I think I am giving up racing. I am continuously disappointed in my times that seem to get progressively slower. Today's 15K was no different- I ran 1:10, a whole minute slower than last year, which I think was a minute slower than the year before. Is it that a-g-e is creeping up on me? Why can I simply not get my legs to fire any faster? I absolutely ran out of gas at mile 7, so mile 8 was basically a cool down to the finish. Mile 9 to the .3 was straight up ugly. 7th out of 108 in my age group- not even close to a podium finish, which is very humbling. Tracy killed it, taking first in her age group of 113 chicks. She is a quick chick leading the pack. I love calling a friend an Award Winner.
The upside is my little chick ran a PR in the 5K of 35 minutes. I think she had something better in her, though she has been sick all week with a nasty virus and still trying to keep on top of all her activities of junior guards, riding horses, swim team and tons of time with friends. Today we all kind of hit the wall with the 4:30 am wake up call.
After the race was the traditional parade with Navy jets and old Coronado fire trucks, surfers, clowns and everything in between. The kids ran wild with friends and ate tons of junk food before heading into La Jolla for a BBQ and swim party with a different set of friends. What a perfectly beautiful day. Marc ran along the coast while we hung out by the pool. He ran all the way down to the pier in Mission and saw tons of parties and people along the busy, happy miles. Everyone and everything here is so alive. There is no shortage of things to do and people to see, places to explore and educational opportunities for the kids (science museum in Balboa Park yesterday was awesome). In a word: diversity. I need it like I need air.
Back to the in-laws for dinner outside with no bugs. Our second and final BBQ of the day, and I am grateful for seventy degrees and no flying friends. I love living outside all the day long....is there any other way to live? Tomorrow, Marc and I run hills. Yeehaw.
