The Perfect Race
Posted: October 15, 2011 at 4:42 pmI had the best time this morning! Everything aligned to make the perfect race. I see why Lee likes to run the Peachtree City Classic 15K so much. It really is a great one!
As you already know, I woke up bright and early to hit the road for the over hour drive to the race venue. I grabbed my bib number and met up with Lee about an hour before the race started.
We spent the time catching up since more than two months had quickly passed since our last time hanging out. How does that happen??
Finally, the announcers let everyone know the race would be starting in just a couple short minutes. I was ready.
And then, I was off!
The race course has to be the best one I have run yet. I felt so happy running the entire thing! The course itself winds through golf courses, some residential areas, and next to a beautiful lake.
For some reason it felt so cheerful and serene. There weren’t a ton of spectators, but some of the people would stand in their driveways and cheer people along. Plus, there was an entire strip along one of the paths with “Good Luck” messages in sidewalk chalk. It put a smile on my face.
I’m like the wind and the camera can’t catch me. Ha! 
Crazily enough, the entire thing passed by in a blur. I felt like I ran a 5K, not a 15K. I could hardly believe when I suddenly found myself hitting mile 4, then mile 7, then mile 9, and not too long after the finish line.
PS – extra nice touch = ^this guy^ calling out and cheering each person on by name as they came up to the finish line. How awesome!
Now for the racing deets…
For the race, I decided to take the advice of reader/friend, Cindy, who suggested running the race at the pace I hope to run in my half.
She explained that I should still finish with energy, since the race distance is only about 3/4 of the half marathon distance, and get a good idea of how the pace will feel for Savannah. That sounded very reasonable to me, so I decided to take that approach. What a great balance to hopefully have no burnout but still get in good practice for my “A race” in a few weeks.
I didn’t really know what pace I planned to shoot for in my half, so I settled to aim for around 9 minute miles, 15-20 seconds faster than my standard long run pace.
How did it go?
I finished in 1:24:33 clock time. A 9:05 average pace. My chip time will likely show even closer to 9:00 minute average. Perfect!
And to top it all off, I felt like I could have easily run four more miles. Hopefully that’s a good sign for Savannah! I’m soooooo excited now! I can barely contain myself!!!! Time to celebrate! With none other than one of these 
and some of this 
. Ohhhh yeah! Happy Saturday!
- What is something you are looking forward to right now?
Tags: blog friends, half marathon training, races, running
At a lot of the races my dad runs, they radio ahead to let the finish line know who’ll be coming over the finish line soon. My dad got to be the one radioing names at one of the races after his surgery. I think it’s cool. 🙂
Love this!!! You’re awesome ma’am!
Great job on the run! I’m looking forward to Tony coming home tomorrow night! I can’t wait!!!
I bet! It’s always so hard when our men are away.
And guess what I found at the fair today? Frog jam!!! I immediately thought of you. I ended up getting 2 other jars of stff though, but so wanted the frog jam too. I got to taste it and it is really, really good!
Haha, I love that stuff! I just had some on my roasted pumpkin…so good!
Yay! Congrats on a great race!! So glad that you felt awesome :). I’m looking forward to seeing the new Footloose tonight with some friends- I need a break from doing work!
Congrats!
I am looking forward towards Halloween and Thanksgiving and my big race coming up! 🙂
What a great recap!
My parents just brought home a cake…so I’m looking forward to frosting
I would SO be looking forward to frostng too! Oh, wait. I am! makenzie’s bday party is next week. 😉
You did great and I’m certain you will do just as great in Savannah! Great to see you today too. (I’m using the word great a lot!)
When the guy called out my name, he said, “Lee [my last name] and then said, “Oh, I mean Leah.” I have no idea why, I guess he thought Lee was a typo since it’s usually a male name?
I didn’t even notice that! I saw you kind of look over/back at him, but thought it was just because you were like “huh? who said my name?”. <-- which I totally did. My end of race photo will probably be me with a seriously confused look. Haha! And it was GREAT seeing you too. Perhaps we should go ahead and set a date for our next visit so months don't pass again. 😉
Wow, nice job Tina!! You make me crave a race where I am happy the whole time, seriously. I know I keep saying I’m not a racer, but I DO think at some point, I want to do one that I know will be flat and pretty and maybe, just maybe, I’ll have a fabulous run like this too! Cheers 😉
Awesome job Tina! The fact that the 15k felt like a 5k just shows how ready you are for your half. 🙂
Congrats on such a good race! I love when a race course is so pretty it barely feels like “work” running it 🙂 I’m getting really excited for my upcoming half too. Made my hotel reservations and can hardly believe it’s only 4 weeks away. Yay for fall halfs (halves?) 🙂
GREAT JOB TINA!! I had the SAME type of race today! I smiled and was in my happy place the entire time! The miles flew by! Honestly.. the best run I think I’ve ever had!
