This race had approximately 5000 total runners, including the children's run.  This was a money race for the first 5 runners, and as I told all my German
relatives, I did not win.  They were disappointed, but they think maybe next
time, I will train harder, be less jet lagged, and win the big purse!!  :)

The race was a bib chip race which was good, however, I forgot my watch, and
there wasn't a clock or timer in sight.  So, I did what I always do, run as
hard as I can till I run out of gas, and hang on for the ride by my
toenails.

The weather was perfect!!  In fact, the whole time I was in Germany, the
weather was in the 70's and the air was dry.  This race was in the evening
and started a little late.  Except for the language, I could have been in a
10k in America.  Everyone was excited and ready to go.  There were more
spectators than runners, and they enthusiastically cheered everyone on.  I
started the race with my cousin Sven, but because of the mass of people, we
lost each other fairly quick.  (Plus, I was in my "Nestor" mode and if I
were a betting girl I would say this was probably one of my faster halves of
a race.    I felt good, surprisingly, and because I didn't know the time, I
was afraid of going too slow.  At the 5K mark, I was dead.  I seriously
thought about walking, when this elderly woman passes me up.  I got a little
spark, and started to work a little harder.  I passed her, she passed me,
and I kept thinking, please lady, give up soon so I can let up a little.  At
the last half mile or so, she kicked it into some other gifted gear and I
thought, "Well, if I can just keep her close, maybe I can outsprint her,
afterall, my legs are longer, I am about 40 years younger, surely I can do
this."  (OK, I need intervention)!  So, at the end, that is what happenend. 
I saw her and sprinted as hard as I could.  I passed her at the line.  So,
did I beat her?  I'll never know.  Remember, this was a chip race, and I
didn't get her bib number.  I don't know where she was at the start. 
However, it was all good, she pushed me to run harder.  I finished this
slightly hilly, looped course through town at 48:20.  The Kenyans won, the
male did 28:28, the woman 33:52.  I was the 57th woman overall out of about
500and 10th in my age bracket.  Looking at the results, it looks as though I
was the only American.  When my cousin registered me for the race, he put
the German address, so the results show that I was from Germany.  They were
disappointed that the results didn't reflect America.    My cousin finished
about 3 minutes behind.  He was coming off a knee injury and this was the
first time he had run in a while.

I had a wonderful time, and this was something I will remember always.  I
highly recommend running a race in a different country.  Runners are the
same everywhere.  Maybe we need to get all the world leaders in a big race,
and run them till they figure this out.  Catch all of you on the run!!

Oh, just a side note, there were a variety of "German" beverages at the end
of this race.  The German variety of beverages tend to be a little stronger
than the American version.  Charles was jealous!! 

57. Jackson, Audrey, Waiblingen, (W45/10), 00:48:20