On the Run: Novi Memorial Day Run 10K

Ha ha, this picture cracks me up!  It's the cropped and zoomed-in Instagram version but the original is almost funnier because there are two guys in the photo with me.  Both of them look like they are dying and there's me, smack in the middle, looking like I'm having the time of my life!  Brian snapped the photo in the home stretch, right before I turned up the engines and poured on the speed to finish first in my age group, 4th female, and 24th overall in Monday's Memorial Day race.  It wasn't a PR for me but considering I ran a half the weekend before and have another half this weekend, I was doing this as more of a "fun run" anyway.

This was the first time I'd run this particular race so I wasn't sure what to expect.  It turned out to be a fun, well-organized event with a nice course.  Brian went with me and we arrived at the park about 45 minutes before start time.  Parking was easy and there wasn't a long line for the Port-a-Potties.  Before the 10K was a special "Elite Mile" event.  The top male finished in 4:18!!  It was amazing to watch.  Then those runners participated in either the 5K or 10K!  Wow!

The course was a loop through neighborhoods and subdivisions in the area.  It was somewhat hilly, making it just challenging enough but not overly difficult.  There were really nice homes to look at along the way and I was happy to be running something different from the usual route in my own neighborhood.  

I started out a little slow and my muscles felt tight.  It took me a few miles to loosen up and get in the groove but by mile 3 I was starting to pick up speed and pass people.  Once I did there was no slowing down!  I finished strong and after the race I had a few people come up to me to congratulate me on a race well run.  One girl even told me she had chased me the whole time but just couldn't catch me!  She finished just behind me, placing 2nd in our age group.

The race was at 8am but the awards ceremony wasn't until 10:30.  I didn't want to wait around and unfortunately, there isn't a good opportunity for me to claim my award (a mug).  Ah well.  Just knowing I placed 1st is good enough for me!

Time 
43:41
 

Pace 

7:03/mile 
  
Fuel 

Banana 

Tunes 

Born in the U.S.A. / Bruce Springsteen

Honey in the Sun / Camera Obscura
American Idiot / Green Day
Crawling to the USA / Elvis Costello 
Party in the USA / Miley Cyrus

Sunshinin' / The Vines

R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. / John Mellencamp

American Girl / Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Kids in America / The Muffs

Firework / Katy Perry

Hot Summer Night / Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

Blood for Poppies / Garbage 
From Now On / The Features

Upcoming races:  

Dexter-Ann Arbor 1/2 Marathon - June 2nd

Flirt with Dirt 10k - June 8th