I Didn't Feel Lucky

But luck was on my side today for the Heritage Oaks Family Fun Day. I decided to run the 5K, cuz my running friend had to leave town unexpectedly so I offered to buy her number. I have never done that before, since I'm used to the big races where they'll arrest you for that. But I did and it came back to bite me (sort of.)

I thought this was just a fun run, but it turned out to be chip timed. I don't have my official chip time, but my clock time was 0:29:24.4. This is the first 5K I have ever run under 30 minutes. I don't know what my best 5K time is, but I think it was 36:03 at the Marsh Turkey Trot in 2005. One of my running goals is was to run a sub-30 5K, so this is a HUGE PR for me! Not only that, but I came in third for the 50-59 AG! Only I don't get the credit cuz I ran under another runner's number. Waaah!

The race started at 8:45 and I took a gel about 5 minutes prior. I stepped on the mat and started my Garmin. Keeping my eye on the pace, I didn't think the watch was on, so I pressed the power button and turned it off. Oops! I turned it back on.

The marines were far behind and I could here them chanting a cadence. We ran down Park St., then turned up 4th. I've run this hill before, only today it didn't seem like much of a hill. As the marines were passing me, I told them we could use a cadence. They laughed, but didn't comply.

We turned down Spring St., the main drag of Paso Robles. It was cool to have the whole road to ourselves, but I didn't even dwell on that. I was just watching my pace and trying to keep it under 10 for as long as I could. There were water stations set up, but I wasn't stopping. At mile 2, I was breathing hard and my legs were starting to feel as limp as cooked pasta. I wanted to take a walking break so badly, but wouldn't give in. I just slowed my pace, still trying to keep it under 10.

At 24th Street, the course turned and headed the other way on Spring St., so I could see everybody who was ahead of me. I cheered the front runners, and yelled out good job to running buds Bunny, Ja., and M.A. as they went past. Bunny was going for sub-24, and I think she probably made it, chip time. She was over it by gun time, but still, it's dang fast. Her son, Jack, who I've mentioned before, was pacing her.

As I made the turn at 24th, I saw that I wasn't the last, not by a long shot. Whoo hoo! I kept running and sending encouragement to the runners on the other side of the street. I could see M.A. in front of me, but I couldn't catch her. I started to count down the streets: 18th Street, 6 blocks to go. Too soon to pick up the pace. Seventeenth St., steady... And on until 14th St. Ok, now. I straightened my back, pulled back my shoulders and went for it. Turning down 12th, I caught up with M.A. We held hands as we crossed over the finish line together.

We regrouped with Bunny and her kids, then waited for the results. I stepped on the mat .1 second before M.A., so I got third and she got fourth in our AG. SD had dropped me off and gone walking while I was racing and he got back after my triumphant finish. He didn't know I could run so fast. :-)

The awards ceremony wasn't until 11:45 and SD wanted to leave. But I convinced him to stay because I thought I'd get a different medal for placing. It's not every day a girl places in her AG. It turned out that they didn't have AG awards, but they did have a raffle and winner must be present to win.

As they were pulling names out, I kept saying my name out loud. A lot of people weren't there, so they missed out on some good prizes. At one point, the MC pulled out a card and was staring at it. Talking trash, I said, "Dori. It's pronouced Dori." Just after I said that, he called my name. The people around me were staring in disbelief. My prize? A black Giant Suede DX cruising bike. Just what I didn't need! But still, pretty cool. I haven't decided what I'm going to do with it. I might sell it or I might donate it to charity, since I already own a road bike.

It's great to win a prize, but it doesn't taste as sweet as a PR. :-)