A quiz

What do you get when you combine steep hills, freezing temperatures, tippy parking spots and gorgeous views? The Zena Road Races!

I followed my friend Christi and her daughter out to the Spring Valley Community Center on Sunday morning in 32 degree temperatures. The skies were clear and blue, but baby it was coooold outside. Parking was along the road with not much shoulder before the gravel dropped off into ditches, so we pretty much parked at an uncomfortably steep angle. The good news is that my car did not roll over into the field below.

I went to this run with two goals: 1) to finish. and 2) to come home without shin splints. The finishing part I thought would be a breeze because I had elected to run the 3 mile race rather than the 6 or the 9. I knew it would be hilly, but I was pretty surprised by the reality of those hills. Not once did I wish I had done the 6 mile ~ 3 was just fine by me! Christi, Amanda and I stayed together through most of the race, although Amanda left us in the dust as she cheerfully zipped to the finish line without looking winded (little turkey).

I was pretty happy with my finish time. They clocked me at 33:11:3. 11:04/mile. Considering those hills, I'm perfectly happy with that. Out there mid-race and halfway up a hill I thought to myself, "You know, a 14 minute mile would be okay on this!" So obviously 11:04 was a happy surprise. :)

No shin splints ~ this is good, but the best part of the day for me was seeing my friend Annette and hanging out with her a little. It was a lot of fun ~ hope to do it again!