This week’s free HMRRC Winter Race Series offered 4 mile, 10 mile and 20 mile options.

Since I ran 8 miles yesterday, I decided to run the 4 miler. (I was tempted to choose 10 miles since I ran 9.3 last Sunday but I decided to be on the cautious side.)

To me these are just training runs with lots of people and free food.

When I woke this morning, my ankle ached, my foot was sore and my knee felt weird. Most normal people would stay home and rest.

Nope.  Not me. It was most 40 degrees!  We may never have temps this warm until April.

So I wore compression socks and a band under my knee and off I went.

I left early enough to get a parking space in the nearest lot. And I did.

There were a lot more people this week at the races compared to last week.  Weather-related, I am sure.

I immediately bumped into Brigid, a fellow SRM.  I also saw Sue, who reminded me that I beat her yesterday.

Brigid & I chatted until it was time to head to the start.

The 4 milers and the 20 milers started together (though in between they ran a different course).  The 10 milers had a different starting line.

I knew that I should take it easy on this race.  I didn’t even attempt to keep up with Brigid on her speedy pace.

It was interesting when all of a sudden while I was slowly running my race, the 10 milers sped by me.   Then during the race, there were times that the 20 milers were speeding by me.

As I was running, I was reminded about how much I hate this course.  Besides being all concrete and parking lots, it seems that you are constantly going uphill but never enjoy a downhill.

I walked quite a few times during the course…more times as the race went on…even stopped for water.  Nothing really hurt, I was just worried about overdoing.

Approaching the campus, when they said 4 milers go left and 10 milers go straight, I was happy that I had chose the shorter race.

Well, it turns out that the race like last year was really a 7K or 4.34 miles.

I crossed the finish line at 44:24.  This was, of course, slower than yesterday but it was faster than I did last year on the same course.

Splits:

mile 1 – 9:56
mile 2 – 10:42
mile 3 – 10:30
mile 4 – 10:39
.4   –          8:51

I definitely enjoyed yesterday’s race and felt a lot better. But I got free food and company running.  I never regret a race.

The rest of my day will be grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning and maybe a movie before the Super Bowl.

Happy Running!  Are you watching the Super Bowl?  If so, who are you rooting for? (Me, I watch for the commercials & the half time show.)