Changes

The camp meeting race each year has always been super fun. It's low key and not very well organized. But that's ok. It's just for fun and promotes health for families.

But this year there was a change in directors. One of the changes that they made was to make the course truly a 5k. Every since I first ran that race at 5 or 6 yrs old, it has started at the bright yellow speed bump by the outdoor courts. But this year they moved back quite a bit. We all knew the course was short by about 4/10ths of a mile, but it wasn't like it was an official race or anything.

They also changed the course. So now instead of just running around the lake, we went up the hill to the Lambuth Inn and then went around the lake. 

Talk about a shock. I wasn't aware they'd changed the course and it wasn't a pleasant surprise. So instead of getting a pr like I'd been training for, I was almost 3 minutes slower. But it was still a decent time. And other than the hill from hell, I really enjoyed the race.

I love my kids running in with me. Sweetest kids!

And surprisingly, considering the huge jump in numbers this year, 

I actually won something in my age division.

I'd sent everyone to get their free race popsicles, so there isn't a picture of me receiving the award. But I like a picture so later I know which one went with which race.

Haha! That sounded like I have a ton, didn't it. =D

I placed!

A couple of months ago my brother and I were talking and he mentioned a sign he'd seen about a race in the Collegedale (Chattanooga) area. It was during a time that I needed to come down to do some work on one of our rentals. So I decided to combine the two things.

The information online was extremely limited and I was a bit apprehensive about where and what what going to happen. The race was at 2pm on a Sunday which is very unusual. But I showed up at the correct time and sure enough - there was a race.

Dominic decided at the last minute to run.

The goodie bags were almost non-existent, the bibs didn't have chips, and we were handed an ankle bracelet for the chip. The race began near the police station and the guy starting the timer couldn't find the start line. So we just haphazardly lined up, all 30-40 of us.

The course ran through a partially finished subdivision and was hilly and full of switch backs. But it was pleasant weather and low key. So I really enjoyed myself. I hadn't brought any of my gps devices so only had my stop watch. But I figured since it was put on by Southern Outdoor Club that it would be accurate. Wrong assumption. Pretty sure the course was a tad longer than 3.1 miles.

I finished and was handed a card to fill out that helped determine my place in the race, because the timer had quit working. The organization was sloppy and non-existent. After 4 attempts at the award ceremony they finally had everything sorted out and the correct medals to the correct people. I sunburned. Not from the race, but from standing there waiting while they did the ceremony four times. We stood there longer than it took me to run the race.

But I won first place in my age division so I don't really want to complain too much.

All in all, it was fun and slightly crazy and I'm actually contemplating doing it again. Just think - in two years I'll be able to run as a Masters and could get 1st Masters overall. =)

Race Day

After last year's 1 mile race at camp meeting, I was determined to run the 5k this year. I was so careful not to step into any holes or mess my legs up. =)

To add drama to the story - I left my gps watch at home. I knew the race wasn't chipped and it was timed rather primitively. There are no mile markers either. So I convinced my parents to stop at my house on the way to camp meeting and pick up my watch. I made sure it was fully charged once I got it.

On race day I was joined by my dad and son. Since it's camp meeting, there were also a ton of friends and other family members who ran either the 5k or fun run.

I wrote about Dominic's race on the kids blog.

As I started the race I pushed the timer on my watch only to receive a message that the history was full. It would record the pace I was going, but nothing else. I took off a lot faster than I'd planned because I was trying to catch up with Dominic to slow him down. When I finally caught up with him, he wouldn't slow down. It took me into the 2nd mile to pass him.  He was keeping pace with another lady and I asked her where we were as far as mileage and pace. Since she was running a 9:30 pace I stayed with her until about mile 2.75 and then I took off. I'm very thankful for both her and my son. I had a pr (personal record) because of both of them and finished strong. Which means I could have done even better if I'd pushed a little more. Incentive for next year!

My finishing time was 27:26 (Assuming the coarse was correct and their time was on, since my watch had issues. I'll have a better grasp on it next year.)

Visiting with my cousin.

 Taking off.

 Pushing to the end.

 I barely had time to come in and take a breath before I headed out to run back in with Dominic.

 First medal (not counting that one I got for last year's fun run) since I began running again as an adult. First place in my age division (female 30-39).

 Next year I'll do even better. I have a goal to work towards.

I may be getting older, but I intend to get better as well.