Mission Accomplished!

I did it!

Saturday was my 10k.  It was the culmination of a summer of training with a women's bible study/running group from a local church.  I started the summer training for a 5k.  After my disappointing Memorial Day run, I wanted to give it another shot.  But the more I ran, the more my friend, Salli, encouraged me to shoot for the 10k.  We both decided we'd train for the 10k, but if life got in the way (sick kids, crazy schedule, etc.) we could always roll-back to the 5k.

Three weeks ago, Salli & I test-ran the 10k course.  My goal was to not die.  I SHOCKED myself.  I finished.  We ran the whole thing: 1 hour 5 minutes.  That was my very first official "runner's high".  I called me day on my way home.  I couldn't believe I'd done it.

The next weekend, I ran it again...alone.  My time was 1:02, but I don't think I timed my run right...here's why:  The course has a big hill at about the 1 1/2 mile - 2 mile mark.  That night, as I reached the climb, I noticed 3 early-teen boys racing their bikes down the hill.  It looked like a blast.  The first boy wizzed by me.  I watched the second boy make his way down.  He had a GAP bag hanging from one handle and was holding a can of coke in the other hand.   I noticed the front wheel start to wobble...wobble...wobble...BAM!  He flew over his handlebars and slid the rest of the way down the hill on his hands and knees.  When he stopped, he was only a few yards ahead of me.  I ran up and made sure he was ok.  His bike took a big hit (His front wheel was at a 90 degree angle and his chain was off.)  So did he.  The boy was covered in road rash.  He seemed to be okay.  His cellphone was working.  He was walking around.  And he had his buddy, who'd just pulled up saying, "whoa...dude...whoa....dude."  He was a big help.  I carried his bike from the road and double checked that he was fine...and then ran on.

Then last weekend, Salli & I got our final "dress rehersal" in.  Again, we ran close to 1:04.  I knew we'd be okay.

So yesterday was the real thing.  The race started at 8am.  It rained all day Friday and Saturday was supposed to be "chance of showers" too.  But when I got up, it was gorgeous out.  Not a cload in the sky and barely 70 degrees.  PERFECT 10k weather.

(Pre-Race: me, Salliann & Juliette - my neighbor)

Sidenote: Like my cool number?  #111 As in, I have 3 one-year olds!?!?!? Okay...it's a stretch, but I still thought it was a cool random number that I got!

Salli's husband, Ben, was our official photographer.  He did a great job, didn't he?

(Off we go...determined not to start too fast)

(This is right after the giant hill.  I'm smiling because I'm the "queen of the hill".)

At mile 4, I had a slight "equipment failure".  My...well...my bra strap came off.  There was NO WAY I was stopping.  I was making great time.  I'd come so far.  I didn't care if I had to hold the strap together and run the last 2.2 miles...I was going to keep going!  Thankfully, there was a family handing out water 100 yards down.  I ran right up to the mom and said something like, "I know I don't know you and I know I'm disgustingly sweaty, but can you fix my bra strap?"  She was more than happy to help get me back on the course!

The last mile seemed to go on forever, but I managed to kick it up a notch with about 2/10ths to go.  I was pushing so hard, I didn't even see Shane and the kids at the finish line!

My official time: 1:01:17 - my best time by far (it works out to be a 9.52/m pace)

(Much better than the "After" shot from the Ridgewood Run)

(This is the group of 10k-ers from the running group)

(This is the whole gang that raced...10k & 5k)