Two races in one post :>)
Let me start with the Children's Classic 10K in Hattiesburg. I had not preregistered for this race because of my recent work schedule. I was happy on Friday when I realized that it was a very good chance we would not work on the weekend so I started thinking about going to the race. The race is for an awesome cause! It's for The Children's Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi (where I graduated). Children enrolled there have a variety of special needs and diagnoses. I love to run when the race supports an awesome cause such as children!
The 10K didn't start till 9 am so I actually got to sleep a little later than normal for a race day. :>) I wasn't sure if any of my friends would be there since I had not even mentioned the race with me not knowing I was going to be able to go. I was happy to find my teammate, Stan there when I arrived.
I had no idea he was in town. He works all over the country! As it got closer to race start, I noticed a few more teammates, Katherine, Ronnie, Be and Penny! It was so good to see them all!
They started by letting the kids do a fun run first. It was so sweet watching these precious kids. They were all "CAPEable". Love that theme!
Then it was time for the 10K to start. I had not done any speed work lately so I really only had one goal and that was to try to get in somewhere around an hour. I had not ran through the USM campus in a couple of years and forgotten all the rolling hills. It was a challenging 10K. I meet a young girl at the start line. I believe she said she was 27 and this was her first 10K. Once the race started we stayed neck in neck together. Then around mile 4 after a water stop, I never saw her again. Somehow I had pushed ahead. I was now running ALONE which can be boring. I like to run with someone that is around my same pace because it keeps me running. I finished just under an our. YIPPIE. Stan took a picture of me finishing.
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| My time was 57 Min... the clock has an extra minute.. they started the ARC riders 1 min before us. I started to leave and get back home, but Stan and I decided to go over to the timing booth to get our times printed out. He had ran a new PR and was curious to see who was ahead of him. I was shocked when they handed mine to me and had me listed as grand master winner! :>) and he won Masters!   I love the homemade medals! :>) The kids actually painted them. I was blessed to run this race for an awesome cause! Now on to the MS50 20K (12.4 miles) + 6 more..... The MS50 is a race that I've done whether it be running the volunteer run or the actual race for the last 6 years. It's a trail run that is local. It's always a fun race. Tough on body but FUN. The past 2 years I had done the 50K (31 miles), but decided to tone it down a notch this year and just do the 20K. A couple of my friends that were planning on running with me had to back out due to injuries / sickness, so I wasn't sure who I'd be running along. I knew Jennifer was doing the race, but she's a tad faster than me. LOL My good friend Shine was also doing the race, but had said she was going to hang with her mother. Seems several of us either have life issues in the way of our training or injuries this year. It's just been an odd year starting off. Normally there is a big group of us (R4TKs) at all the races and we have so much fun. Jennifer had told me at the pool that she was going to run with me. I just didn't know if she'd actually hang back with me... you can't stop a race horse. :>) However, she did. She ran my butt off, but she stayed with me the entire 20K. Here we are before the race started with Serina, who was walking the 20K with her dad. 
Jennifer also took a picture while we were running down a hill! You can tell by my gritting of my teeth in the picture... I don't know how she didn't fall doing that. ha
Jennifer and I finished the 20K (12.4 miles) in 2 hours 16 minutes. I think they may be a PR for me, however I seem to recall me and Sunshine running either a 2:15 or 2:20 one year... I'll have to check the results. Jennifer and I waited around for Pam, my neighbor and friend. She was doing the 50K and we planned to run the last 6 miles with her. Jennifer captured this picture of me and Pam on that last 6 miles.
 The trails were so dry and clean! I've never seen them so dry in all the years I've done the race! It was a beautiful day! My whole body was sore however from bouncing around on the trail. Trail running is supposed to be easier on your body, but I feel that you need to do them often to really know that. My ankles to my head was sore. I had to really watch and dodge tree stumps. It was the first year that I've not fallen! Yeah me! :>) So Jennifer and I ended up with 18.4 miles total and Pam ended up with 31. Here's are final picture.  There was also a teammate from R4TKs, Andrea that did her first 50K. We all took a picture together because her and Pam had ran most of the race together, but it's not on my phone. I guess it's on one of the other's phone. We had asked a lady to take our picture and handed her all our phones. :>) Congrats to Pam and Andrea in accomplishing their first 50K! 31 miles on a trail is a big accomplishment! 
LOVE the shirt!
Whew it's been a busy 3 weekends in a row with the Sea Turtle half, Children's Classic 10K, followed by the MS50! I'm glad this weekend does not involve a race. I get one break before another 4 weekends in a row of racing. :>) I love this saying that Jenn posted the other day. 
TRUTH!
Hope your training is going well. And guess what? Daylight savings begins this weekend! YIPPIE
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