Operation Anything--Week 1

Today marks the start of the first week of "Operation Anything." What is Operation Anything? Well, it is whatever YOU want to make it in order to become or maintain your health and fitness levels. Click HERE for the original post.

Remember: This really is Operation Anything....have 5 pounds to lose, join! Have 50+ pounds to lose, join! Have no weight to lose but want to make some changes in your diet or fitness regime, join! Want to push yourself to run a race, join! Want to keep yourself accountable, join! Really, whatever the reason, join! The point of this is to give and get support along YOUR journey, whatever your journey may be! I need to get back on track and welcome all of you to join me. My idea is to make a realistic goal each week and seek to attain it....for some it might be to lose a pound, for others, it might be to pass on the Christmas cookies or to get to the gym 3 times, to drink more water, to do 2 strength training sessions, etc. The reasons to join are as varied as each one of you. Nevertheless, by joining TOGETHER, we can offer support, receive support, and seek to make sure each one of us reaches our goals.

Week 1:
What are your goal or goals for the week? What are you going to strive to do (or not do) to help you fulfill your Operation (Fill In The Blank)?

My goals for this week: (1) To recommit myself to getting back on track with my weight loss efforts and healthy eating habits. During marathon training and marathon injuries, I started to eat more calories but also not work out as many days a week due to my injuries. This has led to the scale going up. Now that my marathon is over, I am turning over a new leaf....time to get back on track and change my habits back to healthy habits.

(2) To do my physical therapy exercises and stretches for my hip and my knee....after all, it is only by doing these that I will heal and be a stronger runner.


Who is with me? Remember, it costs nothing to join, there is no obligation, no emails to flood your inbox, no pressure, just support, motivation, and encouragement! I set out to start Operation Anything to offer support to anyone who needs it, and to also hopefully get a little support in return as I recommit myself to reaching my goal weight. Join me every Wednesday as I check in, make a goal for the week, and recap if my goal was met for the previous week. I am excited!!!!!!

Operation Tone Up/Get Fit/Anything--Join Me!

Operation Tone Up or Operation Get Fit or Operation Get Off the Couch and Start Moving or Operation Lose the Final Pounds or Operation Be Healthy or Operation Start Running or, really, Operation ANYTHING.

Whatever you want to call it, the time has come. And there is no time like the present.

Why? Well, readers and friends, I have gained weight. About 7-10 pounds. Although that might not seem like a big deal to some, the scale is going in the wrong direction. And, I am starting to notice the extra weight around my waist and in how my clothes fit. So, not only do I need to drop the weight I just put on, but I also want to get to my final goal weight. To do so, I have about 15-20 pounds to lose. And, I can do this. Time to get serious again. Time to get back in the gym, try some new cardio workouts, come up with a weight training plan, and time to be more conscious of what I eat. Sure, I could start this after the holidays are over, but I would rather start NOW. After all, there is no time like the present.

What? I need support from you. And, I would like to offer my support to ANY of you who would like to join me in Operation (Fill in the blank with whatever is applicable to you).

How? Join me in a weekly check in to see how we are all doing and keep each other accountable! I will be posting, most likely on Wednesdays, on how I am doing. I will also make one goal for the upcoming week that will help me to stay on track.

Who wants to join me?? Come on! It will be fun! And there just might be some prizes involved!!! Oh, and if you have a suggestion for a snazzy title, let me know!

Edited to Add: This really is Operation Anything....have 5 pounds to lose, join! Have 50+ pounds to lose, join! Have no weight to lose but want to make some changes in your diet or fitness regime, join! Want to push yourself to run a race, join! Want to keep yourself accountable, join! Really, whatever the reason, join! The point of this is to give and get support along YOUR journey, whatever your journey may be! I need to get back on track and welcome all of you to join me. My idea is to make a realistic goal each week and seek to attain it....for some it might be to lose a pound, for others, it might be to pass on the Christmas cookies or to get to the gym 3 times, to drink more water, to do 2 strength training sessions, etc. The reasons to join are as varied as each one of you. Nevertheless, by joining TOGETHER, we can offer support, receive support, and seek to make sure each one of us reaches our goals!

{Feel free to post the "Operation Anything" badge on your blog, website, Facebook, etc!! Spread the word!!}

CIM Marathon Race Recap

I am finally back, which means I can finally pen my marathon race recap!

