Training - Not much... I think my longest run since the Wenatchee half was ~4 miles, and I haven't been running/working out nearly as consistently as I would like due to moving, job changes, etc. Excuses, excuses, I know - but it is what it is.
Race weekend - I had a super fun time in Portland hanging out with DIVA friends Steffi and Marie - probably stayed up way too late the night before the race talking, and ate way too much at brunch afterwards, but it was great to have some girl time with some awesome people!
The race- I started out running with Marie, following the 9 min mile pace group. Note that my pace for the last 10K I ran (when I was actually in shape) was around 9:30 miles... we leapfrogged a bit for the first few miles until I tried to make myself slow down at bit around mile 3. The sun came out in time for the race, which was nice - it was lovely weather and a nice course through the countryside of Hillsboro. I ran pretty strong until around the mile 4 mark, at which point my hip started cramping up and reminding me that I hadn't run that long/fast for a while! I somehow missed the mile 5 marker, which made the last two miles feel super long - I was really glad after plenty of walk breaks to see the mile 6 marker and the turn into the stadium. If not for my hip, I feel like I could have kept pushing it more - I really need to keep up with the stretching and strength training, and maybe do something chiro/PT wise to get that issue solved. It's been popping up for at least three years now! My final time was just under 1:03 - not a PR, but not too bad given my lack of training and my starting out too fast. Noob mistake right there!
Next up- My first triathlon of the season (mini tri - 1/4 mile swim, 9.2 mile bike, and 1.5 mile run) is this Saturday at Cottage Lake! I did a loop of the bike course, and jumped in the lake (no wetsuit) to test the water... it is about 58 degrees and definitely quite chilly. I am keeping my fingers crossed for some sun this week to warm things up!
