I drove out to Payson, met Marion & Kelly. We jogged over, met Smooth, Rad & Michelle. Michelle showed us how to crumple our number before pinning it to our shirt like the professional runners do. She said they did it in college to keep it from catching the wind, and could save a whole second or two on time....Awesome. I can use every second I can get, although I could really use about 10 minutes. But hey. The race course was really beautiful farmland, out toward the Oquirrah Mountains through pasture contry. I ran 7:37/7:43 and then the Kellies past me (Pinked!). I knew I was slowing to the 8's then. Where the course turned South after 3 miles, I noted how far down the road the fastest runners were and how they were flying. Intead of feeling inspired to run faster, I got a little bummed. I I tried to pick it up a bit but only mustered 8:11/8:17. Mile 4 had been slightly up hill with the sun rising directly into my face and eyes. I could hardly see. I was slow on mile 5 and only ran an 8:55. I had to drink again ( I should have had more to drink the day before, I was really dry). Ran the last mile pretty strong at 8:30. I had the course pretty much to myself those last 3 miles. Everyone was either ahead of or behind me. It was a solid effort--not my very best, but not bad. I loved the finisher's corridor. They had a nice big clock and half if the other Red Hot Pink Chick's were there cheering for me. It felt great to be the 15th to finish. Smooth, who thought she'd only muster 9's because of Saturday's race came in right behind me. We came back to join the RHPC at the finish line and cheered Michelle as she crossed. She looked so strong finishing. She had walked 3 of the miles fast, and still finished in an hour. I was dissapointed at the awards ceremony to learn I hadn't really won 2nd place like my race card said I had at the finish. 1st and 2nd place winners got a Lady Liberty Silver dollar. Someone in my division had mis registered (and beat me). So they got the coin, and I got a lousy medal (although it was ingraved 3rd Place). Nothing is worse than coming in second, except coming in third. If I had known the prizes were those silver dollar coins I would have pushed harder. I love coins. Smooth got one and I was envious. After the race, the whole stinky RHPC crew and their families went to Marion's to eat pancakes, sausage, eggs, and fruit. Thanks Marion for sharing your BigAss Grill. Or is it Big Gas Grill? Either way, those pankcakes and buttermilk syrup were killer. | 