Pumpkin Run

Loria canceled on the race, so it was just me and a bunch of runners I didn't know.

Fortunately, the heavy rain (and thunder and lightning) ceased just before the start--so I pulled something like 52:30 out of my first five-mile race. That was with hills (yes, mild Joplin hills)--but I'm really starting to love them. That long, gradual hill leading up to my house has been prepping me for races with similar hills (i.e. today's). And, counting the hills, the run was gorgeous--with fall colors starting to come out, country roads, and a cool temperature. If I'm around for it next year, I'm signing up for 2009's Pumpkin Run.

And I'm pleased with my time--especially as I wasn't monitoring my pace throughout the race like during my typical training runs... That's my fastest run in a while.

I got my own pumpkin, pumpkin run sweatshirt, and I also won a country-western cd in the raffle drawing. Since I'm not a c-w fan, I passed the cd on to the couple standing next to me. They drove 80 miles for the race! What?! For United Way, I guess--and for a bonus country western cd.