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Saturday, July 19, 2008

That Dam Race

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Today I ran the Mantua Dam Race which means I have been running now for ONE YEAR! Last year the Dam Race was my first race ever and is really the reason I am still running today. The main reason I ran it last year was so I could get the t-shirt that says I Survived the Dam Race! I was so happy that I finished it last year when the farthest I had ever run previous was only two miles. I ran the entire 4.7 mile route last year without one break and that really motivated me to feel like running was something I could do. Yes, me! Run! That was huge for me since I have always HATED to run. Even just one mile a little over a year ago seemed impossible to me. So today in a way is my one year running anniversary...my "runniversary"!

The route is beautiful and wraps around the entire Mantua Dam. The 4.7 mile course is mostly on a dirt road with lots of little pebbles that tend to make it a little tricky to keep your footing at times. Right before the gun went off one of the men in charge told us that he ran the course yesterday and saw a huge blow snake! I was not grateful for that last bit of information right before taking off! Luckily I didn't see anything except a few cows, but a few of the others that I went up with did see a snake! In some ways I do wish I had seen one because I am pretty sure it would have improved my time!

Speaking of time, last year I didn't pay much attention to my exact time because I was just happy to cross the finish line. It was around 44 minutes I think. This year I shaved some time off of that and finished in 41:50! I was real happy with the fact that I have actually got faster and not slower like I was worried about. I placed 6th in my age group.

There was a group of six of us that ran it this year. Unfortunately no one that I ran with last year was able to do it this year.
















Shauna, Julie, and me waiting for the results.






This year's t-shirt. I just LOVE these shirts!!!! I rotated this but it didn't come up rotated when I downloaded it. Hmm....

9 comments:

Mel said...

I found your blog when I googled "the dam race" a few days ago. It was my first time to run it this year. I ran with my 11 year old son for the first 3 miles and then I left him behind. I was directly behind you for the last mile. I didn't realize it was you until you posted your pics. Thanks for pushing me through to the end.

Audrey said...

GOOD FOR YOU! Jodi, I am so amazed at what you have accomplished this past year. You are incredible! Next year I plan to run it again with you.

Yvonne said...

Congratulations. Great job. And I'm so glad you got your t-shirt!

Mel said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I was also wearing an "orangish" shirt except mine is about 3 shades darker than yours. I also had on a white Nike hat and black shorts. I don't expect you to have noticed because I was behind you:)

Ah, you are bloggy friends with Yvonne also! I love Yvonne!

I too noticed our 4th of July 5K times were almost exact. I didn't run the one in BC... it was the one in P.

I love your blogs! Very fun... it looks like we have a lot in common:)

4funboys said...

wow...

good for you!

loved the t-shirt...

Jen said...

Way to go! You're so amazing, you little speed demon you! What a year! Wonder what will happen in the next one!

Dawn said...

Congratulations!!! :-)

Emily said...

awesome! I have always wanted to run the mantua race, I am just always gone during the time when the race is here. Good Job!

jeanne said...

fantastic!!! i'm in awe! i still have a love/hate relationship with running!
congrats on the title nine "best of the blogs" pick!!

Fantastic time for 4.7 miles on unstable turf!!!