Welp. Guess this just goes to show you can’t slack off and expect to still see results. This was probably the slap in my face I needed in order to regain focus and get back on track.
Thankfully the course changed from past years and started less than a mile from my house. Without having to worry about transportation logistics I was able to have a more leisurely race morning than most. I made my typical pre-race meal: small cup of coffee, 2 egg whites, and 1/4 c oatmeal with mixed berries & half a banana. I jogged to the race site to warm up my legs a bit. It was an absolutely gorgeous Sunday and perfect race conditions. It was slightly chilly in the shade but completely fine in the sun. No wind and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. No complaints.
It was refreshing to see so many crowds of people out for the race. Ordinarily you’d think that many people would only convene for some terrible boy band concert or for free Ben & Jerrys. I couldn’t help but smile seeing folks out for a healthy reason. Yesterday I thought I saw the longest line I’d ever seen at the packet pick up… turns out I was wrong– the line for the port-a-potties was even longer. I think folks must have still been in line after the race was over.
The beginning of the race was very unorganized and tough to navigate. There were no signs (that I could see) or any indicators of where to go. The corrals seemed all jumbled up and I ended up having to climb a barricade and run to the front where the rest of the red corral actually was. Anxiety and confusion added to the pre-race jitters is a terrible combination. I ended up in the very back of the group where it was completely congested. This undoubtedly added some extra time onto my total, but I just managed it as best as I could. Dodging and weaving is the name of the game.
I wrote my planned splits for each mile on my hands. 1-5 were on my left and 6-10 on my right. It really helps me to have something to focus on that way I don’t start concentrating on the negatives or focusing on pain. These sports are such a mental game. My first mile was a lot slower than I had planned (likely due to the congestion). Once I hit the Memorial Bridge, I was able to get around some of the crowds and bump up the pace a little. By mile marker 3 I was right on target. I ran by several girls in their running skirts and was fueled by some motivation each time. I couldn’t forgive myself if I got passed by a girl in a skirt. In between the 2nd and 3rd mile a dude behind me tried to spit and somehow it landed on me. Lovely. All I could think of was, thank goodness it didn’t land one of the skirt-clad girls. She’d likely shriek, freak out, and cause a scene. It’s pretty safe to say, you can’t be a girly-girl and compete in endurance events. They just don’t mix.
My Splits:
mile 1: 9:15 (max HR 179, avg HR 172)
mile 2: 8:55 (188, 182)
mile 3: 8:25 (190, 185)
(5k: 27:28)
mile 4: 8:22 (192, 188)
mile 5: 8:29 (193, 189)
mile 6: 8:17 (194, 190)
(10K 53:??)
mile 7: 8:50 (192, 190)
mile 8: 7:24 (193, 191)
mile 9: 8:30 (192, 190)
mile 10: 8:14 (195, 191)
Final Time:
1:24:40; pace 8:28; HR 195, 187
I crossed that finish line and wanted to pout and feel sorry for myself, but seriously, what good does that do? I did pout for a few minutes by myself, but then quickly got that out of my system. I can be happy that I hit most of my splits, and though it wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for, it’s a good training experience. I can use this as a learning tool and help gauge my future efforts. I’m not gonna give up so easily.
2009, it’s on.
