Going the Distance : Run Manchester Race Recap

So I've been running...alot...I know...You're shocked.

But we're 10 weeks out from THE DETROIT INTERNATIONAL HALF MARATHON and I've not missed a single workout, I've ran every short run, I've ran every long run. My goal is to stand at that start line on October 19th and feel like I did every single thing I possibly could to make this race my best race yet.

SO two weekends ago I ran in our local 5k. RUN MANCHESTER!!!!!!!!! I will never ever forget my first year living in this little town...I hated everyone. Including my husband for moving me here...I hated that there was this awesome event going on and all these active people organizing it and I wan't part of it. I hated that I couldn't run it. I hated that I went from a town where I knew everybody to a town where I knew nobody. I hated it. So I walked the fun run and hated that too...Man I was a freaking RAY OF SUNSHINE............

So here I am 6 years later...standing at the start line of this same race. My amazing husband announcing the whole event, one of my best friends organizing the entire festival, and countless people I know and love all around me. Man how life has changed.

Through my blaring music I hear my hubs say..."RUNNERS ARE YOU READY>>>ON YOUR MARK>>>GET SET>>>GO!!!!!!" And we were off.

I had a plan to run the first mile at lightning speed because it had an up hill and I'm really good at up hills...HILLS MAKE THE BOOTY GO WO WOOOOOO...and I have a booty that LOVES to run hills. The only mistake I made in this mile was taking a cup of water from the cute little Boy Scouts...Damn them and their cute smiles. GAH...I drank the water and a HUGE bubble of air. **NOTE TO SELF>>>next year take the water and throw it away**

The next mile was flat and I SUCK at flat running....so I knew I was going to slow down a little...which worked out nicely because my freaking playlist switched to all songs and was playing my ring tones..... So knowing I was slowing down I changed to my running mix and like I planned it THUNDERSTRUCK starts booming in my ears.

It's time to kick it in the ass.

I'm on the last mile...The last stretch of flat where I pass my volleyball team and their cheer section...I knew if I started crying...because that's what I do when I run...I would slow down...So i knew I couldn't really look at them...as I ran by they did do a toe touch...which might possibly by my signature move....I felt the tears coming but then remembered I was almost to the corner...The last up hill and then the big down hill...The part of this route that used to be my least favorite place to run...that's now my favorite...

Uphill...I passed a guy that had FLOWN by my at mile 2 (insert evil laugh here)..

Rolling flat road...don't let him catch you. don't let him catch you. don't let him catch you.

Downhill... I see my friend that's organizing the event at the bottom of the hill...this happens to also be the skinny hooker that got me started running...The one I would be blocks behind and she would be kind enough to wait at the stop sign to make sure I was still alive and then take off like a gazelle again...................She knew exactly what I was trying to do in this race...I wanted to be in under 25 minutes and place in the top 3....She had been watching the runners come in and could see the clock from where she was standing so she knew exactly where I was at.

The smile on her face and the crazy cheerleader type jumping she was doing said it all.

I rounded the corner and the clock said 24:18. I crossed the finish line at 24:29.

Exactly 5 minutes faster than I ran this race last year.

And 2nd place in my age group.

And that skinny hooker got to give me my medal.