Race Morning
The morning started off bright and early, as my husband and I woke up around 4:15am. Really, I had been up for hours because I just couldn't sleep. We were out of the house around 5:15am in order to pick up two of my fellow running buddies who were also running the marathon. We got to the drop off location near the start line at around 6:15. There was a coffee shop across the street so we ran over and used their facilities. Then, I kissed my husband goodbye and ran across the street to get into the shuttle line. We ended up having to wait for an empty shuttle, but finally got on one. The shuttle was great. It dropped us off right at the start, near a line of empty and clean porta-potties. I used the facilities one last time, scurried over to the bag check since my friends needed to check their bags, and then we started the race. Literally, between getting off the bus, we had about 4 minutes prior to the start. This was perfect since it was freezing out.....the temperature was below 29 degrees and there was ice/frost covering lawns and cars!

Miles 1-13:1
The first 13 miles went really well. My running buddy and I ran the first 1.5-2 miles at a comfortable pace, around 9:45 minute/mile. At around mile 2, we switched to running intervals,
running 2 minutes 10 seconds, and walking 50 seconds. Why intervals? Well, for a couple of reasons....my running buddy trained with intervals and wanted to run them. I wanted the company. Also, due to my injuries, especially my latest IT band/knee issue and the fact that a mere 3 days before the marathon I wasn't sure if my knee would allow me to run, the smart choice for me and my body was to run intervals instead of going all out. So, the intervals worked out well. We were running a little bit slower than when we ran Clarksburg, but overall, we were off to a good start. We completed the first half marathon in 2:22:22, about 2 minutes slower than Clarksburg, but respectable nonetheless.

Miles 14-20
Miles 14-17 were fine. When the wind would blow, it was freezing. When the wind was calm, the weather, although cold, was fine. I was gu-ing/supplementing every 4-5 miles and hydrating often (Go CIM!....frequent hydration stations and yummy diluted sports drink). However, around mile 17.5, I started to feel off. Dizzy. My vision was a little blurry. At one point, I thought I was going to have to spot at a medic station and have my husband pick me up because I was afraid I was going to pass out. To get me through, I kept telling myself I probably didn't have enough salt in me even though I had been taking my Gus. My running buddy let me have some Jelly Belly Sports Beans and I grabbed some pretzels at the next aid station. Thankfully, right before mile 20 I started feeling better and back to "normal."

Miles 20-23
So, after getting back to "normal," I was excited to start running into "new" territory. The longest training run I had done was 20 miles. So, anything beyond that was new! Around mile 21, my knee let me know it hated me. Oh my word! My knee and lower IT band totally tightened up, and every walk/run transition was pure pain. Thankfully I had some Advil with me and popped a couple of pills. After all, I told myself that even if I had to walk the rest of the way, I was finishing this thing since I was so close. The Advil kicked in and the pain lessened a bit.

Miles 23-26.2
One thing after another. To follow up my dizziness and knee pain, I started to get HORRIBLE cramps around mile 23. Think a side cramp but move it to your front. I have never had "side cramps" that extend from my chest to my abdomen, nor cramps that were this painful. I wanted to crawl up in a ball and not move. Running was not possible. I tried putting my hands on my head and taking deep breaths. I tried pushing in on my side. I tried changing up my breathing, but nothing was helping. Due to this, we ended up walking a bit more than running. And, my amazing running buddy talked me through the pain and stuck by my side, even though I kept apologizing and telling her to go on and finish. Thanks A!!! Around mile 25, I finally had to just finish this thing. I started running and couldn't take anymore intervals. I ran on pure will and desire to cross the finish line. And, thankfully, the finish line finally came into sight. As I rounded the corner, I not only saw the finish line, but I also saw my other running buddies and husband. What awesome support and encouragement to hear them cheering for me as I finished.

26.2 miles. Dizziness. Intense knee pain. Side Ache and stomach cramps. Finish line. 4 hours, 57 minutes. = Priceless!

Now, I know, people already are asking me if I will run another one. The answer....perhaps. I am up for running another one as long as I am not injured. Training and running one with my knee injury has been tough. The knee pain that I am in right now (a week later) has been tough to handle. Bottom line, I have learned that I am stronger than I think. So, I can't write off another marathon in my future!

Journey to 1000 miles??

I am so close but yet so far away. I was so sure that I would reach 1000 miles this year. But, now I am injured and running is difficult. So, the question becomes, will I reach my goal this year?
How many miles have you run this year?

