10 Miler

Today was the 10 mile race in White Bear Lake. And it was AWESOME!!!
I had hoped to run an 8:30 pace to PR after last year's 1:24 finish. I knew that an 8:30 pace would be a challenge, but if I was feeling strong and confident it would be "do-able." Well, it was more than do-able for me today. I'm not sure whose legs I had, but they were fast! Much faster than any I've done before. It was so cool to run fast, and be outside of your comfort zone, but also know that you were going to be ok.
I came in at 1:21:57. I put in 4 (Yep, 4!) sub 8 min miles. The first mile I clocked in 7:54, and I was almost certain it was going to be a long 9 miles. But then the next one was sub-8, and then it got a little hilly, so the next few were right around 8:10 or so. Then I walked an aid station at mile 6, took a gu, and put in a 8:40 mile. Then it was right back to solid 8's. Even when I was feeling like I was slowing, I just kept clocking them in. It was such a cool feeling. I don't know what the magic was - if it was the cool weather (although humid/damp), nutrition (magic bagel and peanut butter with coffee beforehand) or simply I knew that I had nothing to lose. I had no excuses. I wasn't over trained, under trained, or have another big race on the horizon I needed to save myself for. So I just ran. I tried to stay relaxed, and focused.
I thought of AnneMarie at mile 2 when I realized I forgot my jolly ranchers, and I could've used one.... I thought of my buddy, Ryan, who I always run well with, and we had ran this same race together the year before. And then I had a Gordon Lightfoot song running through my head on auto repeat... Go figure. Well, what ever it was, it worked, and I had fun day.
Then it was nice to relax for the remainder of the day, and not have an agenda. So many times I do these runs and races, and I have to hurry back to work that afternoon. Today it was nice to just enjoy some good company. ;)