It's Not Always About the PR

If I would've written this post immediately after the race it would've been a rather negative post, about how disappointed I was, how I was NEVER going to run the Pear Blossom again, how much I hate this race etc.  But I have since had a change of heart and perspective.

What the Pear Blossom Race means to me:

1) Sentimental: This is the race I used to cheer for my dad for years, and years, and years; and one day decided I was going to run it with him.  I have now been doing races with my dad for 5 years and I cherish everyone of them, and look forward to many more.

2) A Family Tradition: A couple years ago, my cousins came down for the Pear Blossom {that year it was the same weekend as Easter}to cheer & "cowbell" with my mom.  It has been a tradition ever since for them to come down, and this year, more family came down and RAN the 5K.  

3) Celebrating others' accomplishments: For many people, the PEAR is their first run. The first time they take on the challenge of running a 5K or 10 miles. They overcome their fears and doubts, and celebrate a huge accomplishment. For many, the feeling of victory when they cross the finish line opens the door to even bigger possibilities; those who run the 5K decide to sign up for the 10 mile the following year, those who run the 10 mile decide to sign-up for a half marathon.  The finish line is bursting at the seems with an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and excitement. Nothing quite compares to cheering people on to a personal victory. 

3) A major mental block: For whatever reason, this course, which I have not only raced several times, but run parts of quite frequently, is a HUGE mental barrier for me. 

Daughters who run together!

The twins

Coming into the finish

A fight for the finish...I told Whitney she better win {and she did, by a second}! 

I was one proud sister, my brother ran his first 5K

A huge part of the Pear Blossom race is the Mayor's One Mile and Two Mile events...These events are a fundraiser through the schools, and the school that has the most participants sign up receives a scholarship. I love watching the kids run their little hearts out for a mile.  If you want to see determination, smiles radiating with joy, and  a genuine feeling of accomplishment, watch a kids' race. 

His reaction says it all...

It's a FAMILY tradition

My dad's running friends..this is a great community event

I decided to run the race by myself and not meet up with any friends, etc. My race plan was to break it up into 3-5Ks...the first 5K was going to be a comfortable pace, I would push the middle 5-K {which has one hill, which you go up and over twice, once into the turn around, and then coming out of the turnaround}, and then really kick it in the last 5K and into the finish.  

I felt good the first few miles, picked it up at mile 3, felt strong going over the hill the first time, but things didn't go so well after that.  I went over the hill the second time, and was TIRED {why?? I train on hills all the time!?}...normally when I am running down hill, I catch my breathe and my legs have a chance to recuperate, not this time. My legs felt heavy and weak. I kept telling myself to relax and regroup, because once I turned the corner at mile 6, it was game on. Well I turned the corner, and rethought my plan...now I was going to make it mile 7, and then kick it in. Mile 7 came, and I was going to make it mile 8, and kick it in. You see the pattern here. For the last three miles my only focus was to keep running and maintain my pace.

I was relived approach the corner to the finish line and hear people cheering & shouting my name

While it wasn't a course PR, it was a PR from the last three years...I will celebrate that victory. I will celebrate a fabulous weekend with family.  I will celebrate people running their first race, people knowing what it feels like to accomplish something that they thought was impossible, people becoming aware that they are capable of far more than they realize, a community coming together to support one another, and crossing the finish line after another 10 miles with friends and my dad {there is victory in every finish}

Celebrating in style

Sometimes it's more than a PR...

Sisterhood of The Traveling Skirt

For those of you who know me, you know I have a new favorite running accessory, a Team-Sparkle skirt! When I was perusing their site, I noticed that they have a traveling team-sparkle skirt {the skirt is sent to women all over the country to race in!}so I quickly contacted the girls of Team-Sparkle and let them know my race schedule.  The skirt was available on April 14th, and I couldn't of been more excited to wear it for a local race, the Pear Blossom.  

The Pear Blossom truly is a community wide event {with a 1 mile fun run, 5k, 10 mile & a parade}and is a race that I look forward to every year.  I ran it for the first time in 2006, and have participated every year since.  I love how everyone comes out to support, encourage and cheer on one another one.

Nicki: Such an inspiration to me! And we meet before the race every year :)

It's a tradition for us to take a picture together every year!

My dad: The reason I started running

"The Group"

I went into this race feeling confident, and was aiming for a PR, which would mean beating my time from 2 years ago {which I was really proud of!!!}

Megan & I: 1:29:35 in 2010

Heidi, Lindsey and I all smiles and excited for the race!

I started off the race with Heidi & Lindsey, and told them my goal was to negative split, so we were going to   go out at about a 9:15/9:30 pace and eventually be right under a 9:00 min pace. We were holding that pace and I felt great!! At the 5 mile turn around, I was definitely feeling tired, so I took some sport beans, drank some water, and hoped that once I went back up and over the only hill in the race I would feel good again.  Well that never happened! At this point, I was going to keep the same pace, and wait to kick it in until about mile 7, but I completely hit a wall...legs were tired and I had nothing left! I continued to push, and remembered that I was wearing the travel team-sparkle skirt and didn't want to disappoint.  While I do believe sparkle = speed :), on April 14th sparkle = stamina {power to endure fatigue}

To say I was disappointed would be an understatement {I was fighting back the tears}, but I never gave up and another Pear Blossom is in the books! I can sit here and list several excuses {I ran 35 miles the week before, had an extremely busy/stressful week, etc} but bottom line is that not every race is going to be a PR and some days just aren't made out for it.

Love his expressions!!!

Dana passed him at the very end...just like she said she would!

So happy to see the finish line! 

The BAD: I have managed to add almost 6 minutes to my Pear Blossom time in 2 years

The GOOD: In those same 2 years, I have taken 8 minutes off of my half marathon time & I loved hearing people yell "Nice Skirt" as I pushed through those 10 miles.

The BEST: After the race I received a call from a friend to thank me for encouraging, challenging {after dragging her feet for quite a while, she finally gave in and started doing speed work!} motivating & helping her to reach her goal of finishing in the top 100 females.  

I WILL redeem myself at the Portland Rock N Roll Half Marathon!!!