#spinxrunfest

[hoppynsc]

Nothing like running the #BigPumpkin5k in 23:09 and winning my age group as part of the #spinxrunfest to start your weekend. (at Fluor Field at the West End) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkTJW6Ou4Io/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[jenngetsfit]

Finished the Spinx Run Fest Downtown Greenville 10k this weekend! If you remember I ran this race last year with my friends as a training race for my first half marathon at Disney World.  Just coming off of my half marathon last weekend, I decided to take it slow. Greenville is HILLY and I was really just using it as a fun run. My friend Caitlin signed up for the Disney World Half in January and this was her longest run to date!  Caitlin doesn't have much experience racing, just one 5k last spring so she was pretty nervous. We did our best to help ease her nerves but she was scared she would be last. Me, being a slow runner, and currently employing the run/walk method to decrease my risk of injury - I know EXACTLY what this feeling feels like.  We were staying about a mile from the starting line and decided to walk. Which was fine but we were running late so we had just enough time to make it to the starting line - literally run to the bathroom and were lining up as they announced the start of the 10k. With the Spinx Run Fest there is a marathon, half marathon, 10k, and 5k taking off every 30 minutes, starting with the marathon at 7:30.  We were off! I learned from last week to have a plan and stick to it. I was also worried how my legs would feel from last week as I hadn't run. I decided on a run 1:30 walk 0:45 and tried my best to keep that up and pace myself.  Caitlin decided to try to run with Jen and Kevin - they are much faster than me. So after about a mile I saw someone stretching their calves up ahead - it was Caitlin and she was cramping. I told her I didn't mind pacing her. I think she really learned the importance of pacing and how running can actually be fun when you go at a comfortable pace! Her goal was at least to finish in less than 1:30 and I told her that wouldn't be a problem. 

I really like this race, it's a beautiful course run on the Swamp Rabbit Trail around Reedy River in Greenville, and it's a very well run course - except there was only one aid station a mile from the end...I would have thought they would have one at least half way through?! but this is a HARD course. I may someday do the Half Marathon here but I would have to be in much better shape - those hills would kill me!  We finished in 1:26:30 so just under the 1:30 mark. (14:01 pace) 3 minutes faster than last year on this same course.  I was feeling great the whole race except the last mile is almost all uphill until the last .2 or so which is downhill or flat as you finish by running around the baseball field. The last mile I was really feeling tired and was ready to finish - hard to believe I did more than twice that distance last weekend. Can I just tell you I loved turning when they said "10k to the right, Half Marathon straight."  I enjoyed sort "sharing my wisdom" with Caitlin. I think she was discouraged a bit because she couldn't keep up with Jen and Kevin who finished in ~ 1:09 but I think I did  good job of encouraging her and not making her feel so alone in the back of the pack - where i live. I used to be like that but now sometimes I really enjoy being in the back of the pack. There are a lot of inspiring people back there - 80 year olds trying to improve their health, people who have lost 100 lbs and started running, those who are trying to lose weight, and people like me - just trying to put one foot in front of the other to do something you (and everyone else) didn't think you could do. I've gotten used to it and I am getting slowly, but surely faster but isn't that what's great about running? you're only competing against yourself.