When training for a race, I like to be prepared for just about anything. I am a planner. It's a part of who I am. Sometimes though, it just doesn't matter. Or maybe, if I'm being honest with myself, it's not possible. That's something I have to learn to let go of. But, why? Why can't things always be perfect on race day?? For growth, Heather! That's what I tell myself. How can I grow as a runner, if I don't learn to go with the flow? There are way too many things that could happen that are definitely out of my control. I'll grow by learning from experiences, rather than beating myself up when my race doesn't go how I planned.
Case in point- I participated in my 6th Soaring Wings Half Marathon yesterday. My good friend, Amy, told me she was going to be running the race also, and asked if we could run together along with two of her friends. This would be a first half marathon for all three of them. I was thrilled to be able to run it with them. Knowing what I know now, I went in overly confident. I badly wanted to be the "experienced" half marathoner who supported and encouraged my friends.
I did all the miles the training plan recommended. I ran hills to prepare for the course. I ran in 100 degree weather and 50 degree weather. I felt ready and I was excited. Then I looked at the forecast. For ten days leading up to race day I watched the low for Friday night (which actually happens around 6am on Saturday) climb each day I looked. The chances of rain also climbed. And then storms were being forecasted. While the temperatures were not freezing as they ended up being at the Little Rock Marathon, I was still having flashbacks to when I did that one and there were rumors flying of the race being cancelled- WHILE the race was still in progress. I started to get anxious that after all our training, this race would be cancelled before it even began. Or we would be somewhere on the course and the officials would tell us we had to stop and take shelter. I was prepared to run in the rain. I LOVE running in the rain. I just prayed any storms would hold off until the afternoon.
The morning of the race arrived and despite the forecast for 100% chance of rain, you could feel the excitement buzzing in the air. Based on our training, Amy and her two friends, Dawn and Kayla, and Scott and I placed ourselves in between the 2:05 and the 2:10 pacers. We were only waiting a few minutes before the director of Soaring Wings Ranch said a prayer, and then the Star Spangled Banner was sang. We were in the second wave to start and it came quickly. There was a light, hardly there, drizzle that disappeared within the first mile. We kept with the 2:05 pacer for about a mile and then we passed him. It always feels good when you can pass a pacer. :) Dawn and Kayla were a little ahead of Amy, Scott, and me. I had a feeling they were going to stay that way. I was happy they felt good enough to keep ahead.
For the first couple miles I kept waiting for the settling in to happen. Usually it takes me about 2 miles to get my breathing right and feel comfortable in a pace. It never really happened though. The air was so thick from the humidity. The forecasted rain seemed to be just sitting in the air. I found it hard to breath. So hard that somewhere in the 4th mile I had to stop running and try and catch my breath. Only I got so frustrated that I got worked up, which in turn made it even harder to breath. And that just made me more frustrated. It was a stupid, vicious, circle. I took a couple minutes to calm down and then started running again. Amy was ahead of Scott and I now. I knew she didn't want to walk. She said she would slow down her pace if needed, but she didn't want to walk. So we caught up to her and when she asked if I was ok, I got upset again. All I wanted was to be HER encourager. Like I said earlier, I was overly confident. However, I love that Amy was the one to encourage me! Over the next almost 9 miles I had to walk much more than I wanted in order to make sure I didn't lose control again. Dawn and Kayla were far ahead and I knew Amy could be with them, but instead she stayed with Scott and I, slowing down her pace anytime I walked, but never walking herself. Every time I apologized she told me she never cared about her finishing time, only that she finished without walking. Scott was also so patient with me. I'm positive he could have PR'd this year, but he chose to stay with Amy and me through the whole race.
Every once in a while the moisture in the air would turn to actual rain and it gave me hope that I could breath better and maybe finish strong. In the last mile it almost did. There was only a little over half a mile left and I had a short walk. I hate walking with so little to go, but I was still having a hard time breathing and I really wanted to finish without feeling like my throat was closing up. We could hear the finisher's names being called. We were so close. I heard Scott telling Amy about the finish line. "There it is!" I heard him say to her. I made sure to stay with Amy. I wanted to walk so bad. And then we turned the final turn. We picked up the pace a little. I saw Amy's husband and kids along the side of the finisher's chute. I was so thrilled for her that they had made it to see her finish. It fueled me. And just like always I got a final burst of adrenaline. As the rain really started coming down Amy, Scott, and I flew across the finish line at exactly the same time!
Our official finishing time was 2:18:15, with an average pace of 10:33. That may be my second "slowest" time (next to my first half marathon time of 2:19:20), but I'm still proud of myself. It's not a slow time at all, and beyond that, we still placed close to the top third of all the half marathon participants. I think that's pretty stinkin' awesome!
