Post Race Recap

Well, I did it.  I finished the race.  I wrote this post yesterday, and then my computer started being a butt head and I wasn't able to finish it before I had to leave for the night.  Now, I am able to update with my official times.
I woke up at 5am.  I got ready.  The nerves kicked in.  I grabbed a cup of coffee and a Fiber One bar - and Peanut and I were on our way.

I wasn't feeling too bad arriving and waiting around for the race to start.  I will say that I started to doubt myself once I got in line.  I decided to stay towards the back, because I didn't want to get in any one's way.  There were so many people - way more than last year.  I'm sure that a lot of that has to do with the weather being much nicer this year.

The race started, and I had to wait for a while before being able to cross the start line.  As soon as I was over it, I started jogging.  I jogged all the way up to the first hill - then speed walked up the hill.  As soon as I was at the top, I took off again.  I kept that up through the entire race...pacing myself comfortably during the flat parts, increasing speed going down hill, and speed walking/ wogging up the hills. 

Once I got almost to the half way mark, I noticed a clock at a church that said 7:51.  That meant that I had ran almost a mile and a half in twenty minutes...not too bad.  I kept a pretty good pace through the second mile.  Once I got to mile 3, I backed off a little...I wanted to conserve energy for a sprint finish.

I started to see the crowds that gather close to the finish line.  My heart started pumping, and I told myself that it was running only till I crossed the finish line.

I came over the last hill and saw the clock - well, part of it... I saw 44.  I panicked.  I had to finish in less than 45 minutes - so I picked up the pace. 

As I grew closer and closer, tears started to well in my eyes.  I knew I was going to make it.  I saw the clock go 44:48, 44:49, 44:50..and then I was there, crossing the line at 44:51.

I sucked the tears back as I took my chip off my shoe to hand to the official standing past the finish line. 

All I could think about was how long it took me to pass the starting line...15 seconds? 30 seconds? Will my time be better than 44:51?

I finally got my official results this morning - and I'm not very happy.  My official time was clocked at 44:52.  It ticks me off a little - because I know that it took several seconds for me to be able to start the race.  I was at the back of the herd - and there were over 600 people!!  I had to wait for a few seconds for the crowd to start to move, I had to walk a little before actually getting across the start line.

So, despite the fact that the "official" clock has me finishing with a time of 44:52...I'm going to say it should be closer to 44:20 AT LEAST!!  Which is a damn good time for me.

The official placements has me ranking 398 out of 436 women.  That's a heck of a lot better than last year - when I came in 3rd from last.  Overall, there were 776 people that competed in the race - and according to times, I placed 716 out of 776.  I am very happy with that.  That means 60 people finished after I did.

Here's a photo comparing me from last year to this year...I was quite amazed with the difference.

Here's me a picture of Peanut and I, post race...

We had such a great time.  The weather couldn't have been more perfect.  I'm now really excited to do it all over again next Friday!!

Tomorrow, I will be blogging about a new challenge hosted by the Sisterhood.  I'm excited about that.  I love the challenges!!  I have gained some weight this week already.  Was NOT happy when I stepped on the scale this morning - and I'm hoping that it's just post race weight gain.... but I'm thinking that a gain of 6lbs in a few days is far fetched for my hopes.  I saw 216lbs when I stepped on the scale this morning, and I almost cried.  I'm not going to let it get me down - and hope that it's just temporary from all of the water and the race.  Fingers crossed.

Till next time. ;)

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