A few months ago my running buddies and I decided we needed a race to train for. We thought it would be nice to find a Saturday race and was pretty close to home so we started our search. We soon found The Great Race of Agoura Hills. After some very brief research we discovered that Agoura Hills was about 3 1/2 hours south of here so we all payed our entry fee and signed up. About a month later I was beginning to wonder a bit more about the race. I got online and started to do a bit more research regarding the race. I quickly found out that the race was VERY hilly ( is that even a word???). I began to panic. I am not a huge fan of running hills. While running in Michigan (were there are a ton of hills) my hill running mantra was "I LOVE HILLS" to help me make it up the hills. Well, there are not very many hills to train on here but we had already signed up so we kept training.
I kept reading online about the race. I found discussions about the hills and began to worry even more!! On person posted that there was one hill he couldn't even get his car up. Knowing this...we still pressed forward. The day before the race we drove to Agoura Hills and Jer asked if I wanted to drive the course. I declined...I believe that ignorance is bliss!! I woke up the next morning, ran through my pre-race routine and headed off to the starting line. We started the race (after freezing for about 40 minutes) and soon after we started we came to our first of MANY hills. We ran hill after hill after hill. It was CraZy!!!! Em and I ran all of the way together and made it up all the hills to the finish.
We made it in 2:18. Normally I wouldn't be too proud of this time but with all of the hills we ran I was so happy with our time. It was a Great Race and I was so very grateful for 2 cortisone shots (one in each of my hips) to get me through! I honestly think that it was mentally as challenging as a marathon!! Speaking of marathons...our running group is signed up and waiting to see if we get into the St George Marathon in the Fall. Wish us luck....:-)
9 comments:
Talli
I am so jealous to hear about your running buddies!!! I only have one girl that I started running with and she can only run 2x a week. I wish I lived there, I would totally come and run with you girls. SO fun to see Emily there too. You guys live pretty close don't you? Take care and let me know about the St. George one. Is it too late to sign up???
OOH, I'm so jealous about St. George! Good luck. Although now that my race is only 7 weeks away I'm starting to get nervous. You're so dang cute in all of your pictures. Congrats on conquering the HILLS.
You go girl! Better you than me!
Sounds awesome! How fun that you have friends to run with and keep you motivated. I still think you are all crazy! But maybe I will have to get in the running mood when I have 70 LBS to lose!
That's awesome! Way to take on the challenge and do so well.
My friend is trying to convince me to do St. George as well. I don't know if I'm mentally strong enough to train by myself after we move though. Who knows...maybe we'll see each other there!
You runnin' gals seriously impress me! Not enough to join you, but I'd happily come and st on the sidelines and cheer! :)
my idea of a big race is a 5k, or better yet - 30 uninterrupted minutes on my treadmill! you guys are amazon women.
You are amazing! I need to get going on this whole running idea! Miss you guys!
Hey Talli! Did you get into St. George? I'm running it...first marathon ever for me! If you are going to be there we should meet up!
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