I ran my first 10K race this past weekend. Yes, I have run 6.2 miles before while training, so it wasn't my first time going that distance. But running a race is so different from training. There is something so magical about driving up early in the morning, seeing runners milling around, pinning bibs to their shirts; it makes me feel really excited. Like I'm about to be a part of something big.
This was a pretty small event; there were 5K, 10K and half marathon distances. There were 81 runners in the 10K wave. I lined up kind of close to the front - trust me, I had no illusions of staying up there, I would just rather be passed than have to pass. I had that familiar mix of butterflies and jitters in my belly - I love that feeling! We lined up about 30 minutes after the half marathon runners left and before I knew it, it was our turn to start.
I have two GPS tracking devices on me - on my phone I have Endomondo, and I also wear a MOTOACTV on my wrist. I like them both so often run with both. My MOTOACTV has an mp3 player too; so I can listen to music. Now that I'm actually interested in keeping tabs on my pace, the MOTOACTV is perfect. My Endomondo is also great because my friends who also have the app can watch me live and send me pep talks. I have made a ton of friends through the Endomondo community and they have all been so supportive and inspiring; I will never give up my Endomondo. So with both devices on and tracking, I took off running. (that's me in the bright orange shirt!!)
I got passed. A lot. But I kept peeking down at my pace and I was going pretty fast for me - staying pretty consistently around 8.5 - 9 min/mile. (Keep in mind, a month ago my average was 11 min/mile.) I had a moment of worry that I was starting out too fast and would run out of steam too soon; but I felt good. I decided to just go with it. I continued to get passed but eventually two runners got in front of me who were going at a comfortable pace, so I started pacing them.
At about 3 miles in, we hit the first big hill. I slowed down considerably and my pacers left me behind. I had to walk a little. I started feeling tired. I kept going... I ate a GU, which kicked in right about the time we hit the top of the hill and started down; and when one of my favorite running songs started playing, I just took off down the side of that hill! I let gravity and exhilaration pull me. It was my turn to pass people. I felt like I had my second wind! I ran my fastest mile ever - 8:47. (I know, I know, I was going downhill but let me bask a little bit in that number...)
The hill leveled out and I had 2 miles left to go. A couple more little hills but I sprinted them, I was feeling pretty strong still - and very surprised at this. We ran through a tunnel, then around a corner and the finish line was in view. I started to sprint... and then wind hit me full in the face like a mac truck... Yeah, no sprinting... I seriously had to make myself keep running because I couldn't imagine walking across the finish line! (even though I really wanted to, that wind was nuts!) The wind was so strong it blew down the finish line banner and most of the tents. All I know is that it mucked up the finish I had in mind. I almost thought I could do it in under an hour. I came in at 1:01:30. This was STILL 6 minutes faster than my best 10K time so I was extremely happy with it!!!
After the run, I hung out with my dad and my husband for the raffle and the awards ceremony; they had some really nice prizes that they were raffling off so I wanted to stick around for that. In between handing out prizes, they were announcing the top 3 winners from each age group. When they got to the top 3 women runners in age group 40-49, for third place they called my name. I could not believe it. I actually placed? And I placed 3rd out of 15 in my age group?? Wow! Go me! I felt pretty proud of myself!! Overall, I was 39/81 and 17/49 females. (I also won a pretty sweet water bottle in the raffle, so it was a mighty fine day!)
Of course at this point in my training I'm still working on endurance, and more recently I've been trying to build up my speed. Winning anything at this point hadn't even entered my mind! I'm still a total newbie. So this was a very pleasant surprise, and I felt really excited about it! I am enjoying being a part of the running community. Just like with the skating community, I get a certain sense of pride when I feel like I can consider myself to be 'one of them'.
I am the epitome of a late bloomer. I didn't even start becoming an athlete until I hit 40. I think a lot of it has to do with the mental aspect of it, being able to push past the moments of thinking I can't do something to get to the point of saying I did it. Because I have complete confidence that I can - and when I was younger I was plagued with too much self doubt and insecurity. I no longer feel self conscious about how my ass looks in spandex; I just don't care. All I care about is that it doesn't chafe while I'm running. It's all mental. I am just grateful that so far body has responded to everything my mind has been telling it to do. I still feel like there is so much ahead for me; I feel like there isn't anything I can't do.
7 more weeks until my half marathon - I feel like I am going to be more than ready for it. I'm very, very excited. My friend Suzanne gave me a sticker that says "I <3 13.2" and she told me I have to earn it; so until I do it's sitting on my dresser. I actually cannot wait for the moment I can put that little sticker on the back window of my truck. Nothing worth having comes without earning it!!
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