

Had one heck of a rainstorm that afternoon too! Luca and Blythe went to play cricket/baseball in the yard and were chased back up.

So we had hot cocoa and mustaches with Justin.

Okay so it wasn't all hard work as a single dad while Lisa was away... at the beach... in Aruba. Of course I would like her to believe that so she can stop reading at this point.

I was able to golfing with Greg and Mike on Sunday afternoon. The golf course in Caracas is beautiful and makes you forget you are in the city. Thanks Greg for taking us- I almost felt bad winning money from you. (Both Simpson and I won 2 bolivares from the director)

and yes I did... hit it right into the water.

weekend odds and ends

Have had a few nice weekends of doing a little of this a little of that.

On the way to Chacao market I saw this one- how I feel when I do sit ups lately.

Okay, sorry just one more nod to spring break. Just one more hopeful nod that Heineken will decide to sponsor future Simpson/Isom endeavors.

Last weekend we were able to enjoy another Cokerdem egg hunt. Always good fun and watching the balloon toss is quite enjoyable tension.

Luca and Lucas get a jump on the side yard.

Soccer ball, Soccer ball, EGG!

finding the sneak between the two yards can save valuable time.

INCOMING!!!!!

This was on the way to Chacao as well- made me think of all my Doha mates!

Coy had a birthday party as well. I like Coy, he is a man of simplicity- all he wanted was pictures of Maquinas (machines, diggers, etc)

(not Coy) but nice hat Chris!

Got in a Sunday Bike ride with MSR and he stopped here (I thought to pee).  Always an amazing perspective on things in Caracas.

Respect this Gringo!

All Lisa could say was "awww nice pose... were you tired?"  Guess I have to work on my tough guy stance.

bought a few of these at the market- look absolutely awful on the outside...

But pop them open and shazam! they look really cool! of course they still taste a bit shady.

Sunday afternoon and the kids wanted some screen time. We said no why don't you create and draw. Luca had some stickers and came up with a little comic. Wilder had an art project about the white stripes and black keys going on. 
*note to self* kill the TV when we get home.

that would be TNT

you do not!

and here is Wilders (work in progress)

Luca's first kiss

While at the Aquarium in Curacao we took in a show. I'm always a little skeptical about these in a free willy sort of way but the digs in Curacao seemed on the up and up.

It was a sea lion show and they are quite cool.

Her name was Rocker and she did the basics: head stands, wave to the crowd, high fives. She ate a lot of fish too.

At the end of the show they asked for 10 volunteers.

Someone's happy to be chosen! But what were we chosen for?

Kisses!!! with just a hint of fish.