I hugged Amy and high fived Dawn and Kayla who were waiting at the finish line (huge thanks to them for catching a great finish line picture of us!). They finished in 2:04:17! All three of them did amazing!
So what did I learn? I need to LET IT GO! I'm a control freak planner that needs to stop beating myself up over things I can't control. Like humidity that causes me to not be able to breath. It's so hard, but next time, whenever that may be, I'm going to remember my race yesterday and remind myself that I am not the one that is in control. I'm tempted to sign up for another race that happens soon just to prove to myself that I can do that. Oh wait... That's me still trying to control things, isn't it? :)
Until next time...
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Saturday, October 17, 2015
When a Sub-30 Minute 5k is a "Relaxed" Run
When I registered for the competitive run for Race for the Cure this year (and last year) I thought that in order to get a medal I had to place in the top 300. I love supporting the cause and I'd be happy to participate and not receive a medal. However, I also love the added challenge of the goal that comes with signing up as a competitive runner. In the past I've felt like I'd have to get a PR in order to finish within that top 300 goal. Well a few weeks before the race this year I found out that ANYONE who finished in 30 minutes or less would get a medal. When I read that I felt a pretty big weight lifted. I knew I could do that one. So I set a secondary goal of finishing in 29 or less minutes. I was 90% sure I could meet that goal. I've done it plenty of times. My only reservation was that I'd been pretty relaxed in my training this year. I hadn't run many hills even though I knew this course was very hilly. I had also only done a couple speed runs, both went very well, but I was not confident. So I felt like a goal of 29 minutes was reasonable, but knew there was a chance I'd not quite make it. In the back of my head I set a third goal- to finish with an average pace of 9 minutes per mile or less. I figured I'd get started at the race and see how I feel before I decided for sure.
Race morning arrived and I was nervous without reason. I kept reminding myself that I could treat this like any other run. I felt like I had something to prove to myself though, so the nerves continued while I made my way to the starting line. I was so anxious, that I had left my friends as soon as we parked, and ended up standing in the coral waiting for almost 30 minutes. I fed off the energy around me while responding to some encouraging texts I had received and before I knew it, it was time to start. A woman led a heartfelt prayer and with best of luck wishes the gun sounded and we were off!
I started off fast. Too fast. And I knew it. I also didn't care. :) I felt good and I hoped I'd settled in to a comfortable pace. My first quarter mile was averaging an 8:15 pace! I knew I couldn't maintain that, but I figured I'd just keep going until I had to slow down. The slow down happened gradually, but at one mile I had still managed an 8:43 pace. It was here that I decided to try and reach my third goal of a sub-9min average.
The hardest part of this course is going over the bridge that crosses the river, and we have to do that twice. The first time I went over I was almost to the top of the hill when I reached 1 1/2 miles. It was hard and I knew I had slowed down, but I hoped to regain some of my time going down the other side of the bridge. We went down a couple blocks and then circled back around to the bridge again. I was working my way up the hill on the bridge, had just reached 2 1/2 miles, and I had to walk. I felt the beginnings of how I feel when I start to lose control of my breathing and I figured it would be better to not make the pace I was hoping for, than to break down completely and not meet any of my goals. I only let myself walk long enough for three deep breaths and I picked it back up. I reached the top of the hill and passed the last person doing the competitive run making their way on the other side. I badly wanted to say something encouraging to her, but as I was having trouble breathing, I couldn't say anything and hope a smile worked just the same.
For the last half mile I just kept chanting in my head, "Almost done" and counting down the turns I had left to the finish line. Even with the short walk my pace was still under a 9 minute average, but I knew I couldn't go any slower. I was determined to reach that goal. I made the final turn and there it was. The finish line... up a short hill. Not even a hill, but it was definitely an incline. Who puts a finish line on an incline??? :)
I crossed the finish line and stopped Runkeeper, but didn't think to look at the information until after I had received my medal and found some water. It was then that I finally looked and saw that I did meet all three of my goals. The chip time stats are different from Runkeeper, which is not very unusual, but I like my Runkeeper stats better. :) (And since it's what I base my training on, I feel like I'm justified in using it as a way to base my progress in official races.) I'll mention both just for the sake of being candid.
Runkeeper:
Distance- 3.16
Finish Time- 27:58
Average Pace- 8:51
Official:
Distance- 3.1
Finish Time- 28:08
Average Pace- 9:05
Usually the stats between chip time and Runkeeper aren't so different. It's only a matter of a second or two. I don't really understand why it's that much this time. Ten seconds (or 15 if I'm talking about my pace) may not seem like much, and it's not, but when it comes to making a goal, every second counts.
