There's nothing like an early morning PR to start the weekend off right.

I ran the Celtic Solstice Five Miler this weekend in Baltimore and smashed my time from any five miler I've ever done in training by several minutes. Let's just say I was a little excited when I crossed the finish line.

My only let down was not having anyone to celebrate with. The two girls I ran with from York had to book it out of there pretty quick (although I did bump into one in the food tent briefly) and the BF punked out and didn't go because it was too cold/early/dark outside. So I celebrated myself and called my mom, who appreciates these things.

The race course wound through Druid Hill Park and wrapped around the lake before heading back to the start line. It was an enjoyable course, but there wasn't too much crowd support except for right around the start/finish. There were a few hills, one long one at the start and a few others throughout, but nothing too terrible.

I felt good for most of the course, but definitely felt a struggle in mile one (the first mile always sucks) and between miles three and four. When I hit mile five though I felt good and I was just cruising looking at my watch thinking there was no way I could be going that fast.

Is it bad that when I saw my finish time I assumed they measured the course wrong?

47:36!!!! That's like 9:30 minute miles!

For me, that is lightening!

The spread of food afterward was insane! Seriously I have never seen so many post-race yummies. I just grabbed a pack of PB crackers before I booked it out of there to go home, shower and head to Ocean City for the BF's friend's grad. party.

Race positives:
Fun course
PR
Tons of runners
The freakin' awesome fleece you get for running

Negatives:
It was freezing waiting at the start line
You had to park a mile from the start so it was a cold walk back.

I'd definitely do this race again and plan to work it into my calendar for next year.