Running through May Flowers

[limewave]

Kat--that sounds like so much fun! What a neat race series to have! So cool.

My 25k:
Yesterday I had my 25k. It's a big event, approx. 22,000 runners. It was cool and rainy. But I'm totally okay with that. I'd rather have that than hot and humid, or last years weather which was FREEZING cold, rainy, with strong wind gusts.

During my last minute race prep my Garmin would not power on!!! I made a last-minute decision to ditch my dry spot under and overhang to run back to my car and leave the Garmin. I knew if I ran with it dead on my wrist, it would drive me insane.

I felt panic not having anything to monitor my splits. But that's what the pace groups are for, right? I really, really wanted to try and finish under 9 minute miles. I lined up right in front of the 9-minute mile pace group. Literally right in front of the guy holding the sign.

And then we were off! I love running with a lot of people. It was a nice group and I never felt over-crowded like I did at the Chicago Marathon. My philosophy for the race was, as long as I kept passing people, I was probably doing okay on pace.

The entire run I felt like I was running a race.

"D'uh" you say.

Well, a long race like that I usually get into a groove and just run it at a comfortable pace. But this time I felt like I was racing! I felt like I do when I run a 10k all-out. I told myself if I ate enough GU packets and drank enough Endura, I should be able to keep that pace up indefinitely--it's all about fuel. Right?

I felt really good up until the last mile. But I pushed on. I crossed the finish line at 2:15:00. With my poor math skills, I couldn't figure out what pace I ran. Is a 25k 15 miles? 15.2 miles? I don't know!

Thankfully the results were up by the time I drove home. My "chip" time was 2:13! With a pace of 8:35 min/mile

BTW: 25k = 15.534 miles. Now I know. And no wonder that "last mile" after the 14 mile marker went on FOREVER.