Race #1

Today I ran the Calhoun's Ten Miler in Lenoir City.  Super early, super chilly, but totally worth it!

I laid my clothes out the night before so that I wouldn't be rushed in the morning.  I wore about four layers of clothes! I hate being cold!

The plan was to wake up at 5.15, drink some coffee, eat a protein bar, relax and head out around 6.20.  The plan did not work!  I woke up at 5.15, only to go back to sleep!  I then woke up at 6!  Eek!!!!  Not according to plan!  A big part of me wanted to go back to sleep and not worry with the race, but I knew I would hate myself if I did!  So, I got up, brushed my teeth, downed a cup of coffee and got dressed! (No breakfast...oops!)

This was layer one or really two, three and four.  I wore a tank, a short sleeve Nike running shirt, and then this long sleeve Nike running shirt. For bottoms, I started out with running tights.  Put my Uggs on and headed out the door! I always wear my Uggs to the race and change shoes before the start.  It's just a tradition!

I had to register, since I procrastinated and didn't sign up in time online, by 7.15 and the race started at 7.30.  I got to Calhoun's around 6.45 and had no problems parking or getting registered. I had plenty of time to drop off my stuff at the car, add some layers, change shoes, and run into some running friends!

Becky, Ashley, and I ran into each other at registration.  Becky and I have run a handful of races together. Lots of 5ks and a couple of half marathons.  She's the one that got me started on my marathon training and running. I had decided to start doing 5ks, but she was planning on running a full marathon last year and invited me to be apart of her "Runner Girls Club".  She ran my first half marathon with me and we actually did Disney Princess together last year (I say together, but there's no together about it, her pace is a whole lot faster than mine)!  I met Ashley through Becky at the Country Music Marathon last year, but didn't really get to talk to her with all the craziness of a marathon!

Us right before the start of the race.  Please notice the darkness outside! With the race starting at 7.30, it wasn't super sunny just yet!  It was also FREEZING!!!!!  I added to my layering another long sleeve shirt, another tank, arm warmers, a pair of running pants, and leg warmers!  My body actually felt great...not too cold and not too warm!  My hands on the other hand (so punny!!!!) were another story!  They were FROZEN! I'm not talking a little cold and they warmed up, I'm talking I thought they were going to fall off! I thought I was never going to get any feeling back in them!  Around mile 7 (7!) I started getting full feeling back into them!  As I type this, they hurt! The tips are super sensitive...frostbite much?

I ran with my camera for the first time, but with the frozen fingers, never got it out to take pictures! Boo!  It was a beautiful run and perfect for picture taking, but you need workable fingers to take pictures and I did not have them!

I ran with Ashley for most of the race at a 10 minute pace.  I typically run a little faster during a race, but was enjoying the run and talk with Ashley and plus for those first 7 miles, I was really worried about my fingers and considered getting help from someone, so I was a little distracted!  I finished at 1.42:00.  Not bad...I guess? I never have a time frame in mind, I just love running!!!!!!

Runner Girls at the end!!!!!  It was a lot of fun to run with these ladies!  I've not done a race since Cookeville Haunted Half and I forgot how much fun it is to run in a race.  Runners are really a community and a friendly one at that!  So, race 1 of the year down....next up Strawberry Plains Half Marathon in February and then Whitestone 30k, also in February!  Last year Strawberry Plains was my first half and was a hard one....really looking forward to kicking it's tail this time around! The Whitestone race will be a true challenge for me! 18 miles! I've never done more than 13.1!  We'll see how it goes!