Normally hearing I ran the first mile of 13 in 8:10 would have freaked me out a little, but today I ran according to how I felt and not what was going on inside my head. The first mile was fast (for me) and my legs felt cold and tight, but I knew they would warm up soon enough. I kept on at a good pace, in fact a 5K PR pace and came to the 3 mile mark at 25 minutes. Around this time I caught back up with Kate and was feeling great. My legs were finally warmed up and I was settled in to a pace I felt comfortable with. Basically the next 3 miles were just me running and trying to catch up with Rivi. I started seeing people on the other side of the road around mile 5 and knew the turn around was close. I kept on to a 10K PR of 51 minutes and thought to myself if I can hold on to this pace I will definitely meet my goal. So about a half mile after the turn around my right hip/upper leg starts getting really tight and sore. I've never had this feeling before but what can you do half way through a race. So I kept running as fast as I could, but I definitely slowed down. Around this time Kate pulls up next to me and is looking really strong and says to me...I/you deserve victory (some guys t-shirt) and takes off. (Go KATE!) Oh and then about a mile down the road, the boring road with nothing to look at, I see my friend Heather! She ran with me for a few minutes and we chatted about the race but my face was so cold I could barely move my lips. After I saw her I started to count down the miles...4 left then 3 and with every mile down my leg started to get more tight. I tried to put it out of my head because no matter how fast or slow I was running it felt the same. [With that said, I in no way am making excuses for my performance, which I am happy with. I didn't even want to mention my leg in this report but that's exactly what happened.] I looked down at my watch with 1.5 miles to go and knew my goal wasn't going to happen but I could still get in under 2 hours, which was goal number 2. The rest of the race was weaving in and out of walkers from the 10K and trying to hold on for the last little bit.

I really don't know what I could have done differently. My nutrition was good. I drank the right amount of fluids and gu'd at the right times. The only thing I wish was different was my leg but I'm not sure I had control over that. Just need to race more.

No real warm down. Picked up shirts and walked to the car. It was so freaking cold. So thanks to Anica and Heather for standing out in the freezing cold to cheer us on :)


There was no outside force that limited my ability to perform faster except for me. Unless I get hit by a car or something like that I really don't think this answer will ever change.


I had a good race. It wasn't the best on the last half but I am very happy with my performance.