First "race" of 2008

This past Sunday, while the majority of Team Z was down in Myrtle Beach for the team winter marathon, a few of us brave souls decided to stay north and race the GW Birthday Marathon in Greenbelt, MD. This marathon has a reputation for being utterly horrible weather-wise (the last time we did this as a team, it was ridiculously cold and windy) and it is also a pretty hilly course.

Justin and I decided to stay here instead of venture to Myrtle Beach and Justin was going to tackle this monster course for his winter marathon. I decided to participate in a relay with Caroline and Victoria, with me running the 7.4 mile leg.

I have slowly been working on improving my run endurance since being solidly injured for a good two years. So this relay would be the toughest (but not the longest) run I have done, well, ever. My goals were simple - just truck along, run as much of it as I can, and have fun.

And I did exactly that. I ran the whole thing and actually liked the killer hills. (Though I do not think I would want to run this as a marathon. Doing so would involve alot of crying, I imagine.) I was passed by a fair number of people, many of which sounded like they were 1) dropping a lung or 2) would be dropping a lung in the near future.

The weather was actually decent - highs in high 40s - and I was warm in my long tights and two long sleeve shirts. All in all, a pretty uneventful day and I am pleased with how strong and consistent I felt and how little my body is complaining afterwards.

A good, solid start to 2008 and, hopefully, an excellent portent of my races to come.