Another Girls' trip to somewhere in Smalltown, America! This time it was to Cotter, Arkansas for the White River Marathon. It was our first real race since the world shut down for Covid and I really needed some fun in my life! This time we dragged New-Britt along for the ride. She joined our running team and she's speedy and fun. Fits right in.
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| Made it to Arkansas with the Britts & Claire! |
This was a pretty small race with a fast course and we all had big goals! AND, we convinced Claire to run with us too! She signed up for the half marathon!
Racing looks a little different in 2020. Masks and social distancing are all par for the course. They took our temperature as we went into the pre-race area. Luckily we all passed.
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| Racing 2020-style. |
The race promised a flat course and it delivered! Unfortunately, I was never really able to find my groove and race like I had trained to. Britt & I started off running together, but around mile 7 she dropped back with hamstring issues. The course was an out-and-back, twice. It was really fun and energizing to see New-Britt coming back as I was going out. She is kind of a speed monster and full of energy... like in a good way.
The weather wasn't hot, and the course was as flat as you can get, but for some reason, I just couldn't get and stay on pace during the second loop. I tried positive self-talk and clinging to every cheer or song from the tiny crowd, but it just wasn't happening. I reached the aid station at mile 22 and they had run out of paper cups so I had to have a teenager pour water down my throat from a pitcher... germ-free of course! :)
I kept at it and never completely gave up, but man I wanted to. I had trained so hard for this and was hoping to run somewhere in the 3:20's, just to prove to myself that I still had it in me. In the end, I didn't. I finished just under 3:35, snagging my first BQ in years!
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| So ready to be done! |
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| The crew. New Britt ran a 3:14! I told you she was fast! |
We walked back to our car and drove back to our Air B&B, which was so damn cute... maybe the only cute thing in all of this crap-town. We cleaned up and spent the rest of the day drinking on our back porch. Our Air B&B owner's daughter drove and picked up Thai food for us that night because we were unable to drive. It was a really lovely time.
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| Working on our Beer-a-mid ♥ |
So, it wasn't the race I was hoping for. But it was the race weekend I needed.
