April Running: Spring Showers and Late Nights

This is my third year of running consistently. The problem that I have had for the past two years is that when summer gets here, it gets hot, I quit running, and then I have to start over from square one when the the weather cools off. I have come to the conclusion that if I want to take my running to the next level (and I do), then I'm going to have to suck it up and run during the hot summer months. I'm not looking forward to this, but I think that it will pay off in the end. So, for the first time ever, I entered not one but two races during the month of April. The first one was the Southeast Christian Academy 5K. That was a disaster. The morning was hot and humid, and it began to rain during the run. It was miserable, and my time of 28.05 reflected the misery of the morning. Even with this time, I was still the second female to finish. The first female was eight years old. She passed me in the last tenth of a mile (hangs head in shame). On the bright side, I did win my age group and received a nifty water bottle for my effort.









The second race that I ran in April had to be one of the most fun that I've ever done. It was the 2nd Annual Midnight Glow Run sponsored by the YMCA. I ran it last year, but it was held in July then and it was 100 degrees at midnight (so it was miserable). This year the race was moved to April, and the weather was just perfect. The 5K began at the stroke of midnight, and runners wore glowing necklaces and bracelets as they ran. Well, some runners did. Sometimes at races like these there is some crazy person (usually a guy) who comes and races in a silly get-up (like a mask or a banana suit). When I got to the midnight run this year, it did not take me long to spot and recognize the "crazy guy". It was my brother, Sam. He was wearing an 80s rock-star wig, a headband, and some of the shortest, tightest shorts that I've ever seen. It was hilarious. I had to ask where he got the shorts. Turns out they were a pair of Quincy's cheerleading shorts from high school. He had random people coming up to him all night wanting to have their picture made with him. Even with the crazy get up, he ran awesome. He was the fourth person to finish the race and got second in his age group. I also ran well. I posted a new personal best time of 25.27 and finished first in my age group. The glowing, late-night atmosphere was loads of fun. This race is a definite keeper.