Triumph at the Franklin Classic!!!

OK, So I won my age group at the Franklin Classic. I am quite surprised. Clearly it behooves me to arrive at a race early and do a three mile warm up run. I am just learning things about my personal athletic performance left and right on Labor Day Weekend. I ran it in 34 minutes and 53 seconds, at a 7:34 pace. Great right? and that is after running the 5 k at pretty near race pace. Now, of course, it did not occur to me that I could have won my age group at the Franklin Classic, so I was roaming about having breakfast and wheeling the baby home and not attending the awards ceremony.

WHAT COULD MY AWARD HAVE BEEN???

1. cash
2. great athletic apparel
3. a gift certificate to Endurance for more of my favorite shorts.

Will they let me claim my prize,if I was not at the awards ceremony? Will they? WILL THEY?

Ok, I just reviewed the website, and it looks like there are no prizes except for the top fundraisers. I am calling tomorrow. Will let you know.

In other news, the baby and I ran three miles in the jog stroller today, and I felt a little tight from my over-the-top athletic performance yesterday. I came home and got ready like a whirlwind for my first day of Bible study. We are studying the book of Romans, which is a first for me and I quite enjoyed it. I will keep you posted on my learnings.

I came home and worked for a bit and was able to get my Gilad and Yoga in before trading off the baby with Katelen and heading into work. Worked late and got home in time to sit down and watch Rachel Zoe. By the way, even if you don't like Ms. Zoe, the theme song to the show is just great!!! I am searching and downloading as we speak!!

Franklin Classic Twice!!!

So yes, this morning worked out. I stayed up late reading Home, Marilynne Robinson's latest book. It is amazing!!! BUT, when the alarm went off, I couldn't remember why. Why, oh, why had I set my alarm for 5:30 AM? I abhor getting up before 6:00 AM, and I was pretty irritated when the alarm went off, but then I remembered why. I was running the Franklin classic TWICE.

Oh, yes, sports fans, I nerded it out this morning and ran a 5k followed by a 10k for a total of 9.3 miles. In fact, now that I am telling you about it, I am wishing that I had run the kids race that followed the 10k, just so I could have had an even 10ish miles, but that is just the fastidious end of my athletic personality that likes to keep my mileage rounded up to the nearest mile.

I will be honest and tell you that I really enjoyed myself. The weather was perfect, and I actually arrived at the race earlier than I have ever arrived at any race in my entire life. It was an entirely new phenomenon to pick up my packet and then walk around sipping Powerade and idly chatting with other runners. Normally, I am the last one there, cursing under my breath as I do donuts in the various parking lots desperately searching for somewhere to leave my car, leaping from the car and arriving at the starting line frantically putting on my number, poking myself with pins, completely out of breath by the time the starters pistols sounds. I found it very pleasant to arrive early and sip Powerade with a modicum of leisure. I even got to use the port-a-john before the race. I plan to arrive at all races early from here on out.

I ran the 5k race at around 7ish minute miles, crossed the finish line, talked to a few running group and swim friends, and moseyed up to the start line for the 10k. The course was pretty flat with some long inclines and the finish is a triumphant run down Main Street to finish on the square. The 10k felt great, as I was all warmed up from the 5k. I think I ran slightly over 7 minute miles, (but will let you know all this info when official results are posted). It was a great morning, downtown Franklin was lots of fun and Ivan got his first balloon.

We followed up my run with breakfast at the Mercantile in downtown Franklin, which has food that I would describe as slightly upscale Cracker Barrel. It was a perfect morning!!!