2011 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile

Sunday, April 3 - 2011, 7:40 a.m.
    

It was freezing cold while 15,000 runners waited for the race officials to line us up in our time corrals.  I was holding my hands close to my face with my sleeves from my t-shirt wrapped around my hands.  As a woman sang the National Anthem I was able to stop shivering for a while as I watched the flags surrounding the Washington Monument.  I love this city and was ready for the race to start. 

The first 3 miles I felt good even though the first 2-3 miles I was trying to get into a good race pace as I weaved in and out of the other runners.  I felt good enough to forgo the first 2 water stops and at mile 5 I was running at a 9:19 mile pace and clocked at 46:39.  At mile 7 I was beginning to wish I had eaten something before the race such as a banana and wish I had not had that glass of wine at dinner the night before with Garland Gill and his friends. 

I stopped for water and Gatorade at the next water stop and started to feel better as the heat increased and continued to run along the Tidal Basin.  The race continued along the Potomac River and on each side of the race were rows of blooming pink and white Cherry Blossom.

My mile 8, I could feel a blister forming on my toe which was hitting the tip of my shoe each time I stepped on that foot which was strange to me as I had worn these shoes throughout my Fleet Feet half marathon training group and had never developed a blister with these shoes.  I wonder if it had something to do with my shoes getting wet as I stood in line yesterday for the race packet pick up and it began to rain and hail.  Yes hail!!! 

I was definitely losing energy fast and hoped Mile 9 and 10 would come sooner.

The race was flat except for the last 400m was an incline to the finish line.  I finished in a time of 1:37:55 with a 9:48 race pace.  I ran this race 7 years ago and I’m happy to say I beat my younger self by 8 minutes.  In 2004, I completed the race in 1:45:10.  I will definitely run this race next year! 

 A friend from high school Tommy Boles finished in 57:29 with a 5:45 race pace. 

The female winner of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run Julliah Tinega from Kenya completed in 54:02 with a 5:25 race pace.  There were 9 women who finished the race under and hour and 4 of those women were from the USA. 

I can't wait to beat my time in next year's race!!