Official Marathon Time

Official Marathon Time: 4:57:24. Not bad considering the conditions.

A few things I have learned about myself and running:
-I am stronger than I think. I never thought I could run a marathon, and look what I did!
-It is amazing what your body can do when you put your mind to it.
-I can overcome obstacles.
-My favorite distances are 10 milers, half marathons, and 20 milers.
-Relish in my own achievements and don't compare myself to others. Sure, a lot of people qualified for the Boston Marathon when they ran CIM. I didn't, not even close. But, Boston was not my goal. Finishing was my goal. And, my achievement is just as great as theirs!

Tips for future marathons:
-Don't run a marathon when injured, especially a knee injury. The pain the days following the marathon is bad.
-Don't hop on a plane 3 hours after crossing the finish line and have to be "on your game" for work.
-Don't wear high heels a mere 18 hours after a marathon, especially when you have to be on your feet for 14+ hours a day.
-Enjoy the race and the scenery. Take it all in!
-Have fun.

I Ran A Marathon!!

I finished!!! Woohoo!!!! My gun time is 4:58; my chip time (and official time) is yet to post but should be a minute or two less than that!!! I am very happy with the results! After all, this is my first marathon, I am injured, I wasn't sure if I would be up to running it as close as three days ago, and I had some struggles during the run. Full recap to come!!

Note to everyone: if you think you are not a runner, think again. If you think you can never run a marathon, think again! I am proof that you can! After all, it wasn't that long ago that I was not a runner and struggled running a 5K (April 2007). And look what I just did!

My marathon is today??

My marathon starts in 2.5 hours. Yikes!!! Where did the last 20 weeks go?? When did I think this was a good idea? Especially since it is a brisk 29 degrees out there??

Goals for today: to finish. Oh and to be able to walk. And perhaps still have some energy at the end. Yes, I have a HUGE day ahead of me after the race, one that involves having to get on a plane (yes, you read that right) about 4 hours after I finish the marathon and go on a business trip. Yep, busy day!!!

To everyone else who is running CIM or another marathon or any race, GOOD LUCK!!!!

The clam before the storm (ie: days leading up to my marathon)

Wow, things have been busy over here which has left no time to write! It really is 4:30am on the day of my marathon and I wanted to get in a couple of blog posts to remember the past couple of days.
-Monday.....out of town for work
-Tuesday and Wednesday.....exhausted and stressed out. So tired that I couldn't even change into my running clothes, let alone actually run.
-Thursday....my last run before CIM. It wasn't going to be my last run, but it ended up being it. I ran about 6 miles with my running buddies and my hip and knee felt really, really tight.
-Friday.....wanted to get in a 5K that evening, started to walk down the stairs to the gym and my knees let me know that both of them were very tight. No run for me.
-Saturday.....busy, busy, busy. Slept in for possibly the first Saturday in 20 weeks, baked, packed, ran errands, prepared for race, went to holiday gathering, tried to sleep. Oh, had a crazy, crazy nightmare early Saturday morning that my marathon was no go....that I only got through 6 miles and had to stop. And, I was soooo sad, mad, disappointed, and embarrassed that I wasn't able to finish it.
-Sunday.....4:15am....alarm went off although I was already awake since I didn't sleep.

And here I go.

Tips for Sunday's Marathon

Tips from an a long time runner of the California International Marathon:

MILE 0-1: Auburn-Folsom Road, right on Oak Avenue Parkway to the crest of the first hill

Topography: Flat for the first 0.3 mile, downhill for the next half-mile, a 0.2-mile uphill after turning onto Oak.

Tim's tips: "If you're in the middle of the pack, you've got to find a nice, comfortable spot where you don't have to wade through hideous amounts of traffic but you're at the right pace. People will be throwing clothes off and you'll be dodging piles of stuff in the road. But in general, it's a fast first mile. … If you know what you're doing, you can put a few seconds in the bank, because it is an easy mile compared to others on the course. There's a lot of excitement in this first mile. Then you turn to go up the hill and it gets real quiet right away."

Sights: Horses, ranch houses.

MILE 1-2: Oak Avenue Parkway to Santa Juanita Drive

Topography: Four short rolling hills, none longer than 0.1 mile, leading to the first aid station.

