Lindsey Dunkley

Well...I should be happy because of the whole 1st place thing, but not so much.  I don't think my body cares for racing on mondays much.  Maybe it is still asleep from lazy sundays, don't know, but just know my body wasn't cooperating today. 

I got to the race in good time, left way earlier then last year, since last year was way to close to missing the gun.  The starting line was packed with elite men, I knew there race was going to be good...kind of wished I could have been a spectator :)  Anyways, race started, first mile 5:20.  I knew right then that I had to pick it up to compete with last years time (16:48).  Pushed what seemed like hard for the 2nd mile, but apparantly not, 5:26.  The last mile is all gradually uphill, so really fun and I finished in 17:02.  The posted results added time to everyone's final times, about five seconds...I knew the time of most of the girls and all of them said five seconds faster...the clock at the finish line was actually off a minute plus, on the fast side, so I think there were some timing errors. 

All in all, shouldn't complain, got $300 for the effort, but I would still like to keep my 5K time down even though I am training for longer distances.  The previous times this year have been two 16:36's and a 16:42.  I am racing again on Saturday, a 5K...I am really going to get after this one, hopefully good results.

Fun morning though, saw/talked to lots of BYU distance runners, cooled down 4 miles with one (Lisa).  Got to talk to Coach Shane for a few minutes (love him), so all that made it a good day :)

Whew, what a day...the 5K was just the start of it.  I was up, eaten, ready by 5:45, then onto all 3 kids, up and ready by 6:15.  Drove the 5 minutes to the start of the race, unloaded kids and darted off for a potty break and quick warmup.  By time I warmed up, my parents had arrived and were watching my kids, stretched a couple minutes and the race was off. 

Almost the entire American Fork Boys and Girls Cross-country were on the start.  It is always a big joke to see how many of the AF boys will get beaten by me...well this year, only two beat me.  I ran the first mile at 5:20 right next to "Nafe" Richardson and right behind Austin West and Robbie Lee.  By mile two Austin and Robbie had gapped me a bit, but I and Nafe were still shoulder to shoulder.  Second mile, 5:25.  I really wanted to run a good time today, so I laid it all out for the last mile...I got a small gap between I and Nafe and starting to try to reel in Robbie.  I didn't quite get Robbie, but I did the time I was after, YAY!  Watched the rest of the boys and girls team finish, my niece (3rd female overall),  my sister and sister-in-law, coaches, etc. 

This is almost always my favorite race of the race, I think because it is my hometown and it is just a fun time.  Last year, my time on the exact same course was 17:04, so I am excited to see the improvement.  It was also exciting to see the AF girls that I assistant coach all run well this early in the season...it will be a fun year with them again I am hoping.

After the race, my kids did the 1/2 mile kids run.  Ryker (6), won his age group and Hunter (10), got 4th in his.  Tyler (3), will do it next year :)  The rest of the day didn't slow down any from there...from the races we went straight to the parade, pizza at my parents, swimming at the pool, showers, and back to my parents for dinner and games.  And as I type this, my hubby and two oldest kids are watching the Steel Days fireworks, while I came home to tuck the youngest in bed.  What a fun family day!

Nerves, nerves, nerves...all week long.  I had talked with the race director earlier in the week and knew many elite kenyans were coming in so I knew I was going to have to PR just to have a shot of getting in the prize money (not counting Utah prize money).

My husband was gone this week, fishing in Alaska, so on friday I took the kids to my sister's who graciously let them all sleep over.  I headed to Salt Lake and enjoyed a few hour break from the past 7 days of kids, with no help, before going to bed.  Woke up, got ready, and left the hotel around 5:30.  Did a mile warmup, potty stop, and a few striders.  Talked to Sasha before the race began and I told him I was going to gage my pace off of him, since last year he beat me by just a little. 

The race began and the crazy sprinting of herds of runners began.  I didn't get caught up in it and just went out exactly as planned...4:48 at mile 1, right with Sasha.  Mile 2, 9:44 (ish), so a 4:55 mile, still with Sasha and leading for the females.  Somewhere between mile 1 and 2, Sasha kindly offered to me to tuck in behind him and draft, but I declined knowing that I run better shoulder to shoulder, rather than following.  Mile 3, 15:01, so about a 5:15 mile.  At this point, the female winner of the race passed me.  I think she had just been pacing behind me, playing almost.  She flew by, I chased, but not nearly as fast :)  At this point too, I lost Sasha.  My next mile was a 5:10...thrilled about that, but definitely starting to really feel the race.  The next mile was soooo long, I was just trying to concentrate on staying strong and holding onto second place.  Mile 5, 5:19.  I remembered the last mile being painful last year, and this year was no different.  Thankfully at the turn that puts you onto the road for the finish, I came upon Clark Nielson.  He knew me and immediately began trying to get me to go with him.  I really appreciate what he did...he spent the next 1/2 mile telling me to "come on", "go get it", etc.  What a good guy!  I think he cost himself 10 seconds at least and inturn my time was 10 seconds faster than it would have been.  I missed the 6 mile mark, but based on my other marks and the .2 over the 6 mile, I think it was probably about 5:30.  Overall, average mile 5:12. 

So second place, a PR by 17 seconds from last year, $1250...I will glady take it!  I am definitely happy about the race.  Kenyans grabbed the 1st, 3rd, and 4th spots, and I am thrilled I broke them up.  After the race, I was able to cool down with Kassi and catch up with several runners over the next hour.  My parents and sister came up too.  Great race day :)