It just figures since I’d planned to wear my floral skirt it would be freezing this morning. I was wishing I’d gotten the capri skirt combo instead as I froze in line for packet pickup.
Everyone else was in tights. But come on it’s MAY!
Freezing my petunias at the start
The race started in the middle of a grassy field. When the gun sounded we charged across it to a small bridge where we created the mother of all bottle necks before getting onto the trails.
Of course it was all hills. Welcome to my world. I had no aspirations for today. Just have fun. Honestly I thought I’d be lucky to hold an 8:30 pace that’s how slow, dead, call it what you will, I am after Boston.
I vowed not to look at my Garmin. Just run. So I did.
I came upon a little boy, feet slapping, body weaving all over the place, he was fighting wildly to keep up with me and did for a bit but I had to pass before he tripped me.
Where is the first mile marker? I peeked at my Garmin. Already 1.24. Ok so no mile markers. No clocks either. Nobody calling splits. Alrighty then. Maybe that’s a good thing.
Up and down I go, already tired. Charge (I use that term loosely) up the hills, recover (gasp for air and try not to puke) on the downhills. This is good for me as my hill training leaves much everything to be desired. My shoes filled with gravel. Good times.
Finally, the crowds and flags at the finish. I’d seen countless times when parents cross the finish line with their kids and thought what better day than Mother’s Day for a sweet moment of our own? I saw Modern Caveman and the kids and beckoned to them. Thing 1 ran right out and bolted ahead of me. Thing 2 would have none of it. So after considerable coaxing I gave up and tried to catch up with Thing 1 who was doing her best impression of Usain Bolt.
Suddenly I saw something come hurling toward me and arc, shimmering over my head. It was one of Thing 1’s pink glitter high tops. How it flew off her foot I’ll never know. But there it was airborne in all it’s glory.
It landed in some high grass aside the path so I went back to retrieve it before finishing the race. So much for the photo op with my kids.
Usain Bolt II and her flying shoe
Anyway, I managed even 8 minute splits. Still a dog crap pace for me but better than the 8:30s I’d have been ‘happy’ with. But when I learned I’d been edged out of the 3rd AG spot by 12 seconds, the competitive animal that lives somewhere deep inside was less than thrilled. I need to reclaim some speed and get my redemption.
love the floral skirt. great job in the race 🙂 wicked impressive considering boston was only 3 weeks ago!
You are so funny, you totally turned my first few minutes at work from frown to smile :). I ran a 5K last weekend, in like 7:54's. Hello, I ran a half marathon in those splits last year….argh!!! But we gotta look at it as speedwork and that 5K is actually gonna make ya faster in Chicago, which is the goal, right??!! Thanks for being such a sweet friend, it makes my day to read your blog. 🙂
There should be a rule: Minimum amount of distance to a bottle neck is 1/4 of a mile, based on size and distance of race.
Great race! I can only dream of that pace right now. Usain Bolt II is so stinkin' cute and I love her hightops!
Thing 1 looks so cute! And you rocked that skirt! Great job!
I think that pink sparkle high top cost you the AG win! LOL! Hope she made it up with hugs and kisses the rest of the day 🙂
I LOVE to read your race reports – maybe I can just recount mine to you and you can jazz mine up and write them for me, mmm k?
Happy Monday!
Kudos for wearing the skirt! Looks great.
Ohmigosh, her shoe came off?? Too funny. That's one way to take out some of the competition!
The skirt was worth the chill…you looked gorgeous! I'm thinking it took at least 12sec to try and convince Thing 2 and then retrieve the sparkly hightop! That makes you number 1 in Mommydom 🙂
You may have been cold at the start, but your running skirt is too awesome! Love the story about the shoe!
Great skirt! I think you did great…you are only a couple of weeks removed from Boston, afterall. And 5ks are a whole different animal (one I don't personally like!)
She ran so fast she ran right out of her shoes!!!!
Love the skirt and yeah I think that retrieving said sparkly high top may have taken 12 seconds or so! Looks worth it to see that cutie patootie smile of you daughters!!
HA that is so hilarious she ran out of her shoes! maybe she is meant to be a barefoot runner
usain bolt! sure got cute and you know chasing pink sparkly shoes just reminded you that no matter where you are i.e. in the middle of a race your always her Mama!!! cute story and great job!
loving the skirt.
loving the photos! how adorable.
cute cute skirt. sorry you were cold at the beginning. maybe the cold weather helped you achieve your fast pace!
You looked great! I love the skirt and in May you never know what weather you are in for.
Grrr 12 seconds. Considering the day, you did actually what a mom would do. Tend to the kiddos. Great race!
Totally jealous of those pink glittery hi tops hehe! I think that pace is awesome, especially for hills!
You may have been freezing, but you certainly look super cute in your skirt!
I love the pink, glittery high top. Awesome!
I think you had a great race. Way to go!
Nice job Marcia! You did really good:) You are looking super hot in that floral skirt…so pretty!
You look so cute in your skirt! Love it.
Great job on the race — even splits are a good thing 🙂
Ha ha…that's hilarious about your girl's shoe flying off her foot! 🙂
Good job on the 5k! It sounds like it was a rough course! Oh, and the skirt is super cute! 🙂
Such a cute pic of your daughter! Too funny about the flying shoe!
Can't expect a lot of speed so close to a marathon. I certainly wouldn't be disappointed with the result.
You look great!!! The speed will come back -promise
Blame it on retrieving the shoe. ;o)
Great job on the 5k. What a fun thing to do on Mothers Day.
Nice run, it sounds like you were smiling and enjoying the race the whole time! CUTE skirt and headband!
Flying shoe…very cute! The good news about still recovering is the fact that it proves that you ran hard enough in the marathon to need to recover. (if that makes any sense) Glad you got out there and enjoyed it!
Great job! Too funny about the shoe & the fact that she kept running!
Love the outfit. Good thing it was just a shoe and not something else that could have done brain damage or something. Great race recap. You tell it well.
It is great to run a race on Mothers Day — there is one here on Fathers Day that I like to run also.
I don't really run 5Ks anymore. The race day logistics of getting there, etc., make to a little frustrating to then run only 3 miles. but a good start to the day for sure.
Great way to celebrate Mother's Day, nice job! At least it didn't snow for you like it did here!
I want glitter high tops…..
That seems super speedy to me! I can't believe you were just edged out of placing!
cute skirt and love your caption to go with it 🙂 congrats on a great race! i would have been a little disappointed too when i saw the age group results, but after a little while you gotta get over it. you ran hard! be proud of yourself!
I hear you with the AG. I'm ready to bail on this week's 5K because I'm still not ready after being sick. Sure I can run but if I can't be competitive….
Nice to read that you're picking up the pace.
Congrats on your race, you can get the AG next year – This year you had your super sweet outfit and learned that you may have a future olympian in the house! Sounds like a great Mother's Day!
Congrats on the finish. I am JUST like you and get mad if I miss an AG by a few seconds. next time!!