My gosh I was not suited to run a race this morning, but ended up having a great race and a really fun time with friends!!
Crossing the finish line neck-and-neck with Caitlin – you can’t even see her!!
And what on earth is that bulge coming out of my leg!?!? A new muscle created on this run!?
Our alarm went off at 5:20 – waaaaay too early. I had very little time to get dressed (if I were racing this for seriousness I would have planned to get up earlier and eat a full breakfast).
Caitlin saved the day and said to come on over and I could have a cup of coffee there. I need coffee before races! The caffeine really does make a difference.
Coffee was joined by a banana and a blob of Naturally Nutty Mocha Peanut Butter they sent for me to review a while back. AWESOMENESS!!
Caitlin and Diana made Operation Beautiful signs for us to wear! I liked mine 
Jen, Emma, Moi, Emily, Caitlin – plus missing Michelle and Kelly!
Had to say hello to Great Harvest!
Off go the strollers!
Then the speed demons!
Look for Emily!!
Casey blazed through in 26 minutes
Jen and Jeff ran together!! Speed demons themselves.
Caitlin and I ran miles 2-4 neck and neck!
I finished the race in 33:03 (Garmin time) and just about threw up a few times! Average pace of 8:14, which I am very pleased with!!! I thought the course was excellent – lots of uphills buttttt lots of downhills too. I stopped to walk up a monster hill at one point. And I was terribly dehydrated!!
Almost to the finish! You can see Caitlin getting ready to sprint up behind me. Oh no she didn’t!! We crossed at the exact same time! Her time was a bit better – we think she might have started at a different point than I did? We wanted to have the same time!
Michelle is a beast!!
Post race I was way too tired to take photographs! I took a sample of a sports drink and I think it gave me a mild "dumping syndrome" (too much sugar in the small intestines so the osmolarity changes and gives you major nausea). I eventually recovered with water.
And drank some of this delicious drink!
Jeff was hard at work! I’m going to be race girl someday
Took a bite of cinnachip
Next up was a tailgate at Caitlin‘s! Minus the football Caitlin had bagels and juices. I brought some Nuttzo PF and the Naturally Nutty. And fruit, bars, juices.
My gosh, Emily + Casey have really figure out a great thing here – Green Tea Pistachio Energy Bars!
Kelly brought delicious summer fruits
I didn’t have much of an appetite, but I ate anyways.
The doggins were a fun addition!
Thanks so much to Diana + Matt, our cheerleaders and photographers!!
A wild cat even joined the event
She must have seen the Davidson Wildcat 
I have been sick with worry over this lease (bursting into tears at random points) and we think we are taking a step back. Pressure and rush is never a good thing. I feel so much relief already. My stomach feels hungry for lunch! A good sign.
{ 59 comments… read them below or add one }
Brilliant recap and it sounds like you had an awesome race
you should be so pleased! Fab splits too, you went FAST!!
Love that pic of Caitlin catching uo too, so funny
I love that they had mothers racing with their children in strollers. That is very cute
Congrats on completing the race! That’s a pretty big accomplishment considering all that’s been going on in your life 
Congrats on the great race! I already read Caitlin’s recap and it sounds like it was so much fun. Definitely a good distraction from all the stress! Have a wonderful Saturday
Great job on the race!
Good job on your race! Love that you’re discovering new muscles haha!
Green tea pistachio bars?!?! Get me some!
What a great post! The race looks like so much fun, well besides the whole nausea/dehydration thing. I never knew about the “dumping syndrome.” People always try to get me to drink sports drinks, but I always refuse because I know I will feel sick unless I have lots of water to dilute it with. I didn’t know this was so common. I don’t feel as weird anymore haha.
You have GREAT (!!) legs- they look amazing in Caitlin’s post, too!
Awesome race! And I love the new quadriceps muscle!
Hope things go smoothly with the bakery and that you get the perfect place.
Oh my gosh! How fun!
I absolutely love running races with friends, and your recap brings back such fond memories!
Have a great weekend!
I just read Caitlin’s recap too and you ladies are such an inspiration to me! So much in fact, that I just whipped out my credit card and signed up for my first race ever! A 5K on Sept. 18th.
Props to you for running a great race with all that you have weighing on your mind. Sending good vibes your way!
Looks like such a fun race day! Congrats on a great time!
Congrats on a great race! The signs were such a great idea!
-Erika
I think that’s your vastus medialis obliquus (one of the muscles that make up the quadriceps) popping out to say hello. That’s an awesome shot!
Great job on the race, despite the crazy heat and hills! It was wonderful to meet you and Matt, and if I don’t see you guys before the move GOOD LUCK!
Congrats on the race – it looks like you guys had so much fun!!!
My fingers are still crossed for you and Matt with the lease stuff. Try to let go of it for now and relax & enjoy the weekend. Mondays are for worrying!
The race sounds like a great time. Even though you hadn’t really “prepped” for it, it is always fun to run with friends! The tailgating idea for afterward is really fun, too…
I’m just wondering why none of the races I run have Great Harvest. Nothing would be better at getting me to the finish line!
Love the race recap! You and Caitlin are speed racers!
Have a great Saturday!
Great job on your race! It’s definitely a good way to run off some stress. Hang in there with the lease. I’m sure everything will work out!
So glad I could be there for you guys today! I had a blast taking photos and cheering everyone on! Who knows…maybe I will be running with you one of these times??!!
Great race report and photo story. Things will work out about the lease. Worry won’t help. Chin up.
Gorgeous new leg muscle! Congrats on your race. Maybe you weren’t racing for seriousness, but maybe you seriously needed the release
Take care!
