The Friday night before I went to Roadrunner Sports and picked up my goody bag which included a very bright neon yellow t-shirt and my bib number. I laid out everything that night and double checked that I had things ready for the morning ... charging my Garmin watch, pinning my number to my pant leg, making sure my running clothes were ready ... you get the idea. I did my best to get to bed at a decent hour as I needed to be at the race site around 7 a.m. and I lived an hour away. The race didn't start till 8 a.m., but our group was going to meet early so we could get a good warm up done before the race.
I think I set my alarm for 4 a.m. though I didn't actually wake up for another half hour or so. I got ready to go, tried to settle my nerves (as I tend to get the case of the butterflies before any race...or any activity for that matter). Finally, I was ready!
I put my number on my leg cause I put on a jacket and if I decided to take off said jacket during the race, I'd still have my number visible. Oh and the final touch ... putting the timing chip on my shoe ...
I headed out the door and drove west to Sherwood. I got there quite a bit earlier than I expected to, but I parked my truck in this massive field they were directing us in which make me thankful to have a truck as it was not a smooth surface, if you get what I'm sayin. I made sure I had everything ... watch, water bottle, visor ... and walked towards the last minute registration/packet pick up table. I found two of the guys that are in my group and we waited for everyone else to show up. Overall there was about 10 of us that ran. Finally it was getting down to the start time and we made our way with the crowd to begin the race.
At a few minutes after 8, they sounded the horn and off we went! I ran with one lady from my group, Candy, as we are in the same pace group on Saturdays so we stuck together. After the first mile I realized that she and I were going a bit faster than we were used to and finished the first mile in about 9 minutes ... I think. That tends to happen though, the rush of the crowd makes you energized to go faster at the beginning. We slowed our pace and kept at about 12:50 or so minute mile. And then it happened, we came upon the split off from the 5k route and the 10k route. I waved over my head and heard her yell "GO HOLLY GO!!!" But as I turned to go the 10k route, there was a hill....and not a gradual incline. No, this was a hill. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate hills?! Well, I do. They are a killer for me. But I kept going and took extra walk breaks to get my breathing back. I passed a lady who was just out walking and said its easier now that I'm done with that hill. Yeah, she lied. There were tons more hills and it was so lonely and quiet I was thankful for my music.
After quite a bit of running through neighborhoods, I wound my way back into the forest/park area of the race, which meant I was nearing the end of the race. At one point there was a little black kitty on the trail staring into the trees. I thought for sure when I got closer it would get spooked and run into hiding. But I called out to her and she actually came over to me and I bent down (as I was still running) and gave her a pat on the head.
I passed the Mile 5 marker and was so excited that I was almost done and making really good time! Good time for me that is. I was keeping at a steady 12:40 minute mile pace and as I got into the town portion of the run I noticed 3 people and a dog heading for me. It was my group leader (Aaron), his wife (Ashley, their dog (Auzlo) and my pace group leader (Carol)! They came back along the trail to find me and run the rest of it with me! That almost made me start crying. Aaron checked to see how I was doing as I had mentioned to him previously that I had a calf injury last fall and he's been coaching me at the weekly track sessions I attend. We finally turned the corner and I could see the finish line! I took my walk break as I had to run the long drive to the line. I heard them all talking around me, but my mind was concentrating and getting myself ready to hussle across that line! When my watched beeped that it was time to run again, I took off with all I had. Aaron ran up beside me and said "There's that speed!"
Candy was waiting at the finish line along with a few others and was able to get a picture of the 4 of us running it in.
My final chip time was 1:18 and I was very happy with it. This was a good race for me and even with the hills, I'm glad I completed the 10k.
I have a few more races coming up including a 5k, and 3 half marathons! I'll do my best to post race reports from those as well.
RUN STRONG everyone!!!!!
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