On the Run: Run Like the Wind 10k 2012

On Saturday I ran my 3rd Run Like the Wind 10k.  I'm so glad I discovered this race!  It's close to home and parking is easy.  It's on Labor Day weekend when the gym is closed so I don't have to miss Boot Camp.  It's a cheap race to enter and you still get a tee shirt.  Perhaps best of all, though, is it's small, making it easy for me to place first in my age group.  Well, it was easy last year and the year before but this time I had to fight hard to stay reigning champ.  Which is why I'm so proudly showing off my 1st place medal above.  Let me tell you the story.

I didn't intend to set any records when I started out.  Did I want to finish first in my age group?  Yes.  They were giving medals to the top three, however, so even if I was second or third that would be okay.  (But deep down did I really want to be first?  Yes.  Yes I did.)  But if I'm going to be completely honest with you, at this point my biggest motivation to run fast was that we were going to the Plymouth Farmers Market after the race to buy the new Fall and Halloween soaps from Cellar Door Soap Co.  I kept thinking that the faster I ran, the sooner I could get to my soap!  (I need a tee shirt - "Will run for soap!")  So I started out too fast and I knew it but I figured I would slow down later on if I needed to.  I was feeling great, the weather was perfect, and it was only 6 miles total.  So I went with it.

As I neared the turn-around, I started to realized that there were not many girls ahead of me.  In fact, there were 3.  But they looked like they were all in my age group.  Uh oh.  I knew I had to take at least one of them.  So I sped up and pretty quickly was upon one of them.  Then she and I passed up another girl so we were two and three.  My plan was to stay with her until the end, conserving my energy just enough so that I could pass her up at the finish.  I hoped maybe she would even tire out and I could pass her up before the end.  No such luck.  She gave me a real run for my money!  If it wasn't for her there was no way I would have run as fast as I did.  I even have a sub-7:00 mile 4!

Just when I didn't think I could keep pace with her any longer, we rounded the last curve and saw the finish line.  She either sped up or I dropped back - I'm not sure which.  I just know that the distance between us increased a bit for the first time.  Then as we got closer she got a little too complacent with her imminent victory and that's when I made my move.  I put on one final burst of speed and pushed past, finishing ahead of her by ONE SECOND!  (I excitedly asked Brian if it was as thrilling as watching the Olympics but he said no.  Wah-wah.)  She and I high-fived and congratulated each other on a great race.  I know I wouldn't have run so well without her and I'm pretty sure I pushed her, as well.  Oh, so I was the 2nd female and 11th overall.  Wahoo!

After I finished I grabbed my banana (perfectly ripened - another Run Like the Wind plus!) and my 1st place medal.  By the way, last year they gave out magnets so this is an upgrade!  Then I went to get my soap.  10 bars.  Hey, I earned 'em!  (And needed 'em, too!)

Time 

44:06

Pace 

7:07/mile

Fuel 

Vanilla Chia Pudding (this recipe, minus the cocoa), banana

Tunes

Out on the Road / Norah Jones

Pickin' Up the Pieces / Fitz & the Tantrums

Call Me Maybe / Carly Rae Jepsen

A Long Time / Mayer Hawthorne

Right Back Where We Started From / Maxine Nightingale

Uprising / Muse

I Don't Feel Like Dancin' / Scissor Sisters

Hooked / Mayer Hawthorne

Hang Loose / Alabama Shakes

Punching in a Dream / The Naked & Famous

Where Have You Been / Rihanna

Everyone I Know / Lightning Love

Good Time / Owl City (Feat. Carly Rae Jepsen)

Over Here, Over There / Dr. Dog

 Next race: Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo 5k and 10k - September 16th

Happy Labor Day!