The 12Ks of Christmas – LaGrange, KY (December 21, 2019)

Race: The 12Ks of Christmas

Place: LaGrange, KY

Date: December 21, 2019

Time: 53:53

Merry Christmas…Bah Humbug?

I won’t lie…that was how I felt at the very, very end of this race.  I felt so strong and amazing, and at the very end…I felt like everything I worked hard for was taken from me.

Does this sound dramatic?  I’m sure it does.

But it is the honest truth.  And I’ll get to why as I give a little run-down of this race.

So, a big shout-out to my amazing friends, Melissa & Paul Nolan, for not only paying for my registration for this race, but for telling me about it last year and really peaking my interest in it.  For one thing, the proceeds of this race go toward a really good cause – The Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center.  They were even kind enough to pick up my bib and sweatshirt the night before the race and bring it with them on race morning.

The night before the race I should have had my “magic sushi” that has worked for me in the past when training for a marathon and racing.  But I didn’t.  I cooked up a homemade Mushroom Masala, serving it over rice.  I have to get used to that though.  I can’t have my sushi before a few races I am traveling for this coming year – the biggest of which is the Berlin Marathon.

I might just be making excuses.  HA!

I woke up to give myself time to figure out what I wanted to wear that morning (it was pretty dang cold), stretch, eat something, prep a bottle of Maurten 160 Drink Mix to bring with me for 30 minutes before the race, and…make the drive to LaGrange, Kentucky.

We got there with lots of time to kill.  Per usual.  So, after parking the car, my roomie and I wandered inside to stay warm.  I made use of the indoor bathroom (twice…lots of water that morning because hydration!) and Cathy went exploring or something.  That being said, as I wandered out, I was greeted by some members of the Louisville She Runs This Town Group, and we all sort of gathered together, admiring festive attire, talking about race strategy, possible races coming up, and how bright my pants were.  That really was a thing.  We all admired the cute Christmas tree awards that would be handed out to the Top 2 overall for the 6K and the 12K.  They were truly stunning.  Then, with 10 minutes to go until race time…we took the group photo.

Melissa arrived soon after the photo was taken, bringing my bib and her cute little bundle of joy (and her husband, for good measure, LOL!).  I got pinned up and with 3 minutes to go finally headed outside.  At this point, Lynn Riedling, a local runner, wandered past and I looked at Cathy and said, “Well…I won’t take overall here anyway!” I stepped out into the cold morning air.  No one was really out there yet.  It was weird.  A lady asked which way we were heading out on the run, and I said, “I guess this way…because that’s how everyone is facing.  Usually I don’t have to worry about it because I’m not really speedy enough to lead a race.”  She said that was the same with her.

With just seconds to go, there was a countdown to the start of the race.  People didn’t really line up right on the line…but we all took off when we told to go.  My legs felt fast to start, but I didn’t know how fast they were as we took off from the church and headed down to Commerce Parkway.  We were given instructions at the start of the race to return on the path, not the road when we turned around.  Noted.  I was feeling pretty strong as we made our way to the first turn and hit Mile 1.  It was my fastest mile of the day…around a 6:50.

But here is where I now get why my LaGrange friends always talking about the hills.  Because after that turn, the hills definitely started.  Immediately.  We climbed the first one on New Moody Lane.  I wasn’t sure who I was running with was doing the 6K or the 12K, but I knew that I would continue to run straight down a road.  Anyone doing the 6K would turn at Mile 1.86.

My second mile was around a 7:44.  Hills.  They get me every time.  I had a few people pass me, but they were either men or dogs at this point.  I did reach the turn around point and only a few turned.  I stayed the course with the rest and just really was feeling strong at the moment.  And I knew all I had to do was run straight down LaGrange Parkway to the turnaround at KY 53.  But, in all cases, I just turn around when everyone else does.

Soon after the 2.5 mile point…Lynn passed me.  I knew that was coming.  She’s stealth and fast and an amazing runner.  I expected it.  But I knew I’d now be working for that 2nd overall female position.  I was able to push a little more and sped up for the rollers on the road, reaching the turnaround point a little sooner than I should have.  After I turned and started back, the next female behind me was coming toward the turnaround. I had a bit of a buffer, but not much.

Time to dial it in.

