Run Happy

Edmond Frigid Five February 12, 2007

Posted by regivizz Fitness, Race, Running Digg! this story. , trackback

While a huge mass of dark clouds hovered on the western horizon, the sun shined down and turned our Saturday’s forecast for rain and wind and lots of cold to naught. Not that we didn’t have the cold and the wind, but at least we didn’t have the rain!

Arriving to Mitch Park at 8:45, I was pleased and excited to see so many people mingling around. There was great music on the loudspeaker and the volunteers were super friendly. The flags were flying and everything was very well organized. The 1 mile fun run started at 9:30 and Moni and I cheered the little tykes at the finish line. (Man! Some of those kids were fast little buggers!) As it got closer to race time, 10:00, we moved over to the finish line making the last minute adjustments to the shoes, the gloves and the hats!

I had two goals for this race, the first was to beat 47 minutes, the second was to not come in later than double the time of the first person in. My official time was 47:21 so I didn’t really make my first goal. I was a little ticked off as I rounded the curve and saw 46:58 on the finish line timer. With about a hundred feet to go, I realized that I couldn’t make it in 2 seconds! Oh well. I came in 50th of 156 female runners, and 7th in my age group with a pace of 9:29.

The second goal I made easily. The winner of the race came in at 26:42 and I came in well below the 53 minute mark.

I’m fairly pleased with my pace, especially in light of the fact that the course was fairly hilly and I don’t train on hills at all. Making the comment to Moni that “Lake Hefner doesn’t have hills!” someone walking close by responded with “I just had that conversation!” I guess there were quite a few of us who aren’t used to the hills. Of course, in Oklahoma you’re doing good to find a place to run (Oklahoma ranks 44th in US states for health).

My family braved the cold weather to cheer us on at the start and the finish and even took a picture or two! This race created a monster, I’m afraid. Moni now wants to race in the Creek Classic on March 3rd and the Redbud Classic on April 15th! I’ll probably join her for a 10K on both of those races!