Yay! It’s such a great feeling isn’t it? 🙂
Nice job on your race! Sounds like it was a blast and confidence builder.
I ran the PTC Classic back in 2009 when I lived in Atlanta, and was surprised and pleased to click over here today and see that your race was at a course I’d run before. I agree with everything you said about the course and the race. It’s truly a gem — glad to read that you had a fantastic experience with it too.
Congrats on such an amazing race!! You are going to rock your half!!
I love that the guy announced the finishers by name. I was lucky that some of my friends were at the finish line volunteering so I got some good cheering 🙂 It makes a difference!!
great job! i hope my marathon tomorrow goes just as well 🙂
Exciting!!!! Good luck!!!!! 🙂
I love your little pizza and beer icons:) Looks like a gorgeous race. You are going to rock in your half!
Way to go Tina! Makes me really want to find a 15k after I have baby!
Well you kind of ran one today. Hehe. 😉
Awesome job on the race! I find such inspiration in race recap posts 🙂
INCREDIBLE JOB!!! Girl, you killed that 15k and with extra energy to spare…WAHOO!
Great job! It really does look gorgeous and you were speedy!
Congrats!! 15K sounds like a really fun racing distance 🙂
What gorgeous weather!! Congrats : )
Wow . . . awesome job on the race! Your time is amazing. 🙂
Amazing Job!!! I am so glad it went well!!! You are awesome girl!
Congrats on a great race! You are going to dominate that half! 🙂
Sounds like such a fun race! The best races (and runs!) are always the ones that seem so much shorter. Congrats, Tina 😀 Way to go, girrrl!
Awwww, so glad my idea worked for you! I am using my own advice when i run a half next month in preparation for a full in December. Great job….you will rock the half!
GREAT JOB! I knew you would rock it… A goal I had was kicking Lady Chancellor’s Ass…in case u missed it…
http://thehinzadventures.blogspot.com/2011/10/kicking-some-laughing-it-off.html
xoxo from Trinidad
Perfect indeed! Lovely race and you nailed your goal!!
I love your shirt!! It is super cute.
Congrats on the race. That is an awesome time! Glad you had a great time 😀
GREAT job on the race! Its always a good sign when you don’t feel like you’re dying, right? 😉
Speaking of which…Peter is telling me to do crazy things. Things we will need to chat about. You’ll see. 😉
Ah! You did awesome!! Looks like a gorgeous race. You sound more than ready for your half
Great race! I am registered for a half mary next may, and cannot WAIT.
Runs like these are reminders why running is so great- nice job! I am looking fwd to my best friend arriving tomorrow in Mumbai and then going away to a resort this upcoming weekend!
Great job on your race! I’m up and getting ready for my first marathon – not looking forward to running in the rain for 5+ hours though 🙁
I hope it went well!!! And that you don’t get sick after 5 hours in the rain.
I’m looking forward to my 10 miler in 4 weeks! It’s my furthest distance!
Awesome job – sounds like a great race!!
You guys have such great races there! I love how the guy at the finish called everyone out by name, that’s really great and encouraging, especially for such a long distance. I would love to do a 15K because it’s a good distance between a 10K and a half, so I would feel more challenged, you know? And you had a great time too- both with your friend and on the clock :).
I’m looking forward to running a 10K in a few weeks :). It’s 3 weeks away and that will be my next race… hopefully I can get a good 5-6 mile run in today to help me prepare ;).
Hope you had a good run! 🙂
Congrats on your race Tina!! Awesome time and you’re gonna smoke Savannah! 🙂
[…] you all so much for the congrats on my 15K race yesterday! I had a blast! Both during the run…and after too, of course. How could I not when it […]
Whoop, whoop! Sounds like you did an amazing job! Way to go.
Congrats on your 15K, Tina! I think you’re really going to love running your half. I can’t wait to hear how it goes 🙂
AWESOME race, awesome finish, my friend! You are SO ready for this half!!!
Congrats Tina and great pace! You will rock the 1/2 marathon!
[…] because I had such a fun-filled, but a little tiring, weekend. You already know that I ran a 15K race. Now, let me fill you in on the […]
Great race!! You paced yourself perfectly – way to go!!
Congratulations, Tina! You did an awesome job and had a great race 🙂 Love the advice from your friend about pacing — I know how empowering it is to finish & know you can do more miles!
Something I am looking forward to right now: making no-bake cookies this afternoon & running a 5k with my girlfriends on Sunday!
Way to go, Tina! I’ve started “power-walking” with a co-worker at lunch three times a week(2 miles and the building up to three..etc.) and it is kicking my butt. I can’t imagine more than that! 🙂 You’re awesome!!
Thanks, Sara! And awesome job on the walks. I think that is so great too. How nice to have someone to do it with too. 🙂