I did it!

So much to write about...First I'll start with the race.

(Lynette and me right before the race started...not sure what's going on with my eye.)

I did it! I ran the Love My Body Race and did so much better than I even expected. I got 19th place out of almost 700 participants!

Everyone of my friends and sister ended up backing out of the race (or not even signing up. They all had good excuses of course. OK only Shar did) except for one that I didn't even know about until the day before.

I was kind of feeling grumpy about going especially when it was COLD and raining I really did not want to go. I kept hoping I would get an email that said it was cancelled. Luckily my cute friend Lynette got me excited again on our nice little ride down to Thanksgiving Point to go run 6 K on a cold and dreary fall morning.

Once we got there I started to feel the excitement of the event with all these women buzzing around and having fun even though it was sooo cold and wet.

The race started and the masses took off. Lynette has a much faster pace than I do so she went on ahead. We knew from the beginning I would not be keeping up with her. But as I started running with my headphones in and the music going, I started to feel really good. I started passing people, getting into my music, enjoying the beautiful gardens, and just going strong. The hills I enjoyed the most. I just kept booking up the hills then I would fly down them as fast as I safely could. That's where I would pass a lot of people. I have to admit that was pretty fun (my competitive side coming out:)

Then as I saw that I was approaching the end I really started booking it. I started running as fast as my little legs could take me. and the last 100yds I sprinted. It was so much fun! In my head I could hear my dad cheering me on from the side lines yelling "Go, Min, Go!" with such intensity and excitement just like the good old days of Stake Olympics. And then I passed the finish line, completely winded but feeling sooo good. I had no idea what my time was at the time but I didn't care. I had finished and I felt awesome!

Later they posted the times and I couldn't believe when I saw my time and place...19th!, (not that my time or place means anything in the racing world, but for me it was such a bonus!) I'd forgotten how fun these races can be. I hate training for them, in fact I barely trained for this one, I just kept up with my regular work out routine (which is pretty intense, but does not include hardly any running.) But the fun and excitement of all the people, getting into your zone and feeling so strong is just fun!

Anyways it was awesome. I definitely want to do it again next year and hopefully I'll get some more people to join me. Who knows maybe I'll even go for the 10K.

(However, one side note, my hips and back were extremely sore:( can't seem to figure them out. I think I'm getting older but I don't want to admit to that yet.)

(Here's a funny picture to enjoy:\)