Corporate Challenge Race

Last night over 400 companies gathered at my old college and ran/walked the 3.5 mile Corporate Challenge!  There were so many people there, over 9,000 in fact and it looked like it was going to be a perfect run!  It started out sunny but soon the dark clouds rolled in and opened up on all the runners and walkers just as the race started.  Here is Brian and I before the race!

It poured through mile 1 and 2 and then began to taper off.  By that time I was soaking wet.  The worst part was that I wore my Nike Tempo shorts and they were like stuck to me and for the first time in my life I chaffed on my leg!  Here are some pictures of all the company tents and the finish line.

I felt great for the first mile, despite the rain.  I ended up running in between two other women who I knew - one the mother of a track teammate from college and the other a girl who was a few years ahead of me at my high school.  I passed the first mile at just under 7 minutes.  Just after that my right lung started to cramp up just like it did in the 5k I ran back in April.  It was quite painful and I probably sounded like I was dying to all the men around me but I just kept running along.  I passed the second mile mark at about 14:14.

The third mile was such a mental struggle.  I wanted to quit because my lung hurt so much but I knew I was so close and still on track for a huge PR!  As I approached mile 3 I saw a co-worker and tried to catch up to him and pass him but I couldn't.  I think I rolled through mile 3 at about 21:43 and just kept on going.  The last half mile of the race is the worst because you can see the finish line but you have to run all the way around this circle before actually crossing it.  I pushed to the end and finished in 25:16 (my secret goal was to finish in 24:30). 

This is a big PR from previous years.  The last two years I ran it in the same exact time of 27:21 so I feel like my overall running endurance is better.  I just don't understand why my lung seizes up on me in races.  Maybe I need to do more tempo running at my race pace?  Any ideas???

Brian and I after the race - soaking wet!

Overall it was a fun race! I guess the rain was better than it being 90F and humid!  Running at 7pm at night is hard - I think I need to start running before and after work.  I think I may have been the fastest woman from my company but I am not sure.  The first woman overall won the race in 20:02! Super fast! 

Today is a much needed rest day - I just have to make it through the work day and then I can go home and take a nap!

Happy Friday!