Kelly Went Crazy!

Picture #1 -Kelly pre-race with arm around imaginary Abby
Picture #2 - Kelly approaching finish line at Camp Randall
Picture #3 - Wisconsin State Journal picture to give you an idea of just how "pleasant" the weather was.

Saturday was the Crazylegs Classic 8k (4.97 mi) run in Madison. I (Kelly) ran it solo since Abby (along with our dad, Rob & Casey's wife, Laura) is down in Texas visiting Casey on his final leave before going over to Iraq. It was my first official race experience & it was an adventure! I have never seen so many runners or been outside in so much rain!!

First I had to get my race packet from the Kohl Center. This had my race number and timing chip and my official Crazylegs T-shirt. Can I just tell you how intimidated I was seeing all those "real" runners! Then it was off to the Capitol Square for a lot of rain & waiting. When I signed up for the race I had no idea what my running time would be so I guessed high at 15min/mile - that put me in group "mm". Runners are placed by running time in an alphabetic fashion so "A" would be the fastest group and the slowest group was "nn". Yes, you probably noticed I was nearly at the very end of the line of 18,541 participants!

Well, group "mm" lined up on the complete opposite side of the Capitol from where the start line was so it was about 45 minutes after the race had started that my group finally got our turn to take off. During that never-ending 45 minutes it was a total downpour! About halfway thru the procession to the start line, as water was squishing between my toes with each step, I see people standing under the awning for a Chocolate Shop. It was all I could do to continue standing there in the rain, with my teeth chattering versus run right into that chocolate shop for some "comfort food" & warmth!! I was so frozen & soggy at that point that I really wanted to ditch the whole race but I knew you were all counting on me and supporting me so I held my flooded ground.

At the starting line things were better - I was still wet but not quite as cold because I was actually running! Me! Kelly Crandall - the girl who previously believed that there was never a good reason to run (unless of course being chased by a very bad person). I can't describe to you the feeling of looking at the runners ahead of me going up the hills and seeing so many people - it was exhilarating! Mile one & two came quite quickly. I found that running in this environment was so much easier than my training runs (despite the yucky weather). At mile three, I even sent a text update to my family/friends while I ran! Then it was on to the water station. What a site! Crushed cups from the runners before me covered the road - it was incredible the amount of them. At the four mile marker there was a sound system blasting the Rocky tune (you know the one where he runs up the stairs & puts his arms up). A DJ made us all do the Rocky arms on the count of three. Corny yes, but a helpful boost none-the-less.

Soon I could see Camp Randall! I sent another quick text (while running) to my mom, Cindy, who was waiting near the finish line so she could take my picture. The race ended on the 50 yard line inside the stadium, as I rounded the corner to enter the ramp of the stadium I nearly burst into tears! It was amazing - I just ran nearly 5 miles non-stop! Mind you in February I couldn't run for 10 minutes non-stop. What an accomplishment!!

My results were:

Time: 51.44 min/sec Place in my age group of Females 30-34 = 544, Overall place out of the 18,541 participants = 8,553

I know I have a LONG way & MANY miles to go to prepare for the half-marathon next month & the full marathon in August, but for now I am savoring this small victory ;) Print this post