Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run 4 Miler (23:58)
I had no idea how Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run would go. My legs were fatigued from running longer than anticipated the day before. Regardless of the race outcome, I knew the race would be a great workout. That’s the mentality I’ve gone to most of my races with. If I surprise myself at the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run with a PR, great, but if it doesn’t happen, the race still served as a workout. Most of the time, I don’t surprise myself.
The promise of unlimited grilled cheeses and tomato soup after the race sounded promising too.
My husband and I arrived at Washington Crossing Park around 9 am. The Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run started at 10 and since there is limited parking, we wanted to get there early. We warmed up about 3 miles and headed to the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run start. The Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run went off at 10 with no hiccups. There was a lead cyclist who led us all around the course, which was nice because the course was confusing.
The first mile of the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run ran a massive loop around the park and fields. I found it hard to get a good groove. We ran over all types of terrain, and I was more focused on not falling than anything else. I found myself stride for stride with another woman. We crossed under the finish line around .75 and began to run down a soft canal path. I passed the first mile of the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run in 6:09. My legs were tired, but they weren’t as tight as I thought they would.
The second mile of the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run was low key. I was caught behind a male who took one stride for every two I made. I crossed the second mile of the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run in 6:04. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I would be able to keep that pace. My calves were tight.
During the third mile of the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run, we did a complete 180 turn and headed towards the finish line. I got caught between two people during the turning point and almost made a dead stop. After we turned around, I made my move and surged passed a few other racers. After that, I found myself alone. Runners were coming the opposite direction cheering. I hit the third mile of the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run in 5:59. I was pleased but also surprised. After that, I surged and gave the race everything I had.
I wasn’t sure how much of a lead I had, but I focused on finishing. I was tired and was running hard. I hit the 5k point of the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run in 18:50. Like racing the 6k in college, I thought…goodie a bonus round! Around 3.5, the lead cyclist came back and picked me up. I always appreciate races with lead cyclists for females as well. As I approached the finish line, I heard footsteps behind me. With a quarter of a mile to go, I surged and powered to the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run finish line. I crossed the finish line completely exhausted. I led the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run for most of it and didn’t want to give that up. I gave all of the energy I had in the last mile and ran the fourth mile o the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run in 5:52. That last mile of the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run hurt.
My final time of the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run was 23:58, which was a course record! I had no idea until they announced my name.
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run Thoughts:
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run was almost 50 seconds faster than the Super Hero 4 miler last month. I’m surprised considering my mileage and legs were fatigued. The Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run was a confidence booster because I haven’t been the greatest the last week or so. I executed good negative splits during the race, which indicates that if I went out harder and tapered, I could have an even stronger race.
My dream in college was to break 6 min/mile in a cross country 6k. Two injuries including a stress fracture, plagued me, so that never happened. Don’t get me wrong, I loved college running, but I never had a season I was all that proud of. Racing a sub 6 min race at the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run gave me flashbacks to cross country.
Questions for you:
Do you like cross country style races or do you prefer pavement?
What is your favorite grilled cheese combination? Have you run the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Run?