Sole Challenge 2014

The Sole Challenge 10k and 5k was hosted by the Sole Sistas of the 618, a running group in Southern Illinois. We weren't sure if it would be a good race, because sometimes the smaller local ones aren't very well organized. It started at 8:15 for the 10k and 8:30 for the 5k, so I decided to run the 10k. I wish it had started earlier, but I don't know if it would have helped, because it was HOT and humid! The course was around a lake, so that was pretty and scenic (and would have been awesome if the temperatures were 20-30 degrees cooler, but it is Southern Illinois in late August!) 

Their website says it's a challenging course, and they were right! The first four miles are up and down hills, and the last two are around a lake, on a gravel trail, that also goes up and down hills! It was my first official 10k, and my first trail race, and you know what that means. Guaranteed PR!!!! So unless I fell down and skinned my knees, I was going to have a good day!  

At each water stop, I dumped the water on me instead of drinking it, since it gives me cramps if I drink too much, which was a good strategy, except I was soaking wet by the end! I had read in Runners World (after my disastrous half marathon) that runners often get water-logged when it's hot, and dumping the water over your head can cool you down better, and then I read on another blog where the writer had the people at the water station douse her, and they loved it. I made sure I picked a kid, and they all looked at me like, "REALLY?!" and then they seemed really happy, so that was fun. 

I finished in 1:14:45.8, which is 12:08 per mile. My GPS has my split times a little faster, of course, but not bad for the conditions, I'd say! And I should be able to beat that easily next time!

The swag bags were really nice -- good t-shirt, Cliff bar, fan, reflector, chapstick, etc. plus it's a reusable bag. Afterward, they had water, ice pops, chips, crackers, two kinds of cookies, trail mix, bananas, and chocolate milk. All for $20. Like I said, we were afraid it would be minimal and disorganized, but since it was put on by a running group, so I guess they know what runners like!