Run Like a Girl 8K

This morning I got up early and rode my bike to the inaugural Run Like a Girl 8K at the Portland Zoo. The run was for women only, and there were nearly 1000 women competing!! That is so awesome. We all got a really cool running tank in olive green from Columbia Sportswear, a cool logo'd water bottle, and a pep talk from Gert Boyle herself (Gert is President of Columbia Sportswear, and one tough mother. Click here to see some hilarious ads). Gert said she would give $500 to first place. Sweet! Then I told some girls around me that I will be nowhere near first, and will probably end up owing her money. : )

The race itself was totally awesome since it was nearly all on trails! But cool trails means really tough hills. I did great until about 1/2 way, then I started to slow down on the uphills. I actually did have to walk one near the end, but so did everyone else so I didn't feel too bad. I found out that I am super fast on the downhills. I passed so many people going downhill, and was never passed once, and since it was a downhill finish, this bought me a few places at the end. The race finished inside the zoo, at the amphitheater. It was funny cause once we got inside the zoo we all though the finish was going to be right around the next turn. But it wasn't! It kept going, and going... Well, next year I'll know.

Finish time 41:20 (gun time), 8:19 pace. 59th of 762 overall, 7th of 168 in my age group.