Miles 4 and 5 went by quickly, and I was able to maintain that pickup I had once Lynn passed me.  That made me feel pretty good.  But coming into Mile 6, we had to make another hill climb, and that definitely slowed me down more than I wish it had.  But we were nearing the end of the race, so I knew my legs were not feeling as peppy.  It was my slowest mile of the race, and it ended on a downhill, so that was a bit of a surprise.  I made the dash across the road to continue on the path.  That did mean some running on some grass, but it was only for a few strides.  Someone said they heard jingle bells and turned to see me coming up behind them so they moved out of the way.  Oh yeah…decided it would be fun to wear socks with bells on them for this run.  HA!  Someone else a bit further up the path was blocking the way while walking, and they turned as I was coming up behind them and stepped right in front of me.  I had to hit the brakes and dodge around them.  They did apologize.  But I was in the homestretch.  I could also tell at this point that the course was definitely going to be short.

I made the turn into the church parking lot to come up the hill.  I had 0.05 miles to go to the finish line when…right there a woman sprinted right past me and up the hill.  I tried to go with her, but she pressed on and I saw her round to the finish line.  The fight I had left and I really slowed down because I just felt disappointed.  It was the last race of the year for my mom and I got outkicked fight at the end after being 1st or 2nd overall for ALL of the race.  I felt so much anger when I crossed the finish line that I paused my Garmin, said a few not safe for church words, and might have fought off tears.

It felt like I had been cheated right at the end.  And I won’t lie.  I was mad.  I was also mad that the course was about .30 miles short.  Looking back at the course, the original one had us doing this little duck into a parking lot thing and doing a loop in the first mile…and that didn’t happen.  I guess that’s where it all went wrong.  The good part was that I crossed just after my friends Melissa, Paul and their baby Carrick (in a stroller) crossed for the 6K.  But Melissa wasn’t happy with her finish either, and she tried really, really hard to lift my spirits. I wasn’t having it as much as she wasn’t having my words of praise for her run.  Cathy made a point of telling me that I was coming off a week that included two 10 milers before this race whereas the other woman was probably on better rested legs.  It almost made me feel better.

At this point, a child walked an ornament over to me for finishing.  Just as I was handed it, I just passed it off to Cathy.  But then Lynn Riedling (the overall female winner) came over to me and said such nice things to me.  I think she could tell I was upset.  She told me that I really pushed her and that I ran really well that day.  Honestly, that was such a show of sportsmanship that it really warmed my heart.

Cathy noticed people weren’t coming up the path the right way so she went to direct them and I wen to go add on to my distance to get the proper 12K.  I kept it really easy.  Cried a little from anger, disappointment, and just feeling like I let my mom down on the last race of the year.

And then…my mom called.  I had just finished my cool down and my phone rang.  I told her about the race and she said someone should have tripped that woman.  My mom has a dry sense of humor.  She told me she was proud of me for being 3rd female or 1st in my age group.  And I told her…that didn’t matter at this race, because no one got awards for that.  Now, I know awards and accolades aren’t everything, but I literally thought I had it for the ENTIRE race until that finish.

I finished talking to her and all of us went inside for the awards.  I was nice and applauded everyone, including the lady who outkicked me (she was also the one I spoke with at the start of the race) right at the end.  I’m not unsporting.  She earned it.  I just am still a bit bitter.  HA!  I’ll get over it…eventually.  Although, I did find out that if I had opted for the 6K option, I would have crushed the competition going away.  Let that be a lesson…there is sometimes more magic in that shorter distance.  Hindsight is 20/20.

Afterwards, the Nolans, Cathy and I went out for brunch at Wild Eggs.  I then had to finish up some shopping and head home to pack because I was heading to Alabama early on Sunday morning for Christmas with the family.

So, my official results of the 12Ks of Christmas are that I finished in I finished in 53:53.  That’s a good baseline to work on should I run this again next year…unless I opt for the 6K option.  We’ll see.  Also…maybe not…because the course was short, as I mentioned before.  I was 8/54 finishers overall. I was the 3/29 female finishers. And I was 1/3 in my age division. So, it might not have been the finish I thought I had earned, but in the end, it was a good race (next time I hope the course is more accurate), and the proceeds definitely went to a good cause.  And, honestly, when all was said and done…I had fun, even on the challenging hills.  And that wrapped up a year of racing…so in 2020, I’m going to work on that finishing kick.  Getting passed at the finish line is really getting old.

GOALS!

Also…I might eat sushi the night before.  Reasons.