When I started running, 6.5 years ago, I would have NEVER entertained the idea of doing a race in January!! Oh no...it's too cold!! Well...yes, it is cold in January, but this particular race is one I've now done 3 years in a row and I so enjoy it!!
One of the things I love about local races is seeing some of my running buddies!!! Here I am with Mary! She's been running for several years and is amazing!! We did a little warm up, slow run together before the race and. . .
then found our spot in the corral to wait for our "wave" of the run to start. The first part of the course is on a north lane of a busy street , so they have to be careful about how many runners/walkers head out at any one time. We were at the back of the pack so we had to wait a few minutes for our turn to hit the streets.
Last year and the year before were realllllly cold, but this year we lucked out and it was in the low to mid-30s. In fact, I had already tied my jacket around my waist before the race started.
The course is about 2/3 of the way through a lovely, older subdivision where many of the homes are being rehabbed, so if you want to pass the time by looking at all of that while you run, then here's the spot for such a thing! However, the course for the last couple of miles, also has lots of rolling hills....none that were steep, but just several of them. Since I was concentrating on the race, I didn't look at too many of the homes. However, I was focused enough to catch the photographer in time to try to look like "running is fun"!! :)
The Battle of the Bean is one of the first races after the holidays. I for one, have never had a great finish time there because I've usually not been running as much prior to the run and because of the hills (good excuses, right ? :) However, I can't be too unhappy about my finish times over the last three years....they've been pretty much consistent. This year I was actually a minute faster than last year with my official time at 32:57. Not fast....but not bad for an elderly person! :)
Here is a post race photo with a great new friend I've made through running. She's many years younger and many minutes faster. . .but we both ended up with first place plaques for our age divisions. Pretty neat!
THE STONE RABBIT really liked the mug they gave us !! The race is sponsored by FOOS FROZEN CUSTARD....and each year they've had a great mug or cup for us to have for participating in the race!!
Well, I'm going to go fix a cup of hot tea in my new mug, then head over to Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND to read the posts of many of the other bloggers who are ready with their Pink Saturday shares!!
DANA
