Freeze Your Fanny = PR!!

Yesterday I ran in a little 5K run called "Freeze your Fanny".  This was a run I signed up for to help keep me motivated in the month of January. 

I was ready to get to the run since I'm feeling more and more confident with my running as the days go by.  A year ago my thoughts would have been..."will I be able to finish the run without stopping?".  Now my thoughts are...."What will my goal be and how will I push myself as a runner today?".

My husband came with me to this race, but he decided to take a little nap until it was time for me to cross the finish line.  He was up the night before, working.  So I couldn't get annoyed or upset with him.  I was just glad that he came with me. I left the hubby in the car and headed off to check-in.

I was excited to see my new T-shirt (see above). I'm definitely getting a collection of shirts from all these races and my drawer is over-flowing, but I see the shirts as rewards and mementos of my hard work :) 

Right before the race started, my friend Laura G arrived.  I was happy to see her.  I will take every little bit of support that I can get!!  I told Laura that my goal time was 36 minutes, so she could keep an eye out for me.

When the race started, I took off with a fairly quick pace.  My Garmin was telling me "Ahead of Pace" and I made the decision to go for it!  I was only running 3.2 miles, so I didn't really have to save energy or anything.  My new goal was to run my little heard out.  Run Denise Run!!!  If my Garmin said "On Pace"....pick it up Denise!!  You can rest when you are done!

At the end of mile 1, my Garmin beeped at me.  I looked down and guess what???  My first mile was finished in 10:16.  Do you know how fast that is for me???  I was so happy :)

At the end of mile 2, my Garmin beeped at me again.  I looked down and it told me that my second mile was completed in 11:02.  I had slowed down a bit, but I was still booking it!!

I only had 1.2 miles left to go....cake!!!  I set my sights on this woman in front of me.  "Kick it into gear Denise...you can pass her!!"  So that is what I did....I caught her and I passed her....awesome!

I was nearing the finish line and I could see the cones.  The adrenaline was pumping.  I was so happy with this race.  I could see Laura and her husband Bill.  They were cheering me on :)

I finished....with a personal record for myself!  Laura said to me..."You are early!"  Love it!

This is what I saw on my watch at the end of the race:

AMAZING!!!

In the words of my friend Kerri....."My fanny was on FIRE!"

I found the official race results today.  My time was 33:37.  I was the 95th person to cross the finish line out of 141 people.  I was also 9th out of 13 in my age group.

When I look back, 10 months ago I started this "running thing" with a 5K time of 41:38.  I have shaved off 8 minutes.  So happy!!