Midnight Sun Run 2014

This last Saturday was the Midnight Sun Run. I didn't feel that confident going into it, as I had not been able to get much below 47:24 in the distance. I haven't been focusing on running as much as I had the time previously. So I was really nervous going in. I got there and started too fast because the start was a lot more crowded then it had been the past. I think I did the first two miles in under 14:00. I was a little confused too, because the course changed a bit due to flooding.
I knew I was going to have a hard run from the first two miles. I never felt like I slipped into a good pace that was comfortable.. or as they say, comfortably hard. I struggled the whole way, but I obviously struggled to some purpose because I beat my time by 22 sec. :) I rounded the corner that is usually right at the end and saw that the course went around the other side of the building where it normally ends and nearly cried. I was like "where the HECK is the finish!" At about mile 6 I was screaming at myself to keep running and to keep pushing and to "get your ass moving Janelle!" I finished 17th overall and got my name in the newspaper. My official time was 44:02. I wished I could have run just a tiny bit faster and finished in 43:something. It just looks better. But truth be told I was shocked that I actually beat my other time and that I kept running. I was so tired by the end I just wanted to sit down on the path and sleep. In fact as soon as I crossed the finished line, I stepped to the side and bent over and just gasped for breath. It was not nearly as fun as the time before, but you can't expect a perfect race every time right?

A couple of pics.