Last night was the first race I have run in 7 months, and I will simply say that it was not one of my finer moments. There were several times during the race that I really just wanted to quit. I felt great through the first mile and a half.
My mile 1 split was 6:51 and then mile 2 was 7:18 and it pretty much went down hill after that. My first walk break was around 2.25 miles. I think I stopped and walked two more times after that. Then I told myself to buck up and finish the darn thing!
I was so bummed that I was on track for a PR through the first mile and half. My legs started to feel really heavy and the hills just kept coming and coming! My boys came to watch me finish and I finally realized that there would be no way they would not see me finish.
They had no idea that I had a crappy race. To them, I finished and finished hard and that was all that mattered. That was my take away from the race. I want them to learn from a young age that sometimes you feel like quitting and you just have to keep pushing through.
Even with the three walk breaks, I managed to squeak in at 24:53, which actually got me 2nd place in my new 35-39 age group! 
I am glad I was able to clear the mental hurdle of last night’s race. I can’t help but think maybe my low iron levels might have had something to do with my lack of desire to run over the last week and the heavy feeling in my legs.
I am very hopeful that after a month or so on the iron supplements, I will start to feel more pep in my step! So, I am giving myself an “A” for effort last night even though the time wasn’t what I was really hoping for!
Thanks for all of the well wishes for my Grandma Jane. She left the hospital last night and went to a long term care facility for a few weeks of rehab. I hope she gets sprung soon!
How was everyone’s July Fourth? Who else raced?
