The Sunshine Run Race Report and some biking

The Sunshine Run

R, Myself and C before the race and R's two cute

kids including her 1 year old in skinny jeans!

The Sunshine Run was great in spite of the reason for it's being.  Both of Sarah's Leary's parents spoke at the race. Her dad said he wasn't able to drive by this farm for a long time (it is where the accident occurred and Sarah died) but the race has transformed it into a place with many good memories as so many people turn out to honor Sarah.  Truthfully I don't know how her family does it but it is a wonderful tribute.  Last year (the first year) there were 200 racers. This year there were 300.  The proceeds sent a student to Spain who is now going off to college to major in languages.   There is a blog post written last year by Sarah's mother about the help everyone has given her.  There was a long segment on the local news tonight about the race. I cannot imagine the emotions the family must go through today and every day. I admire them tremendously.

T and I are good to go

It was great to have C and R from school racing.  R had to bring her two oh so cute daughters. We were there plenty early (Anal AJH) so there was plenty of time to see the goats

and even .........a baby goat!

 First R ran with her older daughter (almost 3) in the children's race.

Then she pushed both of them in the 5K UP and DOWN all those hills!  Wow!

I laughed when I met C as we were racing as she mouthed to me - "You are the 8th woman. There are only 7 ahead of you."  Yeah, those competitive juices will be coming out in that lady!  Both C and I won random prizes which I hope hooked her even more.

I got a flag that has flown over the Capitol 

that Senator Leahy donated to the race.

(Shh) I am going to give it to my husband for 

Father's Day. He will love it.

Last year the race started by running through a field.  You were instantly soaked plus worrying about sprained ankles so I was relieved when I heard we wouldn't be doing that this year.  When we approached the turn to the finish we kept going past and down and up another of the many hills. I could see where the people were turning around and it certainly looked longer than the field would have been.  As I headed up the hill I yelled to cql that we were going farther than last year.

With cql after the race

Sure enough as I approached the top of the hill before the turn to the finish my Garmin was already showing 3.1.  By the time I finished it said, 3.35, an extra 1/4 mile. I was glad I had the Garmin so I could know what I did run and how long it was. My pace was 9:13 rather than 9:03 like last year. I thought maybe with not having to run through the field I would be faster.  I felt good even with all the hills. One of these days I will have a race in the 8s again.  But I am not going to beat myself up and hate all my races nor am I going to accept that I have just slowed down. I will keep working on getting in the 8s and having fun regardless because I do love racing!  I don't think it will happen next week as the course goes straight up a hill I always avoid but who knows?  My son would say of course I won't do it if I am thinking that way so I am allowing a little hope/expectation that I will.  (I haven't told T but we will be running up that sucker tomorrow!) 

It was fun to cheer people in and to have a lot of friends there.

Here is cql motoring up the hill for a strong finish!

 R and C came a bit later.  Can you imagine it being your first race  and you are pushing two kids in a stroller up that hill?  My friends rock!

The t shirt - 

A key chain I got for registering early

Cards I bought - showing the statue of

Sarah on the lawn where the accident was.

The family who owns this farm must be 

really something to allow this

race each year and the statue on

their lawn.  (Up to the sky, down to the

ground and all around the world)

The Bike Ride

It was a gorgeous day so once back from the race I headed out on my bike.  I did my 15 mile loop that sends me up a mountain, no rolling hills here.  I didn't know if I was ready for this but went for it.  I tried to push it a bit thinking about that duathlon I say I am doing.(not registered yet)  It is a 15 mile bike ride. Well this ride took me forever,way longer than anyone in the results last year.  Yes, it was hard and I can't imagine the course is as bad but I had downhills today too.  I will have my mountain bike and not a particularly new mountain bike.  Am I crazy to do this?  I really don't mind being last but I don't want to be way last and have people waiting for me.  Then of course I will need to run too and the first mile is uphill.  Yikes.  I still have a month and I have plans for a 27ish mile ride next weekend.  I can get ready.  I can do it.  I can get ready. I can do it.  I couldn't resist taking a couple of pics.