This was my first obstacle course race (and my first race running for my life from zombies-imagine that). The goal is to get through the 5K race with at least one "life" left. We started with three flags attached to a flag football belt. Zombies try to get those flags while you run the trail run. The course was out at Tanganyika, and the course was really fun. The obstacles were a bit lame, but sprinting past hoards of zombies was the main point anyway. My friend Heather and her husband Cody ran it with me. We were in the third heat and the zombies were pretty aggressive. Apparently later on they were told to tone it down a bit. All three of us lost all our flags (I lost my last one about half way through). However, we "cheated". You could purchase extra lives at the beginning of the race and I bought three extra flags. We waited until the last flag station and each of us got one more flag. There were only two more areas with zombies after that and I made it to the end with that one. Kinda lame I know, but cheaters always win!
2. Inspire Hope 8K (11/3/12)
This was my first 8K race (considering 2012 was the first year I've ever run, "firsts" were all over the place). 8 kilometers is 4.97 miles. It was 38 degrees outside that morning, my first race in the cold (first, first, first). I usually warm up within about a half mile, but damn waiting for the race to start was miserable! Especially since I was there by myself and didn't have anyone to hold a jacket/warmup pants so I just wore my race clothes. I felt really good the whole race and finished in 46:02 (9:16 pace), which for my slow ass is pretty speedy!
3. Turkey Trot 10-Miler or The Race of Doom (11/17/12)
Yes, this was my first 10-miler. I was really nervous about this race. Ten miles is damn near a half-marathon after all. I'd only run about two long runs since the Prairie Fire. Regardless, I was really rocking it. I think I was running about 9:30 pace or faster, on my way to a really good pace for such a long run. Then at about mile six or so my left hip started hurting (I should preface this by saying my hip had been hurting some about a week or two prior to the race, but nothing major-just a kind of ache in my inner thigh). Well, then at about mile 7 I felt a kind of "pop" and it REALLY started hurting. I tried to keep running, but just couldn't. I was so upset. I walked the final two miles in quite a lot of pain. Luckily my parents and boyfriend were there. When I didn't come across the finish line at about the time I was expected, my dad started walking. When I saw him I immediately started crying. I did make it across the finish line though and immediately couldn't put weight on my left leg. I couldn't even hop on one leg without severe pain. Stay tuned to find out how I became a cripple...(temporarily at least).
My walk of shame
