So Saturday morning I was ready to take on the Frigid 8 for the second time.  I was feeling good going into the race and I was hoping for a good day.  THe only goals I had for myself were to beat my time from last year and to maybe beat someone else and not come in last.  The morning was COLD!!  I don't remember exactly but I think we were in the single digits for the temp but I had put on several layers so I was ready.  Ron came with me as my "athletic supporter"   Picked up my number and my t-shirt and then it was the stand around and wait game.  The only good thing was that there was a lot of space inside and so we could stay warm.  Then they made the announcement to head to the start.  Heading to the start was the first time that I noticed the wind.  Oh boy not only was it going to be cold but then there was going to be a head wind to fight with.  A couple announcements and then we were off.

 

The first mile was feeling good and did it in 10:35 and I am thinking if I can hold some of that pace for a little longer that would be awesome.  At 1.5 the 3 mile runners were turning around and heading back and so this is were I finally got to see were I stood in things.  Kind of bummed that when I turned around I was the last one to keep going on for the 8.  But I could still see a couple women right in front of me and I had hope.  At mile 2 we were out in the open fields and the wind became a factor but you just keep pushing along because you know that eventually it will become a tailwind and it would be great.  One of the women in front of me twisted her ankle and so she slowed up and started running with me but then I feel behind her on one of the hills.  At about mile 3 I had a strange thing happen to me when one of the people who lived along the road came out to check her mail and started asking me questions and telling me how stupid it was that they would run the race on that road with the traffic.  OK lady I am taking on a hill and I have only seen about 4 cars, I am trying to run a race don't be yelling at me.  But I kept my mouth shut and just kept on going.  Then at about mile 4 we were able to turn and get the tail wind.  Oh was it great to not have to fight the wind anymore.  At mile 7 I took on the last hill as we crossed back over the highway and I knew that I was going to be able to push it to the end but I also knew I was the last one out on the course.

 

I finished last again this year with a time of 1:35:15.  It was great to have Ron there waiting for me and telling me I looked good coming across the finish line.  I did not make either of my goals since I finished last year in 1:33:52.  But I have come to the conclusion that I will continue to take on this race in years to come and I may always be last.  These races make me want to keep up on my running and pushing to beat myself.   

 

I think this I why I love the big races like the big marathons and half marathons.  In this race there were about 60 people and I become a back of the packer.  In the big races I become a mid-packer.  I guess it's all a matter of how you look at things.