I really enjoyed doing the competitive race this year. With less stress about reaching difficult goals, I was able to enjoy the sideline support more than I did last year. I even snagged a bead necklace from a firefighter as I passed one of the many trucks on the course. (The beads are a big deal. No one knows why. :) There are a few different places along the course where there are firetrucks with the firefighters throwing the beads from the top, or standing and passing them out from below. It tends to cause a lot of congestion along the way if you're a walker, but everyone seems to enjoy it anyway. :) )
I'm glad I've reached a point where I can do the competitive run but still take in the exciting things that are going on at the same time. I feel like I get to experience the best of both sides. And since I started at 7:30, I was still able to get over to where the 2k finish line is and watch my good friend and her mom cross the survivor's finish line and also see the Survivor Parade after that.
I LOVE the whole experience. It's so special. I'm already looking forward to next year!
Race morning arrived and I was nervous without reason. I kept reminding myself that I could treat this like any other run. I felt like I had something to prove to myself though, so the nerves continued while I made my way to the starting line. I was so anxious, that I had left my friends as soon as we parked, and ended up standing in the coral waiting for almost 30 minutes. I fed off the energy around me while responding to some encouraging texts I had received and before I knew it, it was time to start. A woman led a heartfelt prayer and with best of luck wishes the gun sounded and we were off!
I started off fast. Too fast. And I knew it. I also didn't care. :) I felt good and I hoped I'd settled in to a comfortable pace. My first quarter mile was averaging an 8:15 pace! I knew I couldn't maintain that, but I figured I'd just keep going until I had to slow down. The slow down happened gradually, but at one mile I had still managed an 8:43 pace. It was here that I decided to try and reach my third goal of a sub-9min average.
The hardest part of this course is going over the bridge that crosses the river, and we have to do that twice. The first time I went over I was almost to the top of the hill when I reached 1 1/2 miles. It was hard and I knew I had slowed down, but I hoped to regain some of my time going down the other side of the bridge. We went down a couple blocks and then circled back around to the bridge again. I was working my way up the hill on the bridge, had just reached 2 1/2 miles, and I had to walk. I felt the beginnings of how I feel when I start to lose control of my breathing and I figured it would be better to not make the pace I was hoping for, than to break down completely and not meet any of my goals. I only let myself walk long enough for three deep breaths and I picked it back up. I reached the top of the hill and passed the last person doing the competitive run making their way on the other side. I badly wanted to say something encouraging to her, but as I was having trouble breathing, I couldn't say anything and hope a smile worked just the same.
For the last half mile I just kept chanting in my head, "Almost done" and counting down the turns I had left to the finish line. Even with the short walk my pace was still under a 9 minute average, but I knew I couldn't go any slower. I was determined to reach that goal. I made the final turn and there it was. The finish line... up a short hill. Not even a hill, but it was definitely an incline. Who puts a finish line on an incline??? :)
I crossed the finish line and stopped Runkeeper, but didn't think to look at the information until after I had received my medal and found some water. It was then that I finally looked and saw that I did meet all three of my goals. The chip time stats are different from Runkeeper, which is not very unusual, but I like my Runkeeper stats better. :) (And since it's what I base my training on, I feel like I'm justified in using it as a way to base my progress in official races.) I'll mention both just for the sake of being candid.
Runkeeper:
Distance- 3.16
Finish Time- 27:58
Average Pace- 8:51
Official:
Distance- 3.1
Finish Time- 28:08
Average Pace- 9:05
Usually the stats between chip time and Runkeeper aren't so different. It's only a matter of a second or two. I don't really understand why it's that much this time. Ten seconds (or 15 if I'm talking about my pace) may not seem like much, and it's not, but when it comes to making a goal, every second counts.
I really enjoyed doing the competitive race this year. With less stress about reaching difficult goals, I was able to enjoy the sideline support more than I did last year. I even snagged a bead necklace from a firefighter as I passed one of the many trucks on the course. (The beads are a big deal. No one knows why. :) There are a few different places along the course where there are firetrucks with the firefighters throwing the beads from the top, or standing and passing them out from below. It tends to cause a lot of congestion along the way if you're a walker, but everyone seems to enjoy it anyway. :) )
I'm glad I've reached a point where I can do the competitive run but still take in the exciting things that are going on at the same time. I feel like I get to experience the best of both sides. And since I started at 7:30, I was still able to get over to where the 2k finish line is and watch my good friend and her mom cross the survivor's finish line and also see the Survivor Parade after that.
I LOVE the whole experience. It's so special. I'm already looking forward to next year!
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