Turkey Trot - 2nd in my age group -

This morning was the 5k Annual Turkey Trot at a park near my house.  It is a cross country style race - I debated about doing the 5Mile course - but settled on the 5k - cross country isn't something that I do very well.  I am always nervous that I will trip or twist my ankle.  The 5k started at 10 and the 5mile started at 11.  There was an option to run both of them - I did see several individuals doing just that.

This morning the temp's were cool - but I knew that it would warm up nicely and be a wonderful day for a race.  Since I only live 2 miles from the start - I didn't get there until 1/2 hours before the start.  I ran into a co-worker walking to the registration area.  I also knew that two other women from the neighborhood were running and Kerri from Running for Life! HERE -  was signed up to run the 5mile race.  

It was around 43 when I pulled up - and it was almost 50 when we finished.  I wore shorts and a light long sleeve tech shirt and my gloves - which I took off almost immediately after the race started.  I talked to my co-worker a little before the race - dumped my jacket and hat on a picnic table and was ready to race.  There is no getting into a groove with this race - you almost immediately head up a pretty steep hill.  But once up the hill - the rest of the course is slightly downhill (what goes up - must come down) and gentler rolling inclines . . . but of course you have to tackle the hill a second time - but you go up the side - which is not quite as steep . . . but then it is your second time around - so it still seems as steep.  ;-)

I saw Kerri along the way - once at the beginning, once as I came around the first loop and again as I crossed the finish line.  I think that one of the tricks to running a course like this is to be at the front of the race as much as possible.  Since much of the course travels through woods on a path - it is very difficult to pass people.  On my first mile I was definitely slower than I had wanted - but was able to pass people when we got to openings.

I finished in 28:22 (by my watch) which was second place for my age group.
My splits were:
Lap 1 - 9:31
Lap 2 - 9:05 - WOW - that is fast for me - usually my fast miles are 9:15's.
Lap 3 - 9:25
leftover - .21

I chatted with Kerri at the end - and then headed to the trailer to check the times.  In my age group there was only the 1st place person listed  and her time was 25 something - so I had no idea that I had won 2nd.  I went back to grab my jacket and hat and then got another glass of water.  I listened to the awards and then they called my name.  Yahoo!  First time I have ever placed in the top three.

I looked for my neighbors - but must have missed them.  I then headed over to the start of the 5 mile race to tell Kerri - I had to share my award with Kerri !!!!  

I stayed and took a couple of pictures at the start of the 5 mile and then around mile 2 of Kerri -

Kerri - Arms in the air!!!

This young women always has a smile on her face.  ;-)    She caught me off guard - because she pulled her yellow shirt off - but I still managed a couple of picks somewhere around mile 2.    I didn't stay to see her finish - hoping that she had a great race.  It was a beautiful day!

Enjoy and have a great weekend.  !!!!