Remember my goal to run a 10k? Well yesterday this goal was completed! My friend Melissa and I ran the Pony Express 10k.
Melissa and I were pretty nervous on the drive to the race. It POURED the whole hour drive there. When we got there this is what it looked like outside the car window:
There was also a 30k and a 50k that started before our 10k so that is one of the crazy runners you see in the picture. Below you see one of the many puddles that was there. Luckily we didn't have to deal with any that deep but there were a lot of them and we did have to do some fancy foot work to try to avoid them as best we could. The worst was that the professional runners wouldn't even attempt to dodge them but rather splash right through them and splashing us at the same time.
When we got there we were a little early so we put on our sweatshirts and ran over to where the registration was going on and then headed back to the car to warm up and try to stay dry. It was still raining at this point. See how wet Melissa is?!
Here we are before the race.
When we started our run it had pretty much stopped raining and remained mostly dry for the next hour while we ran (and started pouring again on the way home!). We both had great runs! The course was a 1 1/4 mile loop around a lake that was a well packed dirt/gravel path. The 10k runners did 5 loops around. I pretty much lost count of how many times I had gone around and was wondering how many more I had. There was someone counting laps for us and when I got to the area where they count the guy said, "Last lap Lisa." I was SO happy to hear that and gave it my all the last 1 1/4 mile. I think I was running on pure adrenaline! I made my best time (58.51) and had about 9.15 minute miles, which is super good for me! I was laughing SO hard when the event coordinator came over after the run to congratulate me on coming in third! I thought for sure he must be kidding. I am sure it was only because the really good runners were all running the 30/50k and not the 10k! But either way it made me feel good and I will take what I can get!
Here is Melissa with her prize of a box of yummy looking granola bars!
And here I am with my prize of a canister of Electrolyte powder.
Of course we had to get an after picture too! This race was so much fun! Never, ever, ever did I think I would say that running is fun! But it really was! It also helps that I had such great company. Thanks Melissa for going with me and being such a good mentor and being so encouraging. You are awesome! Maybe someday I can run as far as you and join you at some of those really long races (you know the one I mean; although I am still not committing!).
So can I call myself a runner now?
