Busy Babes 10K

My 13th race of the year, my fourth race of the month, and needless to say, I wasn't very excited about lining up to race.  To be honest, I've done pretty much nothing since last Saturday's marathon.  I did two 2 mile walks and a 2-1/2 mile run.  That's it.  And that's all I wanted to do.  That's what my body told me to do.  But my coach and I have been working on my 10K speed for a while now and I needed to do this race.  There aren't many 10Ks around and this one was cheap.

My mom, Anderson, Dave and I got to the race site early.  Too early.  I guess there was confusion about what time the race actually started as one email said 8:00 and another said 8:30, so the race was delayed until 8:30.  I was at the race site at 7:05.  I got in a good warm up.  My mom and the husband took lots of pictures.  It was my niece's first 5K.  The Richardson girls were representing.

 Could we look more alike?

Finally we got to the start line and no one, and I mean NO ONE, lined up in front except me.  This was going to be a lonely race.  From the start I went fast, and I was alone.  I hit the first mile in 7:38.  I have a hard time slowing down after I get started at a certain pace, so I just went with it.  Luckily, I was able to hold on and even pick it up a little.

 Leading right from the line.

Mile 2 - 7:32
Mile 3 - 7:24
Mile 4 - 7:39 (which included the turnaround and a water stop)

At the turnaround I was able to see what was going on behind me.  I was ahead by maybe a quarter mile.  I really wanted to slow down.  I REALLY WANTED TO SLOW DOWN!!!  But I also really wanted to be done.

Mile 5 - 7:31


This course is entirely on a former railroad track that is now a recreational trail.  It is flat and straight as an arrow.  I could see the finish arch for what seemed like forever.

You can see how straight and flat (and beautiful) it is here.  My youngest niece, two nephews, and my son doing their own race.

When do you start picking it up for the final sprint?  How far exactly is the finish?  (Yes I was wearing a GPS.  No I don't trust it.)  I ran hard to the finish and ran my fastest mile of the day.


Mile 6 - 7:16
Last 0.2 - 7:09 pace

 

All by myself!!!!

I won the race in a time of 46:10 (7:27 pace).  It's not a PR, but is only 30 seconds off it.  Not bad considering I had no one to chase and never felt like I was being chased either.  The second place woman was 4-1/2 minutes behind me. 

I did this race last year as a half marathon and this year as a 10K.  This was the fifth anniversary of the race and I'm not sure the race is going to make it.  There were only 22 women in the 10K and 30-something women in the 5K.  It's a great race, though, with a nice, flat, shaded course and a great price.  I'll continue to put this race on my calendar if it continues.

A few more things....

My niece finished fourth overall and first in her age group in the 5K.

She better watch out or she's gonna wind up on the track and cross country teams.  She is a 7th grader.

Amy, my sister, finished sixth overall and first in her age group in the 5K.

 

More a picture of my son, but Amy's in the background with her oldest son.

And, finally, my son is super cute.