It may have been my first race of 2017, but it wasn’t planned out. In fact, I still don’t have a race schedule planned out for the year. The only other race I know I’m running FOR SURE is the Erin Go Braugh 7.77k on March 11th because I never miss it. A lot of this is due to my up and down motivation for running in general, but that’s a whole other story.

Last weekend, “my boss” (she hates that word, but for the sake of my readers, that is who she is; she is also my friend), asked if I could help out at the Six Pack Series in Highlands Ranch and just time part of it. She suggested I run the race and then take over the timing while she announced awards. That sounded like a good deal to me! I then added on shadowing the course-set guy because in a couple of weeks I will be setting the same course.

My friend Jen and I

So after getting up early, walking the whole course, I ran the 5k! I had no goals, none whatsoever, just to run and feel the sun on my face, the burn in my legs and feel my heart pumping. BONUS, a friend of mine and fellow cross country coach, decided to come run! I had no idea (and she was just hoping I would be there). It was such a good surprise and nice feeling to have a good friend on the course. She is also coming back from a non-running stint due to other reasons.

When the whistle was blown, I took off at a nice comfortable pace. For the first mile, three of us ladies were sticking pretty close together, one to my right and one slightly behind me. The first place woman was way in front of us, so it was us three trying for 2nd and 3rd place. I’m not sure when the lady behind me fell back but at about a mile and a half we hit a hill and the other lady pulled ahead, leaving me in third.

I decided then that I wanted to hold that 3rd place spot and kept up my pace. I reached the turnaround, cheered on by fellow 3W Ambassador (a team of 50 runners that run and promoted 3W Races), and kept pushing, telling myself there’s only less than half of the race left.  My friend was running the 4 mile and I saw her after the turnaround (as she was about to turn). I yelled out to “come catch me”, hopefully giving her a boost of energy. I knew exactly where I was on the course, having set it, and kept counting down the half-miles in my head.

Finally, I rounded the last corner, finish line in site, and pushed it in for the finished! I maintained my 3rd place and felt pretty great! (My friend finished 1st overall in the 4 mile, almost catching me in the 5k).

For my lack of running and being on my feet that morning, I’m pretty proud! This race gave me a huge motivational boost in my running.

Six Pack Series Highlands Ranch (new series starting Fall 2017!)

3W Races – 1 mile to half marathon races all across the CO Front Range!