I raced with Joan Benoit Samuelson and WON!

It's true! Well okay she won the race, but I won my age group.  For about 10 whole yards I was ahead of an Olympic gold medalist.  Then she was right beside me and gone.  She's fast!  I guess that is why she is an Olympic gold medalist and I am not.

Race Recap

Woke up to an overcast morning with a 50/50 chance of rain.  forecast said it was supposed to be 48 degrees by the start of the race = PERFECT race temperature if you ask me.  My calf muscles were feeling a little tight so I decided to wear some compression socks. I also went with my new Lululemon running skirt.

I am so pumped up for this race!

Pre-race photo with my sis Jami

By the time my sis and I got to the race and found parking it was 15 minutes before gun time.  I really needed to use the port a potty, but the lines were long so I decided to give up and just race with a full bladder.  :( Mostly I knew it was nerves, but a little bit I really had to go! I weaved my way to the front of the line, which isn't something I have done before for the Women's Run, but I knew I was going to be at least a top twenty finisher so I felt daring.

The gun went off and there were a hundred little beeps that followed as everyone turned on their Garmins and we were off.  The first mile felt really great and I felt full of energy still as I hit the 1 mile marker.  I was pulling a pretty good pace and knew I couldn't maintain 6:46 minute miles for four more miles so I slowed down just a little.  I wanted to try to stay around a 6:55 pace.  The second mile went pretty fast, there was only 7 or 8 runners in front of me so I focused on the closest one and kept rolling along.  Close to the three mile mark I started to struggle a little as I realized I was about at the 5k mark and was running about 5k pace.  Could I keep it up?  The fourth mile was the slowest at 7:04 and then I started to get a second wind and was able to pick up the pace again.  Shortly after I was passed not once, but twice .  Aaack was this how the last mile was going to be?  Was I dying, had I gone out too fast and was now paying the price? As a struggled towards the finish line I pulled out the last bits of energy and pushed with everything I had.  It was good enough to pass two people and up 8th overall!

Tiki and I, she is a freaking awesome runner!

I didn't find out the official results until later and found out if I would have hung around or awards I would have had my picture taken with Joan.  Argh, darn my luck anyhow.  When I did find out my results I had a had time not crying a little.  I was a little emotional.  I didn't think I was going to win my age grou[ I was just hoping to place!  I have never even placed in my age group at it.  My official time was 35:01. So a new personal best by 4 seconds! YAY! Next race is a 5k in eight days,  can't wait!

My sis and I after the race!

My friend Sarah, so proud she ran the whole thing!

 So excited to read up on everyone else's race reports for the weekend!