10 not so perfect miles

Firs the first time in several years, I ran the PNC Atlanta 10 Miler on a weekend that was NOT after a half marathon!
So, yay for that. This year, it will act as my "long run" prior to a half I have planned Nov. 18. Due to some travel to other states right before the half,  I won't get in proper half marathon training.
It's OK. I actually did better in this 10 miler than I expected for someone who is now a proud member of the turtle squad.
The day was cold and windy. Really it was the fall we should have been having for weeks before. It seems like we went straight from summer to winter this year and I didn't get to wear some of my fall running gear!
I met up early with the Tucker Running Club for a pre-race photo. I'm over second from the right.

TRC is in the house!

 I didn't take a single photo along the course, which was a shame. The course isn't too bad. Lots of hills, but then, this is Atlanta. Far hillier than you think it will be. I averaged a 14 MM, and at times I was doing 11 MM, but then I had to walk some of the hills, so that ruined the good time! No worries. I got to the finish with 300 people still behind me.

I finished!

Finisher's medal

Better than I expected.

So, it wasn't a perfect 10 for me, but that's OK. I finished and I'll be ready for my half marathon in just a few weeks!

Time to Run Like Hell

One of my favorite races was this past weekend, the Run Like Hell 5K, held in the Historic Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta.
It's where golfer Bobby Jones is buried, and "Gone With the Wind" author Margaret Mitchell, too. It also is the final resting place of Atlanta slaves, Confederate soldiers, Jews, Catholics and a host of others. I have never done the tour, but I'd like to.
I feel like I always take my own little tour the day of the race since I get there pretty early and then wander around. Here's some of what I found:

The statue shows the women holding books.

The Confederate soldier portion of the cemetery

Me in front of the sleeping lion monument

The sleeping lion is a monument to Confederate soldiers

The State Capitol building during the race

Headed back into the cemetery and nearing the finish

One of my favorite markers: Count None But Sunny Hours

The gravesite of the original namesake of Atlanta: Marthasville

I didn't have any friends run this one with  me this year, but it was still fun, until the very end.  I got back  to my car and a parking ticket! Grrr. Thanks Atlanta PD. There was a row of cars of runners and we all had parking tickets. Guess the city needed to make a parking ticket quota that week!

Next year I'll have to pay more attention to parking, or else Run Like Hell to keep from getting a ticket!