Got to the start line with about 20 minutes to spare so Brent and I stood around and talked. With about 5 to go, I kissed him and sent him off to the side and met a group of three girls who decided about 3 weeks before this to sign up. When the gun went off, off we went. I started out slow and had decided that I would run for probably the first half mile or so until things thinned out a bit. Nothing too bad for hills in the first mile and I tried to settle into a 2:30/2:30 run/walk to just start clicking the miles away. There was a decent hill around mile 2 and I decided to walk it as I was planning with all hills. I just kept going, catching a nice breeze on the west side of the park along the water. I noticed the huge bluff and figured that was the climb that was yet to be had. Just before mile 4 we turned back in and I knew the climb of all climbs was coming. Then it started and I walked but I walked steady and hard and I swore that hill was NEVER going to end. Finally about a mile later, we reached the pirate water station and the top of the hill. But then as soon as we went down, we came back up. So I would run the downs and walk the ups and try to get back into a run/walk rhythm on the flat parts. We crossed the area where the course comes back from another out and back and it was tough seeing some people at mile 10 and we were only at 5.5. But you just keep on going. My 10K time was 1:19:40. So I kept on going and drinking and taking in nutrition. The weather was beautiful and there were little flowers and plants all along the way. We finally turned back in from the furthest point but I was now having to do a spot to spot run with trees trying to keep the running up. Mile 9 was rough and hilly and I found myself starting to walk even more. Finally got to go down the big hill again and knew that it was the last 5K to go. But my legs were toasted. I had to do a controlled run down the hills and I was barely running more than 30 seconds at a time. Around mile 10.5 I saw my first finisher with a medal around her neck and that pushed me to keep going. I was really just doing a really fast power walk in mile 11 and 12 and mile 12 was were I saw my next finisher and she had not only a medal but a couple of huge cookies! They looked soo good because I was sooo hungry. But I kept pushing and got past where the start line was and kept walking until just past the mile 13 marker so I had the strength to suck it up and run it in. Brent was off to the side of the finish and they announced my name and I crossed the finish line successful!

Train more. Do more hills!!

Crossed the line, got my medal, got water, gatorade and a banana and then to find my husband. I got a big hug and honestly I found myself choking back tears because it was such a powerful experience. We talked for a few before heading to the food tent for those cookies that had been tormenting me. Then the long trek back to the truck which was a good cool down.


Training. Having burn out for most of the month of April was both a blessing and a curse. More training would have been good but I am very proud of what I did considering the burnout I was dealing with!


Fantastic race.... the course was super hard and I am certainly feeling it today but it was a great event and I very much see myself doing it again!!