Double Bridge 15k & A New PR

The day was perfect, wind at your back and the temp was cool.  The makings for a great race.  I had kinda dreaded it because the temp was suppose to be 30 with a wind chill into the 20's.  It would be the first time I'd race, much less run, in such cold temps.  Therefore, I had apprehensions but it was only seconds after it started that the race became my friend.  Here's my pic before leaving the hotel room:

Yep, I doubled up every bit of clothing I could without being uncomfortable.  Looking a little pudgy with all those clothes, huh?  I love bibs that have my name on it...it's so cool and I feel important.

My friend, Deleica, came and we ran together.  Though I'm not a fan of running with someone in a race, she and I pair up pretty good, pace-wise.  We tend to help each other and this makes for a good running partner.  Now, on with the show...

The race went well.  Each bridge was a challenge, but in a good way.  The last one had the biggest hill but I knew about midways up that we were in the 8th mile and that the end was near.  Somehow, [mentally I guess] you feel like you can catch your last wind going down the bridge to finish on the straightway.  Here are pics on the bridge and crossing the Finish Line. 

D kept me strong going UP the bridges.  I'm not sure I would have pushed myself as much had I been alone.  Then out of nowhere, going down that last bridge, I got my second wind and was feeling really strong.  I have NO idea where this came from.  I looked at my watch and it seemed as though I was going to beat my time last year.  This race was to be a "training" run for my marathon training and was going to use it for a bit of a speedwork and not run hard; but it was so easy, I just went with how I felt.  The finishing shoot was in view and I began to push harder.  I mean, no sense in letting good energy go to waste, huh?  Good air filled my lungs and I felt stronger than I have in a long time.  Running as hard as I could, I crossed the line at a 6:47 pace and with a great total time.  Notice in the second pic above that I was reaching to stop my watch. 

The race was a sell-out.  There were so many people running and cheering that I never saw Kent when I was coming in.  I was just hoping he got a shot of me.  He got a good pic of the ground, ha...where it should have been me facing him coming in.  And, another of my backside as I was closing in on the finish. 

This race was chipped and thankfully so.  Having so many people, they had us coraled and let us "out of the pen" about 15-20 seconds between each pace coral [this means that the gun time and chip time are completely different].  Therefore, my time was nowhere like the clock time.  Whew!! 

They gave us this beautiful medal as we crossed the line.  I love it!  It's so colorful.  The shirts have the same emblem on it but the shirt itself was neon yellow.  Love it, too!! 

After the race, D stopped to remove her ankle brace and I looked at my watch.  It was still on!!!!  I was soooo mad!  I KNEW I had turned that thing off; but undoutedly I didn't press hard enough.  She looked at hers and the time was amazing!  If her watch was right, I had a great PR coming to me. 

We finally connected with Kent.  He took a couple of pics of D and I afterward.  We look kinda rough...but, hey, we just ran a tough 9.3 mile race and looks only add to the fact that we worked so hard for this.  Kind of a trophy, I'd say. 

We all went and got our post-race meal.  We saw Mo there with her meal.  Kent said she crossed the line just seconds before me.  I never saw her.  I asked how she did and she told me that her watch showed 1:36:??  Now, I was really wondering if D's watch was right?  How could that be if she crossed the line before me? 

I could hardly wait for the results to be posted online.  I HAD to see what was going on.  It was driving me crazy!  The next day the results were posted.  You can find them here:  http://runresults.net/ . 

I was Runner  #1353 (out of 2259 runners), 9th out of 41 in my age group, and now my time...drum roll, please: 1:32:06 at a 9:53 pace!!!  That is 2 minutes and 24 seconds faster than last year and all done under a 10 minute pace!!  I was soooo excited and couldn't believe it.  Yep...I LOVE chip running!!!  You never know how you will do until all the chips are down...sorry, no pun intended. 

I want to leave you with telling you to always do your best...whatever it is that day.  It may be really good or it may be really not good.  You never know how it will turn out.  Now, get off that couch and go

Run 4 It