[Amethyst]

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!

 

[diablita]

Nice job beating your goal and running most of a hilly race. Your strategy of walking up and running down was right on!

 

[Buxtehude]

Yup, you sure did!<br><br>
Dang side stitches.

 

[Amethyst]

Thanks everyone. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[equinox marathon 43]

This was your first race, right Amethyst?<br><br>
Congrats! You did awesome! Keep up the training!

 

[Alex]

I hope you love that feeling of awesome surprise of being way ahead of a predicted goal as much as I do. Way to go, especially with a bad side stitch, who knows how much faster you would have been under ideal conditions??<br><br>
Nice job! <img alt="thumbsup.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/thumbsup.gif"><br><br>
Alex

 

[merigayle]

way to go on your race!!!!!!!!!!! i hate side stitches, they SUCK!!!! When's your next race, veteran? <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[altoids]

Congratulations! <img alt="icon_cheers.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_cheers.gif">

 

[Grizzly]

What a great experience for your first race! Congratulations. You will learn to love hills, but you've already learned a lesson about them... if you can walk the hill faster than you can run it... then walk it!

 

[jebba]

Great job, Amethyst. You should be proud.

 

[torque]

Like the Grizz man said..hills can be your friend. I used to hate them, but I love them now.<br><br>
Good job with your race!

 

[Gingerbread]

Good job, Amethyst! Way to stick it out through the stitch. I hate those things.

 

[Amethyst]

I'm thinking of my next one in June, but it depends on the money and family situation.