This is the beat of a new ambition: A race report for a St. Patty's Day 10k

Understanding this race report will need to pop back...12 years. To a baby 12 year old Erin.

I have put a lot of pressure on myself since the time I remember racing. Below pictured is me making finals at the Western Zones in Hawaii. I remember being in that little 11-12 year old age group, and it being a very stressful ordeal.

And then...there was high school. Bawling before State finals. Bawling before Sectionals. Bawling before Nationals. You would have wondered if I even liked to swim.

And then there was college. Bawling before duel meets. Bawling before ACCs. Bawling...well during practice.

I just liked to perform well...every time I swam. Whether that be in practice, a fun duel meet, or our Championship focus meet. I loved swimming. But I also loved swimming fast.

Fast forward to the last couple of years and I have noticed- I have not put out a race result. I have trained...pretty consistently...but when it came to racing...nada.

There was always a reason why I didn't show up to the start line...but with all this time I was committing to swim/bike/run I couldn't get myself to lace the shoes.

Until a couple weekends ago.

I have been working on my mental game within this sport. I absolutely LOVE training. I love the hurt. I love pushing the limits. But when it comes to competition, coming from a sport where I had so many great race results...I have set that bar pretty high.

10k

The morning of the race, a couple of my masters swimmers came in and asked me if i was headed to the race. I quickly replied no...and asked what time it started...10am. A little part of me was thinking...oh nice....I will swim with the Channel Cats and then hop in my car and go watch.

After work, hopped in with the kids at 8. Had a good swim. Wasn't my favorite workout- a ton of IM...and by a ton...I mean A TON. Let me just say it wasn't hard hopping out a bit early to get my run started...so after an hour and a half I laced up my shoes...grabbed a GU and geared up for an easy paced 1.5 hour run.

I had done my tempo work on Thursday this week....so mentally I was feeling refreshed getting to run an easy low HR along the river....and then I stopped.....it was 9:30.....I was about 2.5 miles from the race start...I have my checkbook.....why not do part of my long easy run with a bunch of happy people????

So folded a check into my bra...and told myself if I get there in time to register....why not?

Well I got there in time....last registrant. 8 minutes until race start.

And the gun went off....and yet...I just seemed to not care where I was in the group. I had noticed a couple fast looking gals and thought, well these girls will push me to a good training run.

And well the next six miles...were what you would think. FUN. I can't even explain to you how excited I was to be back racing. Don't get me wrong...I was running HARD...but damn why have I let myself not do this for two years?

In the end, I pulled out a 3OA and PR by a couple minutes...and don't get me wrong I'm super super excited about it. But I think what I'm MORE excited about....was taking that mental step forward. Realizing....it's IS okay to race and what if you fail? Big whoop.

And guess what...there will be more races....but if I hadn't have started that race this morning...I wouldn't have had that fun 6 mile run experience.

Just a quick shout out to my favorite running shoes at the time. Mizuno Wave Rider 17. Love these because they are super to the point...and really light. Definitely a great training shoe.

Thanks to Runners Soul http://runnerssoultc.com/ in Kennewick it wasn't the end of the world when my old fav shoes mega changed.