Here are my official results from the St. Paul Winter Carnival Half Marathon this past weekend:
Total Time: 1:29:48
Pace: 6:52/mile
Place: 71 out of 1209(earlier in the week, my time was listed as 1:29:13, which was a 6:49 pace, and I had placed 70th, so something just changed...)
And here are some more photos:

Dreary, foggy, snowy day

Out of the starting gates

The photo Jenny took of me around mile 8.
I was just starting my kick, but I was smiling!

Mile 12ish...dying...

Elevation chart of the out-and-back race.
Notice the sharp downhill at the start that
was KILLER on the way back up
After the race, I finished cleaning the house while Pharmie was baking delicious things. We had a party to get ready for! Pharmie made sweet desserts and awesome wheat buns. I worked on 3 kinds of chili: a double batch of white chicken chili, and 2 traditional red chilis (1 normal, and 1 veggie). People started showing up around 6, and we had about 30 people grab some grub over the next few hours. We had 2 local triathlete bloggers show up:
Jumper and
Jeremy. Jeremy had just run the half marathon with me a few hours before.

People mingling, people playing games

The most random assortment of people playing Catch Phrase

The kitchen at the end of the night with
3 empty pots of chili on the stove

The “goodies” corner, completely ransacked
OK, here comes the warning. And I haven’t been known to give warnings. These next photos are going to be a little gross. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
On Monday, 2 days after the half marathon, the blood blister on my foot didn’t look any different, so I figured I should pop it. I started by peeling back some of the upper blister in order to expose the blood blister beneath:
Then it popped. It dumped out some deep red blood:
I squeezed the little bastard dry:
I picked some skin off the top, and called it good:
Here it is 1 day after picking at it, and it looks “better”:
Anyone up for some hamburger?
Ah, Steve.
ReplyDeleteThe bulimic's best friend.
Looks like a fun party! Your foot is a mess...ouch.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME PICS OF THE FOOT! Dude you are super fast! Again congrats on a great race time!
ReplyDelete[in my best Cameron Frye voice]
ReplyDelete"Stevie Stenzel, you're my hero"
Seriously, that is some delicious foot work, rather work on the foot. Couldn't have popped it better myself.
We can always count on you to cross the line!
ReplyDeleteBison burgers for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm a RN. You couldn't possibly gross me out. But I bet if I was allowed to take pictures, I could actually gross you out.
It was awesome really meeting you and Pharmie (rather than the 15 seconds we met prior). It was also good times, you can't go wrong with a couple of Sam Adams Boston Lager. It was also nice to get out of the house for the night.
Those foot pics are sweet, brother.
ReplyDeleteNext time, give us one with you actually chewing on the callous.
That would be awesome.
You flippin' rocked the half, BTW.
Why don't I know better by now to not eat while reading your blog?!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the half marathon - and for popping that blood blister.
I'm sorry I missed your party especiallys since my IMWI roomie, Jumper was there.
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't get any whining from the Clysdale gallery about the foot pics - you did give a warning!
So yeah, have I ever mentioned my sub-specialty is wound management? That's not even the worst thing I've seen today....... but anyway....
ReplyDeleteNice race!
Boston?
ReplyDeleteNice job on the half, Steve! Top 6%, you rocked that thing!
ReplyDeleteI truly appreciate the warning you gave. I was eating. I was able to finish before seeing your nasty-ass feet (or is that nasty ass-feet?).
That looks painful (and leaves me wincing).
ReplyDeletegood times! did you notice that you and i are both in that photo "out of the starting gates?" i am to the furthest left on the bottom and you are 4 people to my right. at least i think thats you. thanks again for the party!
ReplyDeleteAgain, I have no words for those last photos LOL
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on a great race. It is good to see someone dressing so old school running so very danged fast.
ReplyDeleteCan I have mine w/ cheese? Great party pics!
ReplyDeleteDude...my feet look a whole lot better after running 50k's. Is it your shoes?? Great job out there!
ReplyDeleteConcerned for you in Ohio
steve..can you ups me the un eaten chili...starving
ReplyDeletewas not grossed out by the blister thingy so keep those coming.
on the next super cold day..can you do a real hard run outside and then shoot your head with the steaming coming off it??? like the football players?? that would be cool.
I would try, but I don't go as fast as you and its 80 and sunny in cleveland..
Great pictures! Even at mile 12 you look happy and relaxed.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun time for all at the party!
I'm impressed with your doctoring skills on the blood blister.
It seems like good times were had by all at the party.
ReplyDeleteCoulda' done without the foot photos though.
;)
Leave it to you for posting a pics of your feet, with blood, and skin ripped off...
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good time though... the party that is!
Can you and Pharmie come to my house to cook after a race?
ReplyDeleteAww man, I'm disappointed, it's just a little blood blister, I was expecting an amputation in the least, 'specially with the warning.
ReplyDelete(I once pulled a sewing needle out of my son's foot after he jumped off the couch and ran it clear through his big toe. Funny, I think your foot bled more.)
HA. This post just made me laugh. Nice work on that blister. I've got blood blisters on both of my feet in the same spot as yours. Hot.
ReplyDeleteRunning is pretty.