Polar Dash 5k Review and Hello 2010!

I got up this morning at 7:30 am and got ready for my first race of 2010! Yea baby!! This morning I ran in the Team Ortho Polar Dash 5k!! I was in a great mood and ready to go...despite the cold...it was 2 degrees. My husband was very generous and agreed to drop me off so that I wouldn't have to worry about parking and walking in this freezing tundra of a flipping morning. My daughter Kay did not run with me...she told me that she has a life and can't run in every race that I want company in:) Whatever....she had a party to go to with all of her girl friends...New Years eve sleep-over:) So I ran with my lonesome but had a great time anyway.
I arrived and check in went super fast, they were very organized and handled things in a timely fashion. I picked up my running bib and my Polar Dash hat and mittens:) Waiting in line I was able to meet another Minneapolis runner. Lois told me that her first half marathon was last year in Maple Grove.....she said it was a terrible day to run with the cold weather and wind....and oh my goodness the hills! Maple Grove does have alot of hills and I complain about them all the time. So maybe all of the hills in Maple Grove will help me when I am running in a super flat and fast half marathon this year:)

One thing that I thought was very cool was the fact that they had pacing groups for the 10k....I usually don't see that in the shorter races. I looked for the eight minute mile pace and moved up a little bit with the direction of Tim. Tim was the pacer for the 52 minute 10k.....he told me that I would want to move up because they would start out slower and there were over 2000 runners present. It had been some time since I had my 23:10 PR and I knew that today was in no way going to be a PR day. I did feel good and pretty energetic so I had every intention of just running a really good race.

The horn went off and it took about 30 seconds for me to move up to the start line....and I was off! I felt great and my feet were a little cold but I was to busy just taking in the sun and the good energy of the runners next to me. It seemed like only a few minutes before the turn around appeared. I thought, Wow, half way already! The coolest part was after the turn around I was able to see all of the other runners who were still behind me. I heard Tim (the 8:00 10k pacer) yell, "Go Julie"! I waved and gave him the thumbs up. I just kept moving at a steady pace and before I knew it the finish line was in sight. The crowd was cheering and I was smiling:) I looked down at my Garmin 24:03! Not a PR but I was still happy, after the last few crappy 5ks I will gladly take it.

I received my medal and had my picture taken with a friendly polar penguin...he asked me how it felt to be one of the first females to come in? I was like...what? He said, "Seriously, there have only been a few girls to come across so far". That was a huge ego booster for me:)

My first race of 2010 was a good one! I was a little sad that I wasn't able to see my blogger buddy Beth who also ran today. Beth was a rock star and ran in the 10k! I can't wait to hear what she thought about the race:)

The year 2009 was a good year for a first year of real running. (Does that sound right?) I never in a million years would of thought that I would of ran in 13 5ks, one 10k and a ten mile! Thank you to my friend Pam for introducing me to running. I love what it has done for me and look forward to my running future in 2010.

MY LIST OF THINGS TO STRIVE FOR IN 2010

To be a better person, friend, mother and wife

To have more patience

To set good examples

To be a role model

To try not to swear as much...(nothing to terrible just a few Sh-- s)

Eat more fruits and veggies

Lay off the caffeine

Continue to take my vitamins and calcium.....and essential oils

Try more different foods

Purchase more organic foods

Try a few of my blogger buddy's recipes

Join a running group

Take at least one class per semester....(Yes, I am a Gopher and go to the University of Minnesota)

Sign up for photography classes at National Camera Exchange

Start running longer distances

Log at least 1000 miles in 2010

Smile into the camera when I am crossing the finish line so that I don't look like a total dork in pictures

To continue my never stop running philosophy during a race

Actually meet some of my blogger friends

Make more bloggie friends

Start to do strength training

Stay healthy and injury free

I will run in four to five half marathons.....with at least one race at 1:50: to 2:00 and live

Finally get rid of the cellulite that is camping on my ass

Cheers! Happy New Year!!