Iron Girl!

I ran my first Iron Girl today, 10 miles and right now I'm icing shins, knees, and exhausted. It was mostly concrete running which is the worst thing for my body, especially my sensitive shins! BUT

It was great, great, great!! First, my friend Kathleen, crossed at 1 hour 31 mins, and came back out to run with me the rest of my way in! There was a horrible head wind working against me coming in on the last mile and I struggled most of the run here. I really pushed it and when Kathleen found me I seriously almost started to cry out of relief because she somehow! knew I needed that support to finish running and not quit and walk! And the whole way she was supporting me I was arguing with her! She told me where to start sprinting for the finish line and I said I can't do it! I really didn't think I could.

But I did! I hit her mark of where to sprint and something turned on, it was amazing and I sprinted! I finished at 1 hour and 43 mins and 28 seconds. My goal was to hit it under 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Kathleen, I know I told you, but I have to make sure this goes down as you carried me through the last bit when I was giving up on myself! 

Things I have learned:

I will never ever ever run at the front of a race again. I was passed the entire time. I think I passed a couple of people but they passed me again at the end. It was hard on my ego ;-).

It was my best run ever though!

 The first three miles I was pacing at 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 minute miles. Huge stitch in my shoulder brought me down to almost 11 min mile and then I held steady the rest of the way at a 10 min mile, unless I was on a hill, and there were a lot of hills, that would bring me to a 12 min mile. Have I mentioned HOW much I love my Garmin? That, too, kept me on pace, as did my Ipod.

Something happened to my body for four hours after, and not to get too detailed, it sucked. I think it was either the gatorade or the gel. Not sure which. Both were new to me on the run, but if I had to bet, it was the gatorade. I lost a lot of steam at my 5 miles and gelled up, and then instead of water did gatorade. Hmmmm immediately when I stopped running I began to have discomfort. 

So for PF Chang's, only water and see where that gets me and find something that's going to give me more energy cause I really needed at mile 5, 7, and 9.

Now, I am so impressed and proud of my girls Steph, Michelle, Liz, and Kathleen! They all rocked and we had such an incredible time bonding together on this run! Lots of great memories and talks that will be tucked away forever! We have so many rune we want to do together, and really I'm so lucky they have taken me in and have me run with them! Thank you girls, I love you! This is what friendship is all about! Supporting and motivating one another and unconditional love!

And I'm so thankful to my family for coming and supporting my run! It was so great for them to all! Mike, Caden, Riordan, Teagan, Aislinn, Grammy, and Papa to be cheering me on and for them to see that all the time I have missed with them was to get me where I am today! Thank you my loves, for your undying support, understanding, and love. 

Mike and Grammy thank you so much for taking umpteen pictures of my girls and I and helping us have touchable memories to look back on.