It started pouring before I even rolled out of bed. Rain so hard I considered not going at all. According to my trusty iPhone radar, the front stretched west all the way to Dubuque, Iowa. Hmph. As 8am approached though, it looked like it might clear, at least for a little while so I headed over, thankful for a 9am start.
This 5k was to be my baseline. I’d set training paces and go from here. It was a raw 40 degrees as we huddled under a boat launch shelter. The race was on a narrow bike path that, as the race name suggests, wound around 2 lakes in sort of a figure-8 pattern. We’d make 2 loops.
I had every intention of taking off my jacket. But the perennial question of what to do with my car keys came up yet again. At the same time I realized there was a biting wind whipping across those lakes. I played my pansy card and kept the jacket, keys in pocket, case closed.
Just before we made our way to the start line, a guy in full basketball attire (powder blue UNC) yanked off his breakaway sweats in dramatic fashion. Well alrighty then.
Goals: Stay in the game mentally. Run strong and don’t give up. But don’t puke either.
This is a no-frills race: no chip time. I lined up mid-packish on the path. There were a few Brooks ID (but wearing Newtons?) girls up ahead and a my-ageish woman next to me who squatted down in front of me to read my age from my bib. Seriously? Who does this?When the gun sounded though, the group immediately in front of me did not move. Apparently they were there merely talking to one of the runners and didn’t get out of the starting area until we were trying to move pass them. Are you kidding me? I said it aloud. I mean really.
So the start was a jumbled mess. Whatever, this is not the Olympics. I found what felt like a decent, strong pace, nothing blazing or crazy, lets face it blazing is not within my abilities right now.
The entire course undulated and wove and had plenty of wooden bridges, slick from cold rain. I ran on, wondering when I’d become overheated from the jacket, although I was still chilled and wishing I’d worn a fleece cap or headband because the wind was frigid.
Within the first mile I knew I wouldn’t be lighting this course on fire. This was way hillier than expected and the bridges and congestion made the course slow going. After making my way past a guy with a double stroller and 2 German Shepherds (not racing), the rain started again. Toward the end of the first loop there were signs about upcoming hills. Um…there have been hills this entire time. But these were steep and slick and winding and nasty, complete with buckled, broken pavement. Coming down was treacherous. I knew I’d see them again in the second loop. Joy.
I made this race a workshop: I practiced up and downhill technique, maintained strong (for me) even effort and maintained good form. I kept my head in the game with positive self-talk, saying “freight train” and “strong and steady”. I may have cursed the fact that we did 70 minutes of squats from tree pose and high lunge in yoga the day before but I told myself to suck it up. At mile 2, UNC basketball dude was loping along just ahead. I swear I took about 60 steps to his 2. We ran abreast for a short time before I passed him, strong and steady, ready for the final climb. In the last half mile I could feel the puke rising. I knew I couldn’t pour it on anymore without an incident so I coasted it in.
Since it was pouring and cold, I left immediately, not sure of my time since I’m still watchless. I felt I’d run strong though and given all I had (albeit not much) and not given up. There is no shame in that. Later I learned I’d managed an AG 2.
Clearly I have work to do. I also need to find another 5k for the time trial as that course and those conditions were far from optimal. It was a character-builder for sure.
Congrats to our Big Sur and Eugene Marathoners!
Did you race this weekend?
Congrats! You ran smart and well. That’s the way to do it. And with humor, which we all appreciate (who is that woman reading bibs??)
I have a fear of falling, so this wouldn’t have been an ideal race for me. Sounds like you managed the day and conditions nicely. Congrats on that AG award.
Nice job! Congrats on the AG under those crazy conditions. Don’t know what was funnier the woman who read your bib or Mr. UNC 🙂
Way go tough it out, girlfriend!! You did awesome and 2nd in your AG in such icky conditions is very exciting. Next time, size up all your competition by looking at everyone’s bibs! 🙂
You did GREAT! Congrats! Can’t wait to see you Saturday 🙂
Yikes! My hardest race to date was my hilly 5K – thankfully it didnt rain – so you remind me it could have been MUCH worse.