Tim's tips: "If you can't make these hills here, you're in trouble. You'd better move back to a 4-hour pace. You're only talking 50 to 100 feet of elevation at a time over a decent distance. Most people can handle this. It's really important to try to stay topped off (with fluids) early in the event. But some of these early (aid stations) are logjams, so you don't want to spend too much time winding your way through people to find 2 ounces of fluid. You could probably take a water bottle at the start and ditch it at the relay exchange (Mile 5-6)."

Sights: Lots of rural-looking homes.

MILE 2-3: Along Oak Avenue Parkway to Casa Roble High School

Topography: A slightly more challenging uphill roll at the 2.5-mile mark, flattening out before the high school.

Tim's tips: "What's cool about this part of the race is that you've got a lot of neighbors who come out early to watch the run. So enjoy that. They've got their cowbells going and coffee to stay warm."

Sights: Cheerleaders at Casa Roble High.

MILE 3-4: Along Oak Avenue Parkway, crossing Hazel Avenue to about 100 feet past Beech Avenue

Topography: Flat, then a rolling rise at Hazel for 0.2 mile.

Tim's tips: "This terrain until Fair Oaks (Boulevard) is easier, so you might want to put a few seconds in the bank. You'll give it back in the middle part of this next segment. If you don't, you're going to have to really push to maintain pace in difficult terrain. It may not kill you there. But at Mile 20, you'll know you left a little too much back behind you."

Sights: A park on the left, horse stables on the right.

MILE 4-5: Along Oak Avenue to Old Ranch Road

Topography: Small rolling hills with a slight 0.2-mile climb before the 5-mile mark. Asphalt is bumpy and cracked in the latter part.

Tim's tips: "By this point, you're really looking forward to this left-hand turn (on Fair Oaks Boulevard) by the relay exchange. That's the first place you have a ton of people out yelling."

Sights: The "Welcome to Citrus Heights" sign.

MILE 5-6: Oak Avenue Parkway, left on Fair Oaks Boulevard to Copperwood Drive

Topography: A 0.2-mile rise at mid-mile.

Tim's tips: "If it's a stormy day, you've now gone from a crosswind to a head wind, because the weather usually comes from the southwest. Just put your head down and deal with it. I tell people I'm pacing, 'If you're struggling a while, get right in behind me (to draft) and try to rest for a minute.' "

apartments.

MILE 6-7: Fair Oaks Boulevard to just before Greenback Lane

Topography: Two significant uphills interrupted by a short descent.

Tim's tips: "Some of these hills have a pretty good grade compared to Oak. You're almost a third of the way through the event. You're asking, 'Have I used a third of my energy?' "

Sights: Tempo Park

MILE 7-8: Fair Oaks Boulevard to just before Madison Avenue

Topography: The first significant hill, reaching a crest at the 7.5-mile mark; rolling hills to Madison.

Tim's tips: "This particular stretch is slower. I ran my PR (personal record) on this course almost 20 years ago, and my slowest miles were 7 to 8, 8 to 9 and the first half of Mile 9. You've got to make the effort to stay on pace. Otherwise, you're going to be 30 seconds behind by Mile 10."

Sights: Strip malls.

MILE 8-9: Fair Oaks Boulevard and Sunset Avenue

Topography: Rolling hills as Fair Oaks winds right, then left.

Tim's tips: "In here, you'll have an aid station (on) a hill. So you'll slow down for the aid and then you'll have a hill, which will slow you down even more. Don't get too worked up whether you've got the mile (pace) right on the nose, because there are obstacles to work through. Just make sure at certain milestones, you're back on track."

Sights: Fleet Feet Sports hosts an excellent aid station at Madison. At the hill crest is New Life Community Church, where parishioners cheer.

MILE 9-10: Fair Oaks Boulevard veers right briefly to become Winding Way, returns to Fair Oaks Boulevard with quick left-right-left turns into the 10-mile mark in Old Town (Fair Oaks Village)

Topography: Rolling hills, mostly uphill into Old Town.

Tim's tips: "It's not until you get to Mile 9.5 where you start to see the nice general flow down into Fair Oaks, where you can relax and glide out a little. You start to zigzag here, but it's actually easy running. You can gather some momentum. Downtown Fair Oaks is a blast. It's a place to re-energize, plug yourself into the wall for a minute, and when they spit you back out, you're crossing Sunrise (Mile 10) and back into the rolling hills again. There's a little uphill through town, but you won't be noticing it because you'll be watching all the people. It's like getting one free hill."

Sights: Bands, cheerleaders and breakfast diners cheer you on.

