New Season, New Age Group, Same Title

Nothin’ but net.

Ok, so it really wasn’t my best race to date and I’m pretty sure everyone in my age group placed (only 3 females and three spots ) But, it was still a great race and I know I gave it all.

PLUS, I was able to defend my first in my age group title in a new age group, so it couldn’t be all bad, right?

Woop! Woop!

I was the first one up this morning – out of bed and ready to go at 6:00. I had a Clif Bar and a large glass of water while waiting for everyone to rise.

Today’s race was particularly exciting for me because it was the first one I would be running with my little brother.

My little brother is amazing – enough said. In the last year he has incorporated some of his own healthy living changes in his life including streamlining his diet and becoming a regular at the gym. He’s in the opposite spectrum then myself because he’s looking to put on weight and bulk up instead of trim down, but he’s doing it in a really healthy matter with rich organic food and lots of great healthy protein.

Doesn’t my little brother look great?

Sorry ladies – he’s taken!

Ben ran his first 5k back in May with our Sister (read Kelly’s recap here) and ever since I have been dying to get him out to run one with me too. Though he wasn’t specifically training for a 5k, the minute I asked if he wanted to run one with me he jumped on it.

The race started promptly at 7:30. Being a small hometown race there were no frills or thrills to signal go, just a volunteer at the start line with a whistle.

The crowd took off and I lost my brother almost immediately. We had agreed at the beginning that we would each run our own races, but knowing he was in that crowd too made me feel good.

The race was pretty much the same route as last year. We did one loop of the park before exiting the park, going up the street, turning around, and finishing right where we started.

I had no specific time or speed goals in mind when I started. Truthfully I hadn’t been training for a speedy 5k at all, so I wasn’t expecting much. I was hoping to just run a solid race without feeling like death at the end.

Unfortunately, as soon as the whistle blew my competitive side took over and I was off like a bat out of hell. My goal was to get away from the crowd and to keep in front of as many girls as I could.

I started out too fast. My pace was hovering around 6:45ish and after my first mile I was already starting to feel dead. The race really thinned out after the first mile and with no one around me pushing me to go faster I was able to slow down a bit.

Then my shoe came untied. Ughh… I stopped, tied it, and continued on my way.

Then my second shoe came untied. Seriously? I stopped again, tied it, and was again on my way.

Having your shoe come untied in a 5k really throws your mojo off. Each time I was really tempted to just keep running and see if I could finish the race with untied shoes, but the vision of tripping and busting up my legs changed my mind. Still, knowing I had wasted 30 seconds each time I stopped wasn’t very comforting.

The turn around point came just before mile two and I was happy to be going the other way with a plethora of other runners who were heading the other way to distract me.

Seeing my brother pass me was a big motivator.

He was looking great! We gave each other high fives and I told him just how awesome he was doing. He was a little out of breath, but had enough in him to give him the encouragement I really needed at that point.

I knew it was all downhill at that point. My pace had dropped to something I was a little more comfortable with (7:45) and I could see the entrance to the park ahead.

Just as I was passing the third mile marker, another runner was coming up beside me. He was obviously very comfortable in hi stride and looked like he was just taking a leisurely stroll in the park.

He turned to me and asked “Do you want to take this? Because you got this?”

I returned with “I do?”

“Sure you do, now go on and take it – Go! Go! Go!”

He said “Go! GO! Go!” with such emphasis that I felt I had no other choice than to sprint to the end.

“Go! Go! Go!”

I gave it my all and finished strong.

So strong in fact, that it took me a minute to catch my breath. My family immediately swarmed me, but all I could do at that point was walk in circles with my hands over my head. It’s funny you don’t realize how hard you push it until you come to a stop.

Official time: 24:08

Not quite as fast as last year, but still enough to secure the first place spot in my age group.

Ben finished strong as well.

Ben finished just over 30 minutes. Go, Ben, Go!

There was plenty of food after the race

But, I was craving something else.

An Orange Chocolate Scone from my favorite bakery – Sunrise Bakery!

I love this place!

Why can’t I find a cute, adorable bakery like Sunrise near me in Orlando. Why?!?!

The scone was delicious and the perfect post-race treat.

After the race I brought my total mileage of the day to 6 miles by running home instead of riding with my parents. The last three miles felt really slow. After going all out for the 5k and then having to wait an hour or so for the award ceremony, my legs were pretty confused. It definitely felt like two separate runs rather than just one long run a break in the middle. :/

We ran a few errands after our scones and before I knew it, it was close to 1:00 and I had plans to meet an old friend for lunch at The Bus Stop.

I ordered my FAVORITE tree hugger burger (only ate half)

and split these AMAZING sweet potato fries with my friend.

We had to deal with the typical Titusville afternoon crowds.

They were brutal, I’m not sure how we survived.

I’m pretty wiped now. I think a nap may be in order.

have a great day!!