10 Miles is 10 miles

I'm all about the medals.

I've been running for a while. When I started, the goal was to finish a 5k. That quickly morphed into chasing faster times and faster runners. Now I want longer distances and harder challenges. The Boston Marathon is next on my list. Then I'm considering Ultra Marathons, and maybe trying a triathlon. Although, anyone who knows me, knows I won't be able to just try it. It will likely become another obsession, along with ultras and maybe even running a marathon in all 50 states then moving on to international stuff. I'm way more competitive than I ever thought, and I'm most competitive with myself.

I ran my fastest 10k this past July in the Peachtree Road Race. That race was the final day in a Run Streak challenge from Memorial Day to Independence Day. I ran every day for 40 days straight. I felt stronger and faster that day than I've ever felt in my life, and decided afterward to sign up for a three race challenge called The Triple Peach. It includes that race, the Atlanta 10 Miler and the Atlanta Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day. 6.2 miles, 10 miles then 13.1, all distances I've done before. All times I wanted to improve. Only thing is, I had surgery in July, too, just a few days after the race.

The Peachtree Road Race

July 4, 2014

00:55:47

Peachtree Road Race

Atlanta 10 Miler

October 26, 2014

01:58:11

Atlanta 10 Miler

Sub 9:00 mile pace to a barely sub 12:00 mile pace. That's a time differential I would usually struggle to accept, but if you ask me which race I enjoyed running more, I would tell you the 10 Miler. (Can you tell by the look on my face?)

Still so far behind where I wanted to be in running and fitness after my surgery, I went in with zero expectations, and when I say zero, I mean zero. I had NO time goal in mind. I had no purpose but to show up, run and support the wonderful ladies running with me, and I did. The thing is, though, I feel like they did more to support me than I did them.

I spent most of the race running with one of my favorite running buddies. It felt like one of our long runs but with a little extra traffic. Then after deciding to break away (which only lasted about a mile), I ran past another of my favorite people oiling up her knees for the last stretch. I hung back and ran with her the rest of the way in, joined very quickly by her mom and the buddy I started with, then another member of our running group, Moms Run This Town. We waited in line together for our Triple Peach medals and enjoyed our refueling boxes. Then it was off to find our car (which took an hour because I didn't pay attention to where exactly we parked), then back to the house to hang with the babies.

I could and do talk to her for hours.
Usually while we run off our worries.

She's so inspiring to me.

I met Ms. Freakishly Awesome for the first time
that morning, but I think she wore the right shirt. ;-) 

I think I had more fun running that race than I have had running any other race in a long time.

I'm getting stronger with every run, and I'll be back up to full speed soon enough. In the mean time, I'm so glad to have so many awesome ladies that want to run and race with me no matter how fast I cover that mile.

10 miles is still 10 miles, no matter how fast you go.