Let's get going...
Sweetheart 5k
Getting back into the racing mode, I feel the excitement coming from the environment. People stretching, talking about how they feel and what they hope to run and just plain old adrenaline flowing all over the place. It was a gorgeous, sunny and blue skies kind of day with one exception: the wind! It gusted 25-30 mph through the race and made it t.o.u.g.h.!!! Check out that red warning flag flying straight out. Even the palm branches were leaning!
While stretching, I met a sweet, young lady that was here from Tennessee visiting her Mom. Shana was excited, too. Kent was getting in line for the racewalkers which started later than the 5k race. This race also was combined with the Sea Turtle Half Marathon and I hope to do it next year. I wanted to this year but it just didn't work out.
I had hoped I could run this without walking but run as hard as I could [at this time]. As it turned out, I ran it all and felt great. It was not my norm by any means, but getting back into the circuit felt great.
Here is a good shot of Kent coming in to the Finish Line. Also, one of my friend, Tim...who takes many, many pics. Gotcha!!
When I finished, I found a friend from Mississippi and got a pic with him. Good to see you, Tim and JoAnn. Glad you had a good race.
Kent won First Place in his age group. He's a really good racewalker and it is good to see "real" racewalkers out there...not those that choose to run and walk. Congrats, Sweetie!
And, one final pic of us...compliments of Tim.
Gulf Coast Lulu's 10k
My challenge increases as I aim to run this 6.2 miles. I haven't run solid that far yet. Again, my goal is to do my best whether it is all running or run and walk it. Having done this race before as a half marathon, I knew I had a huge challenge before me...crossing that Intercostal Waterway Bridge over AND back. This is the first year for the 10k. It is a tough bridge and with my knee giving me so many problems lately, I wondered if I would be able to accomplish this goal of solid running. It's all good regardless...unless I hurt my knee further! Also, since I saw the banner at the Expo at the Double Bridge race, I knew I had to show up as Adam told me I could pick it up after the race. Guess that was my main motivator, ha!!
I have been going to trekking for a while. Kent had stopped because he began having some knee issues just before the Double Bridge...and knowing this was going to be a tough 2-bridge race, he stopped going. He's better now. I felt it helped me in that race so I continued to go. But just before the Sweetheart 5k my right knee began bothering me. I searched for my knee straps to wear at that race but couldn't find them. There are some things that haven't been unpacked yet and they must be in one of those totes. The kicker? Trying to find another one. The only ones I could find were by Ace which are not as strong as Mueller, which I love!! We decided to go to Dick's to search there. Well......they had neither. The one they had was Shock Doctor and cost TWICE as much! I wore it the first time at this race hoping I wouldn't have problems with it. It did great...thank goodness. I'd hate to find that it didn't work and had spent that kind of money!
The race started at 7:30 and it was so yucky. It was a good temp but overcast and misty rain. I met up with my friend, Marsha. It was good to see her. She wasn't feeling well and I wished her a good race.
I saw another woman that had a sign on her back. She just happened to get in one of the pictures and I wanted to share it with you. Wished her a good race, too. This was her third half this year. She was trying to make today the 13th. In case you can't read this, it read: "13th time running 13.1 miles. Doing it on 3/1 because....it's my birthday". Isn't this cool?
As it turned out, it was perfect. By the time your body got good and warmed up the cool mist cooled you off. I had no problem with that, ha!
At the 10k turnaround, I saw Shana! I had forgotten that she was going to do this race. So, I knew we had to get our picture together afterward. She was heading back home to Memphis the following day.
As usual, the Gulf Coast Group gave out those great bottle opener finisher's medals.
The overall winner of the 10k was from the coast, Amber W. She was fantastic. Think she came in 5 minutes ahead of everyone!! Shana received the Masters Award and did great, too! Also, Dallas S. ran the half and did it in 1:42. He's an amazing 8 year old to say the least!!
I hung around to get pics of a couple of friends that did the half, Marsha and Mo. They did a great job, too. Mo placed in her age group. She's a beast!
I was able to run the entire race, even up and over that bridge. I felt good and strong coming in to the Finish Line, too. My knee never hurt...yay! As it turned out, I was awarded the Grand Masters 10k winner!! So happy with this as it will probably be the last GM I will receive before heading into another age group this year. This is definitely a keeper!
AND...I got it!! Yep, the banner! I am so excited about this and can't wait to get it on my wall in my crafting/sports room. Woo-hoo!!
One last thing. When we returned to our vehicle to leave, there was a flyer on it for a race in ... you guessed it our home town area, Hattiesburg. Heather, thought you would like this. She is the one who originated this race. You got good peeps everywhere looking out for your race. Hope it's a good one.
Well, here I am at the end of another post. It's been a good two weeks of racing. I'm looking forward to more races this spring. Hope you are, too. See you on the road...so go
Run 4 It
No comments:
Post a Comment