Get in Gear 10K...Another PR!

Here we are, race recap time again!! I actually survived three race weekends in a row!! This morning I ran the Get in Gear 10K in Minneapolis. This was my first time doing this race. Last September I ran in the Women Run the Cities 10 mile and it had some of the same running route. Friday evening I drove to Minneapolis to pick up my racing bib and t-shirt. I couldn't believe how packed it was!! My hubby and I went out for dinner:) Don't you worry....there was no wine for me last night! I learned my lesson the hard way:) I went to bed at 10PM and was up this morning at 5AM. I arrived in Minneapolis at about 7:15 AM because I wanted to find a good parking spot. I scored...I parked on Minnehaha Avenue and could see the Porta Pottys from my van:)

This is what it looked like outside! I was really struggling with what to wear for this race. I had a tank top on along with my water proof running jacket. I originally had my Nike shorts on but was feeling a little chilly so I covered up with running pants. I sat in my van for a bit just watching other runners park their cars and make their way to the park. I had my radio on and Bon Jovi's song, Living On A Prayer came on! I couldn't resist....I turned it up and loudly sang along attempting to get pumped up for today's race!

It was about 7:50 when I finally got enough nerve to venture out into the rain. See how excited I look...not so much. Getting out of my van I stepped into a huge puddle of water and basically drenched both of my shoes and socks! Yea, that sucked!! I was sloshing along and praying to God that I wouldn't end up with blisters.

Once I got into the Pavillion I was able to hit the indoor rest room. It is in there where I took off my running pants. They were soaking wet and I thought, screw it...I am wearing my shorts:) I took off my shoes and attempted to dry them out as best as I could. I then checked a few of my things and waited with tons of other people inside the Pavillion.

I am standing in line for one more bathroom break. It is still raining.

This was right before I headed to the start line. I met a nice woman who was running the half marathon and she was kind enough to take my picture:)

This picture was taken at the start line about 10 minutes before the official start. I was telling myself that this was going to be a great race despite the rain:)

As I was taking a few pictures Joe, another Minnesota blogger, asked me if I was Julie. I told him that yes I was and we were able to chat a little before the start. Joe is really nice guy. We both ran in the Golden Valley run a few weeks ago and will be running in the Minneapolis Medtronic 1 mile coming up in May. Once the race started it took some time to move up. The first mile was one of the hardest for me. I did not do a warm-up and my body was cold and wet. I really struggled with my ankles in the beginning...they felt tight and I felt like I pulled something. I was a little worried. It took at least one mile for the people to start to thin out...I always have issues with running so close to other runners. I need my personal space:) I did not look at Garmin until I hit the mile marker because there was a man calling out times. He yelled 8:15...I then remembered It was gun time. I looked at my Garmin and it read 7:32!! I needed to slow down a bit or I would have no energy for the end of the race.

This is the only picture of the race that I took due to the rain. I put my camera in my jacket and hoped that it wouldn't get wet. Miles two and three were okay, my ankles felt better and I was running on my toes again. I caught myself and tried to run by landing on my mid foot but it felt all wrong. I went back to my old form and figured, why fix it if it isn't broken? It was working so I went with it. The course was pretty and would of been better if it wasn't raining. I was already totally soaked. My shorts, jacket, tank and sport bra were wet and cold:( I almost took off my jacket and put it around my waist but I didn't want to waste needed energy. The course did have a few small hills and I found them doable. The 5k mark was our only water stop. I grabbed a water and walked to drink it. I also pulled out a vanilla GU and took one mouthful....note to self....don't purchase this flavor again. I threw it out with my water cup. This next mile, I am pretty darn sure I slowed down a little. At least I felt like I did. I did not look at my Garmin and didn't want to have it mess with my head so I just ran on how I felt. I wanted to focus on maintaining a steady pace and keeping my breathing regulated. At mile five there was another man calling out splits and he yelled, 42:16! I had one mile to go and I knew I could probably push myself to get a PR out of this 10k! I continued to run steady and kept my focus on the girl in front of me wearing the red shorts. She was in my view for the past two miles. I made the turn onto a bridge and I was feeling a little tired. Just keep your feet moving...don't you dare slow down....keep moving.....pick it up a little......suck it up, you can rest after your done! All of these random little thoughts started floating around and I wanted that damn finish line to be in my sight! After I crossed the bridge I turned left and I could see the people in front of me turning right. I knew that the finish line was up ahead. When I made that right turn I picked up the pace! I was running fast! I was running so fast that I was passing people:) I was sprinting and had the energy to kick up my heels! I saw the clock and it said 51 something!! I crossed the finish line taking a few steps and made my way to the left. I needed to grab the fence and balance myself. I caught my breath for a few seconds and said, "Oh crap, I forgot to stop my Garmin again!" I have not once remembered to stop that darn thing after a race!! I looked at my Garmin and it read 50:58! I wondered what my real finish time was! I took at least 1:30 off of my last 10K PR!

Okay, so I went home and checked the official race stats.....

Official time 50:31 @ 8:08 minute mile pace.

I finished 721 out of 3658 total runners.

I finished 170 out of 2040 females.

I finished 30 out of 441 women in my age group.

This was about a two minute Pr for me!! Now I am hungry for another one and want to get it to under 49 minutes:) For a cold and rainy day...it was a good day!

Kay had basketball games all day and I am so tired! I am going to bed:) Happy running, biking, swimming and lifting!! I will link everyone's giveaways tomorrow morning. Enjoy the rest of your weekends!

Rad Runner is hosting a Bradford Tonic giveaway!

Adam is hosting a $50 Road Runner gift card!

Angie is hosting a Whooha gear giveaway!

Erica is hosting a Banana Blossoms Press Card and running t-shirt giveaway!

Jenn is hosting a KALYX Sport Bra giveaway!

Molly is hosting a I Can't Believe It's Not Butter giveaway!