MILE 10-11: Fair Oaks Boulevard to 0.1 mile before Bannister Road

Topography: Downhill and a sharp right turn leaving Old Town Fair Oaks; a significant uphill just past Sunrise for 0.3 mile; a slight downhill to Mile 11.

Tim's tips: "This little pop might be the steepest pitch in the race. You're gaining almost 100 feet in a little less than half a mile. You'll get a third of the way up the hill and everything will get quiet. Guys are focusing."

Sights: Valero gas station.

MILE 11-12: Fair Oaks Boulevard through the so-called San Juan Hills to just past Sumner Lane

Topography: A series of gentle rises, flattening out a little after Sumner.

Tim's tips: "This is where you can really roll and look forward to that halfway mark. Those doughnut shop fumes are good. You're actually through most of the hills nearing Mile 12, but there's still a rolling section and you start to feel the effects."

Sights: Family Donuts and Deli.

MILE 12-13: Fair Oaks Boulevard between California and Manzanita avenues before Fair Oaks goes into a sharp left turn

Topography: Road flattens out into a heavy commercial area.

Tim's tips: "You're thinking about your (half-marathon, 13.1-mile time) split now. Make sure you're within a half-minute of your pace, one way or the other. The second half you always have to think, 'I've got 13 miles under my belt – the chances of me ripping off a faster mile than my pace time are probably not that high.' "

Sights: Boulevard Coffee Co. and Fat Cat Tattoo parlor.

MILE 13-14: Fair Oaks Boulevard to just past Carmichael Park

Topography: Flat.

Tim's tips: "There's a lot going on when you make that turn with the relay exchange and aid station. This is one of the places where you can pick up some gels on the course, which isn't a bad idea in case you start to crater along the way. The longer you can keep the engine at full capacity, the better."

Sights: Jimboys Tacos, McDonald's, Burger King.

MILE 14-15: Fair Oaks Boulevard to just past Kenneth Avenue

Topography: Flat; slight rise before mile marker

Tim's tips: "This is probably the stretch of the course everyone dislikes the most because you're in this giant commercial area. There aren't necessarily a lot of people, and it's not pretty. The only good part about this stretch is, if you have to make an emergency pit stop, there are plenty of options."

Sights: Julie's Donuts, Waffle Barn.

MILE 15-16: Fair Oaks Boulevard to Homewood Way

Topography: Road veers right, left left, with slight rises.

Tim's tips: "If the weather's (bad), you're bucking right into the wind. There's nothing to block it. It's a four-lane road, pretty wide. Put your head down and just grind."

Sights: Strip malls, then tree-lined streets.

MILE 16-17: Fair Oaks Boulevard past Arden Way to Menlo Avenue

Topography: Slight rolling hills

Tim's tips: "It starts getting a lot more serious here. You'll be out of the headwinds for a little while, but even a 5-10 mph breeze will be noticeable when you've put 17 miles under your belt. It's the difference between an 8:12 and an 8:20 pace. Back into the trees, you get a little protection."

Sights: Burger King, Raley's.

MILE 17-18: Fair Oaks Boulevard to just before Eastern Avenue

Topography: Slight rolling hills

Tim's tips: "When you get into this more serene road section, you start looking for that Watt-Fulton-Howe combination that means you're into the final throes of the race."

Sights: Arden Hills Resort and Spa.

MILE 18-19: Fair Oaks Boulevard to the Arden Town Center shopping center, just before Watt Avenue

Topography: Flat with a slight rise heading into Watt.

Tim's tips: "Somewhere in here, they have a good street party, with Danishes and blenders out. You feel like stopping. This is where you start to (check off) off the miles in your mind."

Sights: Trees.

MILE 19-20: Fair Oaks Boulevard beyond Watt and Fulton avenues to Hawthorn Road

Topography: Flat.

Tim's tips: "In this stretch, the leaves will be changing colors and dropping on the road, and it almost seems like you're going out of town, like you're leaving the congested part. It's hard to believe you'll hit more congestion later on. You're really looking forward to Howe (Avenue)."

Sights: Arden Town Center strip mall.

MILE 20-21: Fair Oaks Boulevard to Howe Avenue

Topography: Flat

Tim's tips: "Here you've got the (last) relay exchange, then The Wall (at Loehmann's Plaza) and an aid station. All that energy helps you. Usually, there's a couple of live bands going. That's really the last big energy intersection until you get close to the finish line."

