30.59 on the dot!

Race Day! I don't know if I could have had a better day for my first race back! No clouds, 60 deg, slight wind. Not bad at all...

I got up around 6:30 and ate breakfast (toast and pb) then made my way up to Ipswich for the 9am start. Prior to the start I saw three things that need to be noted: 1) a gorilla on a fourwheeler. 2) Dan, the HS ministry assistant and his wife were there to support their friends who were running. 3) Crazy running tights lady! There is one woman who I've seen at multiple races on the North Shore with these really brightly patterned running tights. She didn't fail me today, I spotted her right away!

There were a few inclines at the beginning, I started off slow...as a friend noted, there is a hill in Ipswich called Heartbreak Hill which we ran up today. It is nothing compared to what the marathoners encounter but it was slightly challenging.

Towards the end I started remembering the course from last year and picked up my pace. I ran the first mile at 10.23, mile two at 20.15 and i arrived at the finish line right at my goal time. 30.59. Oh yeah, and the gorilla? He was at the finish line to give each runner a hi-five. Nice!

I had two goals for today. 1) to finish without walking: done! 2) to finish in under 31 min: done! I feel good about getting the first race back under my belt....but I'm tired now, that's what happens when you get up at 6am on a Saturday. Time for a nap...