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3.5 mile race. Absolutely gorgeous day, 50's sunny, great day for a race. I left early since I've never been to Malden, got there in 15 minutes, found a place to park, to pee, and then met the husband of the race director. He lent me his jacket since I was freezing, gave me some advice about the hills I'd encounter, and then pointed me in the right direction to pick up my number. My goal: to finish in 45 minutes.<br><br>
Number 70. It ended up with 400+ runners, and of course, I was in the back of the pack. It started out with a gentle hill. Not bad, lots of energy, lots of people passing me. But I expected that. I just didn't want to end up last. First mile times were called out....10:49....excuse me? I just ran a mile in 10:49?! My usual average is a 12 minute mile and I did that!!! I continued running up till mile 2 when we hit a really steep hill and my legs were not having any of it. So, I walked up it, then continued running. Walked when I needed to, ran when I could. I estimate I ran about 3/4 of it.<br>
The last half mile came up and I wasn't about to walk it, so I started running again, but the side stitch that slowed me down a hill was killing me. A woman caught up to me and I was determined that she wouldn't beat me, but this stitch was killing me. So we jogged together. I caught sight of the clock, and went for it. Forget the damned stitch, forget the pain, forget the woman, the end was in sight and I was going for it full force. A sprint got me in past the clock at 40:56.<br><br>
Yup, I just ran a 3 1/2 mile race in less than 41 minutes!
Number 70. It ended up with 400+ runners, and of course, I was in the back of the pack. It started out with a gentle hill. Not bad, lots of energy, lots of people passing me. But I expected that. I just didn't want to end up last. First mile times were called out....10:49....excuse me? I just ran a mile in 10:49?! My usual average is a 12 minute mile and I did that!!! I continued running up till mile 2 when we hit a really steep hill and my legs were not having any of it. So, I walked up it, then continued running. Walked when I needed to, ran when I could. I estimate I ran about 3/4 of it.<br>
The last half mile came up and I wasn't about to walk it, so I started running again, but the side stitch that slowed me down a hill was killing me. A woman caught up to me and I was determined that she wouldn't beat me, but this stitch was killing me. So we jogged together. I caught sight of the clock, and went for it. Forget the damned stitch, forget the pain, forget the woman, the end was in sight and I was going for it full force. A sprint got me in past the clock at 40:56.<br><br>
Yup, I just ran a 3 1/2 mile race in less than 41 minutes!