I almost didn't do this race. It was my MIL's birthday and the family was getting together for a second birthday lunch celebration (we had one last weekend at our house). Last night, the man told me to go and have fun. I still wasn't feeling it. I kept questioning whether I was up for putting out my best effort. Ironically I had read the RR of another BT'er who is a very good athlete who questioned himself a week ago. I thought of how things played out for him and off I went with a smile on my face.

I had two goals going into the race 1) to hold myself back the first mile just a bit and 2)to have a real kick at the last turn. I wanted to beat my best '11 10K time of 46:38.

The race is small so I looked at the field and lined myself up at the front with a bunch of guys. I turned on my GPS and never looked at it. I could tell the first mile was not easing into things and by the time I hit the first sizeable hill it was a very hard effort. My goal was to maintain it until that final turn. I kept waiting for some fast chick to pass me, but it wasn't happening. At the 3m+ mark there is a small out and back where you can see the field behind you. I saw one woman and she was a good minute back. I had a very good feeling about things, but didn't want to get to cocky.People kept telling me I was the first woman, cheering from the course. I kept pushing at that same very hard pace. I hit the 5m mark and hit the gas taking it up to very, very hard. It hurt. We got tangled with the 5k walkers for a while and I tried to hold it together weaving in and out of them. With .2m to go I let it go and was close to that "I might pass out" feeling. I saw the clock as I was nearing the chute and it was 45:5X so close to my PR. As I ran in I realized not only was I the first female, but I had taken another :34 off my 10K '11 time. I was very happy, even if I was still :13 away from the PR.

Nothing, well maybe pace that first mile a little better, maybe.

This time I did the cool down, 3' walk, 5' ez, 3' walk. Went back to get some H20 and waited for the award ceremony.


I ran to my current fitness level. My head has come a long way. Pain is much easier to endure than it was a year ago. I feel like these last few races have really come togehter. I credit my coach, Brett Petersen for makimg me way more bullet proof.


This is a very well run, small race. It brings out a lot of people touched by cancer. I did this race in honor of my dad who died of cancer and a friend who is in the final stages of the disease.