AM - 14.5 DC. Riley C. joined The Circle for an early'ish run this morning. I was pretty spent from having been up since 2:30 (like I said, I just haven't been sleeping well with the lower miles; but I sure have been hungry). Anyway, we went the inner loop and then reversed it and hit it again extending into Bloomington Hills. Picked up the pace a touch and then had one quicker mile. Legs were really tight and knotty - maybe because I rolled them so hard yesterday afternoon. DogTown 5K. 30:11 Then got home in time to get the family over to the DogTown races. Like last year, it felt wierd not to be running my hometown half, but everyone but Elin was signed up in the other races! I was able to run with Laney. We started off good and I prepped her a little about how she would have to have a good attitude and work hard to beat her time from the last 5K we ran together (the Turkey Trot), and she said she would really try. She is a lot of fun to run with and really works hard. We walked a little as she got a drink at the aid station at just over a mile. Then two other short times. But other than that, she was really pushing. I tried to distract her by telling stories and encouraging her, but she was felling a little sick and later said she thought she was going to puke. We ended up running just over 30 minutes (it would have been fun to break 30, but it was still like 4 or 5 minutes better than last time - and she will get there soon enough). It was also fun to see everyone else racing. We saw Ally twice on her 9K course and Rylee and Pyper twice also. I was proud of both of them. Pyper isn't in very good shape, but is super competitive and ran tough - next year, we'll get her with middle school XC team and she will really blossom into something special. And Rylee really is on her way there already. I told her she needed to know the course because she might be able to win the ladies race. And sure enough, a few minutes into the run, I could see her up in the lead with her friend. She was passed around mile 2 by Skylar Abel, but she held on strong and took second overall and first woman (not too shabby for a 12 year old). We aren't sure of her time because at the awards, they announced some of the guys behind her in the 18:00's, but said she was in the 19:00's, so...? (I don't think raceday timing does that great of a job, and they are always slow to get results on the web too.). She did great though and a 5K pr; and she was pretty happy that she beat Lily a girl that she has raced often, but always beaten her (she is a very good runner, but I told Ry that as she ran more and as the races got longer she would start beating her soon). After cheering for Allyson to finish, I ran to meet the HS team doing the half. Cheered on Aaron M. And Ben V. And then got Abel as he was battling for 3rd. Paced him for two very solid miles and got him set up to take 3rd and slipped back to Byron who wasn't far back, and helped him for another good mile. Then cheered for James and the rest of the kidsi and paced Mia for the last two. Made for a fun morning with so many kids, family and friends running well. (Ronin 323) Not how I would really hope to start off my taper and be feeling getting ready for a marathon, but the week is over. Goals for next week: number 1) stay positive, about how I am feeling, about how I will do in the race, etc... 2) execute. 3) have fun doing it! | 