Steve’s Encore Race Report
Posted by Carrie on 26 Jul 2008 | Tagged as: Pictures and movies, Race reports
Well, would you look at that? I took first place in my age group in today’s race! 
The Steve’s Encore race is on that gorgeous cross-country course, and I went out early today to put in some miles on it before the race; after all, the start time wasn’t until 9, and the day wasn’t going to be getting any cooler. I didn’t want to have to run the bulk of the scheduled twelve miles in the hottest part of the day! Four and a half miles worth of warm-up: check. It felt easy and good; my legs weren’t a bit tired when I stopped.
The race itself felt far less scary to me than it did last year. I chatted at the start line with a few guys, and the gun went off and we were running before any nerves kicked in. I felt like I was moving incredibly slow, but that was mainly because the crowd took off really fast; a herd of high school track stars led the way, followed by people who were sure they could handle the opening hill at a quick pace. As it turned out, many of them couldn’t, and I was able to pass them halfway up.
For the first mile, I followed a woman in a pink tank top, trailing her. Finally passing her felt really good. 
I decided to keep up the speed I’d used to pass for as long as I could, though I was still pretty sure I wasn’t going to be getting any personal records; sandy, gravelly trails can be dangerous, and I didn’t want to risk my ankles for a 5K.
But in the end, the PR was mine! I finished in 26:14, and the pink tank top girl never did get back in front of me. Hee! I was happy with my time, but I was shocked when they posted the results and one of the guys to whom I had been talking came back from looking at them and said, “Let me be the first to congratulate you on your win.” On my what, now? 
And then, after winning a doorprize (a framed picture of muscle cars for the boys), and after saying goodbye to everybody else, I went back out and did five more miles. They, too, felt awesome.
It was a really, really good day for running. 
And also for curry, which Eric made for me when I got home. Could things get better?
4 Comments »
on 26 Jul 2008 at 5:05 pm
hannah said …
Wow! Congratulations!!
“ran another 5 miles. . .for fun”
I don’t believe I can wrap my head around *Ever* feeling that way about running. . .
Does this transformation typically happen to people who do this program and stick with it? That they become dedicated runners. . .running for pleasure?
I’m so curious about it, the transformation that happened inside of you. The external change is obvious, but the inner one is the one that has me fascinated.
And wondering I could, too, truly love running.
Winning first in your age group! Are your little boys really tickled over your medal?
on 26 Jul 2008 at 5:11 pm
Carrie said …
Well, to be fair, the last 5 miles were also to complete the proscribed 12 miles I needed to put in today for my half training program, not just for fun.
But…they were fun.
Yeah, it happened over time. You really do get hooked on those endorphins, and as distance becomes easier and easier to cover, you can get those endorphins without the “suffering” typically experienced at the beginning of learning to run. Sure, there’s exertion, but your body knows that it’s worth it.
Comes a point in your run where you hit your stride, and you’re just moving along, coasting on that kinetic energy, and everything gets stripped away but the feel of your heartbeat, the rhythm in your arms and legs, and the earth passing beneath your feet. I get the urge to back out right now, just writing about it!
on 27 Jul 2008 at 7:58 am
Adrith said …
Hooray for hardware! Congratulations on your fantastic PR and the shiny to go with it.
I myself have never brought home hardware - only ’software’, the race I won a huge stuffed Grinch in the doorprize raffle..
on 28 Jul 2008 at 2:58 am
Joanne said …
Fantastic - well done - you must be so proud.
And best description of why long runs get easier I’ve ever read!