RACE REPORT!

Here it is! My first race report!

Well to start out with what you really wanna know -- Finish time: 35:43 (11:32/mile)


I got to the race pretty early - the registration info said registration was from 7:30a - 8:45a and it was about 8:10a when I got there. I didn't "warm-up" per se because I felt kind of dumb, but I did walk around quite a bit and stretch my calves and shins as much as possible. I also had to walk a few blocks to use the bathroom. haha.

There were a total of 32 runners plus 7 walkers - I thought there were more than that but I guess not. I took off too fast, hoping I could stay with the group a little, but there was no way that was going to happen. I probably could have done better had I not started off fast out of vanity. It was immediately evident that I was waaaayyy in the back of the pack. Actually I thought I was dead last and about to get passed by walkers but that didn't happen (thankfully).

I realized after 3 or 4 minutes that I forgot to start my watch so I just went off the assumption that we started right at 9 (it was probably a minute or two after) but I don't remember the split times anyway. I started out pretty even with a guy who was run/walking but he picked it up after the half-way point and beat me by about a minute and a half (speaking of the half-way point I almost choked on my water). I ended up running the rest of the race more or less even with another woman although her walk breaks took over after the two mile mark and she never recovered her pace - I ended up coming in almost 3 full minutes ahead of her. I took several very short walk breaks. Seeing my time now I'm kind of annoyed because I probably didn't need those breaks. Oh well - that's what next time is for.

The race organizers were great - for less than 40 people competing, there were probably at least that many volunteers directing traffic at turns/intersections and cheering us on. There were also a decent number of front-yard spectators. And there were a bunch of cookies, watermelon, bananas, and water afterwards. I just thought all the "amenities" were really thoughtful for such a tiny race. I love small-town Indiana.

I'm pretty happy overall with the race experience - it wasn't as embarrassing as I was anticipating and 3.1 miles wasn't really hard to cover at all. I think running in an unfamiliar place was helpful in that regard. I had no idea how far I had to go between not starting my watch and not knowing my way around the city.

Oh yeah - I almost forgot. I placed second (out of 3 - haha) in my age group - last time that's gonna happen until I run this race next year!! I did get a trophy however. And I was 13th out of 19 women overall (not counting the walkers - thankfully I beat every one of them)