Hooray!!

My chip time at the 2008 Shamrock Marathon was 3:45:21.

I was the 508th runner, the 112th female, and the 23rd female age 20-24.

The following are some splits from the race's website (I haven't yet figured out how to get them off my watch, which I also forgot to stop at the end).

6 miles - 49:08 (8:12)
13.1 miles - 1:44:43 (8:00)
18 miles - 2:30:19 (8:23)
26.2 miles - 3:45:21 (8:36 - my overall pace)

While I did not reach my ultimate goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon, for which I would have needed under 3:40:00, I did have a blast. I also feel as though I gave it my all, pushing hard through 15-20 mph winds.

I learned a ton from this race, as I do from almost every run. I learned that Dave and my mom are the ultimate "race crew" and "support team". I learned not to trust the pacers (the man holding the 3:40:00 sign ran the second two miles almost a full minute faster than pace - bastard). I learned instead to run my own race, which is advice Dave gave me and to which I should have paid better attention. I learned that going out too hard will always come back to bite me. I learned that there are always low points, and they will always end. I learned that I need to do more squats and lunges. I learned that my love for running continues to grow with each run and each race.

This week will be easy, as my quads are sore sore sore. But I'm looking forward to the next race in three weeks!