The Race I Loved: Governor's Cup 8K

Yes, y'all read that correctly. 

The race I LOVED.

Hats off to Columbia's Governor's Cup 8K race. It was hands down the most fun race that I have ever run and it is definitely the best run I've ever completed. Everyone really stepped up with this race to make it a very enjoyable experience for the runners and it made all the difference.

There were cheerleaders, dance teams, running clubs, Jamaican bands, bag pipes, Double Dutch Forces, you name it.

There were free high fives, fist bumps, and tons of encouragement all throughout the course.

{The start of the Half Marathon - see the guy in the lime green? He ended up winning!}


{My turn! Yay!}


{Yes, I am a 4 year old at heart}

The run started off fast. I didn't realize how fast I was going until we got to the 1 mile marker and time sign there said we were just under 9 minutes into the race. I'm sorry, what? Y'all know I don't run that fast. I had to slow it down a little knowing that I still had 4 more miles {and a massive hill} to go.

My favorite signs that I came across during the race were:

"Run faster! My arms hurt!"

"Free High Fives!"

But the absolute best one was held up by this little old lady right before we got to the massive hill on Blossom Street in the last half mile of the race. Her sign?

"I'm over the hill... but you're not!!!"

Touche.

We rounded the corner and headed up the hill towards the end of the race. I ended up with some fantastic motivation along the way... about halfway up the hill, a police car showed up to my left... with a runner and a biker behind him... the half marathon leader! The half marathon started about 20 minutes before the 8K did and the leader of the pack caught up to the 8K race and passed me with about half a mile to go to the finish.

A couple more half marathoner's passed me on that hill and I cheered for each of them. 'Cause hey, why not?

As soon as I saw the finish line, I felt myself smiling. I wasn't tired. I wasn't breathing hard. I had mastered the hill. I was going to finish this race without stopping once to walk!

Then I saw the clock. 47:50? 47:50!!!

You better believe that I sprinted out the last little bit of the race once I saw the time. I crossed over the finish line at 48:15.

48:15!!!

Ignore the time on the clock below because that was the finish time for the half marathoners, not the 8K runners.



Results

Overall: 203/403
Women: 82/218
Age Group: 13/36
Time: 48:15
Pace: 9:37/mile

 Once upon a time, back in high school, I participated in an Amazing Race around Columbia and one of our challenges was to run up and down the State House stairs 10 times. So naturally, to celebrate my 8K, I had to recreate that moment.

But then I really celebrated my great run once we got back home - pancakes, bacon, and an entire day on the couch watching football.

Kiawah Half, here I come! 33 days & counting!