Crazylegs 2012

Ah, Running! It's been a good year to run so far as it has been pretty darn nice out. I don't really run outside when it rains/snows-maybe next year!

I ran the Crazylegs 8km on Saturday April 28. I had an ankle injury 2 weeks before the race and I had fears that I wouldn't be able to run. I was plagued by ankle injuries for years from about 7th grade until my first year in College, it was only after I quit sports that I finally had no more injuries. I was never really a fast healer and they just seemed to linger and linger forever! So when I hurt my ankle I was really bummed. Not only did my ankle seriously hurt, but I knew I was going to have to take a week off from running. Usually, a week off from running wouldn't be too big of a deal, but with only 2 weeks until the race I was super nervous. I hadn't really been training enough so I was hoping to cram it all in in those last 2 weeks-BACKFIRE!

So I took a week off, bough some tape and an ankle brace and a resistance band to try and get my ankle back so I could run the race. It didn't work too bad and I was back to running 1 week before the race. I was feeling good, running over 5 miles a day 3 times that last week.

 I had it planned to have my Dad, Ry and Leah all come down to watch and for Leah to see the UW band play and Bucky Badger. Wouldn't you know it-it was cold and raining on the day of the race. So Ry dropped me off and headed home as it was far too cold for Leah. I ended up standing in the cold for over and hour because they start the runners in waves. Lettered AA-ZZ each wave starts about 2 minutes after the group ahead of them. I was in LL, which on my bib lookes like 11, so I actually spent 30 minutes walking around the State Capitol trying to find number 11 :)

My wave started around 10:40 and I took off feeling great. There were insane hills-curse you Observitory Drive! And so much mud! As people run in front of you they splash up mud all over you. Nice. The run went well, and I felt good! My ankle held up great! The run started at the Capitol, up Observitory drive, down by the softball fields, under University Ave and ended at the 50 yard line of Camp Randall Stadium. It was great to be able to run past the softball fields where we won State in softball as a Junior in high school (I don't like to mention the next year where we came in 2nd too much ). And to finish on the football field was pretty cool too.

I finnished the race in 47.40, which is actually 2 minutes faster than I had run while training. 5 miles in 47 minutes made me super happy! Sadly, I have no pictures because nobody was there to take them and buying a picture would cost about $30, and I don't like most of the pictures anyway:)

So now I'll be taking a week or so off to recover and then I begin to train for the Half Marathon in October. Updates and aditional race info to follow!


Amy