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!