30:15 (pace: 9:46 min. mile)
(UPDATE: I can't stand it!!! You'll just have to bear with me.)
5/12 Jeanne McCann 50 Bethesda MD MCRRC 30:22 9:47 )
FIVE OUT OF 12!!! Not 11/12!!! Not 12/12!!!
Same race last year:
33:01 (10:38 min. mile)
My all-time 5K PR: GW Parkway Classic, April 23, 2006, a FLAT COURSE:
31:13 (10:03 min. miles)
To recap:
Today, Jan. 1, 2008, I ran a race where my average pace started with the number NINE.
9:46 min. miles
LET'S JUST ALL LET THAT NUMBER SINK IN FOR A WHILE.
This is the first time EVER I have EVER run a race where my pace started with something other than 10!!! I mean usually it's 11! If not 12!! I'm in the single digits people!!!
This race is small and free to club members. It's a double loop course. There's a pretty nice big long downhill in it, which you get to go down twice. Of course what goes down must go up.
I decided to throw caution to the wind and forget about conserving my energy and all that nonsense. I was gonna go out fast, and see what happened.
Mile 1: 9:23 (I KNOW! Don't ask me! I have no idea!!!)
Mile 2: 9:33 (Ditto!!)
Mile 3.11: 11:18 (Now we're back in more familiar territory.)
Notes:
This is the club that is RABID about no headphones, although of COURSE there were people running who were wearing headphones. $#@~!
This is the race where last year I barely kept up with an 8-year-old and his dad who was carrying a cup of coffee throughout the race.
This year, there was a 7-year-old girl dressed as tinkerbell. I had my eye on her, believe me.
This year I ran beforehand for 10 minutes to warm up. I was so hepped up by the time we got going, you would have thought I'd been doped.
Old School Runner was there, volunteering, taking photos, and cheering. It's so nice to hear your name called. I sped up whenever I saw him, funnily. Stick a camera on me and apparently I snap to.
This year, I felt stronger. I think that spinning and swimming have helped.
Of course it's not a race unless there is drama: As I was cruising toward the finish, not believing that the clock said 30:xx, I heard a man behind me yell, "Catch her! Catch her!", obviously not talking to me. I crossed the finish and as I did there was a girl at my elbow. Then she passed me in the chute, saying "You're hard to catch."
There are no chips at this race; instead you are given a card with the number on it as you exit in order of finish. So this girl got 175 and I got 176. Even though the reverse was the TRUE ORDER. Let the record reflect.
Thanks to Old School for coming out, volunteering, cheering and most of all, taking my picture!
I do believe that BOTH FEET are off the pavement! (Squinting will help you see this.)
And the obligatory butt shot.
