I had my first official race yesterday. It was a 10K in lovely downtown Nanaimo, British Columbia. I've been training pretty hard the past few weeks for my upcoming half marathon (10-10-10) and had a big week this past one. I've run ten kilometers plenty of times now and wasn't too worried about this race as you can see by my pretty calm pre-race face above. I did a big run two days prior and felt great after.
While we were in the warm-up pre-race area the announcer said "i'm not going to lie to you this is a brutal race. the first half is uphill." My heart kind of sank as the past 36 hours flew through my head – 18km run, two tough shifts at work, no dinner the night before, five hours sleep, probably dehydrated already. I quickly abandoned my 49 minute goal and decided to just give it my best.
Right before the start i quickly changed my music choice to the more mellow, yet awesome, The National and their new album "High Violet" to give me that calm, steady and slow determination to run uphill for five kilometers.
I'm not going to lie i had to dig pretty deep and cried a little bit running up that monster hill. My pace was slow, yet consistent. At the turnaround point i grabbed two cups of water. The first one i tried to drink without stopping and promptly tossed all over my face. I stopped for a moment for the second. I hate stopping, even for a second because it's always momentarily painful to start again. I came back down as fast as i could to try and make up some time. I ended up crossing the finish line in just under an hour.
I felt pretty great. Thinking about how far i've come and the changes in me – mind, body and soul – since starting on this running journey. I feel so much better with running in my world. I love having goals. I love pushing myself as hard as i can. Hard enough that it hurts, but not too much.
I even got a medal! Well, me and everyone who ran. I came in 43rd place out of a couple hundred people and 6th in my age category. I also came home and got pretty darn sick to my stomach, that whole not eating dinner and training too hard the days prior really knocked me out – that didn't feel so good. But, it was great. This has been a pretty fantastic summer.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Congrats on your first official race! The fact that you did so well only 2 days after doing 11 miles, well, just wow! And you can smile afterward too…it sounds wonderful. Except for that hill. I could skip that part.
And don’t get any big ideas about not tapering before your half. I’ll have to read you the riot act if I see big numbers on dailymile after Oct 3. ;)
Congratulations for a spectacular job! :)
ha, look at you holding water like an athlete! well done.
Thanks Bill! Don’t worry i’ve got my taper planned! Learned a lesson in moderation last week!
Jeremy – i’m doing a pretty good job impersonating an athlete!
congrats! so your first race ever and you did a 10K? good for you. I only did a 5k for my first race. how did you train?
jen, i just started running! Lately i’ve been using dailymile.com to motivate me and learn how to train properly.
I like the big grin before, and at the end. Well done Jess. I’d have been bawling halfway up the hill…that is, if I ran…which I don’t…but I could totally man one of the water stations.
You are going to rock the half marathon. I’ll have to come out and cheer you on.
Con-FREAKIN’_gratulations!!!
You’re accomplishment gives me goosebumps!!
Cindy
That’s amazing..I am so inspired. Unable to do a 5 K right now, I definitely want to run a 10k someday. Maybe in time for the TC10K? Wish me luck!
Jess! It would be awesome to see you at the race…
Thanks Cindy, for everything.
Natasha, i will be doing the TC1ok for sure. I always wonder if you are driving by me when i’m running around here!
Great job! Remember, eat to run, run to eat!
Well done, Jess. :)
Wow, awesome job lady! 6th in your age category is definitely nothing to sneeze at. Proud.