Diva dash 5k

Saturday morning treated us to a nice 93% humidity forecast to run the Diva Dash 5k. 

We had fun playing with the props prior to the race starting.  I wasn't sure how I would feel running this one since I haven't been running much more than once a week lately.  I've been focused more on lifting weights.  I was happy to feel relatively good for most of the race.  The humidity really was the biggest challenge.  I typically don't have sweat dripping in my eyes.  The course was flat with a few very small inclines.  Unlike the 5k I ran in July, the sun wasn't beating down.  There was zero shade on the course so the overcast day, despite the humidity, was great.  Instead of thoughts of death knocking on my door that I had last month, I was thinking thoughts of how grateful I was that the sun wasn't out, that my legs and body were functioning so well after not running consistently, and thinking how grateful I was that the course was so flat. As McKenzie later pointed out, when the first mile marker for mile marker 1 appeared, I think we all thought "are you kidding me, only mile 1?"  Those mile markers can be a pleasant surprise if the miles are flying by...or they can be a glaring reminder of how far you have left to go.  Saturday they were the glaring reminder.  There were spectators and cheerleaders all along the course.  I wanted to walk a few times but knew I'd have trouble getting going again if I did.  I mostly wanted to walk between mile 2 and the finish line.  I told myself if I had made it that far I could keep going.  Mile 2 to the finish line was pretty much a straight line...which was great except I knew that road so I knew just how far away the finish was. Closer to the finish line there was a kid with a sign with a Turbo button colored on it, holding it out for everyone to hit the "button."  I gave it a good tap and told the kid thanks, just what I needed.  When I rounded the corner to run to the finish line I gave it a little extra turbo boost, thanks to the button.  Then thought "is the finish line moving backwards every time I move forwards?  Why is it SO far away!?"  It took a good 45 seconds to run from that corner to the finish, I knew because I could see the clock.  I do minute interval sprints on the treadmill but I don't usually do them after already running 3 miles.  I was digging deep.  The fastest person in my age group finished around 21 minutes...I don't aspire to finish in that time.  Ever.  I only beat my July 5k time by about 8 seconds...which compared to what I have been doing earlier in the year isn't great but as with heat, humidity and I are not friends.  So given the humidity and the once a week runs I've done lately, I'm all good with that. 

Julie and I with our medals

Glenda, me, Julie and McKenzie 

It was definitely a fun run.  And any run that has high heels laying around to take pictures with is a winner in my book.  Now time to gear up for more miles in September.