Groundhog 5K

In a word - CRAZY!

To put into preceptive my experiences before this race the largest race I had participated in to date had just over 300 people, this race sold out at 3500.  I really had no idea what to expect, but this wasn't it.  Wow.  Of course everyone being underground in a tunnel made the experience all the more surreal.  

As I was driving in I happened to look in my rearview mirror and who should be right behind me but one of my best running buddies Sarah.  Unfortunately we ended up getting seperated when I turned left and she went right.  I was told I needed to turn around and park down the road and walk up, oh joy, as it was freezing and windy, my personal favorite.  I spotted a gas station and decided to pull in and use their facilities, I thought it would be best to walk in the frigid air with an empty bladder.  As I was checking out, because I never use the facilities anywhere without purchasing something.  The girls were talking to some other runners about the parking issues the race was having, and I asked what they would charge to park in their lot, and she said, oh just park anywhere along the outside of the lot.  I was so happy I was almost in tears!  

Walking up I started to realize how dificult it was going to be to find my friends.  I found packet pick up and checked on changing races, from the 10K to 5K.  I was told they weren't allowing that this year, ugh.  I explained I had emailed the race director, so they let me talk to the powers that be and they allowed me.  

I hung out around the packet pick up area, knowing my friends would have to pick up theirs so it seemed the most likely place to find them, and eventually we all met up!  It was a Groundhog Day miracle!  

By the time we made it to the start line, we couldn't even see the start line, and were back in the 14 minute mile group.

But I was with my bestie, so all was right with the world.

Sorry about the vampire eyes, my computer died, so I am using the spare laptop and I don't have an edit program on this one.  

I was really worried about how I would do after 3 weeks of not running, and then only a couple 2 mile runs, but it felt great, I wasn't worried about my pace, just finishing.  I manged to find a steady pace and finished in 33:59 and 98th in my age group.  Not my fastest 5K, but I was so happy to be running I was grinning ear to ear the entire time!

Although it was nuts and crazy, I had a great time and would love to have the opportunity to run this race again!  Hopefully the 10K next time!!