Eat Drink Run Woman

I ran this race last weekend as part of my back-to-back long run training for the upcoming Goofy Challenge. Held in Kirkland, Washington, it’s a relatively small race — a little over 900 participants for the 12K and 500 for the 5K.

My 18.5-mile run the day before left me wiped and beaten, so I questioned my decision to do the race. Not only would I have to get up early, I’d be racing solo (my darling was visiting his mom in Yakima). But I knew it would be good for me, so I bucked up.

The weather was absolutely perfect: slightly overcast but no rain. I read a couple of race reports from previous years and found it’s a rather hilly race (which really didn’t come as much surprise). Normally this wouldn’t bother me too much, but given the beating I had taken the day before, I would have preferred a flat course. But again, I bucked up.

Unlike the Jingle Bell Run the weekend before, the 12Ks of Christmas appeared to attract some pretty serious runners. I once again donned a Santa Hat, but questioned that decision after seeing the other runners heading toward the packet pickup (I was the only one with any type of costume). Fortunately once I got down to the registration area I did see several others in holiday attire.

Due to all the last-minute entries, the race started about 15 minutes late (I’m assuming people waited to see what the weather would bring). But finally we were off, only to encounter the first of many hills. sigh.

In true holiday spirit, I offer you my 12Ks of Christmas race report:

In the first K of the race
My body said to me:
“What the HELL were you thinking?”

In the second K of the race
My body said to me:
“Santa hat’s too hot” and
“What the HELL were you thinking?”

In the third K of the race
My body said to me:
“Jacket’s gotta go,”
“Santa hat’s too hot” and
“What the HELL were you thinking?”

In the fourth K of the race
My body said to me:
“UGH! This hill’s real steep,”
“Jacket’s gotta go,”
“Santa hat’s too hot” and
“What the HELL were you thinking?”

In the fifth K of the race
My body said to me:
“Can’t we just stop?”
“UGH! This hill’s real steep,”
“Jacket’s gotta go,”
“Santa hat’s too hot” and
“What the HELL were you thinking?”

In the sixth K of the race
My body said to me:
“You’re letting people pass,”
“Can’t we just stop?”
“UGH! This hill’s real steep,”
“Jacket’s gotta go,”
“Santa hat’s too hot” and
“What the HELL were you thinking?”

In the seventh K of the race
My body said to me:
“WHOA! THIS hill is freakin’ steep,”
“You’re letting people pass,”
“Can’t we just stop?”
“UGH! This hill’s real steep,”
“Jacket’s gotta go,”
“Santa hat’s too hot” and
“What the HELL were you thinking?”

In the eighth K of the race
My body said to me:
“The downhills aren’t much better,”
“WHOA! THIS hill is freakin’ steep,”
“You’re letting people pass,”
“Can’t we just stop?”
“UGH! This hill’s real steep,”
“Jacket’s gotta go,”
“Santa hat’s too hot” and
“What the HELL were you thinking?”

In the ninth K of the race
My body said to me:
“Hey! I’m feelin’ kinda good,”
“The downhills aren’t much better,”
“WHOA! THIS hill is freakin’ steep,”
“You’re letting people pass,”
“Can’t we just stop?”
“UGH! This hill’s real steep,”
“Jacket’s gotta go,”
“Santa hat’s too hot” and
“What the HELL were you thinking?”

In the tenth K of the race
My body said to me:
“I think I can, I think I can,”
“Hey! I’m feelin’ kinda good,”
“The downhills aren’t much better,”
“WHOA! THIS hill is freakin’ steep,”
“You’re letting people pass,”
“Can’t we just stop?”
“UGH! This hill’s real steep,”
“Jacket’s gotta go,”
“Santa hat’s too hot” and
“What the HELL were you thinking?”

In the eleventh K of the race
My body said to me:
“Now we’re passing others,”
“I think I can, I think I can,”
“Hey! I’m feelin’ kinda good,”
“The downhills aren’t much better,”
“WHOA! THIS hill is freakin’ steep,”
“You’re letting people pass,”
“Can’t we just stop?”
“UGH! This hill’s real steep,”
“Jacket’s gotta go,”
“Santa hat’s too hot” and
“What the HELL were you thinking?”

In the twelfth K of the race
My body said to me:
“We’re gonna finish STRONG”
“Now we’re passing others,”
“I think I can, I think I can,”
“Hey! I’m feelin’ kinda good,”
“The downhills aren’t much better,”
“WHOA! THIS hill is freakin’ steep,”
“You’re letting people pass,”
“Can’t we just stop?”
“UGH! This hill’s real steep,”
“Jacket’s gotta go,”
“Santa hat’s too hot” and
“Perhaps you’re not so crazy after all!”

I was thrilled with my finish time of 1:10:22 (about a 9:27/mile pace) given my long run the day before.