^WHERE:  Speedway Meadow, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Yes, it's true.  This is the 2nd race I've done in one weekend.  I don't plan on making this a habit by any means.  I wouldn't recommend doing such a thing unless it's absolutely necessary.  You see I couldn't miss the Turkey Trot, it's a tradition.  Plus, my MIM team was there.  Today my Cross Country Team needed me for this Regional Race so it was hard to say no. 

As I have mentioned before, these cross country races are cutthroat.  It was even more intense out here today.  In addition to the club teams like my own (West Valley Track Club-WVTC), we had college teams like UC Davis (my Alma Mater), UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz and a team from South Dakota.  These are pure runners out here.  These girls are strong, lean and tough.  Yesterday, I felt like a big fish in a smaller pond.  Today, I feel like smaller fish in a bigger pond.  It really is humbling!  I am quite nervous but I'm excited to get the chance to relive my old college days.  It's different racing for God's Glory.  When I'm really focused on Him, like now, I can overcome those negative, self defeating thoughts.  Racing becomes more fun and exciting because I know anything is possible.  It's possible for me to run as fast or faster than yesterday.  It's possible to score for my team (top five score).  I just want to see what happens...It will be a great experience no matter what.

I carpool to the race with Karen Saxena.  We arrive with less than a hour to register, warm-up and stretch.  We check out the last mile of the race so we know exactly when to sprint.  We ran most of the course earlier in the season.  On our way, we run into other WVTC girls.  We head to the big hill.  Last time we had to run it twice.  Today, we only do it once...yes!  The tradeoff is we have to jump over an additional log.. at the top of the hill...oh boy!

We do some stretching and then are called to the starting line.  I kneel down for a moment where I'm stretching and say a prayer.  I thank God for today and ask Him to give me the strength needed.  I also ask to be used for His glory and not mine.  Now I'm ready to go!

We line up by team in a huge meadow, Speedway Meadow, in Golden Gate Park. (Course Map)  There are 171 girls here.  Some of us are racing as Open runners and some of us are Masters runners.  A USA Track and Field official comes out to start the race.  He tells us to avoid the big orange cone ahead because it's marking a big mud puddle.  Yes, mud among other obstacles will be an issue today!  I tell my teammates to have a good race and I wait for the gun. 

On your mark, get set, go!  Suddenly we are all flying down the meadow.  I can see that the majority of the field is ahead of me already and I'm running as fast as I'm able or willing to go in the beginning.  The footing here is unstable and I'm dodging soft dirt and mud.  After 400m, we are heading onto the Polo Field track to do a lap around.  There isn't much room getting there and I have to run off the path a bit to get around a few girls.  This pace feels really fast especially now that we are on the hard, compact dirt track.  I try to back off a bit without falling too far back.  We make the big loop around the track and head back toward Speedway meadow.   Far ahead, I can see a big pack of my teammates towards the front of the race.  I'm sure it's Suzanne, Sissel, Sarah and Shannon.  I can see Beth a little ahead of me.

Mile 1: I'm at 6:16!  Oh boy!  I'm a little surprised that it's that fast.  I will slow down and I'm wondering if some of my other competitors will too.

Through the meadow, and then we do one loop of the cross country course we did back in September (see past race story).  I know this loop well now and I just try to focus.  Lord, help me continue to have the energy to do this.  Help me to hang on a little longer.  Up a short hill and then down and into Lindley Meadow.  A little dip down into the meadow.  I try not to put the breaks on but just let the legs turn over without losing control.  We run across the meadow.

Mile 2:  6:29.  A little slower but more reasonable of a pace to hold. Now we head up to a path parallel to John F. Kennedy Dr.  I catch up to Beth and tell her great job.  We are now flying downhill past the American bison and down toward Middle Lake.

The competition has really spread out now.  A handful of girls are ahead of me.  I'm thinking this is a good time to catch them.  I push a little more and also let gravity pull me.  It seems they're thinking the same thing because nobody seems to catch anyone here.  We take a sharp turn onto a narrow trail and wind our way into a grassy field.  Less than a mile to go!  Thank you Lord, it's almost done!

Mile 3:  6:29.  I'm a little surprised considering all of the downhills.. but at least I am consistent.  The logs are ahead so I try to push ahead of a few girls so I don't have to slow down and lose my momentum.  Here

comes the first one!  I see other girls stepping on it but I decide to jump it.  It just seemed like it would be less effort.  At the bottom of the hill is the 5K mark.  My time there is 20:01.  I push up the steep hill and pass a girl.  At the top I once again decide to jump the log.

We are back on the Polo field track.  One straightaway on the track and a 400m stretch of grass in Speedway Meadow is all that's left.  Lord, this hurts!  Don't let me fall apart.  I can see Shannon off in the distance.  There is no way I'll catch her but I can try to close the gap.  Improving my placing helps our score.  The team of 5 with the lowest sum of finish places wins.  I pass a few more girls on the track.  It's windy here and I'm hoping no one is behind me taking advantage of the break, saving up energy to pass me. 

Once in the meadow I can see the finish line...it seems so far ahead!  I think back to Poltergeist and how in one scene a hallway kept growing longer.  I want to look back to see if anyone is behind me but I resist the temptation. 

I push has hard as my legs can go.  The ground is so uneven, it's hard to find good position & rhythm.  Almost there, keep pushing, almost there. 

I cross the finish line alone...a least for a second.  Yes, thank You Jesus!!  I cheer in the rest of my team.  They all did great!  I'm so impressed and proud of them!  Now that we are all sweaty and even more glamorous we take an official team photo.  We are hot, sweaty babes(=

Looking Good!

Looking Silly!

We were 4th out of 9 in the Open Category

 &

 3rd out of 7 in the Masters Category!