The start was alittle weird, just plop right there somewhere in the parking lot between cars. There was no line, or definition. I happened to be off to the side close to the front. Unwittingly, I was running along with "those" people, until about half a mile in, I realized...."I don't run this pace." I knew I had to slow down. It was sort of a fun feeling to think I could try going, but having not ran in so long (except for one 2 mile run a few days ago), I could feel I needed to slow down. At the one mile mark, I heard the time called out and I was amazed to hear 8 something. At the 2 mile mark, I heard 18 something and mentally felt good about it, but physically I wasn't feeling much stamina. I knew I wasn't going to go to a walk, but had that jump out of my skin craving to "get there". That feeling of...."where's that last turn". I couldn't enjoy the run really. I had a weirdo pain in my shoulder that I get when I run. It comes and passes during the run.

If I run 2 or 3 times a week, I would be a happy camper at the races, (duh)! Better warmup would have helped.

Mild stretching (after I recovered from feeling like i was going to toss my cookies). Thanks to a woman who came up from behind me to pass me right when we entered the parking lot to the finish line. I looked at her and thought to myself "hmm...she might be in my age group", and decided to put the gas on for the finish. She was maxed out and I wasn't nearly maxed out (yep, thats right folks, Nikki doesn't push herself), so I passed her and came across before her. (Turned out she was in the next age group and won 2nd place in it).


Training and I don't push myself. A vicious and unnecessary cycle. I don't push myself because I don't want to cross that "i'm going to toss my cookies" threshold, or the "sucking wind" one. But, those are symptoms of not enough training.....and so it goes. My hear, legs, body can absolutely take pushing it though.


I still managed to do another PB, which is fun and exciting. I however knew I could have done better, but was out of shape. Its amazing how much you lose in just a few weeks. This was a VERY flast course, so not sure that the PB was as valid, but sure, i feel good.

My son brought his camera and took a slew of photos. I'll post them soon.