Sunday, June 1, 2014

Run for Water 10K - Recap

Wow!!  I can pretty much sum up the whole experience with the word WOW!!!
I had some serious doubts earlier this week as to whether or not I'd actually be able to do the Run.  I came down with a nasty head cold last weekend, I was sick most of the week.  Worked a 16 hour day on Thursday and was feeling pretty out of it still on Friday when my husband and I went to the expo to pick up my race kit.


However, I was determined.  I was doing this!   They were originally calling for the day to be warm and dry, and that changed on Friday to cloudy with a chance of showers.  I was a little relieved as I didn't really want to run in the heat.  However getting soaken wet seems to be the norm for me these days.

It was great having a major race at home.  We left the house at 8:15, and my husband dropped me off at 8:25.  I had an hour to wait before my race, but that just meant that I got to see the start of the half marathon.  I cheered them on as they went by and I was actually able to spot Kenny in the crowd and then I saw Marie who was one of the pacers for the half.  After they left I headed over to the festival area where I saw several people that I know, one of the directors from work and several of the run clinic people who were all out in force.

It wasn't too long before it was time for the 10K's to warm up and head to the start line.  That's where I saw Kobie, who was one of the leaders in my learn to run clinic back in January and Rick, who was our leader at the start of the Run 101 Clinic.

I was feeling really nervous as the count down started, I was coughing and I just didn't want to have to bale out of the race.  I knew that my mom, brother, sister and brother in law were going to be waiting for me around the 3.5K mark, it's the first race they were able to come to and I wanted to actually be running not walking when I saw them.

The first wave of 10K runners left the start and the second wave(which I was in) moved up to the start line.  I put myself towards the middle of the pack and kept over to the right so that hopefully people wouldn't have to dodge around me.  I have to admit, my confidence wasn't really stellar at that point and I was wondering what on earth I had gotten myself into but off I went with everyone else.  My attitude quickly changed once I got going and I saw a couple of the ladies from Run Clinic cheering me on as I went past.  It was a great atmosphere.

The first section of the course was uphill, no way around it, not a fun way to start a race but there you have it.  What are you going to do?  So I ran !  I was feeling pretty good at the top of the hill, when the rain started.  I headed up along Emerson to Gladwin, then we veered back into the park.   We went down a steep hill to the lake and then out onto the road.  I texted my brother when I hit the 3K mark to let them know I was almost to them.  I was feeling pretty good when I came around the corner and saw my sister with her camera and my mom, brother and brother in law standing in front of their place cheering me on.  It really gave me a boost.  I knew I was trailing way behind the bulk of the 10K runners, and on the opposite side of the road, some of the marathoners and half marathoners were coming towards me but I kept going.  I was excited as I passed the 5K mark and headed down towards the Keg where I knew we would wind around the roads to the turn around point.

I was focused on my breathing when I heard someone yell my name and wave at me.  It was a bunch of the 201 Runners whose clinic was on the same night as mine.  I also saw my friend Penny(doing the 10K) as she headed back towards the finish line.  I started down the hill and saw my friend Jill running towards me.  I was so glad to see her and Kristine there!  (They had done the Ultra Marathon 52K the day before.)  When I turned onto the road by the Keg, I saw Kenny again, he yelled out encouragement to me (Yes Kenny I did make the 10K my B**ch!).

Before I knew it I was at the turn around point and heading back.  I heard my name again and two of the marathon runners whose mother is in my clinic blew past me.  They were running their hearts out!  Oh to be that fast!  I made my way back onto the main road and Jill and Kristine were there to cheer me on.  I was struggling with the hill a little and Jill ran beside me for a minute, telling me to focus on my feet, don't look up at the hill, just look at where I was going. (Thanks Jill!!!)

A few minutes later I passed the 8K mark and I was happy as a lark.  I knew then that I was going to make my time of 1:45.  I turned back onto Bevan, the street that would take me past my family and to the finish line and I texted my brother and husband to let them know where I was.

I waved to my family as I ran past them and headed for the finish line.  I wanted to run it in and I was feeling it, but heck I wasn't slowing down for nothing.  As I crossed over the intersection leading to the finish line, I saw Jill again, this time she ran out to give me a big high five!  A moment that the Marathon photographers captured.  I love that picture as I look so happy!  A few more high fives from total strangers and then I saw my awesome husband who gave me a big high five just before I crossed the finish line!