Sights: The Wall, a large drapery painted to look like a brick wall, hanging over Fair Oaks Boulevard.

MILE 21-22: Fair Oaks Boulevard over the American River, veer left onto J Street to Carlson Drive

Topography: Flat until a short but jarring rise at the bridge, followed by a gentle downhill.

Tim's tips: "This is when you're really tired and a little pop like getting onto this bridge can feel monumental. People go sideways at this point. It can waste you when your tachometer's over in the red zone. You just have to think, 'When I get that little downhill on the other side, I can jump-start the engine a little bit.' "

Sights: Sacramento State campus.

MILE 22-23: J Street to 47th Street

Topography: A significant downhill at a railroad underpass, followed by a significant uphill before flattening out.

Tim's tips: "If you have trouble in that (uphill) section, you can lose 10-15 seconds just by not pushing yourself over a rise in the road. This is where the mental gymnastics start. You're at 56th and you have to go to Seventh. There are two strategies: You look and count down or you don't look at all. If you look a lot and you're not moving very fast, then it seems like forever to go through 56th to 30th."

Sights: "Fab 40s" homes.

MILE 23-24: J Street, left on Alhambra Boulevard

Topography: Mostly flat.

Tim's tips: "There's another rise right before the hospital. Unless you're really tired, you never notice it. But at max effort, you notice every bump in the road. There's an aid station right by (Mercy) hospital. What a perfect location. There's a good chance here you'll run into somebody you know. That's a good energy boost."

Sights: Coffee shops and taquerias.

MILE 24-25: Alhambra Boulevard to L Street, under Capital City Freeway and west to 21st Street

Topography: Flat; uneven road near Sutter hospital construction at 28th Street.

Tim's tips: "You complete that Z-turn onto L. People's legs are starting to get locked up. Making that left turn, you'll go over a drainage grate and dip, which can be dicey. When you're under the freeway, they have some good music right there that echoes off the walls. You're looking for a piece of inspiration. At the underpass, usually somebody's on the loudspeaker shouting out names, cheering people on."

Sights: Jamba Juice, Starbucks, Del Taco.

MILE 25-26: L Street to Eighth Street

Topography: Flat.

Tim's tips: "Back to counting streets. The blocks are shorter, though. There's something to be said for city planning at this point. You're starting to get into that gravitational pull of the finish line. Just keep your head down and keep moving. The next big milestone is the edge of the park and the Hyatt hotel. At that point, you're just a few blocks from the U-turn to the Capitol. The buildings can block the wind; sometimes it swirls."

Sights: An adult costume shop, Crepeville, Capitol Park.

MILE 26: The finish – left onto Eighth Street, left again onto Capitol Mall

Topography: Flat.

Tim's tips: "You think, 'Barring catastrophe, I'll make it to the finish line.' But it's elusive. You really can't see the finish line until the last 50 yards or so. It can surprise you."

Sights: The finish line.

Source: Sac Bee.

My reaction: Ummmmm, a tad scared. Still in denial that CIM is in 3 days. YIKES. Double YIKES!!!! Umm, holy moly. I am running a marathon??? Say what??? Whose crazy idea was this??

Turkey Day 5K Results

I'm back from spending time with family and then being out of town for work. The long awaited race recap is here!

Thanksgiving morning, my husband and I headed out an hour early to the race so we could pick up our race bids and get in a warm up run. Given my latest knee and quad injuries, I wanted to fully warm up prior to the race. We got in about a mile to 1.5 mile warm up and then lined up for the race. My husband always goes out F.A.S.T and this run was no different. I did my best to keep up with him, but I looked at my Garmin and even though I was running a pace of 7:30 minute/mile, I was trailing him. After calling out that I couldn't run that fast, we slowed it down to 8:45-9 minute miles. I will say that running so fast for the first 1/2 mile really tired me out. I really wanted to finish the 5k under 27 minutes so I tried my best to stick to 9 minute miles or under. When we got to the home stretch, I thought we had a chance to cross the finish with a 26+minute time. My husband and I held hands as we ran across the finish line and then I looked at my Garmin. Our official time was 27:10. So close!!!!

I will admit that I was bummed that I didn't hit the 26 minute mark. But, I am a 9 minute miler. That is a great pace and one I can be happy with. Plus, even with my injuries, I improved from last year. Our time last year was over 28 minutes. So, more than a minute faster this year. Yay for improvement!!!