Saturday, February 2, 2007 was the annual Super Run 10K, in San Diego, California. The photo to the right was taken the first mile in and the last picture below was taken just before I crossed the finish line. I was hopeful I would be able to PR the race. It did not happen. This was my third year doing this race and the good news?

I ran 1 hour, 4 minutes, 10 seconds. My fastest time on this course was 1 hour, 1 minute, 19 seconds in 2005, just before I got myself all pregnant. So, why is it that I am happy, although I was three minutes away from beating my best time? Why AM I so happy about not breaking 60 minutes like I wanted to do?

Last year, I ran 1 hour, 9 minutes, 12 seconds. That means this year I beat last year’s time by 5 minutes, 2 seconds. I ran roughly 50 seconds faster per mile than I did last year. After the carnage of being pregnant, having a baby, ETC. ETC. ETC., I am pleased that I was closer to my best time by five whole minutes. My pace went from 11:09 average minutes per mile to 10:20 average minutes per mile…and that is not bad for a 180 pound woman. That means I am super, ubber awesome in my own mind.

I feel comfortable, confident, secure in my abilities, and capable of determining my limits on a long run and/or a race.

I love the pictures from the race. I have not been happy with my running pictures in a while. Before the race, I spoke with Linda, whom I know from San Diego Track Club. The conversation went like this:

“You got skinny.”

My response? “Pardon me?”

“You look like you lost a lot of weight.”

I almost asked if I could kiss her, but I did not want to freak the poor woman out. She may not pass out such nice compliments again if I scare her, right?

It made my day. It made my weekend. It made my race.
 

I know it does not look like I am running very fast in these photos; I was really kicking butt though. I guess you just have to take my word for it!