Posts Tagged "race day"
And then I was running…
Way back in March (I think, I don’t really remember and I don’t feel like going back through my archives though I probably will anyway because I’m annoyingly accurate like that) or something, I was talked into signing up for 10k distance in The Giant Race. Okay, so I wasn’t really talked into it. It was merely suggested, I halfheartedly hemmed and hawed even though I was already considering doing one, just not right now, and eventually gave in, since I was already thinking of doing one eventually anyway.
Interesting sidebar: I’m notoriously stubborn and it’s pretty hard to convince me to do something unless I’m already leaning that way. Then if anything goes wrong, I can blame it on the other person.
Anywho, so I set out training in preparation of this 10k (or 6.2 miles of delusional hopefulness, however you want to describe it) and felt pretty good about my chances. I did manage to hit 5.5 miles once back in May, I think? I was on a high. I WAS RUNNING!
Aaaaaaaaand then things started going downhill from there.
My training scheduled sputtered, taking days off while the boyfriend was visiting and then again to make the trip down south for Lindsey’s graduation. From there I was pretty unpredictable with my running. Some weeks I’d hit all of my scheduled run days and others I just couldn’t pay myself to think about slipping into my shoes to run. As a result, my stamina dropped back to the my January levels and I was suddenly struggling to hit 2 miles before needing to stop to walk. After finally getting back up to 3 miles, I flew off to Seattle. Basically, I sucked at training. It was hard and I was frustrated with myself and my seemingly turtle-like progress.
How was I ever going to run 6.2 miles if I could barely huff and puff my way through 3? That goal seemed so hard, so far and unreachable. Eventually I convinced myself that it didn’t matter if I ran the entire distance; just that I finish. There are some marathoners that have to walk part of the race but they still ran a marathon. And so I eased up on myself and gave myself permission to walk if I needed to so long as I ran across the finish line. I was feeling good about my decision. Great, even. Then I stopped running. The entire two weeks leading up to the race. Because I am a GENIUS!!
Race day arrived and I was a ball of nerves but okay since I was okay with walking. I woke up, headed out, and then proceeded to get stuck in traffic less than a mile away from the parking lot. My pre-race jitters turned to “Am I going to make the start?” jitters. I was completely stressed but felt better seeing other runners running towards the starting gate too. Thankfully I was set to start towards the end of the pack anyway with a sub-10 mile time, I was able to make it just fine. With my iPod playing, I relaxed into my race and just kept running.
I was able to keep a comfortable pace (about 12 minutes per mile) and just focused on enjoying the run. I tried not to look for the mile markers because I figured I’d start to tire once I knew how far I ran but next thing I knew, I was at the split and then sometime later I passed the 4 mile mark. I was surprised but felt really good so I kept running. Then I past the 5 mile mark and I realized I was almost done and I had ran every mile so far, and since I was only a mile and some change out, I HAD to keep running. And so I did. The adrenaline started pumping and I couldn’t stop smiling and all I wanted to do was high five everyone I passed along the way.
People, I ran the entire 6.2 miles of delusional hopefulness. I still can’t believe I managed that but I did. And it was amazing. Sure all of my race course photos look like I’m walking and I was suffering from the post-race euphoria, as evidenced by this tweet:
But I was so proud of myself. Even though I barely trained, I still showed up and gave it my best. Plus I accomplished something I know I’ll look back on and be proud of (it also doesn’t hurt that I finished in 1:21:21, under my personal goal of 1:30:00!). Needless to say, I’m looking forward to my next race, whatever that will be. And I’m totally open to running another 10k. It’s a great step towards eventually tackling that half marathon one day. One day.
Kind of weird how it’s the same expression, huh?
When a run turns into a hike
You know that quote about golf? How it’s a “good walk spoiled”? Yeah, that’s how I felt about this last 5k race I ran. What was a beautiful course was spoiled by hills. Oh the hills!
So last weekend I took to the park for my first trail run ever. This one was organized by the Brazen Racing group, who organizes a few races throughout the year that, from what I can tell, are well-attended, and held at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park in El Sobrante. Have you done a trail run? They are a completely different animal with all the unpaved and uneven walking trails and hils. While I have ran a handful of hills on my weekly runs, I was still worried about translating my paved road running experience into trail running. Plus, I was running completely blind in that I did not go before the race to check out the course. I pretty much showed up hoping for the best but prepared for the worst.
