I was shooting for a new PR but really just trying to get my bearings back to racing distances since the last distance race for me was back in October in DC. My 15k PR was the Gate River Run at just under 1:35. My goal for the GWTC 15k was a sub 1:30. It was a COLD morning, and the ground was still a little squishy from the rains that came through on Thursday. But I finished strong with a 1:28:47 finish and a new 15K PR. More importantly I felt confident that I could finish the Hot Chocolate 15k and the monster Atlanta hills the following weekend with a sub 1:30 time.
Since I clearly didn't run enough on Saturday I decided to meet up with Allison, Melissa and Becky for 4 miles around the lake in Southward Sunday afternoon. The weather was gorgeous (so was the company!) and Allison and I ran together, talking and laughing as Allison belt out some fun, funky 90's jams. It was the perfect Sunday afternoon.
On Friday I drove to Atlanta for the Hot Chocolate 15k. This race last year was my first 15k and I was anxious to see an apples-to-apples comparison of just how far I've grown in my running since the beginning of 2014.
I was sad the Badass Babes couldn't join me for this repeat trip to Atlanta, we had SUCH a great trip last year. But I was equally happy to spend some quality time with my Atlanta friends Staci and Greg and catch up. These two know all the great places in Atlanta to eat and drink and their restaurant and bar choices did not disappoint! We spent Friday night at the Polaris bar drinking craft cocktails and then headed over to an awesome Mexican tapas place for dinner.
Staci and I spent all day Saturday shopping, and we even ventured OTP (that's Outside The Perimeter for you non-ATL'ers) to do some American Girl shopping for Becky. I swear this store is insane. They have clothes for little girls to match their dolls and a cafe for your "dining experience" and a doll hair salon. There's even hooks in the bathroom stalls to hang your doll on while you pee. The packs of little girls and their dolls is overwhelming. We got out of there STAT and headed back to the safety of the city. Saturday night we ate a great meal with a bunch of hipsters, and I got ready to run Sunday am. (whoops, thankfully I bought new sports bras while we shopping Saturday 'cuz guess what I left at home?!?)
Sunday I got up at 5:30 am and got ready for the Hot Chocolate 15k. As I sat in my car in the Turner Field parking lot waiting for the race to start I remembered all the craziness that happened in Tammie's suburban last year and laughed a little. I got up to the race start, set my iPod app, said a little prayer and then we were off!
Right out of the gate we were up a hill and I bobbed and weaved around slower runners. For the first 1.5 miles while the 5k'ers were on the same course I sped through and tried to get out ahead of the pack. At the split where the 15k'ers veered off one direction and the 5k'ers veered off in another direction I got settled into a comfortable pace and for each mile on the course I thought about my badass babes back home and them running right along with me.
In Mitzi's mile I could hear her encouraging words the same way she paced me in the beginning of the Women's Running Series half marathon. In Tammie's mile I remembered her craziness and laughed, and during Crystal's mile I thought of all she has gone through this past year. All through Erin's mile I thought of funny #TWSS jokes and in Ashley's mile I could hear her infectious giggle. At mile 5 I thought of Kim and my promise to run her first 10K with her. Towards mile 7 I thought of Allison, her encouraging words of not giving up and was thankful for some fun 90's rap on my playlist. At mile 8 I thought of Shannon, picked up my pace and dumped my race bunny for the finish (a tattooed, bearded hipster who I placed catch with all race, and then picked up a new race bunny who might or might not have been Zac Brown, no joke).
At mile 9 I put my tired, sore legs and the hunger cramp I had since mile 7 out of my mind and focused on the fact that the last .3 miles were just for me. I knew I was coming close to my goal of a sub 1:30 finish and was proud of all that I had accomplished this past year in my strength and running goals. I powered through and was amazed when I learned that not only had I PR'd the course by 12 mins but I also PR'd my 15k time by more than 2 minutes! My official race time was 1:26:36.
I've learned a lot about myself and about the sport of running this past year. About how important proper hydrating, nutrition and cross-training prior to a race impacts your running. About how you can be so tired, yet so determined that you can will your body to finish when your mind is telling you to stop and walk. But I've also learned first hand what good friends and a great support network means to the sport of running. And I'm so thankful for this gift most of all.
