2011 Bloomsday 12K-Personal Best For All

Q: Know how you get a personal best for Bloomsday?
A: Train for a marathon! Then 12K seems just like another short mid week run!

Okay, well maybe not just another short run...but still, compared to our previous 20 mile long runs, completing 7.46 miles seemed much more do-able.

The days leading up to the race was terrible-we had rain, sleet, hailstones, and gusty wind. I guess it was typical Spokane spring weather! However, Sunday morning the weather was PERFECT-full of sunshine, but not too hot.

I had the opportunity to run for my company's Corporate Team: Gentiva Home Health. Talk about Royal Treatment! We received special dry wick corporate shirts, bags that we could check things in during the race, and free food after the race.

Ashely, Andrea, and Bethany were in the Yellow Section proudly wearing their Spokane Marathon Mama shirts. I was jealous that I couldn't wear mine, but since Gentiva paid for my entry fee and corporate opporunity, I wore my Gentiva shirt instead.

Mirna, Ashley, Andrea, and Bethany

Anyway we ran the course, settling into a comfortable pace. We had all the right elements to have a great race-motivating crowd, good food, familiar course, etc. We all finished strong, and although did not all finish together, we were able to meet up after the race to congratulate one another on a great run. Unfortunately, Ashley's D-Tag Timing Chip did not register so she was not able to get an "official" time, but since she ran with Andrea, we can estimate her final time close to Andrea's.

So here's our stats:

Bethany: 1:10:50 (PREVIOUS PR 1:14:46)
Overall Place: 7, 253 out of 50, 611
Ran with a pace of 9:29 per mile

Mirna: 1:03:19 (PREVIOUS PR 1:20:56)
Overall Place: 3, 749 out of 50, 611
Ran with a pace of 8:29 per mie

Andrea: 1:12:29 (PREVIOUS PR 1:16:41)
Overall Place: 8, 077 out of 50, 611
Ran with a pace of 9:42 per mile

Ashley: 1:12:29 (PREVIOUS PR 1:16:45)
Overall Place: 8, 078 out of 50, 611
Ran with a pace of 9:42 per mile

Post Race-Mirna, Ashley, Andrea & Bethany

Overall it was such a great race for all of us. It was a nice confidence boost to know we have improved even with "shorter" runs since beginning our marathon training.  I think it also helped to have used the Bloomsday route as one of our mid week runs, therefore we more or less had an idea how the course was set up, hills, etc. even though we have run the race before.

The dreaded "Doomsday" Hill



So another race in the books!

Looking forward to finally completing our Marathon in less than two weeks!!!



-posted by Mirna