The Great Race

This morning started at 5 am with a quick shower and I was out the door by 5:15 to head to Agoura Hills, which is about a 40 minute drive.  I was told to get there early because parking was hard to find later in the morning.  I arrived in plenty of time seeing as my first race didn't start until 7:30 and I was there at 6.  Anyway, I had signed up to run a 5K and then run a 10K after that.  After signing up I heard that the 5K was fairly flat but the 10K was "challenging" with hills.  So I was feeling nervous but I figured I would just take it slow.  Garrett and the boys stayed at home because of how early we would have had to leave and the fact that Kevin had pictures for baseball this morning followed by a game.  So I was on my own.

The 5K was fun and fast.  I ended up finishing in about 29 minutes, which was faster than I thought I would.  Knowing that I was going to run the 10K right after I thought I would save time and I put both of my timing chips on my shoes before the 5K.  I didn't realize though that both of them would start and then I couldn't use the other for the next race.  No big deal, but I just wont get an official time for the 10K.  I was back in plenty of time though to rest a little before the start of the next race.  Both races started downhill and I figured I would gain a little time on that part.  

The 10K turned out to be hard, but not as bad as I had thought it would be.  Miles one and two were a combination of downhill and flat.  Miles 2-4 were a slight uphill the whole way.  Mile 5 was a harder uphill and I had to walk during a part of it.  Not for long though.  Around mile 6 it started downhill again and I felt like yelling, "That's not running!!" and flailing my arms around while I ran, like Phoebe on Friends.  But I didn't.  I ended up finishing in 1 hour and 2 minutes, one minute more than my time in Redondo Beach, but a much harder course, and the 5K right before.  I was feeling pretty good about that!

I made it back in time to see most of Kevie's game and now we are back at home to relax the rest of the day.  I have to say I am getting addicted to this whole running thing.  I am already looking online for what I can do next.  I figure if I'm going to be addicted to anything then this is a pretty good choice.  It's fun, it's good exercise, and I can usually be back in time to spend the rest of the day doing something else.  Who wants to go with me next time?