I got to the start around 8:30 am, parked and set off for my 2 mile warm up. I definitely was nervous, but also excited. My legs felt good and loose by the time I was done. I peeled off my pants and left them in the car and then ventured to the start in my Oiselle singlet, my stride shorts, and a long sleeve. I had about ten minutes until the start.

It was COLD. At one minute to go, I peeled off my long sleeve and ditched it in a bush near the start. Everyone else was wearing long sleeves and pants. I knew I would get hot though and was already warm so I stuck with the tank and shorts.

At the start. I never want to start ON the starting line. I know I should be a little more confident about this. I lined up behind a woman who was on the starting line and she was wearing a jersey from a local running store's team. I hypothesized that she was likely fast. I also saw a woman who beat me at my last 5K attempt, in September. This made me excited. Competition! Bring it!

The gun went off and I started running at a fast pace, but not all out. I ended up in one of the lead packs of men. I had no idea where other women were for most of the first mile. At around the first mile mark, the running store lady passed me. My watch beeped: 6:07. I knew I had to run 6:06 miles or better to break 19. I was happy with that first mile - it didn't feel too fast, but was still on pace.

For most of the second mile, I just stayed with the first place lady. She had a (male) friend that was cheering her on like "you got this"...which I just pretended that he was cheering for me. I didn't know what our 2nd mile was during the race (it was 6:01) but we lost him by that point and then it was just the two of us.

Then I started getting nervous. I felt good, but didn't want to pass her and then run out of steam. Decisions, decisions. I decided to stay with her. Then we came to a small hill. This was like my personal version of Heartbreak Hill. I totally fell apart on the real Heartbreak hill last month and I was NOT doing that again. I passed her on the uphill and then just kept running. I had no idea how far behind me she was (not very) and I rounded a corner at mile 3 (didn't hear my split). I saw the finish line and the finish clock - It was still in the 18s!!!! I ran fast and crossed the finish. My watch said 18:54. I congratulated the second place woman and thanked her for pushing me, relaying that I had been trying to break 19 for a year and a half!

I walked over to the results tent because I wanted to be sure it was official before I really celebrated. I looked up my bib number and there it was. 18:53 OFFICIAL RESULT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Second place was 18:58). EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!