Covey Run 5K & Lake Union 10K

Aren't you lucky?  Two!  Two race reports!  Ahahahaha!!  (My tribute to the Count, my favorite Sesame Street character.  Hm, does this explain why I'm an accountant?)

This is really turning out to be the summer of races!  Both of these had been on my calendar for awhile, but I wasn't sure which one I was going to end up doing.  Little did I know I was going to end up doing both.

My 33 Things goal of 12 5Ks led my to choose the Covey Run.  I showed up bright and early, got my t-shirt and race number.  The one complaint I have about this race was the start.  No pace markers, no division between runners, walkers or strollers.  It was a giant mass of people all trying to cross the start line at the same time.  I tried to start towards the back, but not too far back.  I still had quite a few of people to navigate around and through but it did finally start to thin out. 

The course was out and back on a section of the Woodinville Redmond road and basically flat.  The sun was out, but it wasn't too hot yet.  I had my usual goal of running, and only walking through the water stop(s).  Once I made my out of the mass of people I found one woman who I thought I could keep pace with.  Key word being thought.  It wasn't too long before I realized she was a little too fast for me and so I backed off.  I kept going, slow and steady.  There was one water stop, however since it was an out and back, there were technically two!  I skipped the first one, feeling pretty good, but stopped at it on the way back.  The back part seemed way longer than the out part.  Funny how that works! :)  But finally I was back to the Redhook entrance and the 3 mile sign.  As I rounded the corner I saw the finish line and that the clock said 37 minutes.  Holy cow!!  Was I going to PR??  I knew I had a few seconds to play with, so it would be close.  But yes, yes I did PR!  I finished in 37:13 (my previous best being 37:24).  Does that count as improving my 5K time?  I'm going to count it! :)  Check that off the 33 Things list!

I'd somewhat decided against the Lake Union 10K but hadn't officially closed the door and got talked into doing it when I found out two of my co-workers were going to do it.  The race started at 7:30 in the morning.  Ugh!  My alarm went off too early for a Sunday morning and what is the first thing I heard when I woke up?  Rain.  Double ugh!  At least it was more of a sprinkling mist than actual rain.  But I now had the dilemma of whether or not to change my race outfit...  I decided against changing, but did add a hat to my ensemble.  I met Teresa & Nilufer at the designated rendezvous (the office) and we headed across the bridge.

The rain had picked up a little, but still not too bad.  We got our race numbers & t-shirts and used the real bathroom before heading to the start line.  It was looking like it might be a messy start again, but then the race director started putting people into their pace.  And they started us in waves, which made for a nice start.  I wished Nilufer & Teresa good race and we were off!  Once again I started off a little fast, but settled in fairly quickly. 

Nilufer passed me by fairly early on.  I knew this was going to be a challenge, running with people I knew.  I know and accept that I am not the fastest and that is okay.  But I still judge myself and compare myself to others.  I knew I had to let it go.  I tried to keep Nilufer in sight, which I did up until the bridge.  At that point, I couldn't see her anymore and it was actually for the best.  I was able to focus back on myself and my race.

My goal for this race, which I wasn't completely set on since the longest distance I have run lately is half this, was the same - run, only walking through the water stops.  The race was marked in kilometers and as I passed 5K, I was still feeling strong.  Okay, I might be able to make my goal! 

I have done this course before, except in reverse.  And I must say I liked this way a lot better.  The many uphills were now downhills!  Except the one very steep downhill, which was now a very steep uphill.  I made it part way up before walking the remainder.  I picked it back up and was soon rewarded with the 7K sign!  Hallelujah!!  I can so do 3Ks.  I could say the next 3Ks passed by quickly, but they didn't.  However, as I turned one corner the Space Needle came into view, which put a smile on my face.  I knew I was going to make it, even if I had to grit out the last few Ks, which I did.  But as it always happens, the finish line came in to view and I turned on the afterburners.  Done!!

Wow, my PRs are falling right and left!  My official time for this race?  1:16:48!!  Beating my last 10K PR by 4 minutes.  Maybe I am a runner after all!