^^ Jackie & I after the race
^^ Chris & I after the race
Ringing In Spring
Valpo
4-7-12
5K
This race will always have a special place in my heart simply because, 4 years ago, it was the first race I ever ran.
We met Jackie at WalMart, then headed over to the YMCA for the race -- parking was a logistical nightmare -- I suppose that is what happens when you have 12 year olds directing the traffic.
After parking and getting the kids together, we wandered over to kid-care....and found out that Cameron, Justin and Claire would all be in the same room, but Jill would have to be in another room because they had the 3 & 4 year olds in a room, and the 5-8 year olds in another room. I begged and pleaded with them to let Claire stay with Jill (she does NOT like being "alone") but there was no getting my way this time. After watching Jill through the window for a short while, we decided she would be sad and grumpy, but OK for an hour or so.
They have made quite a few adjustments to this race over the years, and this year the entire starting area was different. We didn't need packet pick-up because we had gotten them Friday night, but we did need gear check....after trying unsuccessfully to find it, we finally asked and were told where it was. When we did finally find it, none of us was surprised we had missed it. It was nothing but a folding table in the pavilion.....no bags to put your gear in, no tables to line it up on...just sign a piece of paper and you are done. Not my idea of "safe" -- since Chris & Jackie were only checking sweatshirts, it wasn't a big deal for us (though I dd talk to 2 friends who were NOT happy about how their purses were "checked")
After gear check, and a final potty break, we lined up. We talked to my running group coordinator, Becky, for a while, and then it was time to head out (at exactly 9:00am!!!)
There is really no good, easy way to have 2500+ people start a race. It took at least 7/8 if not a full mile to thin out to where we had some elbow room! Once it started thinning out, I realize the Chris and Becky were just ahead of me! Chris hasn't run since last November when we did the half-marathon, and I was pleased to see him taking it slow and steady -- I do, after all, need help raising our children, and an exhausted and sore Chris won't be much help ;-)
The entire race was pretty ho-hum...nothing spectacular and nothing awful happened! As we got closer to the end, I had this plan to sneak up inside of a crowd and pass Chris so that I could win my first race against him in years (the last time I beat him was September of 2009 -- I think) but, as we came down to the .17 mile stretch, he took off at a full out sprint, and I knew I'd never catch him :-(
As soon as we finished I asked him to go get the kids, and I doubled back to run with Jackie....as I followed the trail of racers back to Jackie, it occured to me that she wasn't that far behind me, and that she looked good. She looked happy, and looked strong, and was NOT limping!!!! I couldn't help but grin from ear to ear when I saw her -- I am constantly struck at just how proud of her I am. The girl has been through a lot with surgeries, physical therapy, and she just keeps going!!! Most people would have given up, or would never have tried -- but she just keeps going!!! She was walking at a ridiculously fast pace when I got to her -- I have no clue how her short legs can go that fast -- and, she did a bit of running, then went back to her speedy walk. I did warn her that when you can see the finish chute -- it's actually farther away than it looks, so don't give it your all just yet. As we rounded the last corner, she said "latah" and took off running to the finish chute. I had to reign back the tears as I watched her run away....I love that girl to pieces and am so very, very proud of her!
We all had a great run, the kids survived just fine and the post race food was available at the finish line this year, so we got to indulge for once :-)
After a quick snack for the kids, and a little playtime at the playground, we headed home....another 6.2 miles closer to our 10,000 mile goal!
Final Results:
Chris:
29:21
(9:28/ mile)
39/49 male 35-39
513/1247 overall
Julie:
29:31
(9:31/ mile)
32/112 female 30-34
529/1247 overall
Jackie:
42:28
(13:42/ mile)
102/112 female 30-34
1144/1247
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