Born In The USA

The McCallister's 4th of July celebrating started early, to be exact started at 5:30am. You may ask why but I tell you its for a good reason and a lot of fun. Some of you may not think this is fun, Ray may not either but its become one of my favorite new hobbies. It was our first team relay race in downtown Columbia called: Born in the USA. The race began at 7:43am, so getting up early was a must. We had to get there early enough to get all our information and to get to our starting places in enough time to stretch before the race began.

Prior to the race starting we each drank a 5 hour energy drink to prepare us so we would have enough energy to run the race. We didn't have that much time to get ready then we needed to go our separate ways. You may ask why, but as I said earlier it was a team relay so Ray started the race meaning he ran the first 2 miles and I had to get a ride in the Strictly Running van to mile 2, where I would begin.

Time was passing by and getting closer to race time and there I was still sitting in the van with another woman waiting for one of the workers to drive us to the start of mile 2. As we sat and waited patiently the first man we spoke to said he would drive us but then out of no where he said he had to drive the other van to mile 1 and fix the clock and left us in the van still waiting. After a few minutes went by the lady that was with my jumped out of the van and tried to find the other guy that was supposed to give us a ride to mile 2, and said "Are we going yet? Are you gonna take us?" He acted like we were imposing on him but he was in the middle of setting up for the race and taking his sweet time. But as for us we were scared we wouldn't make it to the 2 mile mark in time but why would he care hes just a worker.   Finally, after the lady talked to him he ran to the van jumped in, cranked it up and drove us to where we needed to be. During the ride he stopped at mile 1 to ensure that that guy knew what he was doing, then took his time on the way to mile marker 2. 

There we were finally our our start line of the team relay. Like I said this was our first team relay so I didn't know what to expect, was a little sleepy so wasn't sure if I was going to be fast enough. The first runners that passed the 2 mile mark was at 9.5 minutes, crazy I know but they did it. As other runners passed the 2 mile mark I kept my eye out for Ray. There was so many people with blue shirts just like him but being that he had a red bandanna made it easier to spot him out in the crowd. Only 19.25 minutes later here comes Ray, I get ready as he crosses the 2 mile mark , I give him a high five, crank my music and start running.
(below is a picture of Ray gaining on the 2 mile marker)

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As I'm running I feel great, I'm passing everyone even though more than half of them have already ran 2 miles I still feel great I'm passing them. I feel the energy shot kicking in and I hope I'm making good time. I didn't have my running watch that keeps time for me so I know when I need to start speeding up. I had to base by quickness on instinct. I made it to the 3 mile marker in 27:xx minutes and only 1 more mile to go. I knew I had this, I felt myself getting tired a little but wasn't gonna stop. It wasn't long till I saw familiar surroundings that were approaching that I knew was the finish line. Immediately I quickened my pace and passed at least 3 people hoping I would make a good time for our team, The Luck of The Irish. 

I crossed the finish line at 37:38, to me that sounded great for our first time running it and for not much training as a team. I called Ray to locate his whereabouts and he said he was walking toward the finish line. Even though I got a ride to my start line he had to walk the last 2 miles to the finish. Not only did he run 2 miles he ran the last mile to get to me sooner!
(below is a picture of me crossing the finish line)

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We hung around for the award ceremony yet again didn't win anything but enjoyed running as a team and the exercise. We placed 21st out of 33 relay teams. The top winners were all awarded with a FREE watermelon to celebrate the fourth!