10k recap/opening up

This opening to the life
We have refused
Again and again
Until now.

Until now.

(from a book on meditation)

What an incredible weekend–I’m highly exhausted, in a really good way though of course.

10k recap! So, I didn’t sleep that well the night before (kept waking up, nervous I’d oversleep), and I went to a bed a little late when an innocent happy hour outing somehow sprawled through to late dinnertime. Whoops, not the greatest pre-race preparation, but rather innocent and turned out fine.

Got a little lost on the way to the race (although it was 5 minutes from my place, I am highly prone to getting lost everywhere I go in this town), but eventually found it, and was ready lined up in good time. It was actually kind of good because I was distracted with nerves about getting there on time and forgot the whole running 6.2 miles part.

I guess I’d consider this a small race. It was a combination 5k/10k and was raising money for a school, so there were a lot of little kids doing a fun run after too. So, lots of people, but not too many runners, definitely only a handful of 10k runners. No chips for timing (which I was a little bummed about), nothing too fancy. Thank goodness for crazy big GPS timer watch!

Mile 1: 9:08 (oh self, too fast for you)
Mile 2: 9:18 (better… but, still); the turn-around for the 5k was in this mile…I was a tiny bit tempted, especially since nearly everyone turned around here)
Mile 3: 9:20 (entirely too fast, given that I stopped for water)
Mile 4: 9:40 (this mile was a straightaway, but I felt really pumped up, until the turnaround and discovered no one behind me!)
Mile 5: 10:00 (refocused. I’m really proud of this mile because it’s farther than I usually run and it was very uphill and I passed a couple of people)
Mile 6: 11:20 (I started to get a really awful stitch in my side. I tried running through it, but this made it worse. Downhills were really really painful. I was really beating myself up over my lousy race prep… clearly I was dehydrated/not properly fueled!)
Mile .25: 9:55 pace (I felt like I was hobbling through my cramp across the finish… but whatever, why do all race courses end uphill anyway!)

Overall, I am rather proud of myself. First race I’ve run by myself entirely, new distance, great pace for me (even with the walking bit at the end). There wasn’t a lot of spectator support along the course (okay, none) and for most of the race, I was running by myself and couldn’t see other runners, so I feel good about a strong race without the typical race hype that adds a little adrenaline.

Honestly I’m just a little in awe that I did 10k. I remember when a mile was so difficult, and honestly, sometimes it still is. I love all of the miles that I log, but there is something about miles after 5 miles, that I find really interesting, very challenging to the body. Rather, maybe it is when you push yourself past a wall, a wall that you built up and that you believe in so thoroughly, and when you’re able to strongly move past it… that’s when you learn new things about yourself. Even if I didn’t have the strongest finish possible, I felt a lot of new emotions and new appreciation for my body’s capabilities surface with each stride past mile 5. Just, was a very interesting race for me. I’m really eager about moving ahead with my running… I don’t know if that means faster pace at the current distances or trying new distances or what but I like the feeling of pushing myself in running.

On a practical note, I definitely need to take race prep more seriously next time (this coming weekend, if I’m feeling up to the 10-miler I’m signed up for!)

The crazy thing was that I drove down to alma mater right after the race, did a ton of outdoor stuff (picked tulips at an organic tulip farm, how cool!), went to a lacrosse game (sadly we lost!). My legs were screaming sore at the end of the day, but I’m feeling better today.

Anyways, must get my Monday rolling. Hope ya’ll have a good start to the week!

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