I woke up to cool temps and RAIN.  It was just sunny and 80 degrees on Sunday!!

I parked my car at work as I usually do for this race since there will be so much traffic & confusion. I planned to jog a mile or so to meet up with my team for a group photo.

However, a friend from work who was walking the race was there and convinced me to ride with her friend who had a private parking space near the race.  Reluctantly I agreed because it was raining.

I left my camera behind because of the weather but I wore the same outfit as last year but added white compression socks & had a jacket.

After we parked underground, we  headed up the stairs to the museum and waited where it was dry for all 80 members of the team to arrive. It was raining but it seemed to be raining less. I chatted about half marathons with a professor that just ran one and another who will be racing her first next week.  Finally we took the group picture and I headed down to the start line.

 

What a crowd!  I just squeezed in and tried to get a signal on my Garmin.

The race began and the rain was just a drizzle.  YAY!!  I took off my jacket and tied it around my waist.  The rain never started up again until after the race.

I am very familiar with this course.  It  is my 8th time racing it.  It starts with an uphill and it is also very crowded.

I didn’t plan to PR it but as I glanced at my Garmin, I secretly wanted to run fast again. 

However,  my legs didn’t agree with my mind and they are tired from Sunday’s Half.  I even stopped for water and I wasn’t thirsty??

I saw my friend Mary who whizzed by me near the end…she had her fastest 5K ever and she is training for a marathon!! So proud of her!

Unfortunately, I ran out of steam and finished with my slowest 5K time in over a year…

Garmin Time: 29:39 (Official time: 29:53-gun, 29:47, chip)

Mile 1: 9:40 (uphill)
Mile 2: 9:51 (waterstop)
Mile 3: 9:18 (downhill)
         .1: 9:56

I hung around for awhile with some profs and then jogged a mile back to my car debating on whether to do my 10 miler today or tomorrow.  It started raining harder so I put it off until tomorrow.  Now the sun is out… Oh well.

I am glad that I did this race.  It is such an important cause!!!

Our team did great…those young speedy runners…and we raised almost $4000.  I raised over $700 myself. 

 Happy Running! Have a great weekend!