Slept in until 6:30, and I was exhausted and groggy. I don't think I've felt so drained in months. Thought about backing out of this race, and just showing up with my good camera to support my friends. As always, I figure that a part of endurance training is doing things you just don't feel like doing.
I do a mile warm up - running back and forth to the vehicle to get stuff that I forgot (put my coffee cup back, get water, leave sunglasses, take endurolyte tab, return packet & t-shirt). I am a mental mess and consider curling up in the van and sleeping myself smart (who knows how long that will take).
It is cool but humid. I line up beside John T's son-in-law, Brett, who runs well and at about a 7:30-7:40/mile pace. Figure I could just follow him most of the way, an easy exercise in just turning my brain off and keeping an eye on the tall guy, and still running a respectable time.
All of a sudden, in pops a smiling girl with a pixie hair cut, "You passed me at the end of the Omaha Half Marathon!"
I have no response, so oddly enough I apologize, "Oh, I'm sorry."
She says, "Now I know I'm in the right place. This is my first 5K."
So I think, 'Great, now she's depending on me to pace her. Maybe she's ready to kick my ass.'
I consider letting her just go out and blow by me right from the start, so I don't have to race this thing. She has no idea I'm attempting my first ultra next weekend. I am so tired I want to run with my coffee mug.
But instead, it's on - I'm racing!
I have no response, so oddly enough I apologize, "Oh, I'm sorry."
She says, "Now I know I'm in the right place. This is my first 5K."
So I think, 'Great, now she's depending on me to pace her. Maybe she's ready to kick my ass.'
I consider letting her just go out and blow by me right from the start, so I don't have to race this thing. She has no idea I'm attempting my first ultra next weekend. I am so tired I want to run with my coffee mug.
But instead, it's on - I'm racing!
The race starts and she's a few steps ahead for the first mile. I'm not struggling to keep up and so use her to pace me. Before the north side of the dam, I am at her shoulder. I explain the course to her, telling her to beware of the uphill before the dam. I pass her easily up the hill and never look back. At Mile Marker 3, I let gravity take over on the downhill and try and move my legs fast enough to keep up with the speed of my body. Before I know it, it's over. Thank you!
Surprisingly, I get 2nd in my age group for a 22:22 time. I'm not sure how many women were in my division, but the Nealon Family give awards to the Top 10 women overall, so that contributes to me getting a medal.
The Pixie girl wins 1st for her age group, and we officially meet.
Funny how things work out.
If she wasn't there today, it would have been a totally different run.
Funny how things work out.
If she wasn't there today, it would have been a totally different run.
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