Notes
someone in one of the local running groups posted that they had an entry to this that they were not going to use, so whoever wanted it could have it gratis. I snagged it.
The race had been advertised as flat and fast. Apparently the 5k is, but certainly not the 10k. I question the race director's decision to start the 1 mile fun run at 7:30, the 5k at 8am and the 10k at 8:45?! In Georgia. In August. WTF.
First 4 miles were good. I skipped the 1st water stop which was at 2.75mi. Took a cup of water at the second one about a mile later because I was really starting to get hot at this point. Walked the water stop, drank half of what was in the cup & poured the rest of it on my neck, head and back. Had to take a walk break during a relentless hill in full sun about a half mile later. The heat was just unbearable. Felt surprisingly rejuvenated after it, though.
Had to laugh at the last water stop, which was about a half mile before the end of the race. I was feeling much better and running fine, but still was hot. There was a man 2 people in front of me that, instead of taking water, apparently asked the boy scouts manning the station to just throw the water on him. He got one cup's worth from each side. I thought that was a great idea, so when I came through about 10 seconds later, I said "I'll take a splash, too! Gimme a splash!" I got SOAKED by about 8 heat-seaking missles. Most of it felt great but I got one right in the eyes and another right in the middle of my chest. It was like "Aaaahhh awesooomeee!!! ..uhhhh...oKAY!" My shorts were now plastered to my leg making that attractive fwap-fwap-fwap sound, and my shoes and socks were squishy wet. Fwap squish fwap squish and laughing the last half mile.
Can't really complain., did what I could in the conditions. There have been times where I've questioned whether the "OMG SO HOT HUMID GONNA DIE" I feel is all in my head....and today was one of those times. But I felt better when I saw the overall female winner (one of the ultra-badasses from the really hilly Sunday long run group I've been meeting with recently) post this on her FB page - "Race start at 8:45-hot AND really hilly. Hardest 10k in 20 years. I gave it all I had."