Marion's Onion Days gala-- I kept waking up each hour, terrified I would miss the chocolate pancakes. I am not posting this as a race report since I did not race it, or do anything like racing it. It was my first participation in a race, though, since my hard AS flare up and diagnosis period. It was a joyful day, and I was grateful to share it with some of my biggest supporters. Warmed up about a mile of walking, then walked the first 3 miles of the race, chatting with a couple from Payson who were pushing their 18 year old disabled son. Our group of four were being "escorted" from behind by a police officer, only my second time being escorted by police :) I warned them right before the three mile mark that I would be starting my run, and I did, and hit a rhythm after 1/2 mile or so, picked off some people I felt kind of sorry for passing, since they had been running 10-11 min miles, then I pass them at 8:00 pace. I averaged 7:53 per mile, and got a 7:48, a new post-AS pr. I tried to keep it an easy pace, but in all honesty it was a marathonish pace of tempo (breathing hard, but able to converse well still). No pain until the very end, pain level of 1 for mile 3 until the last 1/4 mile and then right after race, pain rose to a 2. I cheered on all runners I passed except for the very last one, and I am afraid I wasn't a very good sport about the man I passed in the last 25 yards, since he was a guy I decided to pass him but not the woman ahead of him, and there were red hot pink chicks cheering me on, and the discussion forum of men being motivated by the desire to not be chicked ran through my head, so I am afraid it worked in reverse in this case. After some good conversation with running buddies, walked about a mile of cool down between getting my shirt and walking to Marions. Wonderful breakfast party afterward, my husband Paul was there working the griddle like a pro (only he tried to sneak out some pancakes that were chocolate-chip-less, some of which I witnessed Marion chucking over the fence in disdain). Good conversation with many of my friends. You guys are the best!
| 