Where do I start with this? The first time I ran this race (6 years ago?) I finished thinking "that was fun but I don't know that I want to do it again" Ha! Little did I know this race would so become a part of who I am and an event that I look forward to every year.
A few years ago, I ran this with Max and we had so much fun. It was my first foray into the costumed running......It really made this race even more enjoyable cause the crowds really feed off it. Two years ago, I ran with my daughter as Peter Pan to her Wendy and got my PR for the course.....Then I lost close to 10 months in running jail. I missed last years race and it broke my heart. Going back to race Monument was a redemption of sorts. It was reclaiming my fitness ......and being able to tell my former physical therapist that he was wrong. He flat out told me my legs did not have another 10K or half marathon in them. I knew if I was patient and careful I could prove him wrong.

That said, I had fun. From the moment my wave went out, I had a lump in my stomach and was on the verge of tears thinking about his words and going out to run a 10K as best I could. As soon as I got a block or so down Broad Street that faded, no more thoughts of anything but "HOT D@m, THIS IS FUN!" Smiling ear to ear for 6.2 miles.

I was keeping an eye on my splits and was happy with my pace. I tried to reign in my enthusiasm so I wouldn't push the limits too hard. My goal was to get as close to my old PR as possible, chase it down if I was able but to run "within myself". High fives, dancing with the band around mile 1.5 cause their lyrics were all about SUNSHINE and my costume this year was a cheerful yellow tutu decorated with flowers as the Garden of Sunshine. So I really did a little twirl in the middle of the road as I went by them.

Grabbed water as needed from the volunteers. I hac a fuel belt on with some water bottles but it was hard to get at with the flowers all around my waist on the skirt. In fact, the tutu had minor alterations at 5 AM when I got dressed cause I cut off several inches to be sure I wouldn't trip on it then had to scavenge rubber bands to tie the thing to the fuel belt cause it was too loose.

I felt good the whole day, no pain in my legs, no problems with my shoes (only wore for 2 or 3 runs prior!). I didn't feel overly tired until that last 0.2 miles ehen I could see the finish line but felt like it was still a million miles away. It's a little down hill there, partly cobbled just beforehand too so with the bit of drizzle we had it was slick.



Not a darn thing, this was the run I wanted for a comeback to stand alone run events and the BEST possible race to do it in.

Walked around the park.....I've done this course 6 times and today was the first time I noticed the water fountain in the middle of the park! Waited for Kristen cause we had plans for lunch post race.
Home from lunch and soaked in a jaccuzzi.


That gastrocs injury from 2010......had such a long and difficult recovery I wanted to be sure I raced well but not so hard that I caused a problem with my tri season plans.


This is the best race!! There is no defining the way Richmond turns out to support the runners in this race.
Somehow lost all my photos from the day. When the paper posts their link to all their photos I will get mine at least.