Wow, what a day for running. Almost 7.5 inches of rain in south Austin today. We met at the usual Saturday place, Austin High School tennis court parking lot under Mopac. It had rained all night and was still raining hard. We were parked under Mopac and the rain drains poured water like a water fall down on the parking lot. We met Karen H, Steve S., Jason A and Renae A, and Karen F. Despite the rain we decided to go for it about 6:15 AM, temp about 45 to 48 or so.
We did the 10 mile Townlake loop, and all the rain did was get worse, along with lightening all the way while we ran. We were probably kind of stupid for doing it, but we did. Throughout the run we were in water, sometimes up over our ankles. Shoal Creek was flooding over the bank into Townlake, but we ran through it anyway. The concrete spillway near the boat docks area was a wild rush of deep dangerous raging water. Karen H. said that Jason initially stepped into it and then realized he would be swept away, so Steve gave him a hand and pulled him out.
Down at the 5 mile mark area where you cross over Longhorn Dam, on the sidewalk alongside the highway, a car drove by and hit a giant puddle of water and completely sprayed me and Karen. It didn't make us any wetter since we were already soaked.
On the way back up at about mile 8, a big lightening bolt struck just on the other side of Townlake near I-35. That one was way too close. As soon as we saw the lightening we felt and heard the giant thunder, way too close.
By the time we were done our feet were completely frozen. We drove over to Karen's gym and took a shower in hot water to get warmed up, and changed into dry clothes. Then Karen F, Karen H, and Lynn and I drove over to Maudie's and had breakfast. Pete's Special was delicious again. We all always order the same thing every week. A great way to end a weekend run.
We don't know if Tam and Joe and Angel and their marathon group ran this morning. We didn't see hardly any other runners on the rainy trail this morning. This run set a record for the worst conditions we have run in 8 years here in Texas, the least number of runners on the Townlake trail, the most lightening on any run, the most inspiring waterfalls of water pouring down from Mopac and from I-35, the first time Shoal Creek has flooded over its banks, and the coldest our feet have ever been in Texas. This was a great run!!!
| 