Ayahashi Road Race.

Over a month ago Evelyn and I participated in our second off-base race, the Ayahashi Road Race. This race takes place in Uruma City (where our first house was located) and you run over a bridge that leads to other islands.

When I woke up the morning of the 7th (of April), I didn't particularly want to get out of bed. If it had been raining, I wouldn't have gone at all - I made that choice the night before. We ended up going, found parking over a mile away, and got ready to run the 10k.

Out in town there aren't nearly as many strollers at races as you would see on base. I received a lot of encouragement from Japanese locals running the race -- thumbs up, or "good job"s.

This was the first race that I have ever run four miles straight, without walking. I've been running with Stroller Warriors since February of 2012, but I always take breaks to walk. I can rarely catch my breath if I run too far or too fast, and so I stop to walk. I didn't put two and two together for the longest time but finally realized...um, duh! I was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma in elementary school. I hadn't used an inhaler in years, but I also wasn't physically exerting myself in ways that may require an inhaler.

Anyway when I feel winded, I always slow down to a quick-paced walk, which can rival some people's jogs. Dan brought up a point that a lot of it is mental -- I could jog as fast as I can walk, so why not jog? It is mental, but I'm working on it. I made it four miles at this race and I was so proud of myself. It helped that a lot of the course was flat -- there was a hill going up the bridge, and then when we came back (it was an out-and-back course).

After I hit four miles, I decided I'd walk until 4.5. Once I hit 4.5 I tried to run again but was feeling rather crampy, so I decided to walk. I ended up walking nearly the last 2 miles of the race but it was okay, better safe than sorry.

My time was 1 hour and 21 minutes and some seconds - I'm not sure of the exact time, as my race certificate is still in the car, somewhere towards the back. My Garmin tracked 1 minute and 19 minutes (my goal was less than 1:20) but the race clock didn't account for me having to pull over and adjust the rain cover (that we didn't need), and make sure Evelyn was all settled. I was okay with my time, considering I'd never ran a 10k at 17 weeks pregnant before.

That was my last 10k and I figured it would be the last during this pregnancy, but I am toying with the thought of running a 10k on the 18th (which is my step-dad and cousin's birthday!). We'll see.

Here are a couple of "after" pictures. Some of us ran the 10k, whereas others ran the half.