I had fun...

Really? A race was fun? Different is a better word. I ran my first 10k yesterday. Woke up at 5:00am to rain. I sat out on the porch and watched it fall - I love doing that. The sound of rain hitting the trees and plants is peaceful, relaxing. I was thinking about my first 10k and maybe a tad nervous. I admit if Albert wasn't coming to pick me up, I might have passed. But we are coming into Fall and the days of warm dry races are coming to an end. Besides, as long as I crossed the finish line I will have set a personal record - that is always a good day.

The race was in Tacoma - Point Defiance. It was a mixed bag with a 5k, 10k, and bike event. The weather opened up and the sun came out. Speedster Jerry met up with us. We were without Sharon as she was teaching a cycle class at the "Y". Helping others get in shape is one of her things. Time for a commercial spot. Sharon is a personal trainer and is fantastic. Speaking for myself, I am a faster, better runner because of her. She has also improved my eating habits, helped me recovery from injury and built my confidence through detailed training plans and tough love (think Jillian from Biggest Loser). She doesn't charge much ($25 an hour) and is worth 2-3 times that. Contact me if you're interested, I may get a cut...

The plan was for me to run a 8:00 mile pace, slicing down the last couple of miles if I felt good. The start was tough. Trail...tree roots...skinny path. I got stuck behind a guy with a stroller on the skinny path and there was no way around. My Garmin reflected a 9:40 pace. Gads....Once it opened up I shot past him. Then sweet mother of pearl the course went uphill. Uphill for nearly a mile. In fact the course was very hilly. Albert stated that it was the hardest 10k course he's ran. Speaking of Albert, I lost track of him shortly after the starting gun. Saw him at one point (there were a few out and backs built in to the course). I'm waving away and he's dead on focused on what's in front of him. Silly me. Albert finished 3rd in his division and 11th overall! Not bad for a guy coming back from an injury.

I ended up running with three others. They were all running my pace so we were a little bunched up. The two guys (spitters by the way) ran to the left and the gal on the right. If you spit to the right why do you run left? Fear not, I kept a few yards behind them. I focused on the girl. She only spat once...around mile 4 she pulled away and I followed suit. Who would you follow, spandex, er I mean a girl or a couple spitters?

Soon we were well ahead and a water station was in sight. I grabbed my dixie cup, pinched it (that's how they tell you to do it), poured it in. Downside here was that the water flowed not into my mouth but into my nose (not how they tell you to do it). It is possible for one to drown while running? Then I saw it. I saw mile marker 5 up ahead. Sweet! I was feeling good, had energy left, and only a bit over a mile to go. As I passed mile marker 5 I noticed that it said mile 4. Bummer. I still felt good and "Some time after midnight" started on the iPod so I jacked it up and remembered Sharon saying to try and pick up the last two miles if I felt good. I felt good. I ran the last two miles in 7:39 and 7:25. Came around the corner for the final .2 and hit the steepest hill of my life. I felt like I was barely moving and tried to manage some encouraging words to the gal I'd been running with. I meant well but I think all she heard was heavy breathing - that explains the look I got. I hit the top before her and saw the time clock at 49 something. My goal was under 50 so I sprinted and crossed the finish with mere seconds to spare. Albert was there cheering me on - he'd finished, had a sandwich, changed the oil in his car, you get the picture.

Jerry. Speedster. Explorer. The number one problem with being one of the faster on a course is that if the course isn't marked properly or a volunteer hasn't made it out to their station yet, one could go the wrong way. That's what happened to Jerry and a couple others. The signage wasn't out so they went straight (makes sense) instead of turning. Ended up on the bike race route. I felt for him and the others. Jerry shrugged it off as not that big of a deal. The race organizers were very apologetic and I was impressed with their level of concern.

All in all a good day. My training plan seems to be working and while tired, I felt I ran a good race. Half marathon coming up in November but I think I'll take a pit stop and run the 5 miler in Portland on October 4th. Albert and Jerry are running the marathon and Sharon is thinking about the 5 miler. 5k's....10k's....turning 50....The only barrier is the one you build for yourself. Bust em, don't build em. Run...don't jog.