first race of "running year of the megans" and weekend fun

Hello!  Hope you're all having a good weekend.  Mine has been busy, but good.  After a low key Friday night, I had a race Saturday morning with Megan. Last month while discussing our plan of attack for a half PR, we said, "hey you know what would be fun? Doing a race in February!" Famous last words. The race was about 30 minutes away from us at 10am. When I woke up I checked the weather and found it was a whopping 3 degrees in the city where the race was taking place. We had gotten some snow Thursday to Friday, so it was also a slushy/icy mess. So not ideal. Yet, we decided to brave the elements.

I got to Megan's house a little before 9 and we posed for a quick picture together indoors.

all bundled up and wearing our respective marathon zipups

We got to the race around 9:30ish and walked into the school (the race was put on by South Lyon's boys cross country team) to get our stuff.

It was a smaller race, but we were pleasantly surprised to find it was chip timing and that the race shirts were Brooks tech tees.

super bright, but at least it'll fit well.  I'll definitely wear it sometime.

We threw our race swag into Megan's car and jogged to the start:

This starting line is slightly underwhelming.

We agreed to just go out and see what we had in us. We knew a PR wasn't really in reach, especially with possible ice. So, we just said run and see what happens.

The race started right on time and we were off!  It had "warmed" to 14 degrees by then, but I still felt like I was freezing.  I started my watch only to realize that my satellites hadn't loaded. I had time to tell me where I was at, but no mileage or pace.

Truth be told? It was oddly liberating. I was running more by feel and not obsessing over checking my pace every ten seconds. I lost Megan semi early in the race and I just settled into a groove. It was a nice course, including on a paved trail, through a subdivision, and even over a little bridge. There was definitely some ice throughout and it slowed me a bit. Though, without knowing how much my pace shifted, I didn't care all that much.

While I definitely warmed a bit, it was still cold and my lungs felt like they were burning from the cold by the end. Without ice, I probably would have finished around 23 something, but crossed the finish in 24:28.  Megan crossed not too long after me in 24:55. We were both completely happy with it, especially considering the conditions.

We headed inside after the race and there was an awesome post-race spread with lots of from local restaurants.  Results were posted on computers for viewing shortly after and I found out I was 3rd in my age group!

3rd/11 in age group and 50th overall out of 190 I believe.

They gave coffee mugs instead of medals.  Totally okay for a coffee addict like me!

posing with my "race bling" haha

Both Megan and I agreed it was a great little tune up race. The cross country team also puts on a fall race and we said we may do that one as well. It was a great course, well organized, and cheap. Definitely a win for us!

Besides running in chilly temps, the weekend was spent celebrating my niece's birthday, catching up on errands/homework, and going to church and lunch with the rents and one of my brothers today. It was a special church service as they were celebrating milestone wedding anniversaries. My parents will be celebrating FORTY years of marriage this April. That is utterly mind boggling to me. (But also completely awesome).

the rents after the service

me, the parents, and my brother after church

Ry and I before church. Do you spot Gizmo doing a complete photobomb?

And now Ry and I are watching the Grammy's. I don't watch a whole lot of award shows, but I am definitely looking forward to Justin Timberlake and Mumford & Sons performing! Enjoy the little sliver of weekend we have left :)

Questions for you:

-Anyone else race/run in the freezing cold this weekend? How'd it go?

-Married friends: how long have you been married? 

-Who else is watching the Grammy's? Looking forward to any performances?

-What'd you do this weekend? Anything fun?

Megan