I was worried coming into today how I'd feel. I ran a lot this week, much more than it seems I should have, and was suffering some aches, pains, etc. But I didn't hurt at all during the run, really. I went by feel during the race, kept my pace under 9 (really under 8:55, and my Timex average was different than the race average...I got a time of 1:51.54, and an average of 8:38, which seems right to me) and tried not to feel worn out for the hills starting mile 8. The hills really seemed to make a difference for me, those are where I passed people. My overall fitness was evident on those, I'd be running with a group until a hill, and then I'd just run past most of them; I could really notice it...and was thrilled. And I never felt like I was redlining and was going to lose it. It was a great feeling. I pushed the last 1/2 mile at the end and went really hard to the line, which was a nice run inside the baseball stadium.

Not a thing...for the first 6 miles, I ran harder/faster than planned, but it felt good, so I stuck with it. I clearly could run faster/longer than I'd estimated in my head, which was a nice thing to find out.

Got my medal and ate everything in sight: yogurt, banana, cookie, sports drink, 1/2 a sandwich. Just relaxed and cooled down.


Not a thing, this was pretty close to perfect today.


It's a great race as long as you're prepared for the hills, which I was! I loved finishing and starting at the stadium, and the course is beautiful. You stay in downtown and the time of the year is perfect. It wasn't expensive, and the shirt's nice, too.