Race #14

“Flat and fast” have become key words for me when reading race descriptions. I know that I started this craziness with the declaration “time doesn’t matter.” Well, I’m excited to say that I am just seconds away from running 10 minute miles. My official time was 31:10 or 10:02 per mile. So close and yet so far!!! And to make this even better I was second of fourteen in my division!! This is truly the best finish yet!

I came prepared to run with my fancy-dancy new running tights but the temperature was nearly 50 degrees so opted for shorts. When the race organizer yelled “GO” to start the race, I took off at a nice pace but not crazy. I hit the one mile mark at 9:57 but hit the mile 2 marker at 21:07. I got bummed at that point and almost decided to give up the 31:00 quest however I picked up the pace instead. About this time one of the two long-legged girls I’d chased in the first mile and passed in the second mile, passed me. I knew I had to pass her again so really pushed it to get past her. I finally did and as I ran passed told her that she shouldn’t let some slow 48 year-old woman beat her! My foot literally hit the 3 mile marker at 30:00! I was so excited and the finish line was in sight so I really tried to give it everything I had but came up 10 seconds short. Oh well, another PR so I’m going to enjoy it and use it to motivate me to run another fast one in Texas.

I got into Phoenix Saturday while the entire east coast, including Florida, was in the midst of a terrible cold snap. I took advantage of the seventy degree temps and did a three mile trail walk at one of the parks that rim the Phoenix valley just to get my legs moving after the cross country flight. For those who have not been to Phoenix it is in a rather large, very flat, treeless valley with mountains surrounding it. The city, and all the various bedroom communities/cities, (Glendale, Mesa, Tempe, etc.) are laid out in an almost perfect grid of east/west and north/south streets. Easy to get around it but definitely left a bit to be desired from an aesthetic standpoint. Lots of strip malls.

After the race on Sunday I took a quick nap then headed to a Native American Arts Festival. The warm temperature and clear blue sky made it a perfect day for wandering through the artist booths and watching the performers. I did find a sculpture by a stone and bronze sculptor, Upton Ethelbah www.greyshoes.com that I so desperately wanted. The price was high but he was willing to negotiate. I walked away and hoped for a sign as to whether or not I should go back and try to find an agreeable price. As I was walking through the other displays there was a lot of turquoise jewelry and all that kept running through my head was a line from a John Prine song – “we’ll be wearing turquoise jewelry and standing in soup lines!” There was my sign, economic times just aren’t quite right to be spending big money on art. However, after I looked more closely at his brochure I saw that his studio is in Albuquerque, NM the site of one of my upcoming races!! Hmmmmm……….

Back in Florida and got to take a walk on the beach yesterday. Is 48 too old to still have a crush on a Lido Beach lifeguard? Just wondering as he’s gorgeous – electric blue eyes and wavy grey hair.