My Plan B was pretty simple: walk up the hills and run down them. Things were going well until I realized that I couldn’t really run down the hills for the most part because they were uneven, it was difficult to gain a solid footing, and one of the inclines was pretty steep [here's the elevation profile]. I almost rolled my ankle a few times so I had to slow down and fast walk down instead. It was a bit frustrating to my competitive nature but I had to constantly remind myself that it was okay to take my time; it was the smart thing to do to avoid injury and potentially jeopardizing my training for the 10k in the short term, and my overall ability to run well into the future.
So how was it? Here is the Wildcat Canyon 5k in 3 acts:
Act 1: Survived the first hill and I’m FINALLY running!
Act 2: OMG. I’m going to die. Are they serious with these hills?!
Act 3: I DID IT!!
In all actuality, I did have fun on this race. Yes it was an incredible challenge and I probably was only able to run a mile of it TOTAL but I was able to enjoy some amazing views of the bay, views like this:
Total bonus: they had It’s-It ice cream sandwiches as part of their post-run refreshments. So what if I just suffered through a 3.1 mile hike disguised as a run that had me digging my hands into my waist while huffing and puffing my way up the inclines as if that would make it any easier to push my way up the hill while simultaneously cursing myself for thinking I could do this [even though I did], I was excited that I got to reward myself with ice cream. At 9:30 in the morning.
Hells yeah!
*All photos courtesy of Brazen Racing volunteer photographers
Read MoreA day at the races
Last week I officially graduated from Couch to 5k. It only took me 2 1/2 months but I went from running 0 miles to consistently running 3 miles. And you know, it was the best feeling in the world. Sure, its still a little tough busting out 3 miles but I’m amused that my “easy” runs are now 2.5 miles. That falls right in line with my overachieving self.
Sidebar: I went shopping last Monday because, after my morning run, I just about died because I was not properly dressed. I wore my other workout pants [which are mainly cotton] and a regular tshirt because my other jogging clothes were in the laundry basket] and by the end of my route, I wanted to die. I was so hot and felt so heavy because of the clothes that I finally got off my bum to finally buy some proper running clothes. I was able to score two new pairs of pants and shirts that I’m excited to break out for a future run. It’s true; buying new clothes can be a great motivator to work out. Seriously.
And so I’m digressing. This past Saturday I ran in my first 5k race in San Francisco. It was The Giant Race Plate to Plate 5k [there was also a half marathon but I'm not hardcore yet]. I was supposed to run it with Pat but he was a goober and tore a thigh muscle a week before the race so he wasn’t able to participate, but being the trooper that he is, still made it up to be my one-man crippled cheering squad.
But the race experience was unreal. I was nervous leading up to the event; that fun excited nervous when you know you’ll do fine but you feel like you should be nervous anyway so you make yourself kind of nervous. There were tons of people out; so much that it took me about 10 minutes to cross the starting line! Once I was on the road, I spent part of the time checking everything out [there were cheerleaders from Cheer SF on a few corners and a gospel choir on another cheering the runners on] while trying to dodge the walkers. That was my main gripe. It would have been nice to have a more formalized structure to the race. Walkers to the right!
Did I mention how warm it was that morning? When I got there at 7:30 am, it was already in the 60s. Thankfully most of my morning runs have been in slightly warmer weather so I was already pretty used to running in the heat so that didn’t affect me much. I knew I was going a bit slower than my usual pace but I was okay with that. My original goal was to finish in 40 minutes while Pat was intent on getting me to finish in 35 minutes. I ended up sprinting across the finish line in 36:10, a mere 1:10 off Pat’s pace! I was so excited when I found out my official score later that day.
Racing is definitely addicting, as I’m already looking for another 5k to run in. Running with all those people and crossing the finish line is exhilarating and oh how I love looking at my medal. It was the first medal I’ve ever earned and best believe I was tempted to wear it all day like I was an Olympian. Alas, I had a bridal shower, birthday party and graduation party to attend and I just couldn’t justify the medal accessory. Boo-urns. Maybe next time.
Here I am with my precious. Thanks Pat!