Bloomsday

Almost 20 years ago I made my friend Loretta do Bloomsday with me.  I did have to drag her along for part of it (and she hasn't let me forget it yet).  That was the last time I joined 50,000 people to walk or run 12k (7.5 miles). 

I signed up this year as motivation to start getting into shape.  I didn't train as much as I should have but I didn't give up either so that's good.  It helped that I roped many of my friends into joining me. 

The race was Sunday, May 6.  On Saturday morning I woke up with a very sore throat that developed into a cough through the day.  I was completly out of energy and very worried that I was going to HAVE to bag the race.  I worried about it a lot!  I really didn't want to let down my friends.

On Sunday morning I was feeling a little better.  I loaded my pocket with cough drops, and geared up for the walk.  I told myself that I wasn't running.  I wasn't going for a time.  I was simply going to do the race and know that I can complete it. 

I made the kids do it with me.  And at the last minute Aaron also signed up to walk with us.  I was pretty sure my youngest would pull me along and I'd have to be a cheerleader for the older one. 

Every racer has a bib with a number on it.  Embedded in the bib is a chip that is activated when you cross the starting line and certain points along the race, including the finishing line.  It gives you your personal race statistics.  This is new technology for me!  They didn't do this 20 years ago!!

The race started at 9:00.  The elite runners are able to head off at this time.  Then the next group is lead to the starting line and funneled through.  Then the next group, etc.  I signed us up for the next to last group (lilac).  The blue group was in front of us.  Blue group people expect to cross the finish line in 2.5 hours or more.  I expected 3 hours or more.  It took 45 minutes (and probably a mile of walking!) for our group to get to the starting line!! 

We started out at a reasonable pace.  We weren't passing people, but plenty of people we passing us.  I knew that we had a long way to go and I didn't want to blow all my energy right at the beginning.

The kids started to look for the big orange mile makers.  They were able to keep track of where we were.  The oldest started to complain about 5 miles in.  He twisted his ankle and was pretty tired of walking.  He powered through though.  The youngest only complained of having to go to the bathroom!  But by the time we waited in the line for the honey bucket, we could have finished the race, so I encouraged him to keep going.  About halfway through people started to slow down.  We were passing people!  We caught up to people who had started in the group before us. 

The clock at the finish line when we crossed said 3:10:57.   But remember that it took quite a bit of time to get to the starting line.  The chip in my bib said I made it 12K in 2:26:15. 

My overall place was 38,385 (out of 47,841 finishers)
And it took me 8 minutes to cruise up Doomsday hill!
I walked with a pace of 19:36 per mile. 

I  made it.  We all did.  And now I have a number to beat next year!
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