Nationally, Houston will host the Marathon Olympic Trials this Saturday the 14th. This historic event will bring in roughly 200 women and 85 men who will compete to get a spot in the U.S. Marathon Team. The top three men and women will go on to the Olympic games in London this year. It will air on NBC from 3-5 EST on Saturday.

I wish so bad I could watch this event LIVE! It is going to be epic. I am BLOWN AWAY by every single individual athlete that was able to make it this far. For many competitors, this weekend IS their Olympics… simply making it to the Olympic Trials is a victory and a triumph. And though, I am in awe and inspired by all these qualifying runners, I will be especially rooting for the infamous Ryan Hall and our very own local gal on the rise, Ariana Hilborn! If you do not know about these runners, you should check them out. They are both amazing, humble athletes that run with honor and joy.

http://arianahilborn.com/

Ariana Hilborn

http://www.facebook.com/ryanhall3?sk=info

Ryan Hall

In local running news, the classic PF Changs Half and Full Marathon is pulling in record numbers of participants. It begins this Sunday at 7:30am. The Half Marathon will start downtown on Mill Ave. and the full will start at City Scape in Phoenix. Both races have the same finish line on Packard Drive. This race is HUGE and exceptionally exciting to be a part of due to the exciting new course lay out and record crowds.

Unfortunately, I will not be running it due to an injury I am working through. Not running the Pf Changs is intensely hard for me. It was this very race last year that started my love affair with running. Knowing that I have gotten stronger and faster than ever, I wanted more than anything to compete again. I was hoping for a new personal record, but life can be unpredictable and you don’t always get what you want or hope for. BUT, because life is made up of choices and attitudes, I refuse to mope around and feel sorry for myself. Instead, I will be on the side lines cheering on all the other runners.

I get goosebumps thinking about all the thousands and thousands of people being brought together this weekend by their love for running. This sport is definitely on the rise and it is exciting to be a part of such an enthusiastic, growing community of runners.

The Mesa Mi Amigo Turkey Trot is a distance of 10k. (6.2miles) My body seems to really do well with this kind of distance so I was excited to see how I would do with a 10k in a race scenario.

With over 3000 people racing the 10k, I was only concerned about beating one person. THE TURKEY! I was told he ran about a 7:15 pace. That was a bit daunting considering my goal pace was 7:20. Yet, I was set on the idea of earning that certificate so I knew I’d have to really push myself extra to get it.

Let’s break the Mesa Mi Amigo Turkey Trot down:

I was a bit anxious as I waited for the race start. I kept to myself, crouched down in the thickening crowd near the start line, and checked out everyone’s shoes as I tried to calm my nerves. Soon enough, I heard the announcer give the two minute warning. I stand up and stretch to my tippy toes looking for the Turkey, but no sign of him, and before I knew it the race began.

MILE 1: average pace 7:11

As I take off, weaving in and out of other people, I spot the Turkey ahead of me to my right.

‘Aha, found ya,’ I thought. ‘You won’t leave my sight.’

I stuck with him for the first half mile, and I shockingly ended up passing him. And you know what? I never looked back to see where he was from that point on. I just plugged ahead one foot after the other.

Mile 2: average pace 6:51

I picked up the pace a bit here thanks to this chick in all pink in front of me. It really is amazing how much you need other people to push and propel you forward. I ended up passing her at some point, and yet, then out of now where she’d pass me again…then minutes later, I’d be back in front. This back and forth mouse game went on for the entire race. She kept me sweating.

Mile 3: average pace 7:11

Pretty uneventful mile. I felt really slow, but was pleased every time I check my Garmin. Still on track to beat the Turkey. =)

Mile 4 and 5 : average pace 7:19/7:31

Mile 4 and 5 are always hard for me whether I am racing or not. I need to figure out what is happening at this mileage point for me. Maybe it’s a hydration thing because I really noticed how dry my mouth was. I was tempted to look back and see where the Turkey was, but I didn’t. I did some math in my head and knew that as long as I didn’t dip below 7:30 for the rest of the race, I’d beat him.

Mile 6: average pace 7:02

I always perk up when I am a mile out from the finish line, but the bad news is, so does everyone else. I really become alert as people I haven’t seen the whole race start coming out of the wood work from behind me. My competitiveness gets turned on and I kick into high gear. The last mile is when I really burn out my legs, knowing that I can afford to do so because I am so close to the end.

The last .20: average pace 6:47

What a fun finish! People everywhere- cheering and shouting. I really enjoyed the friendly, encouraging crowds. I gave several high fives to all the cutie pa tootie kids lined up towards the finish line.

Crossing the finish at Mesa Mi Amigo Turkey Trot

I was thrilled to have beat my personal goal with a time of 44:32.(average pace 7:10)

Right after the Mesa Mi Amgo Turkey Trot

Yet, I was super stoked because I BEAT THE TURKEY!!!!!

Mesa Mi Amigo Turkey Trot- Me with the new turkey and the old turkey(Craig A Davidson who served as turkey for the last 15 years)

Mesa Mi Amigo Turkey Trot

My 2 biggest supporting fans

my husband Michael

My awesome mom