DL>DNF>DNS

Firstly - kudos to Jimmy the Eye for completing his first 10K race in the 10th annual Big Valley 10k!! His time was a smart 59:09!

I got second place in my women's age category for my time; it was a PR*. It was the first time my 10k time was under an hour in a race and this beautiful course was loaded with hills.


Funny thing is, I also placed last in my age category since there were only 2 of us that ran. That gave me a chuckle and made me think a little about what the silver medal I held at the end stood for. Everyone who ponied up an entrance fee got a t-shirt. Even though I have a policy of not wearing mine until I cross the finish line, I still got the shirt just for entering. Not everyone who entered got a medal nor did every finisher.

I remembered a post from a running message board about a fellow who knew he was probably going to be last in the race he entered. He was dreading being followed the whole route by the ever present ambulance and the course clean up crew. A wise master runner told him that DL* was better than DNF* with is even better than DNS*.

I chose to enter, run and was able to finish. I wasn't dead last, I was stride for stride with Jimmy the Eye right up to the finish line. There were even a few more runners that came in during the next 13 minutes. My medal, I decided, might be for last in my age group of women who finished but well ahead of those who didn't toe the line. I have worked hard to get where I am and I am enjoying the journey.

***
DL = Dead Last
DNF = Did Not Finish
DNS = Did Not Start
PR = Personal Record

Arts Fest 10k!!

Jimmy "The Eye" did the 5k and did the 10k. We both got new PRs but that's the way it is when you are just starting out.

I started farther back in the pack so my time was really about 1:01:51. It was hot and hilly so I think I did pretty well.

Summer Runnin'

I am adding some photos and videos of a couple of great runs I participated in this summer. Yesterday I finally shaved my 5k time under 30 minutes and average pace was about a 9:23 mile. Not too bad from having just started in January. See captions below each photo for description. I will add them as I can.

NYRR Women's Mini 10k
Central Park
June 12, 2010

My corral for snails pace runners. Next year I will maybe be in the 5,000s!!

A little warm up jog down to the port-a "janes." It was a women's only race don't -cha know.

Central Park West before the rush of womanity.

Here come the racers!

Ravenboy and RGBisMe cheered me on as I ran by. I fit right in!



Juniata River Rampage
Lewistown, PA
July 3, 2010

We decided to go for the patriotic costume prize and vowed to run together. We made a flag when we stood side by side.

The very beginning. 90 runners was the smallest race we had ever been in. You can see Jimmy "the eye" starting his watch as we cross the start line. He is in red and white striped and right of center in this pack.

We had about .25 mile to go when we had to hop up onto the sidewalk for the final push. We were really focused on the footing here.

"Run like a Kenyan" I managed to wheeze out just feet before the finish line. We could see the clock would have us under 30 minutes and I was excited. Grace is in the lower left corner cheering us on!

We did get the trophy for the best costume and I got a bronze medal for having the 3rd fastest time in my age category for women. You gotta love small town races!