- March - Warm-up for Relay (for Life) with my cousin Katie. We'd discussed doing an event together during the spring and decided on 2 days notice that we'd do this event. It was Katie's first 5K. (35:57)
- May - Komen Race for the Cure 5K (36:32, unofficially)
- June - Race for Ellie 5K (39:43)
- August - Children's Home 5K (not chip-timed - just under 36...and last place)
- September - Emerald City Quarter Marathon (1:26:45) , Oktoberfest 4 Miler (42:28)
- October - Pumpkin Run (33:23) Nationwide Half Marathon (2:43:05)
- November - Buckeye Classic 10K (1:19:41), Flying Feather 4 Miler (43:06)
Toughest Event - This is a tie between the Race for Ellie and the Buckeye Classic 10K. I was ill-prepared for both events. I was injured (and abrasion and a bruise on my right leg from a volleyball accident) before the 5K and hadn't really been running as much as I should have. It was humid and rainy and my leg hurt so after the first mile, I walked a lot of it and finished feeling really demoralized. The 10K was nearly all hilly trails. It felt tougher than the half marathon I completed a month before it.
Most Surprising Finish - I was astounded at my speed/time in the Oktoberfest event, especially given that 1) I'd had a terrible couple weeks at work and wasn't able to train the way I'd hoped to or even get out of the office when I'd planned to that day, 2) It was about 85 degrees and super humid at the time of the race. It was two laps around a loop course and I finished the first lap in 20:30! The fact that it was an evening race made it easier for me, since most of my training runs are in the evening. I also liked knowing during the second time around how much further I had to go.
Most Fun Event - The Oktoberfest event was a lot of fun. Many runners dressed up and the brats, beer and creme puffs ensured a good time.
Proudest Thought - About a mile and a half into the Flying Feather, I realized I wasn't in the back of the pack but about in the middle of the several thousand runners participating.
Most Touching Event - I'm not sure I'll ever do a more emotional race than a Komen. It's awesome to race with nearly 50,000 others for a common goal. The survivors are truly an inspiration.
Favorite Distance - I love 4 mile races!
PRs - I set a new 5K PR in the October Pumpkin Run. And, technically, my times in the half marathon and the 10K were PRs since I've not run those distances until this year. I'm hoping to set new PRs in all those distances in 2011.
Smartest Plan for 2011 - Keep running! Having events every few weeks during the final months of the year really kept me motivated and in shape.
