Just kidding. I'm not really going to write like that. And it wasn't really that cold - about 50 which really is perfect running weather for me since I'm one of those runners that's literally a hot mess at the end of the race. The forecasted rain held off until the late morning so I didn't have to worry about that. This race was a 10 miler and 5k. I'm not quite at the point where I could attempt the 10 miler - give it another month and I probably could, but not today. When I got there this morning I was feeling pretty good and pumped up. I decided to just push as hard as I can and try to get a good time. Under 30 minutes, maybe 28 minutes if possible. Well, strangely enough this was a pretty small race. Usually anything "military" in a military town draws tons of people, but I did find out that this was the first annual Navy Classic so I guess it may have been the newness factor. Oh well, I like smaller races because they make me more competitive. Most of the people here were doing the 10 miler so my race was even smaller. The race was downtown which is pretty much flat. Flat course, not alot of people, good weather... oh yeah. It's on. I'm going for an age group win.We started shortly after the 10 mile racers and I immediately turned on beast mode. Not many people were in front of me and it pretty much stayed that way. There was 1 girl in front of me in a salmon colored tank top. I tried really hard to catch her but she just kept getting farther away and I just couldn't do it. I figured she was in her 20's like me but there wasn't really anything I could do about that. All I could do is just keep pushing. We ran through downtown and along the riverwalk. A good flat course, as I suspected. I was really starting to tire out at the end, but I had the willpower to tell "the voice" in my head to shut it and just keep going for a little longer. No one was in front of me except for 2 guys. I was nearing the finish line and saw this number-
25:42. TWENTY FIVE. Whaaat... How the hell is this possible? I was in complete disbelief. On top of that, as I crossed the finish line somebody said "First female!" I literally threw my hands up in the air and said "Oh my god!" I was a hot mess - exhausted, huffing and puffing, and for a moment there I could almost cry. I've never won a race and have never considered myself "that elite" to be able to do so. So after I calmed down a bit I got my free refreshments which were very good, then waited for the awards to start. I wasn't mentioned in the age group awards, which really threw me until they announced that there would be an overall winner proclaimed. But here's what threw me even further. I actually won second place. That girl with the salmon colored tank top got me. Which is why I was kind of confused when they said I was the first female.. but at the time I figured maybe she was running the 10 miler. So yes, a little disappointing that they screwed that up - but still, second female overall is WAY beyond anything I was expecting from myself.
It says 10 mile, which is kind of deceptive since that's not the race I ran. I don't want credit for something I didn't do. And that's really my only complaint about this race, is that they should have had separate medals for the 5k people. Other than that I liked the race and will definitely be back for the 10 mile next year.
Plus the shirts are awesome!
I love it!!!
Today was awesome. I have a new PR, one which I didn't think I was even capable of at this point. I placed 2nd overall which I wasn't expecting at all. Plus I met some great people today. Met a woman who just moved here from California and chatted with her about what it's like to run in Augusta before the race. After the race I was talking with an older man who has pretty much the same running timeline I have - started running in late 2012, dealt with an injury and had to quit over the summer, then started running again in September. Plus he does obstacle races too. Then there was this kid and his mom - if you saw this mom you probably would have thought it was a joke. She was stick thin, zero muscle, and wearing an all grey sweatsuit. Runners don't run in sweatsuits! But I am now eating those words because she kept pace with me the entire time, AND her 7 year old son ran the entire thing with her! They finished shortly after I did which must have been around 26-27 minutes. That's impressive as hell for a little kid! I congratulated them afterwards because that was just so awesome to watch. Running these races really allows you to meet some great people
It's been a great day.
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