Run like you stole something...

Have I told ya'll that I am training for a marathon??? I know, I know, I must be crazy, but I've run the distance before (ok almost the distance, it was more like 20 miles, but I figured I could slide, roll, or jump on somebody's back for the last 6 miles).

I have been running pretty regularly for the last month or so: 3 days a week for a distance of 3.1 miles (5 km) each time. I wanted to see how well I would hold up in a race, instead of just running on a treadmill, so I woke up early Saturday morning, took Sercy out for a quick walk around the neighborhood, and headed out for the Dennis McCormick 5K Road Race at Collins Hill High School here in Lawrenceville, GA.

As I was leaving the house I realized that I had not had any water since I woke up (at 5:30), but I figured there would be water at the course (mistake #1 - hydration good). I get to the course (which is literally around the corner from my house) at 7:00, sign up, get the t-shirt and contemplate whether or not I should just go to IHOP for the next hour or so, drive home, run around the car a couple times and walk in the door, telling of my excrutiating run in the hot and humid weather of August OR actually run the race.

So I order some pancakes at IHOP...Not really! I go out and walk part of the course to warm up and stretch some, the whole time trying to find some water or something to quench my thirst before I have to run 3.1 miles - have I said it was the middle of August and extrememly humid yet?.

My goal for the race was the run the 3.1 miles in less than 28 minutes. I have been running (can I call it training?) on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays at about a pace to do that with ease. But running in the humidity on a "moderately hilly" course, I mentally wimped out at the beginning hoping to finish less than 30 minutes (what a sissy!). So how did I do? Well let me say that I finished the race. My mile split times were almost a minute faster than I had been counting on. I completed the race at 27 minutes and24 seconds (according to my watch)! I was absolutely thrilled!

I typically run about a 9 minute mile, but with the adrenaline puming and really wanting the race to be over, I ended up running about 8:45 miles (I walked for exactly one minute at the top of "Heartbreak Hill"). By the way, I finally got some water at the 1.5 mileage marker and it was gloriously cold and felt awesome!

Here is a link to the race that I ran in. It is supposed to have pictures of the race and of those running in it. I haven't checked the website out yet to see if I am even in any of the pictures, but look for #259 or look for me around the time clock (27:24) !

Oh, the marathon I am planning on running in is the new ING Atlanta Marathon on March 25, 2007. Come see me sweat my butt off and complete my first marathon! Spring-time in the South is an awesome experience!