The Family that Runs Together, Stays Together

Forgive me for the play on words which Father Peyton promoted (The family that prays together stays together).  I couldn't resist.

In celebration of our country's independence, our family participated in the Bessemer Hometown Run.  I ran the 10K while the rest of the family ran / walked the 2 mile.  We left the house at 6:00 am; two hours later, we arrived at a quaint little town.

Our race faces

I found #1 & #2 

Wait ... there's #4 and #5!

We were just having too much fun before the race.

Mile 1:  10:15
  The entire first mile was a gradual incline.  Hill work is paying off!  I had set my virtual partner at 10:20.  Yahoo!  Ahead of the little man at the end of the first mile!  Any suggestions for a name for my virtual partner?

Mile 2:  10:17
  Still ahead!  Wondering if I started out too fast.  A lady passed me pushing twins in a stroller.  You go girl!!  This stretch was out in the country with a gradual incline.  I caught sight of a runner ahead of me and made her my "target".
 
Mile 3:  10:43
   This is where my brain was giving me troubles.  Negative Nelly was saying to walk.  The right side of my face felt numb and my right ear kept popping.  It was hot; well, relatively hot, since I'm used to running in the early morning hours.

Mile 4:  10:55
   Did I start out too fast or do I need some fuel?

Mile 5:  10:34
  A little bit of a descent was in front of me.  Focused on my "target" and used the descent to my advantage.  I could tell that I was closing the gap.  We turned the corner and a hill was in front of us.  Step by step, I gained on her.  By the end of mile 5, I passed her.  Kicked Negative Nelly out!

Mile 6:  10:31
  Acquired a new "target": Guy in the red shirt.  For the last three miles, I was passed by a couple multiple times.  I finally said hi.  They seemed to be doing the sprint / walk method.

Last 0.2:  10:15
  All up hill to the finish!  Can you see the gentleman in the red shirt behind me?
My virtual partner beat me ... this time.

10K official time

1:05:49 (10:35 pace)

3 / 4 in my age group

29 / 42 in women

83 / 103 overall

Hubby 2 mile 25:47

3 / 4 in stroller division

Lil' Chef  27:59

7 / 11 in age group

Mr. T 30:02

4 / 5 in age group
He was a bit humbled, being beaten by both of his sisters.

Squeaker 25:41

2 / 6 in age group - awarded a medal

 Notice that we are both wearing Road Ids.

When I ordered, they gave me a coupon that I could pass along to my friends. Here's the coupon number:
Coupon Number: ThanksCheryl783197
The coupon is good for $1 off any Road ID order placed by 08/04/2010. To order, simply go to RoadID.com or click the link below:
http://www.RoadID.com/?CID=ThanksCheryl783197
If you prefer, you can call them at 800-345-6335.

On the way home, we ate a picnic lunch that I had packed.  After driving for one and a half hours, I was restless.  An ice cream shop was 0.4 miles ahead of us.  So I pulled the van over and asked who wanted to run with me to the ice cream shop.  Hubby thought I was crazy.  Didn't you just run 6.2 miles??  Lil' Chef and Mr. T joined me for the 0.4 mile run.  We averaged a 12:09 pace.  LOL!