Congrats! And more importantly – congrats on getting to the starting line even with the weather forecast 🙂
Congrats! You did a great job in tough conditions. Just imagine what you can do on a flat, sunny day. 🙂 Congrats on the AG!!! “Character Builders” suck in the moment, but make for good bragging rights later. 🙂
Lots of great blog details for such a short race 🙂 That IS weird about the lady checking out your bib so intently. I had a kind of weird run in at the Eugene Half yesterday. A couple of girls passed by me and one of them said to me, “I’m a triathlete, too” and then they giggled as they scurried on their way. I have no idea how I beamed out “triathlete” at a running race, but apparently they caught it 😀
Wow- Marcia, that’s impressive! A strong race on 70 minutes of leg work the day before is no easy feat. And in the rain! Congrats to you!
Congrats on placing!! You should have a great race this weekend!
I’m glad you chicked basketball outfit guy. Congrats on the race! Hills are brutal, especially in the rain!
What a race!! It sounded more like a warrior dash than a 5k!
I raced this weekend, too. Also a hilly 5k, which I thought I was
trained for, but the final steep hill took my breath away.
I had no wind or rain, though, just temps in the 30’s at the
start. I got an AG 1, only the second time I’ve ever done that!
500 runners, too, so I was happy:)
Way to go passing the basketball dude and your AG award:) So weird that the woman did that! I raced and PR’d this weekend! Woohoo for hard run races!
Nice job. My goal is always to get to the just about to puke stage and not puke, too! lol
I loved reading this recap! I loved your humor, but I can’t believe the start and that woman would have made me mad too!
Great job!
What a tough sounding race! Way to finish strong and maintain that mental toughness!
Way to mentally make the race work for you and congrats on the 2nd place AG!
I was going to say, do find a better course for a baseline!
What IS up with that lady reading your bib? Gosh, people are SO WEIRD!
Yay girl! You did it right if you could feel the puke rising! That’s the way to run a 5K!
Congrats on the AG placing…always a nice bonus. 🙂
Sounds like pretty miserable conditions. Most of me is fine in the cold, but I HAVE to have my ears covered or they hurt like crazy. Way to push it under less than idea conditions. I call that kind of terrain “technical sidewalk” because you have to pay such attention to where you’re putting your feet. 🙂
I love that you passed the drama dude in the basketball outfit. Congrats on second in your AG too! I think your crappy weather race experiences outnumber mine (and I’ve had some doozies).
Those conditions sound awful. Cold and wet are my least favorite conditions. I can take one or the other. That lady crouching to see your age – you must have scared her with your lightning fast looking race demeanor ……….or something. Good for doing it all. I would have kept the jacket on too.
Nice job. Puke rising…love it:)
Congrats on running a smart race. I can’t get over the lady who checked your bib to see your age. I’ve never seen anyone do that before.
Sounds like you ran a good solid race. And you beat the basketball dude, two german shepherds and a pram! I like the idea of concentrating on certain aspects of technique during an event. If I ever get back into racing I’ll try to remember that one.
I cannot believe that the woman ducked in front of you to read your age group! Crazy! Although, I do admit, it would be nice to have that on a bib on runners backs. 🙂 Ha ha! Just kidding. Not really.
Ugh, gotta love this crazy-mixed-up April weather we’ve been having! I’m convinced Mother Nature mixed up March’s weather with April. Good job gutting it through and from here, skies the limit!
Congrats on 2nd in your AG! Way to tough it out in lousy conditions. I hate being cold at races.
Nice job! I don’t mind running in the rain, but the IDEA of running is never good. So you are very motivating! Getting out there is hard! But more importantly, did you beat the bib-looker? Was she your age?
Nice job – an AG place is always nice. Sounds like you really ran this one well & I love that you passed UNC on a hill 🙂
That’s hilarious about the women checking your age! And if those people would have been talking and blocking my way at the start, I would have been livid! There would have been a lot more than “Are you kidding me” coming out of my mouth!
Awesome job! Really she checked your age???
Takes all types doesn’t it?? I can’t believe those people were just hanging out?? Not like it was a 5K walk for literacy. Sounds like you really did well and pushed yourself as best you could given the crazy circumstances!!
I can’t believe that woman was checking your age out. Should have told her that she needs to be afraid! Very afraid 🙂
I love how you turned this one into a workshop, Great Job!!
I think you did amazing all things considered. As someone who doesn’t race a lot – I notice the difference btwn a skilled racer and an amateur. – I’m always going out too fast and burning out. This looks like you raced smart all things considered.
so YAY 🙂
I say you did well! We all know how you can plan and hope, then have to wait and see what the weather and your body will allow that day! You pushed through!
That is too weird about those women hanging around at the start! How frustrating! Good job with the AG placing!
Great job on your race!