Big Wild Life 5K - Anchorage, Alaska

Big Wild Life is another one of mine and Hannah's favorite races...its FLAT!! :)  But flat also equals fast.  Hannah and I were hoping for a new personal record from this race.  The weather forecast was looking pretty gloomy, but when we arrived in Anchorage, it was pretty and the skies were clear. 

Another nice thing about this race is the 5K starts at 9:30am.  It was quite the ordeal trying to make a potty stop a the port-a-potties before the race began as people were lined up across the start line.  Many marathon and half-marathoners didn't get to potty before their race began.  After they were off, Hannah and I got to line up.  It's been kinda cool to get to move closer and closer to the front as we get faster.  We lined up at the 8 minute mile sign for this race.

Uncle Greg, Justin, Auntie Shauna, and Owen joined us for the 5K this year!  The gun went off, and off we went.  Hannah and I passed her dad before mile 1 and he couldn't believe it!  The first mile went really fast, but again, my GPS watch died within 3 minutes of starting the race.  Hannah caught up to one of her friends they camp with in Willow and she kept pace with him for most of the race.  After mile 2, I started to get pretty tired (I am pregnant with my second kiddo due in early April) and Hannah was in front of me for the rest of the race.  Hannah kept looking back to check on me, which was pretty funny.

Hannah rounded the final corner to the finish and that was the last I saw of her till I crossed the finish line.  She couldn't believe that she beat me and her dad.  Hannah finished with her fastest time of 27:15, which put her in 3rd place for the 12 and under age group!  First and second were 11 and 12 years old.  Uncle Greg got 2nd place overall and Auntie Shauna and Owen finished in 38 minutes. 

Auntie Shauna and Owen coming into the finish line in-step with each other

Everyone has gotten faster over the past year!   Hannah has inspired all of us to get out there and run  :) We are excited to start the Bonny Sosa race series and look forward to catching up with racers from last year.