Chapman 5K with Team Sparkle

from Team Sparkle’s Facebook page

a.k.a The Time I PR’d the SHIT out of a 2 year-old previous best.

(woops. SPOILER.)

On Saturday I woke up ready to either casually jog 3.1 miles in a cute outfit, or angry-sprint for 20-some minutes to finally release my SUB4FAIL frustration.

After almost a full week of rest, my legs were fresh and my head was ready for redemption.

source

I called this my cheerleader race – where sparkles and color and eye liner and rainbows replaced my usual un-fun raceness.

In addition to my Sparkle Skirt I wore a OneLove headband that Emily talked me into at the The Race That Shall Not Be Named Expo.  Her Hood To Coast team wore and raved about them, so I jumped on the bandwagon. 

However I chose not to wear it the proper way and ended up yanking it off during the race.  Maybe one of these days I’ll stop being such a stubborn asshole?

from According To Kelly & Sweat Once A Day

poor headband execution & ugly face from OUaL, photo from Faster Bunny

That’s Brian’s friend that was staying with us for the weekend.  She was already awake (naughty east coast time change) and decided to tag along for the race.  And then ran a 20:05 and placed 3rd in our division.  Show off.

Anyways I took off like a banshee out of hell, just like I feared I would, but somehow managed to hold on to that fast-for-me pace for the whole race.  I just kept telling myself,

Remember how disappointed you were with yourself after Long Beach?  How you hated that you gave up so easily?  DON’T BE THAT GIRL AGAIN.  Don’t give up.  Hold onto this pace.  You can do it.

from Team Sparkle’s Facebook page

Margot was there spectating and I saw her with about a mile to go.  She gave a little cheerleader-cheer, and then a kick-your-ass coach-cheer :

SARAH IF YOU’RE RACING THIS THING NOW’S THE TIME TO GO!  RUNNNN!

So I did.  And shattered a PR from my pre-Marathon days by almost two full minutes.

Thanks, coach ;)

Chapman 5k, 10.15.11 – 22:13 (*new PR!)

stolen from Heather 

There was a big turnout for Team Sparkle, including two of my Ragnar teammates – Heather & Madison.  Heather’s three girls (including Gabby!) also ran and repped the sparkles.

And then I came home and Sparkle’d Frankie.  Gender confusion, what?

Conclusion?  Running fast is fun.  Mama needs some more sprint races on the calendar, and is super pumped for Iron Girl 10K.

Sarah OUaL

* I hope I don’t need to say this, but just in case : I’m not being paid/compensated to pimp talk about any of the products on OUaL.  I’m not that cool.  Take comfort knowing these are my un-biased opinions.