Queen B: Kiss Me

Mike was the big winner of the Greater Cleveland XC race pass at the NERC Winter Banquet ~ and the Kiss Me I'm a Runner 10k was his first free race. I figured we were driving out to Legacy Village...and there was free beer after, so I would run the 5k. I was anxious as I wasn't sub 25:00 all last race season... I didn't want that horrible self-defeating feeling of working so hard and being so slow.

AND IT WAS COLD. Like 19 degrees cold. Like Legacy Village isn't an inside mall, we have to wait around outside cold. But it was fine. We were dressed well. We peed (3 times for me), drank our pre-race drink, ate our pre-race snack, took our pre-race selfie, ran our warm-up and got to the start line. Two of my runners were there (LOVE to see my kids at races)! Saw them at the start...and they were done when I finished (placed 9th and 10th ~ without really trying too hard, I think)

The race started in front of Bar Louie and went behind Dick's and around to the Cleveland Clinic Wellness trail...which is DOWN in the the valley. DOWN... and of course, what goes down... we came back UP to Richmond Road & crossed over into the former Acacia Golf Course. The golf course was gentle hills for the most part. There was one up that was rather steep...and I remember thinking that I had to be running 12 minute miles my pace slowed so much. I never looked at my watch...didn't want to know...just wanted to run my best, which I feel I did. I was working and I was breathing fine and never had a moment when I thought "I can't do this" or "This is too hard" I consider that in itself a BIG WIN. I did know that the third mile was the same at the first...just in reverse. Crossed Richmond Road & went down into the valley...the up on the other side just didn't stop. We went up. Then we went up some more. Then we ran the access road behind Dick's and had to go back UP into Legacy Village. At that point I knew the rest was flat & I gave it may all. When I turned the corner to where I could see the clock... all I was thinking was, "please be 24, please don't be 25". When I saw it & it was 24...oh the relief and joy. Ran it in for 24:25 & a first place age group finish. I knew I was running well when I could hear the announcement of the first place female finisher. I was fifth female and 19th overall ~ {and the first old lady.}

Totally happy with my time & expect that to drop with flatter courses & more races.

Love that Lake Health takes pictures of EVERYONE and posts them on Facebook ~ encouraging us to share them. Lake Health Running Series is awesome. Here I am...noticing the camera so I don't look horrible as I usually do when I run.

And then there's Mike...who always has this little grin on his face when he runs. Here he is finishing the 10k. He finished in 54:01.