Its Personal

Moving my month of madness of running was a great idea, because I have ran a race each week from the 27th of March to yesterday. My lowest placement has been 5th and the last 2 races I placed 3rd in my age group. My last race of my month of madness of running is next Saturday, which will be a half marathon trail race.

This past race was my first 10k race. Some reason that was a big milestone marker for me. I was more nervous about that distance than the half marathon. To make matters even more interesting I decided to give myself more room to sleep since the race was only about 40 minutes away. Once I got in the car the GPS didn't really recognize the address. My mom and me were already running late so I couldn't go back and get the full address. I picked one that seemed similar and hoped for the best.

As we came close we ran into construction, which slowed us down big time. According to the GPS if we did find it I would only have about 15 minutes to spare before the race and I had to use the bathroom before it. I told my mom at this point if we do not find it by 7:50 I am calling quits because I am not going to pee on myself during the race. As I finished we found the church.

With 10 minutes to spare I found the restroom as my mom grabbed my bid. I went back to my car to put my running shoes on and found my doors shut and locked. I paniced for a second, because I thought my mom locked my keys in the car. She didn't. I suited up and got ready to run.

During the 1st 3 miles I passed a dead squirrel on the road inside the cones on our course. Also, the 1st 3 miles was flat and down hill which I found hard since I am use to training on hills. During this 3 miles the top finishers separated them selves in front of me and the slower runners were a good bit behind me. Most of the race I spent by myself. The only other person in the race was this older gentleman who ran/ walked the course.

The last 3 miles were full of all different lengths and intensities of inclines, which I liked and also I ended up picking up my pace.

Ironic moment of the race: approaching on mile 4 the timer person was smoking a ciggerate. I found that very rude and opposite from what we were doing.

By the time I hit mile 4 also I knew I could run the whole race, which at the pace I was going could do right around an hour. Hitting mile 5 I almost thought about walking, but I talked myself out of it. With the sun shining in my eyes and my desire to keep pushing on I looked at my clock and told myself only about 10 more minutes to go. My hips and lower back has been sore feeling for the majority of the race, but nothing to horrid. Seeing the 6 mile marker felt amazing. I picked up my pace for the 200 meters and sprinted my heart out on the last 100 meters. My time was an hour and six minutes.

I placed 3rd in my age group and 29th overall for the women!

On the way home my mom was debating if she could or wanted to go to my race next Saturday. Its far away and I will also have a family member racing too. I ended up stating it doesn't matter who is there, because its about me. Its a personal sport. Its your time, its your goal, you depend on your training, and that is all it is. It is yours and yours only.