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Elwyn Maximum 5K - race #7


     With the Elwyn Maximum 5K my second to last race for the spring season, I was feeling a little sentimental on May 14.  After seven weeks of races, I was excited and cautiously optimistic for my first true trail run.  There was a slight drizzle falling and the air was cool when my mom and I arrived at Elwyn in Media.  The race, which benefits Elwyn's health and fitness programs for clients and staff by supporting exercise classes and promoting active lifestyles, featured an off-road/on-road/through-the-woods course that wound across Elwyn’s historic 300-acre campus.  See photos and video of the race at http://tinyurl.com/4x6c5lm.    
     After being advised to use bug spray before the race, I lined up with my fellow runners.  There was a great energy as we took off from near the middle of the campus and around towards Baltimore Pike.  Being such a large plot of land, I was a little worried that the runners might get too spaced out and I would get lost, but the 25 route directors were amazing and kept us on track.  Heading down the hill towards the swimming pool, I reached mile 1 and heard a volunteer call out my time, 8:36!  Yeah!
     I felt great as I jumped over the curb and ran into the woods and up a mulch hill.  But that's when the energy was just sucked out of me!  I've never walked before during a run, but this race I did slow it down for a few seconds to catch my breath.  I noticed a guy near me pushing a stroller with two kids up the hill.  I thought I had it tough!  Out of the woods, we exited into a lush, green clearing.  Up another slight incline, we had crossed the campus were now parallel to Route 352.  I never realized how challenging it was to run on grass, but on the other hand, there's nothing like a peaceful morning run away from the noise and traffic.
     Passing Elwyn's farm and a quaint old barn, we turned right and headed towards home.  Once my foot hit the pavement, I caught my second wind and put more power into each step.  As I turned left, I passed a set of bleachers where a group of Elwyn residents were cheering on the runners.  I squinted to see the timeclock and noticed that it was still under 30 minutes.  With a little extra kick, I crossed the finish line at 29:54.  Not my best time, but I was happy:-)  It was tougher than an other race I've done this season!  I will definitely run this race again next year because I know I can do better. 
     After almost eight weeks, my next and final race is the St. Dot's Challenge at St. Dorothy's in Drexel Hill this Saturday.

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