>Exciting title, huh!?
Last week I sat down about 23957457 times to write a blog post, but I was having a horrible week as far as eating and workouts (and well basically my entire self esteem/confidence was in the can) so I never completed the post. Actually, I just deleted the 3 I started and decided to put that behind me and give you a little race recap from Thursday morning.
A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to come in contact with a new Running Buddy (or two) and they asked if I would be interested in running an upcoming 8k near our town. I was hesitant but as I have said before I like a challenge and am looking to move beyond my same ol' same ol' 5k race routine. So, let's do it! I registered and last week we went on our first group run together. I felt the group run went really well and was excited about the race. I had done well on a 5 miler with these wonderful ladies so I knew the 8k race would be a huge success.
I picked up our race packets and was pretty excited about running the next day with these ladies. It would be the first race I was running without my husband by my side or even there for support. I tried not to dwell on that though because I knew with his schedule it just wasn't possible but I knew I didn't need to not do it on that account also. Anyway, Wednesday evening was upon me and I didn't have the prerace jitters I normally had. I hadn't really even decided on my race attire or laid anything out to go except our race packets! I typically have everything laid out in proper order well in advance and give a lot of thought to my outfit. Maybe this was a good sign!
Now, you will recall I mentioned having a rough week. My eating wasn't spot on, my weigh in at the gym wasn't great (did you even notice I didn't do an update??) and I just felt horrible about myself most of the week. And yes, I am aware that I said that was behind me. It really is but I do have a point.
I usually do not eat any kind of breakfast before a race because I worry about getting cramps, a side stitch or the food just hitting me wrong. SO, whether this is the right or wrong method I don't know, but what I do is nibble a couple of Gu Chomps and go. At least with that I have a little extra energy and they force me to drink water prior to so I figure it's not all that bad.
Again, I have a point. :)
I met Terri and the gang everyone was chipper and having a great prerace ride to the venue. All was well. I felt good, ready to go. Go as in run.
I'm still getting to the point.
This race was cool because it being Thanksgiving morning they were taking donations for a foodbank for a chance to win a Garmin 110. So, we all unloaded our donations, got our tickets and went about our business to prepare to start the race. All was well.
We chatted it up the start line, paused for the National Anthem and the gun sounded we were off. Our original plan was to use the Galloway method of 6:1...6 minutes of running, 1 minute recovery walk. This worked well on our group run last week and as long as the ladies didn't mind slowing down and going at my pace well you know I was happy. :) However, for me things took a different turn.
We were making a great pace I felt good with my breathing, my legs felt fine...
BUT I had a differerent issue. After the first walk break, Melissa picked up the pace and took off and Terri and I followed not too far behind. Something hit me. HARD. And I had to literally stop to walk within minutes of having just taken back off running. Great these women are going to think I cannot pace or keep up with them. Here I am wussing out within the first mile of the race. Crap. Crap is exactly what it was. At that point, Terri was a bit ahead of me and kindly came back to check on me. She saw the look on my face and knew something was just not right. It wasn't. I hated even admitting that I was not going to be able to keep up with them but I had issues. She asked if I was ok and of course I couldn't lie. Freaking intestinal issues. Really??!? NOW. I have waited a week for my body to talk to me and it decides to finally make it's move within the first mile of my first 8k race.Convenient, no??
Terri could relate and for that I was thankful but in no way did I want to hold her back. I shooed her on, not in the sense that sounds! But I told her to go on and run her race that I just knew if I went any faster things would not be good for me. She asked again if I was sure and of course I was. Either way I was finishing and I was not going to be last. I gave her a slight smile and said I'd be fine and off she went. To my surprise I managed to hit the 2 mile marker at just a few seconds over 20 minutes. I was surprising myself by actually making decent time at that point.
Between mile 2-3.5 things were pretty tough and I probably had to take a few more walk breaks than I normally would have anticipated but between my intestines and the impact of my feet hitting the concrete if I had not taken it slow that stuff was coming and fast. No way was I going to make a mess of myself at just an 8k race. Perhaps one of these days if the same thing happens at half marathon we might be telling a different story but not for this race! And I am sure Terri and the gang can appreciate me taking it slow so as to prevent an accident becaues they picked me up and might not have been thrilled about taking me home! haha
I was glad to have had my watch and actually enjoyed this race without my music. People (including Terri and the gang) cheering each other on along the way was a huge help and nice change up from my usual race tunes. I was able to hear my breathing and was in tune with my thoughts (which mostly had to do with my mind telling my guts to simmer down!).
Once I hit mile 4 and saw a familiar face (friend of ours and a track coach the hubby helps) and rah rah Emert I knew I could make the last. 97 even if it was at a slow jog. I knew by the time on my watch that Terri and the gang were done and at least they would be waiting on me when I finished. I didn't have a time goal for this race since it was my first 8k (a race length I had not done before) and once my current tummy troubles reared their ugly head I knew time was thrown out the window.
I finished in 54:51 which is about an 11 minute (and 3 second) mile pace. A bit slower (30 seconds) than my pace on the treadmill but again given the tummy troubles not too shabby. The gang was there and gave me a big RAH RAH and I am just so thankful for that and them! I am glad that I was able to take this experience as a positive one even given what I had been through. People could relate to me and what had happened and still know that I had a reason to be proud. I finished.
It was an absolutely beautiful day for a run, too. This time of year is crazy here in E. TN and you might have 20 degrees and frigid wind (like today) or 65 degrees and a breeze (like Thursday). I am thankful that Mr. Weatherman came through and gave us the latter. I am also grateful for my hubby for supporting my running. I am thankful for new running friends who can appreciate the success of finishing even a crappy run.
The best news of the day was Terri's awesome win!!! She knows I have some serious envy!! ;)
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I know I did. And as much as I wish the race had gone differently for me, I am thankful for even these kinds of experiences.
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