The Plaza 10K is one of my favorite area runs. It takes place on a great route and it's a very well organized event. Plus they have great shirts, great medals, and plenty of porta potties (this is a HUGE deal!).
This 10K fits in perfectly with the training plan Karen (on the left) and I are using to prepare to run the Waddell-Reed Kansas City 1/2 Marathon in October!
We ran this one last year, too, and wore the same PINK shirts! Thanks to our running pal Jacqui for the great design! Once again, we had several folks comment on them!
No run would be complete without the Porta Potty shot!! Here Karen and I were last year with two other running friends ......Sherri (second from left) and Mary (on the right!) Mary didn't do the run this year. . .and I didn't see Sherri until after the run. Sherri has a very entertaining blog entitled Adventures of a Middle Aged Drama Queen.
It was a cold start to the race last year as we were all sporting our long sleeves and longer pants.
Here's our official Porty Potty shot for this year!!
Carol (center), one of our new running friends, chose this race as her FIRST official 10K!! She did a FANTASTIC job!! It was so fun to be a part of that with her!!
This photo (taken by the race event staff) shows the runners listening to the National Anthem. We weren't in the corral at that point. When we did wind our way into our spot, we were located pretty close to "the back of the pack". I have found out that the really fun loving folks are located there! They aren't too jittery about the run. . .just enjoying the moment!
As we found our "spot" , we were so happy to locate Verna (on the right) and one of her long time running friends, Mary (far left) very near by. Those two are AMAZING runners and such inspirations. We run with Verna two times a week . . . she has taught us so much and keeps us very entertained!! She's definitely a great addition to our runs, and to life in general!
Soon we were off!!
And that's where my photos stopped, except for this one lonely picture that I took around the half-way point (I think).
Folks who know me are probably surprised that I didn't take more pictures. . .and honestly, I was, too! Usually, I'm snapping away.
There were photographers located along the course. I almost always HATE the action photos those folks get of me cuz I am not photogenic while I'm huffing and puffing, however, this one wasn't too bad considering we were pretty close to the end and I was feeling kinda tired!
And here I was about to cross the finish line!
The final stretch is a slight downhill. . .I felt like I was FLYING, but obviously (judging by the picture ) I wasn't. It looked like I walked across that finish. I know I didn't. . .it was just a pretty slow run by then! :)
This is one of the better actual "finish" pictures I've ever had taken. . .so I will share it. Usually I look like a "bag lady" by the time I've completed a run. . .and you will NEVER see those! :)
I was pretty happy by that point. I knew I felt better during the entire run than I did last year. Karen and I do anything over a 5K in run/walk intervals of 3 min. running and 1 min. walking. I recall last year that we tossed in a couple of extra walk times. I didn't have to do that this year, so that was an improvement for me. My time was a little better, too.
Everyone received a gorgeous and HUGE medal for finishing this event!!! We were very proud of our running accomplishments and proudly displayed our "bling"!
THE STONE RABBIT is definitely impressed with that awesome medal. . .he says it's so heavy that he has to work hard to not be pulled forward by its weight!!!
OK....he didn't say that....I just made that up!! He's a pretty strong bunny!
This weekend Karen and I are doing a half marathon that's new to our area! We were scheduled to run 12 miles on our training plan, so decided this new run would fit right in with our schedule!! We plan to take it easy, enjoying our additonal miles and the experience!
I hope you have a lot of fun activites lined up for your weekend, too! Please add a visit to Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, to your list!! She will have a long list of other bloggers who are ready with their weekly shares. . .I'm sure you will enjoy visiting them!!
Have a great weekend. . .and a very Happy Pink Saturday!
DANA
