I got up at 4:45 that morning. I was a little nervous about catching a shuttle and making my way to the start line by myself, but I was so pumped about my first race of the year.
My breakfast that morning (poor planning on my part) consisted of a brown sugar cinnamon poptart and a banana. Because I wasn't planning on filling my bottles for my fuel belt, I was drinking water like crazy...which might have been a bit of an overkill.
At around 5:45, I went down and boarded a shuttle to the start line. I hit the porta-potty (I am practically a pro by now and don't give it a second thought anymore) and followed the sea of people to the starting corals to freeze my butt of waiting for the race to begin. It was cold and windy, but at least the rain stopped.
I had every intention of joining a pace group, probably right up until that morning. I guess I decided against it because I felt this race was something I needed to do myself...to prove to myself that I can run by myself and be okay. But, just in case I wasn't going to be okay, I got in right beside the 10:07 pacer and planned on staying on the outskirts of the group for the first couple of miles just to get comfortable.
It was such a rush crossing that start line. It was nice being with the pace group at the beginning to keep me from getting too excited and starting out too fast. I stayed with them until mile two and decided that it was time to run my own race.
At around two and a half miles, I looked and saw my little family standing on the side of the road. I tried not to get too emotional. My three kiddos were holding up signs that they made to cheer me on. It was great to see them and gave me the little boost I needed. I pictured them many times after that.
Shortly after seeing my family, I had to pee so bad. After every mile marker, I would check out the porta-potties to see what waiting was like. I couldn't justify standing in line at mile 3, 4, or 5 to pee. So, I passed each of those up. By mile seven, I was uncomfortable and it's all I could think about. I had to stop. Luckily, there was no waiting so I took a little pit stop. This is where I noticed that the skin was pretty much gone on my left inner thigh, thanks to my stupid choice of shorts, which my husband would later inform me of.
It's the last 5K that usually plays a few mind games with me...this race being no exception. I did a lot of praying and I knew that I had many praying for me. I wrestled a lot with myself in mile 10 and by the time I was on to mile 11 my heart had won and I kept trucking.
Mile 12 I started to get teary...especially during the approach to the stadium. The winding seemed to take forever and there was really no way to gain any speed weaving through the corals they had set up for us but I was happy to be so close to the finish. As soon as I entered the stadium, "Knees to the Earth" came on my ipod and I crossed the finish to the verse couple lines to that song. It was perfect.
I had so hoped to finish in 2:10 on my birthday, but there was no way that I could be disappointed with my time (and new PR!!!) of 2:12:48. I was thrilled. After I got my medal and grabbed a bottle of water, I stood in the stadium, looking around, and taking it all in. While waiting to meet my family (who was in the stadium and saw me come in and cross the finish line) I sat up in the bleachers watching the other runners come in. It was a neat experience.
The course was beautiful, flat, and one that I would like to run again. It was the perfect way to ring in another decade!
Mile By Mile :
Mile 1 - 9:56
Mile 2 - 9:57
Mile 3 - 9:50
Mile 4 - 9:51
Mile 5 - 10:00
Mile 6 - 9:45
Mile 7 - 10:37 (potty break hurt me)
Mile 8 - 9:56
Mile 9 - 9:49
Mile 10 - 10:36 (where I became a headcase :) )
Mile 11 - 10:16
Mile 12 - 10:34 (my thigh was KILLING me!)
Mile 13 - 10:14
Average - 10:06/mile
Highlights of my Race - Seeing my family along the course holding the signs they made, proving to myself that I can keep running when my head is telling me to give up, running in to Memorial Stadium, Looking down and seeing my new PR!
Low points - Wearing tight cotton shorts (I guess it's a big no, no...which my husband failed to tell me before I walked out the door) and scraping off about six inches of the inside of my left thigh...which was pusing and bleeding for two days...now it's just one big scab.
What a way to start the year...couldn't be happier...couldn't be more excited for my upcoming races.
Here's to a great running season...my first season in my 30s!
Ready to run!
My K with her running sign.
My Littlest Man with his sign he made.
Middle Man with his sign.
Running in to the Stadium...almost there!
Me with shirt on and my Finisher's Medal!
Happy Running!
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