I didn’t sleep well last night, so was a little discombobulated this morning. On top of that, I forgot my undershirt (the compression type) that I have become so accustomed to wearing for runs. I was a little apprehensive given that things were definitely not starting out well, but Jess was a calming influence and throughout the morning was more supportive than I ever could have hoped for.

I arrived at the park around 8:20 AM and made my way to the start area. Things moved quickly from there, and after I dropped off my bag and spent a few minutes stretching it was time to make my way to the numbered corrals. I was sitting pretty around the front of the fourth batch of runners, and was eagerly awaiting the start. Bang on nine o’clock the horn sounded and the race began. It took about two minutes for my group to make their way to the start/finish line by which time we were already moving at a decent pace.

Earlier, Jess had dropped me off so she could park the car, and I was not expecting to see her until the finish. Imagine my surprise when, cresting the hill before the first major left turn I saw her on the left side of the road and cracked a huge smile as she snapped a shot of me. That gave me the little boost I needed, and from there I set off. The first mile was mostly downhill, and I hit the marker in just over eight minutes (my target was nine). The second mile was a little tougher, as it swung from the South Lake Drive to the East Lake Drive, and proceeded to climb the entire way. Despite the incline, I passed the second mile marker at sixteen and a half minutes, well ahead of my expectations. The third mile continued the uphill run and I had to battle the temptation to stop and walk as the incline became increasingly steep. The top of the hill couldn’t come soon enough, but as I rounded the final corner and started down the west drive the pain in my legs eased and I knew I was going to make it to the finish without stopping. I hit the third mile marker in twenty five minutes, and the five kilometer flag in twenty six minutes – a full five minutes faster than my previous five kilometer run in July. The final mile was mostly downhill, but I held a steady pace and kept a little in reserve for the final sprint. Turning off West Lake Drive, I caught sight of the finish line and put the hammer down, upping my speed to the mid-sevens and crossing the line in thirty minutes and fifty one seconds.

Considering my typical four mile time on the treadmill is thirty six minutes, and my expectations for a road race were somewhere in the thirty three to thirty five range, I could barely contain my happiness. Not only had I finished the run without stopping, but I had done it in my best time ever.