I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: the Army 10 Miler is my favorite race of the year. There’s just something about ATM that makes me buzz with excitement and nerves. It’s also the one weekend/year that I get my mom all to myself, and I cherish the uninterrupted time with her. {We can spend 4 hours at the expo and no one judges!}
When I moved to DC 5 years ago, I wasn’t really a long distance runner. I had just graduated from college and was trying to figure out how to survive as a former collegiate athlete (I ran the 400m hurdles and 400m). In 2006, running 3 miles was my worst nightmare – but when my mom suggested we run the ATM, I couldn’t say no.
The 2011 race was our 5th Army 10 Miler – this race has become our mother/daughter tradition (I’ve also grown to love long distance running). I love that my mom is still running and improves her time each year. I love that we get to hang out and laugh at whatever we want. I love that we spend hours at the expo and buy things we don’t need (my mom loves expos as much as I do). And, I love that she is my mom, the one God chose for me!
This year my mom and I decided to run in Team Sparkle skirts. Without really planning it, we looked like twins and it was SO much fun! We got compliments from runners, crowd support and soldiers.
The Race:
I think God loves the ATM – we’ve had great weather every year, and #5 was no exception. If you ask me, it was perfect – cool breeze, sun, not too hot and not too cold (others would argue with this statement, so we won’t ask them). There was a new start/finish this year, and it was a bit confusing. We literally had to trek across the Pentagon and make our way down 110. I ran about 1 mile before the race, just to get to my wave start. I made it with 2 minutes to spare – success!
Miles 1-2 are always super crowded and it takes about 2 miles for me to get into my groove. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way – but WHY? Why, if your bib says #24,942 and you are walking within 0.5 seconds of the race start, are you starting in Wave 1 with me?! I’m not an elite athlete, but I’m probably faster than you and honestly, it’s downright rude. If others can follow the rules, so can you! {I promise I am done venting}
At Mile 2, I found a runner running the same pace as me. We literally ran the rest of the race together and never said a word (I was working too hard to talk). It was great – we waited at water stops and pushed each other every mile. It was perfect – and I’m not sure I could’ve have run a PR without my P.I.C. (partner in crime).
I felt really good and strong for most of the race. Mile 8 was a little tough because I started to feel tired and formed a huge blister on my foot –but I knew that I was less than 7 minutes from Mile 9. And Mile 9 meant: only 4 more laps around the track (as a former track & field athlete, I love to break miles down in terms of laps around the track).
I didn’t love the new finish line – it was confusing and I had no idea where it was and when it would end. I tried to gauge where it would be (turns out it was around a corner/tunnel) and picked up the pace for a finish of 1:08:39 – NEW PR! {bring back to old start/finish}
I’m really excited about my race and PR. Without really trying, I ran very consistent miles and feel confident that this technique helped me run a PR. Had I known where the finish line was, I think I could have picked it up earlier (in Mile 9), but again, am very happy about my race.
Stats:
Time: 1:08:39 (6:51 pace)
Overall: 852/21,914
Gender: 88/9,645
Division: 25/1,760 {Top 25 – woo hoo}
My mom had a great race, too. She improved her 2010 time by 5 minutes, running ATM in 1:30:23 (go mom!!). And even though BJ was suffering from an injury, he pushed through to finish the race. Huge congrats to ALL of the 2011 finishers!
Don’t forget to enter my Endurasoak giveaway {HERE}
CONGRATS on a super speedy race! (not that I would expect anything less) and your mom is a knockout! (is that creepy for me to say?)Can't wait to see how much you destroy Boston!
Congrats on the PR!! How fun that you get to run a race with your mom.
Yay! Great job! I love the skirts and am so excited to wear mine in 3 weeks!
Congrats! I love your partner-in-crime story. It's fun to motivate and be motivated by strangers along side you! It was fun meeting you at the finish, too 🙂
WOW! I knew you were fast but 1:08 for 10 miles?! Great race (and so fun with your mom!). Like Beth, I really liked your partner in crime story too…how neat that you could silently push each other to run well! Well done and great recap!
NICE Race Girl!!!!!!! You got some serious Wheels!!!!
Congrats!!! I saw you around mile 6!! It looked like you were running really strong .. which you were!
Congrats on your PR and getting to run the 5th ATM with your hawt mama!! What a fun tradition and inspiration!
You look so cute in the sparkle skirt! Is that the traveling one – I wore it in Chicago in August! Congrats on your PR.
WOW! you are so smiley! congrats on the new PR!
i LOVE that you and your mom have this tradtion! and she’s fast too! congrats on your PR
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your new layout, super cool!! Congrats! No where is the announcement you talked about?? TEXT ME!!
That’s your mom?! She could be your sister, and the matching outfits are awesome!! That is so great you guys got to run together, love it when I can run with my mom 🙂 Fantastic finish as well, congrats on the amazing PR!!!!
Awesome job! That is a speedy time and so is your mom’s! My husband and I have our first 10 mile race this Saturday (using it as our 10 mile long run for our half marathon training) and I can’t wait. Reading your race recap made me even more excited.
I would love to wear a sparkle skirt someday!
I’m also loving the new look of your blog 🙂
Hi Jamie,
Thanks for the comment! Good luck this weekend, you are going to do great!
Check back later this week for a Team Sparkle Skirt giveaway!! The skirts are SO much fun to run in 🙂
Congrats! Love that you share this with your mom!
Sweet–a 68! I think you’ve got the hang of this distance thing! And your mom is one fit lady too! I’m afraid to know how old she is ’cause it’s probably about the same as me, which means I’m old enough to be your mom. Yikes!
Thanks! And what are you talking about – you are totally fit & look amazing!! 🙂
CONGRATS!!!! What a great tradition to run this race with your mom!! 🙂
Btw, LOVE your new blog design 🙂
I love the new blog set up lady!! And I love the font :). Anyway congrats on the 10 miler. you are amazing what a pace!! i can’t wait to MCM, so soon 🙂
I love the new design and the race pic! So awesome!
Way to go Melody!! Congrats on the PR. I totally know what you mean about the whole 1 mile left=4 laps around the track. Definitely helps me too!!!! One of these days we’ll have to do a race together. 🙂
whoa speedy! congrats on the pr! and how fun to run with your mom – the matching skirts are too cute. i am also loving this font it is making me type in to type this comment, though i know it won’t show up that way once it posts.
You ladies are rocking those Team Sparkle skirts! So sad I missed the giveaway but I can’t wait to get a skirt of my own! LOVE your website!