Eye of the Dragon 10K

Ok so, a little background on why I haven't blogged, something has been wrong, my legs have been hurting from the knees down and I have been literally exhausted for 2 weeks, so I hadn't been training. My only goal for this race as it was very hilly was to finish it.

Sueann and I got to the race site early, it was a long drive to Melbourne. It was still dark but the humidity was already present. We decided to walk over and check out the causeway, it was big!!! When we were headed back we must have run in front of Jeanine because she called and asked if it was us she just saw. We let her know it was us and we met her over in the parking lot where we officially met for the first time (she is on the running boards with us.) She has such a happy, upbeat personality and we all got along great right off the bat. We went up so we could pick up our race packets and we chit chatted and waited on Nancy, Sueann's friend from work to get there. We got some pics then headed down to line up, where we found out the race had literally doubled in size from last year's group. I was a little shocked it wasn't chip timed, so thank God for the Garmin! When we started off I was dodging through people in my normal fashion and feeling OK, despite the tightness in my legs. I was in front of the 4 of us but Jeanine quickly caught up and passed. I kept my pace as 1/2 mile in my ankles were burning, I do know now I shouldn't wear the Saucony's for any more runs, they have been officially retired from running. I will say by 2 miles I had to take a walk break, I was hurting really bad. I ran off and on from that point. The first 5K was hilly, but smaller hills, but they got to you. The humidity was getting higher as the heat increased and I kept getting the feeling I was going to pass out, those little tingly feelings, so every time I did, I would walk, then it would pass and I would run. I got to the causeway at this point knowing it would be close if I could run the rest to beat my PR, but I didn't have it in me. I walk/ran up the causeway, waved hi to Jeanine as she cheered me on, and then ran down the causeway, then walked/ran the way out and back up, then ran it down and saw Jeanine walking to the base of the causeway (she finished in the same time frame as my last 10K,) she ran it back in with me, I did manage to dig deep and sprint the end. I came across the finish at 1:12:02 (6 minutes behind my last 10K) I got my water and we headed back for Sueann, jogged back in with her from the base of the causeway, she got her water and we headed back to the base of the causeway to find Nancy, we jogged in with her. We stretched a little bit and watched the paramedics looking over a woman. We watched the end of the kid's race, then headed in for carbs! We stayed for part of the awards, then headed out. They gave out dragons as trophies. We stopped at Running Zone on the way home and got some running skirts for 50% off. We had only left 10 minutes from the race site when it started pouring rain. I realized then why the humidity had gotten so bad! I really enjoyed meeting some fellow runners!

I will say after running with Jeanine and Nancy, Sueann and I are planning 2 more races in their area! I'm hoping my other virtual running buddy Kallie will be able to make one of them! Every runner I have met so far through the boards has been awesome!!!

I also saw pictures at Running Zone of the Space Coast runs (13.1 and 26.2) and they look like sooo much fun I can't wait!!!! I will have a great group there to share it with also!!!