Marissa Scores at the Rumble in the Jungle

On Tuesday, Marissa complained that her groin muscle hurt, so she took some Aleve and we gave her heat and ice treatment at home.  By Friday she said she felt better, not 100% but a lot better.

Thursday, Tradition continues, and the girls have their PASTA Dinners on the Thursday, after practice, before a race on Saturday.  This week Betsy, Beth Walker and Michelle Hall hosted the pasta dinner.  We had great weather.  The girls had so much to choose from - we had bread sticks, 3 different pastas and sauces, caesar salad and homemade brownies.  Marissa loves to go to the pasta dinners.

Marissa, Makenzie and Katie enjoy a delicious meal

 During the day Friday, Betsy and a slew of other volunteers set up the course.  This is one of our favorite events to volunteer for.  The Rumble through the Jungle is nationally know and this year we have record breaking attendance - something like 4000 runners ranging from elementary thru high school.  We included a open middle school race and an open elementary race.  It's going to be awesome, but crazy.

Friday night Marissa doesn't go to the football game so that she can get a good night's sleep before the BIG race.  It's the RUMBLE through the JUNGLE and it's ranked as one of the top 50 race courses in the country (and it's our home meet).  We arrive at the course by 8:00 am.  The weather is perfect.  It's chilly, Mark and I are in long sleeves, but it's perfect for runners.  It was about 54 degrees at the time of her race.  Her race starts at 9:50 am.  The Varsity girls get a good warm up.  They look ready on the start line while waiting for the instructions and the gun to go off.

ready to go!

 Erin Edmundson gets a great start, Marissa got pushed back a bit at the very start so she will have some ground to make up while on the course.  The first half mile of this course is very congested.  There are over 200 runners behind Marissa.  After the first internal lap, the runners head into the woods - there they will make a large loop and then repeat the loop to end the race at a 5K distance.

Marissa on the internal first lap

 Marissa looks excellent - she has great form and doesn't seem winded or tired.  GO MARISSA!!!

Marissa coming up the hill on the first loop

It's so hard waiting for them to come back for the final loop.  This is one course where spectators can't see most of the race because it is back in the trails of the Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve.  After 19 minutes the first runners start to appear.  Here comes Marissa!!!

Go Marissa!!!  Only 100 meters to go!

Marissa finishing STRONG

Marissa finished 2nd for her team in 26th place with a time of 20:47 which is a course PR for her!  She did fantastic!!!  This will really set her up for even better times than last year!  We are so proud of you Marissa. 

Marissa with her best friend Makenzie!

Unfortunately, (we didn't know until later) as soon as Marissa finished the race her lower hip area of her left leg really hurt.  She said (later) that she felt like she couldn't walk.  She did and the pain subsided, until later that day when she started to show a limp.