Track Star Momma

A PR!

US 10k Classic 2009

I made a Personal Record today at the US 10k Classic! I could not believe it. This is NOT a PR course, but I did it. My time was 59:29. 16 seconds faster than my fastest 10k and 10:15 faster than last years US 10k Classic. Was it all the hype about how I thought I would PR, the positive thinking, the talking about it, the excitement?..I felt God the whole way. He cares about the small things like a 10k race.

As you read in the previous Blog entry, this course is full of hills. When you talk to experienced runners around here about this race, they are all wide-eyed and mention the hills first thing. Ones who are not runners but are told the stretch of highway where the race takes place are also wide-eyed and say "whooo." I think that just makes me more determined.

At mile 4, I kind of went anaerobic for a few minutes after the long ascent. But it was good after that because it broke me through to a new level for the rest of the race. I noticed the mile-maker clock at 4 miles said 38 minutes (I started my watch after the official start because it took me a minute before I crossed the start line...so it was actually 37 min for me). I shook my head in disbelief because I knew that if I had made it this far with a good time, I could PR. My pace slowed a little for the last 2 miles, but I felt great. It was funny because I did not check my chronogropher the whole race; just happened to see the mile marker at 4. I concentrated on my pace going down the hills and my breathing/foot rhythm going up the hills. Not running with the ipod helped me keep a good rhythm and helped to take the focus off the hills.

The race opened with Special Ops Paratroopers coming down to the national anthem and finished with a huge spread of goodies by Publix after the race. The post-race concert featured Beatles cover group called The Return. We (Kim and I) stayed to see the awards for the Pole Walkers, Runner, Cyclists, Wheelchair, and In-line Skaters. The first 1,000 finishers got a medal. Maybe that will be me next year!

A GREAT PERK: We got into WhiteWater FREE and our family was half-price. Savannah had a blast at WhiteWater and rode the big tube rides over and over. It was such a blast.