All smiles at the finish line




It was great to see the Peninsula Runner's staff at the finish line.  They were all there to be catchers, and I got high fives from all of them.  Kobie, Janet, Jason and Spencer.  My husband caught up to me and managed to grab a great picture.  My official chip time was 1:41, my garmin time was 1:39:43.  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/507140347

I'm really happy with that!  I'm proud of myself and how far I've come in a year, and I've got the bling to prove it!





Upgrading to bigger distances.

I've been feeling really good about my running since I completed my 8K race on May 4th.  I was previously registered for the Run for Water 5K, and the Abbotsford Police Challenge 10K in June.   It was going to be my first 10K race, sort of a celebration as it was my first race ever.  I decided this week to upgrade my Run for Water to the 10K.  I don't want to go backwards in my distances if that makes any sense at all?  I enjoyed the 8K and I was pretty confidant that I could have kept on going if I had to.  So I bit the bullet and called Run for Water to change my race to a 10K.

I'm quite excited, although a little nervous about it but I've done it now!  I was excited to go to Run Clinic and let the ladies know that I had upgraded my race.  I also had some other pretty exciting news for them as well.  I've signed up for next year's BMO already, and not the 8K.  I've signed up for the half marathon!  Who is this crazy person?!?!?!  I'm a little terrified of the half marathon at this point, but I know that with training for it properly, it will all be good.

It was hot for Run Clinic tonight.  I wasn't really looking forward to it as we had 18:2's x2 on the schedule and it was feeling really warm.  I made sure to bring lots of water with me and I wore my water belt to hold my water bottle.   I told Jason not to turn back for me, if we're doing the same route as last week, I'll turn around when we get to the 2minute walk and I know that eventually they will all catch up with me.  http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard?cid=32849932

I struggled a little bit with the heat, and I was finished all of my water before we got back to the store but I'm happy with how my run went.  I was able to run for 18 minutes at a time!!!!  I remember being so happy a few months back when I was able to run for 17 minutes in total on a run and that wasn't consecutive.   I can't believe how far I've come since January!

As it turned out I was almost back to the store before the first group of ladies caught up with me.  I circled back and met up with Jason and two other ladies and walked back to the store with them.   I have so enjoyed run clinic and these ladies, that I'm really going to miss them when we finish up.  The Run for Water is only 10 days away!

I won't be at Run Clinic next week as I'm working late but I'll be excited to hopefully see everyone at the Run for water!

Great Week

It was a great week this week.  I didn't run on Tuesday as I probably should have.  I was busy at work and when I got home I was just too tired.  I know it's probably just an excuse but there it is.  At run clinic on Thursday we did 2 fifteen minute intervals with a 2 minute walk in between.  I was a little nervous about doing the 15minutes.  I didn't do the 10 and 2's last week as it was a race week and I needed to taper for the race.  That meant that this week I was literally doubling my run time. 

On the upside it was cool and drizzling, after the fiasco of a run in last week's heat I was grateful for the cool rain.  When we started out I told the others not to worry about circling back for me as we usually do on our shorter durations.  I figured they would be so far ahead of me that them walking back towards me for 2 minutes wouldn't make that much of a difference.  Turns out I was right :D

By about minute 8 of running the others were quite a distance ahead of me and by the time I came to the end of the road to turn right along with them, they were completely out of sight.  I kept plodding along like I do and after the 2 minute walk interval I started running again, only to see the group headed back towards me. 

I do love my running group.  they decided to turn around at the 15 minute mark and head back so that they could see where I was, and also ensure that we ended up back at the start all at the same time.  These ladies rock!

Weigh in on Saturday didn't go as well as I had hoped.  I thought with my 8 K race and my run clinic that I would be down substantially but alas, I stayed the same.  I don't know what I'm doing wrong that I'm not losing any significant weight right now but I'm going to keep plodding along.

On the upside, my run homework today was 10:2x3 with a warm up and cool down.  Well, I'm very happy to report that I ran a total of 5.2Km in 51:54.  Not bad for walking a warm up and cool down and stopping for the lights :D  http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard?cid=32849932