Women of Steel Relay

Several months ago, I heard about a relay race here in my own valley.  I asked my boss about putting together a team to represent the gym we work at and she loved it.  I started putting together a team of instructors and then I found out I was pregnant and got sick enough I quit running for a few weeks.  Fortunately, by the time race day rolled around, I had started easing back in.  So I felt under prepared, but excited about the race.  Our team ended up being a mix of instructors and members, including me at 14 weeks pregnant, another runner at 22 weeks pregnant and another runner who is super fast but recruited only a week before the race.  But we chatted it up as a fun, non competitive, just-in-it-for-fun experience.  We designed and ordered team shirts and was really excited by the time race day came.

We had such a great time!  The girls I ran with were SO much fun.  We laughed and teased and cheered.  I LOVED this race.  It was much smaller than the relays I've done previously, with 6 person teams running 50 miles around our valley.

Our first few runners led the pack, immediately taking first place until the two pregnant runners slowed us down a bit.  On our second legs, the speedy girls snuck us into first again averaging between 7 and 8 minute miles (way faster than they had anticipated) and then the pregnant girls slowed us a bit again, averaging 11 to 12 minute miles.  By then, the girls sassy competitive sides had come out, realizing we had a chance to place.  So I pushed harder in my second leg, offering my last (and fortunately shortest leg) to another runner.  In doing this, our team kept the lead and took first place!  We ran across the finish line together to the rather empty finish line party.  We received our finisher medals and first place batons, took team pictures, devoured pizza and promised to run it together again next year.