Race Report: Fox Valley Fall Final 20

So, I have a little secret to tell you. While everyone I know was feeling beat up suffering through their peak marathon training week, I was feeling GOOD. My legs were happy. I was running happy. I had one day last week where I didn't want to get out there, but since Sarah showed up at my house dressed and ready to go, I didn't have a choice but to get it done, and I felt GOOD.

I didn't want to say anything, because I didn't want to jinx it before Sunday. But my week shook out like this:

Monday: 10 miles with Julie @ 9:47
Tuesday: 5.03 miles with Kim after strength class @ 9:59
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 6.2 miles with Sarah @ 10:30
Friday: 10.01 miles with Riyanti and Laurie @ 9:45
Saturday: Rest (well, no running - crazy full day of family stuff!)
Sunday: 20.21 miles with Michelle @ 10:50 (20 in 3:39:18 officially for 10:58 pace)

Total for the week was 51.45 miles. PDR!

My sister had gotten my race packet for me, because Saturday was insanity at the Welch house. So I got up at 3:15 (disgusting) and Jenna got up at 3:45 to go with me and we were out the door at 4:08. We made it to Michelle's with no issues, I got my bib and chip on, and we were at the start line at 6, courtesy of my amazing Dad, spectator, photographer and kid-driver-arounder extraordinaire.

in Michelle's kitchen, ready to go!

It was COLD! You all know me - this made me HAPPY! We met up with Charlyn and Kelly who were running the full (Kelly's FIRST full!), Lindy who was running the half, and Kim (who'd run 50k the day before!!!!) and Britt who were spectating for us. I also got to meet and see some of my sister's friends (she lives there so she got to train with their local group) and I ran into a running club friend at the pottie line. This race was such a great size - I believe it's capped at 3000 participants, so it isn't big enough to be ridiculously crowded, but it isn't small enough to be lonely.

Soon, we were off. And the rest is kind of a blur. We saw our people so much! The course was gorgeous! The volunteers were outstanding! And the miles ticked off uneventfully. Like, at mile 8 I was all, "holy shit we're already at 8!" We chatted, and ran, and Michelle serenaded me with her music. We hollered and yelled when we saw our friends. We ran with our kids for a minute on the path. Michelle distracted me by pointing out things on the course and letting me know where we were all the time.

I just flat out enjoyed the hell out of this run! So, instead of me blathering, PICTURES!

so cool to have our oldest daughters cross with us!

DONE!

* I never felt hot - the course was mostly shaded and it was cool enough at the start that even when it warmed up, I never felt overheated. What a welcome change!
* My stomach was mostly nice to me. I cramped up a little at the end, but that was because Michelle was trying to kill me with the pace. She ROCKED this run.
* I have run 20 milers faster, but not much, and those were training runs where you stop the watch to use the bathroom or stretch or refill water. This was a SOLID run.

After finishing, we watched Kelly become a marathoner, I got to meet Queenie (who is awesome!!) and we watched my sister's training partner Kyla become a marathoner. My dad laughed at me, because I kept crying. I don't cry when I cross the line, but random strangers? Bring on the tears. The finish line announcer reminded me of the ironman guy. He'd announce everyone's names and was yelling "you are a MARATHONER!" over and over. Bet he can't speak today!

I will be back to this one. Maybe the half. But it's a great race, very well organized, and if you repeat, you get DOUBLE BLING. Pretty cool. I want double bling!

I'm feeling good today. Probably because I crashed hard core last night. Can you say TIRED? But I'm ready for Chicago!