Race Report: Run as fast as you can for as long as you can.

The N & O Old Reliable 10K Run: Raleigh, NC

Run as fast as you can for as long as you can. That was my motto about 5 minutes after I started the race. 

Since the 50K on October 15th, I've ran about 5 times; junk miles mostly. I wasn't planning on anything special for this 10K and actually signed up for it at the last minute.

I manuevered myself towards the front of the start. I was also starting with the marathon, marathon relay, and half-marathoners at the same time. It was a cluster but it still worked out.

As during most of my races, most of the run was a blur. I get in the zone when I race and get tunnel vision. Unless someone is streaking buck naked or falls and eats it, I'm probably not going to notice. However, as I was running up the first hill, I passed an older gentleman that looked like he was wearing a singlet over a sweater. No, that was just his back hair. He was nice though and told me good job and I said the same back to him. Also at one point, there was a priest standing outside a church blessing all of us : )

Mile 1- 7:06

Way faster than I needed to run but I was weaving in and out of folks trying to get ahead and out of the gaggle.

Mile 2- 6:48

Whoa nelly! I looked down at my watch at one point and noticed it said 6:15. WTH are you doing! You can't keep that up, you'll die! Slooooow your roll sister.

Mile 3- 7:04

Still faster than I needed to be going. However, I hit the 3 mile mark at 20:57....my 5K PR is 22:39. You do the math : ) That's a 5K PR BABY except it doesn't count. At least I know I can possibly run a sub 21 5K in the near future!

Mile 4- 7:04

I was being very consistent but I started to hit a little wall at this point. The fast pace was finally catching up to me and I was wondering if I'd be able to keep it up a couple more miles.

Mile 5- 7:19

A little slower but I still couldn't believe I was doing so well! I never expected to do so well during this race after barely running the last few weeks. I just keep surprising myself.....and that doesn't get old.

Mile 6- 7:08

At this point I knew I was going to do well. I hadn't looked at the total time during the last couple miles so I didn't know just how well I was doing. I'm terrible at math and never keep track of pace so the finish was a total surprise. The last .3 or so was almost all up hill and I was struggling. I didn't run at a total sprint at the end like I normally do because I had no steam left. Just how I like it.

Finish time- 44:20 (chip time) 44:53 (gun time)

PREVIOUS 10K PR- 45:05 from 2007

Put that in your pipe, 26 yr old Chris, and SMOKE it! 

5/244 female overall

1/45 in my age group 30-34

24/487 overall

Hell to the yeah!

I have another 10K this Friday : ) I am a glutton for punishment I guess. I plan to smoke the bags off of this one as well. I did well last year but want to do even better this time. It's a trail race too! We'll see!

LIVESTRONG!