Time to race!

 I signed up for the local Cinco de Mayo race.  It was the first year for this race, but my friend Sheila was one of the organizers and I have run past races she has been in charge of so I knew it would be great, and the proceeds went to the local ambulance service.  Plus, major bonus, dogs were allowed - so YAY!

The forecast was not pretty and unfortunately completely accurate - it was 47 degrees and raining when we got up this morning.  

I was planning to run with Booker only.  Earlier this week I got ready to run after work, and Sisko stayed where he was on his bed when I was getting their collars and running leash ready so I left him home.  Between his eye ulcer, which has not completely healed up, and his disinterest in running earlier in the week I didn't want to make him go this morning if he wasn't feeling good.

But as I started getting my running clothes on this morning, both dogs were so excited.  I went out before we had to leave to do a short run trying to get Booker to poop so he wouldn't poop on the race course.  Sisko happily ran out the door and during the short run was running right along with no signs of being tired or not feeling his best.  While 47 degrees is not my idea of great running weather, since he can't take the heat, he was clearly happy with the cool rainy temps.

So I decided to take him.  We posed for the obligatory pre-race photo.

 We arrived at the event and Booker was super wound up.  It was noisy with music to pump up the runners and people were walking by and petting them and talking to me and it was a bit of sensory overload!  Other than just being excited to greet everyone, he handled it all well. 

We then lined up at the start line and were off.  I had started towards the back and to the side so that we wouldn't risk distracting or bothering other runners.  I wasn't sure how Booker would do running in a crowd.  We made our way through the village and were just thinning out when we had a small mishap as Sisko's collar came flying off.  So we stopped to get that back on and resumed running.  Shortly afterwards the 5K runners further narrowing the field.

We ran the rural back road which was a bit of an uphill but I felt great and the dogs were running out front in a perfect rhythm.  We passed several runners and I was happy that the dogs didn't try to greet anyone and distract them or get in their way.

Then it was time for stop number 2 as Booker had to, well, go number 2.  😂  

Back to the run.  We were running a little faster than normal despite the rain and my VERY wet feet!  I could see the lights signaling the turnaround and counted the runners heading back.

We hit the 5K turnaround and headed back which was now a beautiful long downhill glide. 

As we were heading back, we passed several people heading to the turnaround and there were a lot of compliments to how cute the dogs were and how great they were doing.  I, on the other hand, got no such compliments!! 😁😅

We kept a steady pace as we ever so slowly started to catch up to a woman in front of us - the dogs showed no sign of wanting to stop or slow down.  

We finally made it to her and passed by - I was huffing and puffing but the boys were not.

We were back in the village and almost done.  I saw the finish line and made a beeline, but both dogs were FAR more interested in the Border Collie barking at them from the sidelines, so they sort of got dragged across the finish line.

 I was already super happy with the time, especially in the rough conditions, but it was made even sweeter when I learned that I was first place female.

Booker completed his first "official" 10K!  It was a fantastic morning!  After the race the boys got to meet some more people, including a very young child in a stroller who absolutely loved them and the feeling was most certainly mutual!  They also were so well behaved, so I'm a pretty proud dog mom!