Holy Shittake Mushrooms!
I SET A PR!!!!!!!!!!
I RAN SUB-10-MINUTE MILES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!
I ran 9:41/mile. OMG.
Our team of five fantastic women met at 8 a.m. at Reid Park to run the annual Thanksgiving Day Cross-Country Classic, as team "Run Like a Girl" powered by caffeine and chocolate :)
Our families stayed on the sidelines, cheering us on, as we took off with 400 other women, elbowing our way across the grass. The course meandered through the park, up and over numerous small hills, through washes and over hay bales. My favoriate part of the two-loop course was running up a steep hill, then flying down the back side, over three hay bales and two gigantic water jumps. Spectators lined this part of the course to cheer everyone on (and laugh when we fell or got wet). The first water jump I cleared, and then I decided I wanted to get my new shoes good and dirty, so I just ran through the rest.
At the first mile marker, when I clicked my watch and saw 10 minutes on the display, I was a little puzzled. I figured I just took off faster than I should have, so I made sure to moderate my pace. Or at least, it felt that like. I focused on my breath, reassuring myself that it was only 3 miles, so it'd be okay if I pushed it. The second mile marker showed 9 something on the display. I was really confused now, and figured the course must be short. I kept up the pace, feeling great. Passing people and getting passed - it was a fun, wide-open course. I lept over a hay bale and heard two women behind me - "Wow, she looked like a gazelle!" The woman sort of misprounounced it, though that her companion replied, "A gazelle or Gisele? Cuz if she looks like Gisele, she's just hot." I smiled and thought, "I'll take Gisele!" (Sure, I'm about a foot short and 50 lbs over her weight, but still...)
I rounded the corner to the finish and tried to find a kick. I was a little naseous and didn't sprint as much as I should have, and as I crossed the line, the clocked ticked from 30:01 to 30:02. Two seconds! I could have shaved TWO SECONDS off my time and broke 30 minutes!! Geez. But I was so happy to have come that close - I never thought it'd be possible.
The results show my time as 30:10. I supposed that by the time I got through the chute, that was my time, but I'm sticking with 30:02! :) I checked with Mike to verify the course - is it known for being a short course? - and he confirmed that the length was good. Sweet!!!!!
Ash and I watched the guys go through the hay bales and water jumps and cheered Mike on. We hung out with the team and a friend who stopped by, then Ash played on the playground, and finally, it was time to head home to get ready to go to Mesa to hang with my family. Thanksgiving with my boisterous, loud, fun, loving family was an overwhelming blast of love, exactly what I needed, although I need to run today! I ate too much!
Heading back to Tucson tomorrow morning, and possibly camping Saturday night. Should be fun!
Comments
Nothing like a PR to start of a day of turkey and stuffing! Congrats. Amazing what we can do when we're not even trying :-)
Posted by: Dave | November 24, 2006 06:54 AM
Great job Angie, it was nice seeing you and Ash and I was very happy to hear about your PR! Thanks also for posting a pic of the whole team, as now I have a work-around for Kiera's imposed "photo embargo" on my blog!
Posted by: Mike | November 24, 2006 07:01 AM
Congratz on the PR!
Posted by: Ironayla | November 24, 2006 08:02 AM
Yeah I'd rather be told I look like Gisele than a Gazelle too ;) Way to go on the PR. YAY!
Posted by: Jessica | November 24, 2006 08:28 AM
Way to go Angie! Sounds like a fun day.
Posted by: backofpack | November 24, 2006 08:46 AM
Congrats Speedy, a PR is always good, and especially on an obstacle course like that.
But where are those alleged 50 lb of extra weight? I certainly can't detect them in any of your recent photos!
Posted by: Thomas | November 24, 2006 09:20 AM
Congrads, Angie. Way to go!!
Posted by: Denise "Firefly" | November 24, 2006 03:26 PM
Congrats on the PR. Sounds like a great race and since I commented on Mike's blog, what's that bright light shining? Why isn't everything grey and wet?
Posted by: Rob | November 24, 2006 03:31 PM
That is sooo awesome! Congrats! : )
Posted by: Sarah | November 24, 2006 05:15 PM
Congrats on your PR.
Posted by: Juls | November 24, 2006 08:15 PM
Rock on! You're the best!
Congrats on the PR!
Posted by: Sarah Elaine | November 24, 2006 09:55 PM
that is so awesome, congratulations! :o)
Posted by: neese | November 25, 2006 03:51 AM
p.s. LOL re: Holy Shittake Mushrooms!
Posted by: neese | November 25, 2006 03:52 AM
Congratulations! PR on a cross country course, that's awesome.
Posted by: ali | November 25, 2006 08:24 AM
Congratulations! PR on a cross country course, that's awesome.
Posted by: ali | November 25, 2006 08:28 AM
Nice job Angie! Congrats! Sounds like you guys had a lot of fun.
Posted by: D | November 25, 2006 10:32 AM
Great job! A PR is one thing, but a PR on a cross country course is quite impressive. Imagine what you can now do on a flat, fast course.
Have a great weekend.
Posted by: Chad in the Arizona Desert | November 25, 2006 10:42 AM
That sounds even better than my miraculous pecan pie that didn't burn this year. Quite a good time on a cross-country course!
Posted by: Anne | November 25, 2006 04:59 PM
It's not just a PR, it came with water and hay bale jumping! Amazing!
Posted by: Renee | November 26, 2006 06:29 AM
Congrats to you chica!!
Posted by: jkrunning | November 27, 2006 05:25 AM
YEAH!!!
Posted by: Tigerlilly | November 27, 2006 06:30 AM
awesome! awesome! awesome!
Posted by: Josh | November 27, 2006 07:50 AM
Awesome Angie! Congratulations! Sounds like a fun race.
Posted by: Kim | November 27, 2006 08:55 AM
Add me to the list, doll! Great run, nothing will stop you ever!
Posted by: olga | November 27, 2006 11:36 AM
Congratulations on the great PR Angie. You said the course was "wide open", but to be sure, hitting a PR on a course that requires you jump over hay bales and sail across water hazards is no small accomplishment. Good to see you back in form.
Congratulations again.
Posted by: Phil | November 27, 2006 12:10 PM
Congratulations.
Posted by: Kiki | November 30, 2006 03:47 PM