It's 6:45 am. I'm washing my face, getting ready for the 4 mile Grandview Gallop this morning.
Thunder strikes outside. Crap. Downpour begins.
Joel and I load up Annie, and go, hoping the rain lets up soon. (Annie likes to watch me run in races! Well, she probably has no idea what's going on. She just loves all the people!)
7:30 am
Joel drops me off in the rain. I warm up a little, run around the park a bit, go to the restroom. I come out of the equally soggy port-a-potty, and see everyone walking back into the park. We have to take cover under a pavillion until the storm subsides.
A lot of people leave at this point, and I'm thinking they might have the right idea.
8:50
After about an hour of lightning, rain, and thunder, they decide to start the race (50 minutes late). So out we go into the still-pretty-heavy rain.
Joel snapped these pictures of us....I couldn't keep my eyes open in the rain! That bothered me more than the wet clothes.
Joel and I load up Annie, and go, hoping the rain lets up soon. (Annie likes to watch me run in races! Well, she probably has no idea what's going on. She just loves all the people!)
7:30 am
Joel drops me off in the rain. I warm up a little, run around the park a bit, go to the restroom. I come out of the equally soggy port-a-potty, and see everyone walking back into the park. We have to take cover under a pavillion until the storm subsides.
A lot of people leave at this point, and I'm thinking they might have the right idea.
8:50
After about an hour of lightning, rain, and thunder, they decide to start the race (50 minutes late). So out we go into the still-pretty-heavy rain.
Joel snapped these pictures of us....I couldn't keep my eyes open in the rain! That bothered me more than the wet clothes.
Me, Eric, and his brother, Aaron....already soaked and we haven't even begun yet!
Poor Annie...She loves the people, but HATES rain! If she had her way, she would be hiding under the bed at home right now!
What a good girl though! Out in the storm, supporting her mommy!
Just took off....I'm next to the guy in red (Eric), waving at Joel. What a gorgeous day, huh?!
In the park, after the race. Man, I look gross after a big run!
Eric and I, almost to the finish line
Here is my quick play-by-play of the race:
Mile 1: Feeling good, the rain actually feels kind of good, especially on my gross sunburnt skin!
Mile 2: Yuck. Seems to take forever to get through this mile. I feel like I am carrying an extra 10 water-logged pounds. Squishy shoes. Annoyed by girls in way better shape than me, who keep walking/sprinting. In my head: "If I can (slowly) run this whole thing, so can you, in your matching sports bra and running skirt!" What can I say, I was bitter and soggy!
Miles 3-4: Feeling much better. Kind of down hill (for a pretty flat course). I pick up the pace here. Caught poor Eric and his bad knees. Finished strong. Seeing Joel and Annie rooting for me helps!
Mile 2: Yuck. Seems to take forever to get through this mile. I feel like I am carrying an extra 10 water-logged pounds. Squishy shoes. Annoyed by girls in way better shape than me, who keep walking/sprinting. In my head: "If I can (slowly) run this whole thing, so can you, in your matching sports bra and running skirt!" What can I say, I was bitter and soggy!
Miles 3-4: Feeling much better. Kind of down hill (for a pretty flat course). I pick up the pace here. Caught poor Eric and his bad knees. Finished strong. Seeing Joel and Annie rooting for me helps!
Goals I had set for myself prior to the race:
Run the whole thing.
Try to finish in around 45-50 minutes.
Check and Check.
(48:59 final time)
Run the whole thing.
Try to finish in around 45-50 minutes.
Check and Check.
(48:59 final time)
Despite the pouring rain and lack of preparation (ran twice in the last 2 weeks), it was actually kind of a cool race!
