Yes, finally a race report. I'm hoping I can remember how it was and what I did on Saturday! LOL

Since I can't sleep these days, this blog is coming to you at 4am! But that's a whole other blog.

Friday night I got all my things together, but because the race was in town if I was missing anything I'd be able to get it in the morning. I didn't have to leave my house until 7:45 or later. The race site was 5 miles from my house. I could have run there! LOL

I got up, made coffee, had my breakfast, had a leisurely morning. :) I gathered my things. headphones, gum, snack, just in case they didn't have snacks, this was a small race, less than 200 people, and water.

I wasn't nervous, which is shocking. I'm normally barely able to sleep and I'm super nervous the day of.

I drove to the site, got there early. Found some people I know, chatted with them. Got my bib number and my race shirt, pinned on my number and took my shirt to the car.

Saw a few other parents I know from church and school, chatted with them and soon the race began.

I didn't have anyone really to pace with. A guy from my new running group known as Papa Turtle, wasn't running with the "graduating" C25Kers. He was running his own pace which is about 10/mm. Another runner said her goal was 31. So that wasn't my pace either.

I was gonna be happy with a 34 minute finish.

The race started and wow, Papa Turtle shot out of the start with a flash and soon he was way ahead of me. The other runner too.... before I knew it I didn't have anyone to pace with.

This race was to help support a kids gymnastics place, so there were a lot of kids and moms with their kids.

I weaved a bit in and out of kids but over all everyone I knew was way ahead of me. I'm trying a new tracking app and it was telling me my pace I didn't think it could be true, I tried to slow down, I didn't want to wear myself out before I got to mile one!

It was a good course, pretty easy so far. In town, it was nice. I saw someone I knew, a lady I consider to be a 'real runner' marathons, half marathons, big races, like boston, chicago.... ya know, a real runner. She was helping some kids run and was a in front of me I tried to pace with her for a while, but she was stopping and starting with the kiddos.

Yup around the next bend I passed them and was on my own. Just me and the road and the hills. Wow this course had some long slow steady hills, I wasn't expecting. So glad I ran a couple of training runs at the park where there are a lot of hills!

Before I knew it though beyond the 2 mile mark and doing well. I still couldn't believe what the app was telling me. Crazy! Even though the unexpected hills had slowed me down a bit.

I made the last turn and thought it wasn't too far to go, but I swear that last street was a stretch, like a labyrinth! A mirage! I picked up the pace a bit. I was feeling fine, I'd had plenty of water the day before and during the race. I wasn't hot or feeling like I was over-heating. It had rained that morning but it was turning out to be a nice day.

Coach had said a few days prior, if you could beat your previous PR he'd refund your entry fee! WOW, I didn't think I could beat my previous PR, it was pretty quick. 32:55

I thought I was pretty close to it though coming onto the last street, I wasn't really sure where the finish was so I didn't know how fast to run and I didn't want to collapse across the finish!

The finish of course was another turn and completely uphill! But I was feeling fine!! I ran across the finish, got some water and a snack and my FIRST EVER BLING!!

We received St Pattys day finishers medals!! So cool! I need to get a picture of it!

My time was short of my previous PR, but I still surprised myself. 33:56!! 61 seconds shy of my PR, but awesome nonetheless!

I though I'd do it in 34-35, but under 34!! I ran a Sub-11 nearly the entire race!! 10:40 average pace! WOOT !

Here are my splits:

Mile 1
Average pace: 9:41
Fastest pace: 8:04 (are you kidding me??)

Mile 2
Average pace: 10:48
Fastest pace: 9:20 (again, are you kidding me??)

Mile 3
Average Pace 11:33
Fastest Pace 10:08 (Crazy, this isn't me!)
Climbed 120 feet

.18
Average pace 10:35
Fastest pace 9:48


I felt fine!! Energized! No pain, nothing aching! I was proud. :) Since it was a small race I hung around for the results. I didn't place in the top 3 women, but I came in 8th in my age group and in the middle of the pack. 60th out of 119! WOOT!


I'd run a training run with a friend the week before at a 10:55 pace! And this week I ran an 11:09 pace with a new running friend.

Hmmmm......seems like I'm getting faster! Cool!

I also joined the RRC Running Club, I'm looking forward to track work!! For now I can only go one day a week, but I think that will help me with form and speed! I'm.so.excited!! I'm going tomorrow to the track! O M G!!