Detroit Marathon Relay...

So I did it... I ran the first leg of our relay (Sole Feet Assassins) for the marathon.  My distance was a mere 10k. This was the most miserable run in quite some time.  The start was sooooo congested.  Running the relay, I am going to be running a lot faster than most of the full marathoners and half marathoners.  I was placed in coral G.  What that means is I'm near the back.  That sucked!!  Not only did I start near the back, but alot of the walkers were placed in front of me.  So the first half mile was at a jog.  I finally broke the pack and recovered my mile for a 7:09 first mile.  Second mile was fine until 1.75 mile when we came to a near standstill trying to enter the bridge.  It was only 2 or 3 abreast.  And I always tend to find a way to get behind the slow fat people that like to walk abruptly.  The bridge to Canada had construction (surprise surprise) and was down to 1 lane.  This was HORRIBLE.  We were at 10 minute per mile pace for a looooooong time.  That's almost walking for me!!  So a little after mile 4 we exit the bridge and run thru Ontario, Canada.  It opened up a little bit there.  I had to run clear on the other side of the street to be open!!  So my last 2 miles were 6:58 and 6:57 resp. So I tag my partner and she takes off.

I wait for DW to approach, because she was running the half and I was going to just run with her.  I was so mad because I felt pretty good today and felt that I could PR this 10k.  I run with her for about 4 miles and thru the tunnel back to USA.  But at the 10 mile point, I think "Its 5k left, let me see how I can run this after just doing 10 miles".  I take off, but I felt like I was moving but the body wasn't going as fast as I wanted.  So I turned my ipod to my "get hype" music and it was on!  I was literally running mad, for one, this was likely my last race and I wanted to end on a good note, and two I was just mad!! Half mile in, I check the Garmin... 6:15 pace, so I know I'm going to die if I keep this pace.  Plus it was pretty hilly and still congested, but better.  I decide to run on feel and not look at the Garmin again.

Since I was running the relay, I wasnt "REALLY" supposed to be running with the half marathoners after my leg.  They kept trying to guide me off the course, but I acted like I didnt hear them and kept going, trying to hide behind other runners.  LOL.  Oh, I didnt forget to take off my timing chip either... that would have been bad for our team. So I keep it consistant at 6:50, 7:05, 6:50 for last 3 miles and some change for the last 0.1 mile. I finish in 1:42:15 :=( for a half, but considering my situation I aint complaining.  It was a good workout.  I DEFINITELY could have run the full marathon today!!  I was THAT pumped, and truely believe I had a sub 3:20 marathon in me today.  It was sooooo weird... I cross the finish line at the exact same time as this lady named Tessa who I met in California for the CIM.  What were the chances of that!?!

So now I'm at the point of "What next"??  I dunno... I'll have to see what my body and mind says to me... maybe I'll pick up a new recreational sport like chess or something, lol.