The first 5k is FINALLY out of the way. I am not sure I picked an easy one or one at the right time, but check it off the list! I ran from my house about 2 miles to the starting line to try to warm my body up a little, but then the race did not start for over an hour so I am not sure how much that helped. They had a computer snafu so they were having to re-register a bunch of people. Fun stuff. The race is an out and back course that is mostly a steady decline out, with one steep but short hill, and then a steady incline back (with that steep downhill, of course). My honest plan was just to get 24 minutes or below. I am still beat form Wasatch Back so I did not want to expect too much out of myself and end up being disappointed. I tried to not go out too fast and keep myself just close to 7 mm's because I knew that the second half would require more energy than I might have to give. By about a quarter of a mile I knew I was the lead female and I had 5 guys in front of me. We were all pretty spread out. I passed two of the guys in the first half (one on the uphill) and another guy on the way back. In the last mile, as I turned a corner, I glanced back and saw NO ONE, so I decided to slow down and take it "easy" because I was feeling dizzy. No sense killing myself to beat NO ONE. I know, a real runner would just want to do their best, but I was feeling it in every part of my body and in my head so I figured easing up a bit would be okay for this time!!! I did not ease up much, but enough to feel better. I am sure it cost me less than 20 seconds.
Splits for the race: 6:53, 6:55, 7:22, and I do not know the last .12 because I did not stop my Garmin!! OOPS. After I caught my breath, I ran back to find my daughter. She sprained her ankle Monday at soccer camp but wanted to run so we taped her up good this morning. When I found her she was limping and crying and said she had fallen into a hole. She is a clumsy runner like her mom! Anyway, I gave her my water and ran the last .5 with her. She finished in just under 29 minutes. She was bummed, but she still took first in her age group. After she finished, I got her some ice for her ankle, talked to a few people, and then walked with her up to the street. She sat at the corner and I ran back to find Rachel who ran the 10k. I passed the first 6 men (they were so spread out, I love seeing that!), then saw the first woman, then about a minute later there was Rachel! That darn last stretch is uphill and she was pushing hard and running strong. She finished 2nd! The Herriman 10k course is so NOT easy, it is very hilly. She did an awesome job. We hung out for a bit, ate breakfast, walked back along the parade route and actually ended up watching the entire parade (and eating candy that was thrown at us). Then we walked home (it was HOT!) "We are made to persist. That's how we find out who we are."
~Tobias Wolff
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