Hurrah, well done Kath! Love the pictures, I’m yet to get a race picture with both feet off the ground.
You and Caitlin have made me want to enter another race!
I’m gonna be a total PT school dork and tell you what that muscle is…it’s your VMO (vastus medialis oblique) and it’s a good thing it’s poppin’ and STRONG because usually everyone’s vastus lateralis is too strong and it leads to lots of knee problems…so yah!!!
Congratulations on a great race!! 
congrats on the race! make sure to take good care of yourself during this stressful time. things WILL get better!!
Great job on the race!
Is that a blueberry you are feeding the pup? I have heard they are toxic to dogs. You also hear that about chocolate and my big pup has certainly snuck her share of chocolate will no ill effects but just wanted to let you know for future reference
Loved reading about your kick at the end. It’s fun to have somebody waiting there like a shark ready to chase you down and overtake you, and once you realize what’s happening, there’s no way in heck you’ll let it happen. Such a basic instinct and fun to see in action. Congrats on a solid run.
What a fun race! Love that you guys all did it together…and with the OB signs!
Yay, you did SO great! That is an awesome muscle
How do I get one of those?
Way to go! You look great out there!
Sorry the lease thing is so friggin’ stressful! A run helps but I know the need to get things resolved. I hope things go well for you guys.
Congratulations on your giant feat! You did awesome!!
You women are all SO inspirational to me. From your running to your healthy eating to your Operation Beautiful signs, I just love it all.
Good luck with your lease too!
Yay for racing for fun and with friends! As for the bakery, I really do believe that everything does work out as it should. (I’m not religious, just optimistic!) The future is coming, and whatever it brings with it is what we have to work with. I’d be randomly crying too, but you’re such a strong person, clearly capable of handling so much and meant to succeed. I have every confidence that the future (your’s and the bakery’s!) are there for the taking
Sounds like a great race, Kath! Congrats!
You and Matt are definitely in my prayers regarding the lease. Keep us updated on how things turn out!
Gotta watch that osmolarity.
Congrats on the great race!
Great recap! Sounds like a an excellent race and lots of good times!
Congrats on the race!! Try not to worry too much- things will work out even though you can’t see how now
so glad you’re starting to feel better. it’s all going to work out just fine, even though it’s hard to remember that in the moment! congratulations on a great run
Excellent race! That is quite a shot of your thigh muscle! Impressive!
I applaud the inclusion of strollers. But did they really start ahead of the pack? That doesn’t make any sense to me, unless they had a MAJOR head start. My usual time for 5Ks is 23/24 minutes, but if I did one with my 2-year-old in the stroller, it would probably be 27/28 minutes. The top runners usually finish in around 15 minutes, so I don’t get how they wouldn’t trample the joggers.
BAh! This sounds like so much fun!!!! Cutest runners ever with your signs
Glad you’re feeling relief about things! I’m sure everything will turn out for ya!
Congratulations on finishing the race on a tough day! You should be so proud of yourself!
Great job on the race, Kath!!! It looks like everyone had a blast, and I totally love that you guys had your very own tailgating setup of goodies. Awesome.
Looks like it was a great way to kick off the weekend! I’m glad you had a great time with friends.
I just found out that Great Harvest is now here in Mt. Pleasant! They opened the last week of April, but I just found out they were there this week. It’s too bad you and Matt weren’t able to snag the Charleston location. I keep praying that everything will come together for you two in C’ville.
Congrats on the race, and I hope all the lease stuff works out!
Awesome race:) Hope you’re not too stressed over your lease. Everything always works out in the end!
Awesome race! I bet it felt so good to rn out some anger with everything going on. I totally cracked up when you said ‘oh no she didn’t’ hahah…so funny you finished at the (almost) same time!
Eeeeek shame about the nausea and dehydration but it does look like a lot of fun! All the better when ya have great company to share your run with xx
Whaaaaaat?! Is Matt an LBJ fan? Just wonderin cuz I’m a huge one
Look at the muscle!! Congrats on the race, way to power through!
I love reading everyones race recaps, makes me want to sign up for one!!
I’m happy that taking a step back has made you feel better. Sometimes that’s the only thing we can do!
Great race! And what an awesome looking muscle in your leg!
The tailgate after party food looked delicious — those green tea bars, yum!
I’m so sorry to hear about all the stress with the lease, but please know there are so many people (readers!) who wish the best for you guys. Good luck!
Yay well done!!!
The race looks like it was so much fun and the after party food has me drooling (even though I just ate breakfast! haha)
This post makes me feel like ducking outside for a Sunday morning run!
Alice
xx
That shows you have power in those legs. And whoever took the picture got a great shot.
Great time for a 4-miler! Glad you got a little stress relief at least :-0
Wow, look at those muscles!
Congrats on the race! Way to keep on going despite the nausea. I hope you’re feeling okay now!
That was an awesome picture. Between you and Caitlin I felt like I was there. The two of you must have been laughing so hard.
wow yall are all so tiny. I am “bigger’ and taller than jen, and seeing how much bigger she looks than you, I would look like a monster compared to you tiny things!
Congratulations! I love the operation beautiful signs on yoru backs – so that you can inspire those behidn you as well as yourselves. Amazing!
And taking a step back is good if it ensures you’re in control of what’s happening in your life.
you did really well, great post, looks like a fantastic race, awesome time!
I know sweet Emma! We worked together in Greenville. That’s nuts. I had no idea she knew all the people whose blogs I read. It took me a second to realize it was her.
How do you stay motivated? I would love to run a 1/2 marathon but get blocked when I run 2 miles. What do I need to break this barrier?