It never fails. Despite the hundreds of races I've ran in, the nerves and anxiety of race day alway make their way in. Toes start to tingle and I feel like my heart might beat right out of my chest. It's an explosion of butterflies in my stomach. The Gazelle Girl Half Marathon was no exception - putting my running career and my real life career in the same boat - pretty much a recipe for amped up nerves. Working the expo the day before, the calm before the storm hit. We had pulled off a successful expo, we just needed the race day to go just as well. Mother Nature decided to make things interesting race day morning. I didn't care - I just wanted to run. After the race start, the anxiety left me completely. After mile 5 I felt comfortable; at ease. After mile 7 the energy of over 3,000 women running towards one goal hit me. With an out and back course, I started to run past all the ladies who had yet to hit the half way point. Cheers, waves, and yells of good luck poured from the women I ran past. It lifted my soul, put a huge smile on my face, and it made me run faster. Never have I encountered the magnitude of pure spirit in a race before. Finishing the race in 1:35 and 15th overall, I didn't beat my personal record, but I was still extremely proud of myself.
I'd say this photo pretty much sums up my race. Hell yeah!
 |
| Photo credit - Sweaty Photo |
See you next year Gazelle Girls!
