I finished without walking (though at times I ran slower than I think I've ever walked before...that's sayin something because I'm a slow walker) and I wasn't the last person to finish the race! I think there were about 15,000 running the 10k, and then some thousand walking a 5k course.
The 10k course started in Piazza Signoria (by the Uffizi Gallery), wound around the Duomo, then ran across Ponte Vecchio, then twisted and turned (uphill the whole way, may I add, on like a 65 degree incline) through Boboli Gardens, past Piazzale Michelangelo and the basilica of San Minito, then down hill (like 90 degree decline..oye my knees) and back across the Arno, along the Arno, past the Florentine Library, and ended in Piazza Signoria. I've attached a photo of the course map.
There were 6 or 7 other girls from SUF who also ran it: two of them were like hardcore marathon runners so they were off at the gun, another, Natalie, (from Nor Cal, goes to Harvard, art history major) was supposed to be my running buddy but we got separated in the bustle of the starting line, then three other girls and I ran together for the first 2km. Nicole and I fell behind the other two, and so Nicole and I ran together for the first 4km. Then we got separated in a hairpin turn/crowd, so I was on my own for the last half or so. But I had Jen's pilates playlist blasting on my iPod and I did it!!! We all reconvened at the Ristorate, the refreshments booth, where the iced tea and lemonade were flowing and there were oranges and bananas to be had. Hannah was there to snap pictures of me finishing as I crossed the finish line too!
I didn't care about time for the 10k, whereas my 5k this summer I was in it to win it. But this 10k, I just wanted to finish the damn thing. It honestly was one of the hardest things I think I've ever done. But I finished. I'm so happy!! I can say I ran a 10k in Italy!! My official time was 1 hr 11 min 24 sec. I'm very very happy. Endorphins still pumpin'!
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