Lady Distance Classic 10K: Blue Ash, Ohio

We were in the OH this weekend for a wedding and to visit with Brad's parents. I hadn't raced in a while and had a 6 mile LR scheduled for Saturday, so I thought I'd check to see what the racing scene looked like. I found the Lady Distance Classic 5K/10K in Blue Ash which is about 15-20 minutes from where Brad's parents live.

I signed up for the 10K and went into it not expecting a lot [main goal being get the 6 miles done]. It was my first women's only event and it was awesome!

I foam rolled, stretched, and hydrated like it was my job on Friday. We arrived a little later than expected, so Brad's mom picked up my packet from Fleet Feet. We got these super cute lime green Brooks tech shirts:

I layed out my clothes and got in bed early for my 6am wake up call.

Yes I'm charging my Garmin in my gym bag. [I'm what some people might call absent minded, so I have to plan ahead]. I was also way more nervous than usual because Brad and his parents were coming the the race. I've never had "fans" before. Kinda cool, but very nerve-wracking.

We arrived around 630am for a 715am start. I stretched and hit up the porto's.

 Brad was my official race photographer. Here's me walking back from the bathrooms. Niiiice action shot.

 All women event = must have lots of bathrooms

I was amazed at how many women were in this race. There was a 5K and 10K, with running and walking divisions in both. We started promply at 715am.

Can you spot me? Cheesing like a fool. [Easy to do when you're only 2/10ths in] I spent the first two miles trying to make myself slow down. My pace has been way off in races (apparently I think I'm fast when surrounded by other runners) and I've been wearing myself out. I saw the fam around mile 3.

 I'm holding a pack of shot blocks because I'm not smart and didn't realize I had no pockets. They started in my waistband but that lasted about a half a mile before they were sliding into my sweaty capris.

 Best race picture ever. I was really wanting to go left with the 5K'ers.

Running from the POlice.

Saw them again around mile 4.

I took shot blocks and mile 3 and again at mile 5.5ish [water stations]. Part of the course was through a neighborhood around a golf course. Some of the people had set up sprinklers for us to run through (THANK YOU!). There was a good downhill part through mile 5 and then I'll be darned if there wasn't a big @ss mountain hill at 5.5. Rude.

Finally finished with a time of 1:09:21 (11:11 pace). I placed 270th out of 388 10K runners and 27th out of 40 in my age group.

 After the race we went to the festival. We got a lot of free stuff and there were a ton of booths. However the first both was a free bottle of Mr. Clean. Kinda funny. I told Brad it was for him :)

There were massages, PT's doing stretching and injury screenings, all kinds of snacks and food, powerade, flowers, smoothies, and... A DIY SNO CONE STATION. Shut the front door. Don't get me wrong, I love me some fro-yo. But I LOVE tiger's blood sno-cones and I never get them.

Happiest girl in the world. I didn't want to embarrass my inlaws, so I only got one. Apparently double fisting sno-cones is not becoming.

Then we went home to rest up for the wedding. Riley bear was especially tired.

I thought this race was a lot of fun. The atmosphere was great, very 'I am woman hear me roar'. There were a fair amount of spectators and that made it fun as well. I would recommend this race to anyone and would love to run it again.

Oh and I also got a small PR, but a PR none the less.

What did you do this weekend?