Started off a little fast -- seems impossible not to do in a race, even one where many people aren't really racing! Did what I do: Just kept chugging. It was hard not to get choked up, though. All around you, people are wearing shirts or signs honoring loved ones who have lost their battles with cancer, or who continue to battle cancer. I couldn't think too much about what was on my own shirt, because that also made me choke up. My shirt had one ribbon on it for each kind of cancer I am pissed at, and in my head I assigned one mile to each ribbon/disease.

The answer to this one is always the same: More base miles! I was really bad this week, and it definitely felt like my first run in a week.

Walked to the car! Had to race to soccer; because the race started late, we were half an hour late. The best laid plans...


Mostly the crowds. There were a lot of people who don't normally race and who were not doing it for time -- that combo meant they didn't know to seed themselves properly, and THAT meant the first mile was a lot of weaving around people out for a leisurely stroll. But seriously, this is probably the only race in the area where I can actually be middle of the pack instead of back of the pack, so I'll take it.


This is an emotional race. Because it is so emotional, and so croweded with newbies, I would not recommend it for anyone trying to set a new PR.

BUT:

Two years ago, my husband and his dad ran this race together. It was hubby's first race after he started running, and I loved the vibe and was so proud to cheer them on. It planted a seed: I want to do this.

Last year, they ran this race together again. I was glad for them, and so disappointed in myself that I had not gotten my act together and figured out the exercise thing. I was overwhelmed with emotion over it all -- proud of them, mad at myself, missing family members. That was really the moment where I decided I HAD to get off the couch and figure out how to make a change.

Over that summer, I tried on the treadmill, and couldn't get a groove. Finally, in September, I figured out I can run right out my back door, and I slogged through couch to 5K. So when this race came around again this year, my husband insisted that *I* had to do it and he had to cheer. It meant a lot to me to have that encouragement from him, and to be in a position to go into this race with several 5Ks, a 15K, and a triathlon under my belt. What a difference a year makes!