I Got FIRST Place!!!!

I ran my first 5k of the Run 2011 Season, the Run To Remember- honor and remember fallen police officers. I have to admit, deep down, I really wanted to do well and at least place in my division. But I didn't say anything because I didn't want to get my hopes up and I knew I had to do like under 8 minute miles to do it and I just didn't know if I could hold that pace for 3.1 miles. So this morning is going wonderfully I wake up bright eyed, hyper and feeling GREAT. I had breakfast (bagel, egg white and cheese and a banana), and left a little early because I had to stop at the ATM to get my race entry fee. Good thing I left early because 1/2 way to Junction City I realized I forgot my Garmin and I HAD TO HAVE MY GARMIN! So I turned around and drove like 60 through the city to get the GPS and make the registration deadline (five minutes to spare).

So race starts and I know I need to get in front so no one would be in my way and at the start I just took off and never let up. R2R has some hills in it so I told myself sprint up and coast down,use your energy on the hill up and relax on the way down. Forget the wind, and boy was it brutal, and just keep running, and that is what I did. I didn't plan to stay for the awards but something just kinda told me to. They started with the female awards and instantly my heart started racing (lol) Matty had said I was like the 6th or 7th female in-but didn't say anything about me getting have a chance at placing. So when they got to my age group and they announced the 3rd and 2nd place runners I honestly didn't think I would win but I was still praying, and hoping and.....1st place....was me!!! I'm still in shock, last year when I ran this race I was again at the front of the start line but was so far from placing, I can't believe in one year I went from a non runner, to a runner, to a long distance runner to winning a first place medal. My finish time was 24:15 and the crazy thing is the overall female winner was only 2 minutes ahead of me. Can you guess what my goal is for next years Run To Remember?

Congrats to all my friends who ran Champaign and the Illinois Marathon/Half today: Jill Garrison, Karla Janicke, Matt Freemen, my friend Bry Shultz for running the Lincoln 1/2 Marathon in Nebraska tomorrow and to my Matty for getting....3rd place today in his age division (yeah were a couple of winners)!