Name: Smoke Free Lawrence County
Date: March 1, 2008
Distance: 10K (6.2 miles)
Location: Bedford, Indiana
Course: Gradually downhill on the way out, gradually uphill on the way back (Click here to view course.)
Time: 57:03
Pace: 9:12
Place: 33 of 73
Division: 14 of 45
Results Link: Click here.
Weather: 40°, northwest wind 8 mph
Notes: I was more nervous about this race than any previous race, except for the Mini. My hip was finally feeling better, but I was nursing an undiagnosed ankle/leg injury (which, I found out three weeks later, was a fractured fibula). I was terrified of a stress fracture (which it ended up being); I had images of me shattering my leg from pushing too hard. However, things weren't that dramatic. I suited up in style with the new duds I'd won from the Adidas essay contest (except I unknowingly wore the pants backwards), and looked forward to a sunny, warm, 40° run. It was one of the most enjoyable runs I'd had in a while. My first split was 8:37, which was way faster than I wanted to be, so I slowed it down to meet my goal of breaking an hour. That I did, in 57:03 for a PR. That night, I had difficulty walking. I didn't run for more than a week after the race because my leg hurt so badly. I still can't believe I ran a 10K on a broken leg.
Photos: 14 — See below.