Since I had QP and JT in town for the holiday I drug them to the Turkey Trot. When my daughter saw me signing up she said she wanted to come - perfect! and it was :)
We parked at Leslie's house and got to walk over with her while she started her early walking of the course. She is SO wonderful and I love that lady so much! It was nice to visit with her for a bit and catch up. We picked up our packets and had enough time to take them back to the car and still make a potty stop before start time. Like I said - perfect! Me, JT, Lauren and QP in the warm gym waiting for the start. As we walked out to line up what did I see?!? ALLIE!! Standing at the front of the mat looking all focused and ready to win. So, I ran up to her and gave her an unexpected (and possibly unwanted) hug and threatened to hang out with her at the front and try to win :) But, seeing as that wasn't a possibility, I just threatened her if she didn't win and went back with QP, JT and Lauren to the back of the crowd. We did lose Lauren for a few minutes, but I stood on a light pole and she found us. whew. They started some fun music and we were just about ready. So, what do I do? I start dancing and prancing - and fall off a 2 inch curb and twist my ankle. Fell down on my butt to hopefully not continue to cause damage and felt a nice little pop in my ankle. Crap. Nice. Really?!? Whatever. I tried to walk it off as the race was starting and I could barely put weight on it. At this point we are moving with the 2000 other people toward the start line and I'm just cussing myself. By the time we get there, I decide to just go for it. I cross the mat and take off. I felt the ankle for the first few steps, but then adrenaline took over and it was out of my mind completely for the next 3 miles. What wasn't out of my mind was that there were WAY too many people to try and run fast at the back of the crowd. Couldn't get through and looking at my garmin there was over 1:30 that I was running slower than an 8mm (closer to a 10) as I tried to weave/push/elbow/cuss my way through the crowd. That is the bad thing about starting at the back. There was one big mess to get through and I got on the sidewalk and just went for it. Then we all funneled into the finish line (which is about 1/4 mile away from the start, but on the course) and I nearly came to a dead stop here and I could NOT move. Then I see JT to my right getting through. What the heck? Out of my way people! I got through the mess and got back on the sidewalk and just weaved around the others there until it looked clear enough to hop back on the road. Hardly noticed the first hard hill thanks to the crowd - good thing about starting at the back. I was pushing myself and trying to remember it was just 1.5 miles of uphill and then just one short uphill on the home stretch. C'mon girl, you can do this! I wanted a 22:XX min time, this is a rough course with 432 ft elevation gain (as per Cottonwood Heights) over the course on an out and back, so definitely not PR course, but one to really show your guts. The last steep uphill turning onto a neighborhood street I started losing it, then pulled myself back in and passed a few more people. This was the only other time in the race (other than the beginning crowd malfunction) that I hit over an 8mm pace. When we hit the turn that finally revealed the downhill I was relieved, but tried to keep pushing myself. I don't think I do push myself on the downhill as much as I should, this is something I think I could work on: Keeping my downhill effort consistent with my uphill effort and not thinking "yay! I get a break." and fall into an easier stride. There was one turn on the finishing mile that put you right into a head wind and then your last uphill climb, and it is a doozy. But, I powered through it. I knew the downhill stretch to the finish was on the other side. I only got passed once the entire race, and it was just before that turn - by a guy with a jogging stroller, crap. Oh well, that is another good thing about starting in the back - lots of people to pass! :) The downhill I tried to just let go, but I still wasn't equal effort to the uphill, but maybe I shouldn't be. I felt like I was done - 5K's make me crazy I don't like running so fast and then being done so fast. I'm definitely more suited to endurance. I tried to stay strong and pass the last couple people on my radar, but it is hard when you know that chip time you are really in front of all the people a good minute in front of you - bad thing about starting at the back. I saw that clock at 24:xx when I finished and was mad at myself. I really wanted that 22:xx; I knew we were behind on the clock, but I knew it wasn't 2 minutes worth. Then when I saw I was just over at 23:06 I was bummed. If it wasn't for the traffic jam at the start I could've hit the 22:xx. Oh well, there is always next year :) JT finished close behind me and as I was walking back to get Lauren I saw QP finishing. Perfect! So, we waited for her then all 3 went back for Lauren. There are SO many little kids. She is 10, so in the 11 and under category and there were 70 girls!! Crazy! We only went back .2 until we saw her then ran her in. She saw me and said "no. go away." but with a smile on her face. I told her we were all here to run her in and she was a good sport about letting us embarrass her. Later she told me she doesn't like that when I run with her I always talk to her and say how proud I am of her and that she is awesome and doing a good job. So, I can run with her, I just have to shut up next time :) How old is she again?!? We walked back and waited for the raffle and results. The more I walked the tighter my ankle got and the more swollen it became. It is nice and swollen and I'll have a good bruise to show for it in the morning. Good thing I've got a roll of athletic tape and know how to tape up and ankle for tomorrow's run! No one won anything at the raffle :( not even an entry to the SLC half, which is what I wanted. I love it, but that race is SO expensive. Lauren finished 14th in her AG at 34:45. She looked at my placing before they announced it and I couldn't believe I'd taken 3rd in my AG! Wow, there are so many fast people at this race I've never placed before and didn't think it would happen with my slow time this year, but hey - I'll take it!! They give ribbons 5 deep and I was SO excited when they called QP as 5th in her AG and so we both got our ribbons!! No turkeys or pies at this race, not even medals - just ribbons, but I'm proud of it :) Sorry the pic is blurry, but you can't be picky when asking strangers to take your picture with a camera phone! Sister winners with their ribbons!
 A wonderful morning with great company, and as always a proud mama to watch my girl that won't run with me finish a race and feel good about herself. I love that girl! I couldn't even run 1/4 mile to the school without stopping when I was her age and she is already kickin' it in 5K's and a great swimmer! I guess I should shut up about it now, so I don't embarrass her. AP: 7:22 (7:26 according to the race time, my garmin has it at 3.14, but I did SO much weaving this doesn't surprise me). Splits: 7:43, 7:25, 7:11, 5:58 (last .14) I love the progressive run and the fast finish! I'm still kicking myself about that first mile and all the stopping. whatever, I'm over it.
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