Results aren't bad!

So, hoping for a 23:30-24:30??  Finish time:  22:46-- 7:16 ave pace.  2nd place in age group 30-39!! Feeling satisfied.

Knee wasn't bothering me during the run, but had some pain after.  Last mile was slower than my first, but the last mile was also all up hill and the first mile was mostly down hill.  Felt positive, legs felt good, mindset was good, course was pretty hilly (I should have expected that).  Ended up running it 45 seconds faster than my goal time for myself, but for some reason, feeling a little disappointed with the finish time. :(
That second mile time was pretty slow in comparison to the first and last, perhaps that's why.  Good day for a run--lots of fun.

But, behind the scenes of this great race--
Got to the race at 7:40am because I had missed packet pickup on Thursday.  Sat in the back seat of my Pilot so I could stretch, put on the race bib, eat, relax a bit, listen to some tunes.  Watched runners of all shapes and sizes approach the starting line area.  This is when I got nervous.  Had to find a porta-potty (several times).  While running a mile for warm up, saw lots of "fast looking" runners.  Got more nervous.  Decided not to run the race.  Did some stretching.  Knee was acting up again, feels like something is pulling on the inside of my knee cap.  Decided I should go home.  Went back to my car, sat for awhile, drove around the block because I swore I was going home.  Came back to the parking lot to see if more "fast runners" had shown up.  Got back out and ran/stretched a bit more.  Told myself I shouldn't run, I already had the cool t-shirt/goodie bag, I should just retreat.  Focused.  Sat in my car again.  Okay, everyone was lining up at the start, I just needed to get there and do it.  Walked to the start line.  No turning back now.  Decided to just run to see what would happen.  Gun went off and everyone was flying around me.  I was intimidated.  This race, put on by a Sorority group, mainly consisted of college age folk!!  Who was I kidding, I'm too old to be here!!  Whatever, I'm running now.

I've done races since I was 7, the nervousness never goes away--it's part of the excitement, adrenaline rush, the mind games that make your race great.  Just DO IT.