I thought I’d post a few shots of my daughter and of me running the 4th of July race, since I can’t seem to shut up – or stop posting – about it!

This fourth was my first 5K in quite some time. Since the last one I have done several half marathons, a 10K and a full marathon.

This was kind of a fun city run (www.surfcityrun.com). Pretty laid back. No chips. Small.

I ran the race at my personal best of 26:38. I know the time because I wore my forerunner. Also, the pictures my husband took as I came to the finish line show that the time was around 27, which makes sense since there were no chips and I got a start further back in the line.

So I know my time.

Yet when I went to check it against the results it shows me at 30 minutes!

Now, like I said, I know my time, it is on my watch, and I know that it was my personal best. So I’m proud of that.

But doggone it, I want the site to reflect my actual time! Why is it so far off? All I know is that the other race finishers in different lines were moving along quite quickly while we were stuck in a crowd of hot and sweaty race finishers for several minutes. I almost switched lanes. Wish I had.

Nothing against the race organizers. I know that this was not a competitive type race, and I love the way that they had it set up, so that strollers had their own 5K starting time, residents of Huntington Beach had their own race, and kids had theirs.

Still it would have been nice to see my real time printed on the website.

You know how us runners are. We have our egos to maintain!!

These would be the words from my daughter.

She was so proud of herself after that race (not as proud as i was, of course!) and this is what she kept telling people afterwards.

She was very competitive during the run, too. She would stop to take a sip of water and then dash off again, passing everyone in sight until her thirst overtook her and she had to stop for another sip.

In the end she ran 5:57 for the 1/2 mile. I told this to my girlfriend who said, “Wow, she runs faster than me!”

I was so proud of her, and last night as I watched the Olympic trials I thought, “What if that could be her one day?”

It can be, of course. Oh, what a proud running mom I would be!

So my daughter and I completed our very first race together. I did my 5K first and then she participated in a .5 mile race.

So, drum roll please. I know everyone is wondering if my last few months of speed training worked to increase my speed and the answer is a huge resounding YES!

I had hoped to finish the race at 27 minutes and change. As you know my husband made a bet with me to beat this time.

I came in at . . . 26 minutes 38 seconds! 26:38!! My average mile was 8:37. Not so bad for this mom of two who started out, after the birth of my second daughter, running a 10:30 or so pace.

I spent the last few months really working on speed. Two runs per week are finished up with at least half a mile, or a mile, of speed work. One run per week is supposed to be go as fast as you can for 3 miles. I don’t always do this, but it’s my goal.

So, I can say that speed work has helped.

Now, I’m wondering just how fast I can push it. Can I get down to a 25 minute 5K? Can I run 7 minute miles?

Of course I can! I just have to keep pushing it!

Got up a little early so I could get in one cup of caffeine and a little bit of quiet time before we leave.

The race is at 8, then my daughter’s is at nine and then the 4th of July parade at 10.

Our neighbors left town for the weekend and gave us access to their pool. I’m excited! I’m hoping after the parade we can all come back and swim for a bit, depending on how tired we are. I still have to bake a peach pie for the 4th of July party we are going to tonight. The cupcakes are done. We are letting the kids decorate them, so I’m going to mix up some white icing with blue and red food coloring, and we bought little white chocolate chips to sprinkle on top as well. It should be a lot of fun.

Anyway, funny I’m feeling great about this race. I keep thinking it is only 3 miles. I remember back in the early running days how tortuous three miles was. Now that I’ve done 26 (how in the hell did I ever do that – and will I do that again!) I don’ t feel the same. Now it can be for fun.

Of course, not that there isn’t any pressure. now I feel like I have to do it fast since it is ‘only’ three miles.

I do’nt know where I got this competitive streak. My mom is as docile as a newborn fawn all of the time. My dad I don’ t know since he wasn’t around while I was growing up. He must have been somewhat competitive though. Unless I was just born this way with no predisposition towards it!

Got to get the breakfast’s ready for the family, and then pack up our car. We are going to make a morning out of it. To me, tha tis going to be the best part of it all. I cannot wait to see my daughter run her first race! I hope that one day we are running races together. I think that we will be. She is so athletic.

I’ll post pictures of it when it is all over! And if I do well time-wise, I’ll even tell you that!!

I can’t wait. Tomorrow is the big 4th of july 5K and then at 9 they have a half mile kid’s run, which my daughter is going to do.

Her first race. Our first one together. It’s so cool!

She’s very excited about it, too. She was excited today to see her shirt, which I picked up while she was at preschool. We talked about the shoes she would wear and she was interested in knowing if she would be sweaty after the race and if so, whether she would be able to shower before the parade lol.

I’m feeling pretty strong about the race today. I think things will go okay. Nervous, but I’ll check back. Just hope I can do this in 27 minutes!!

I told you the other day that my husband bet I couldn’t do the 5K on Friday in 27 minutes.

Yesterday, during a training run, I did it.

Let me say, when I got done I thought I might puke. Friday isn’t looking so good! It will be hotter out, since the race is at 8 AM and I’m used to going for an early morning run about 5:30.

There will be a lot of people.

I’ll feel competitive and push myself at the front. I know I will; I always do.

I did the first mile yesterday at 9:30 and then had to make up the difference those last two miles, which I ran somewhere between 8:20 and 9:15 at all times.

Not so bad, considering just a year ago, after the birth of my second baby, my time was 10 and more on a mile.

I hope I can keep it up on Friday. how awesome would it be if not only my forerunner but the time clock said 27 something!