10K yesterday morning, on a gorgeous, cool, sunny day. I woke up at 3:45 yesterday morning and could not go back to sleep, so I was exhausted before the race even started. But fortunately Michael agreed to come with me to cheer me on and he is the one who took this picture as the race started. I tried hard not to start too fast and I didn't feel like I did, but my first mile was done in 7:30 which is fast for me. The course was on a four-lane divided highway, with nothing to see but trees, and several long, rolling hills. I started dragging at the turnaround and actually walked for about forty seconds when I got water at the last stop. My legs felt like lead and my heart rate was high which is how I feel when I am extremely fatigued from lack of sleep. The course flattened out in the last mile and 2/10 so I was able to pick up the pace a bit and I finished in 51:01; I was hoping for 50 or below so all things considered, I'm happy with the time. I also finished fourth in my age group (missed 3rd by three seconds) and 20th out of 408 women.
The course was so boring that I think much of my challenge in this race was mental. My usual course has lots of diversions and is through town and neighborhoods; I'm also dodging cars, waiting for traffic, people watching, and looking at houses so those seem to create some diversions for me that make the run easier and more fun. The half-marathon course is similar to yesterday's course - out and back down a two-lane road with pine trees most of the way. It does cross two lakes, and there are a few small beach villages along the way, but for the most part it is pretty dull. Not much in the way of hills, though. And I'm going to make sure that the entire week leading up to it I get good sleep every night!
Michael and I had a blast together after the race; we parked at a shopping center with a Starbucks inside the Target, so we got coffee (smoothie for him) afterward and drove home with the windows and roof open and the music blasting. I took him for a haircut, then for a burger, then groceries, and then home where he immediately hopped on his skateboard.
Last night we went to a casual dinner party at C's house, because her husband's birthday was last week. We were supposed to have game night, but we all sat around the dinner table for so long that it got late and games never happened. I was fading by 11:00 o'clock and ready to go, but was trying to stick it out a little later for Lee, since the days of him staying later than me at parties are OVER. About 11:15 the dads were congregated on the back porch and getting loud, and C. went out there to smoke. That was my cue that it was time for us to go, and Lee, to his credit, came quietly.
It was just like the old days, except not. It was a bit uncomfortable sitting at the table with her and Lee. C was having cocktails and telling stories and being her old self, and knowing how Lee still feels about her makes it weird for me. I know I can choose to stay home next time; maybe we will. I guess I should give it some time to see if this is something that gets better each time we are together.
