Run Forest Run.....

Okay, so I NEVER win anything. I can't even win an argument with Bryan (well sometimes on a RARE occasion). Anyway, my friend Mindi and I decided to run the Bridal Veil 10k last Saturday. I LOVE running (if you haven't already guessed) and I love running races. There's something about the adrenaline that really motivates me. However, I'm not in it to win in. I usually just try and beat my own personal time. Anyway, I was feeling really good that day and so I thought I'll push it a little bit, why not? This particular race doesn't use time chips so they have those who are trying for a faster time start at the front of the pack, thus bypassing the congestion of all the other runners. I've mainly been training for 1/2 marathons lately, so I thought I could maybe push myself since it is half the distance. So there I stood at the front, behind the finish line. The race started. I was off to a good start. People kept passing me (which was a little discouraging) but they were all men. I kept up a good pace and was feeling really good. The race went up the Provo Canyon 3 miles, looped around at Bridal Veil and then we ran down the same way we came up. As I rounded the corner on my way back down the canyon, I realized that I was the first female. I thought to myself, "I may have a chance to win this." But I realized that I had 3 more miles to go and with the sun beating down on me, I was starting to get tired. The next woman was behind me less that 1/4 of a mile. I thought, she's probably pacing herself and will kick it up a notch towards the end. So, that gave me motivation to keep up my pace. To make a long story short.....I crossed the finish line where I was congratulated on coming in 1st place (that was, of course, 1st overall in the women division).....WHAT?? Are you kidding me? I couldn't believe it. In fact, I thought they were joking until they handed me my fabulous GRAND prize........(see below).If you don't believe me, just take one look at my face.....it says it all! YIKES!!! Now the question is, where to hang this gem?