I DID IT!

I finally got in the 8s for a race pace!  Today was our local Fourth of July race.  It was a hot one but at least it started early.  There was a great turn out.  This race was started by a young couple who moved to town and thought Bristol had a great Fourth of July but needed a road race.  It has grown every year. It is very casual and lots of adults and kids who don't race often do it.  I had one student running :) and one former student. Both ran with their parents.

This year the race was more special due to sad circumstances.  The wife of the couple died slightly less than a year ago of Hodgekins lymphoma at the age of 41.  She left behind her husband and 3 sons. The oldest will be an 8th grader and the youngest will be in third grade next year. (in my class)  I haven't taught either of the other boys but our school is small enough that I know them.  Many of Pam's relatives raced including her father.  The race was renamed the Pam Paradee Bristol 5K.  It was nice to see so many people turn out for it.  It's a well organized low key race.

The route was changed slightly from previous years. I ran with my IPod for the first time in a long time and I think it helped.  My first mile was 8:44. The second was 9:17. This was the one with the hill. I knew I couldn't fade if I was going to end up with a pace in the 8s.  My third mile was 8:54 with the last tenth being 8:27. I wasn't sure if I had done it until I checked my Garmin!  Yeah!  My overall pace was 8:58. I was soaked as it was humid!  I had to rush home and change to get back down for the parade. The Fourth of July is in a big thing in Bristol. I never get to see them but there are outhouse races in between the race and the parade. These were featured on the Today Show one year.  They take bets and the money must go to the Fourth of July festivities. I am not sure.

So home, clean up and I decided (along with my husband) to bike to town.  Traffic is crazy so this seemed to be the way to go. By the time we came home it was hot hot hot. I decided to continue the ride further which may not have been brilliant as I was wiped when I got home.

Back to the parade.  First when I went to the race at 7:00 I saw several people already sitting on the parade route waiting for the parade. Now it is a decent small town parade (the governor was in it)  but it isn't any Macy's Day Parade. You do not need to secure your seat at 7 in the morning. It starts at 10:30.  Yes it gets very crowded but really?   3 1/2 hours early?  Fortunately we have friends who live on the parade route so we don't need to worry.

A Few Parade Pics

Clowns

Many many many firetrucks

What would a Vermont parade be without tractors?

And even some floats!