Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon 2014 recap.... where I wasn't even mad...

I woke up early & refreshed.  Something that never happens on race day.  Usually butterflies swirling in my belly keeps me up all night long, afraid I'll over sleep through an alarm.

I woke up right when my alarm went off, my eyes bright & my tail bushy (that doesn't sound right... bright eyed & bushy tailed is what I'm going for)....

& it was the craziest thing.  Literally, the first thing that went through my mind when I woke up was the song,

I will not fear... His promises is true... my God will come through... always!  Always!





I had the most amazing sense of peace come over me right then & there...

I hopped right out of bed & headed into the kitchen.  The dogs were all sleeping in, & Ricky was still snoozing, so I made my race breakfast (an egg sandwich with hot sauce) & sat in the kitchen just reflecting on how the day was going to go.  I made up my mind to not freak out ... to enjoy the day... to be IN the moment... & know God was with me, was going to get me through the day...

I had everything laid out the night before so I got done with breakfast & started getting dressed.  Its always exciting because the news stations are already covering the start line & it gets me fired up, ready to get down to the crowds.

They had said that the temp was in the low 50's & it was going to be a perfect sunny, beautiful day.  I went out the door with just a short sleeve shirt & figured it would warm up as I got to moving.  I didn't expect to walk out the door & have such a cool breeze hit me.  I was freezing.

We got down to the race & Ricky parked & walked with me to the start line.  Getting in the crowds, hearing the music, seeing the corrals, my nerves really kicked in.  It didn't help that I was still cold, so I was just shaking with the big ball of emotion. 

Me Shivering before the race. 
Look how tight my hands are.
Nerves were kicking in

Ricky went with me even in the corral to keep me company & he kept his arms around me to keep me warm.  Is my husband awesome or what?

Before I knew it, we were moving forward. I didn't hear the horn go off, but I knew we had started.... Ricky walked with me all the way to the start line & veered off right as I got ready to hit my watch to begin this adventure.  I told him he was lucky they didn't tackle him coming off the course :)  The things you do for love.

Mile 1 - Of course, felt great.  The first mile is just full of cheerleaders & spectators ... I think I just look at all the faces looking for their loved ones & it is just full of joy & expectation in mile one.

I was determined to keep my pace of walk 3 minutes, run 2 minutes - but the first mile, I ran the first 5 minutes & then started my pace....


Mile 2 - There was a church called Liberty Temple - they were amazing!  They had to get there early & they had bought full bottles of water on their own & handing them out.  Plus, they had the Rocky theme going & honestly, they were the BEST CROWD OF PEOPLE!  They were on chairs, on tables, screaming, hitting everyone's hands... they deserve an award for "BEST CHEERLEADERS"


Mile 3 - About this time, I'm getting sick of winding up streets, back down streets, to wind back UP the street... get me out of these small roads...
It was also about this time that my new hand held phone gadget that I bought turned out not to be the best gadget I thought it was.  It was cutting into my thumb... so bad, I almost couldn't even FEEL my thumb.  Hmmm... let's get this thing off of my hand before my thumb turns blue.




Good in theory
Bad for swollen thumbs

Mile 4  - Ahh - on Broadway - a big wide road where you feel like you can breath.  I'm still keeping my same pace & feeling really good actually.  I saw ahead of me people going to the side & grabbing something at the next water station.  I thought there may be oranges there.  No - there were about 20 dozen boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts.  UGH!  I don't get how people eat junk when they run. One year, I saw people eating White Castle hamburgers.  I can puke thinking about it.

 

Mile 5 - this is where you take the turn to head down the road that leads you to Churchill Downs.  We pass a retirement home & I love that the front of it is always full of people cheering us on... people in wheelchairs, people who are elderly... they just clap & clap.  I want to just stop & hug them all.


Mile 6-7 - I hate this part of the race.  I was still keeping my normal pace, doing OK.  I just hate it because its so long at this point going down the road.  I just want to get to Churchill Downs & it feels like you're never going to reach those twin spirals. 

This part of the race really is my personal hell

I will say, my song "Press on" by Mandisa came on & I was kicking butt running through that whole song.
It was right after that that I could feel a blister coming up on the bottom of both my feet, on the balls of my feet.  The right foot was worse, but it was nothing to slow me down.

Mile 8 - The coolest part.  We got to run into Churchill Downs... I hadn't even taken my phone out during the whole time but had to document going into the track.  It was the first year we got to actually go in the front way.

My favorite part of the race ended up turning into the worst for me....

Proof I was still smiling at mile 8

When I was coming out of the tunnel of the track & heading into mile 9, I had 2 issues hit me.  First, those blisters that were coming up earlier had been getting worse & the one on my right foot was becoming unbearable.  I've never had blisters on the bottom of my feet before so I didn't even know how to deal with them. 

They had me limping & walking funny, which in turn, had my legs tighten up...

I was in trouble.

It was about mile 9.5 where I broke my pace for the first time.  Every time I went to do my 2 minute run, the blisters felt like they were bleeding... I was getting ready to just cry...

Luckily, I saw a friend on the side lines with her new baby & she ran out & hugged me.  Its funny how the small things give you energy again.

Ricky called me at mile 10 & asked where I was at.  I told him where & he said he would meet me up the road.  I didn't tell him how bad I felt at this point because I knew he would freak out & not let me go any further...

But I got to mile 11 & here comes Ricky.  I see him & smile & wave & then he got up to me & I told him how miserable I was.  At this point my pace had dropped something CRAZY... I couldn't run at all anymore. 

I, at first was so disappointed because I started off with an actual goal... something I didn't think I would do.  And the thing is, I was going to make it!!! I really was!  I was like 3 minutes ahead of the game... all up to mile 9.5....

& then I had a small self pity party...

But actually, it was a very small one - especially compared to some of the other ones I've had in races.  I kept thinking, "I wasn't even sure I was going to make it.  & here I am.  Screw the time."

& at that point, Ricky & I stepped to the side of the road, he sat down & I stretched my tight legs & I eased off my foot some.

They say, "crawl if you have to" - I almost was at that point.  I got to the 12 mile mark & I looked at Ricky & said, "It would be crazy for me to not make it now..." & at that, I was basically a snail.  My 14 minute pace went up to a 22 minute pace.  I was just literally taking a step at a time.

& again?  I didn't even care.  People were passing me up & I didn't care.  Time was ticking faster then ever.... & I didn't care.

Ricky was walking with me & we just were laughing, talking about where we were going to eat, listening to a little girl on the side singing in a karaoke machine "Do you wanna build a snowman" from Frozen....
Enjoying the moment... being IN the moment... & that's what I cared about.

We made the turn to the finish line & Ricky said, "Do you want to run?"

I told him, "I'm not sure I can." - every step felt like someone putting a hot knife in the ball of my foot...

but the closer I got to the finish line, I said, 'Let's go!' & I ran the last bit...

Probably a good thing. I think I made my foot completely numb at that point....

It was the funniest thing though because as soon as I crossed the finish line, I didn't see the people handing out the medals & I just crossed the finish line & stopped dead in my tracks & said, "WHERE'S THE MEDALS?"... Ricky busted out laughing.  He said I looked like a child wanting my candy...

well, duh! :)

I limped down & got my medal & I looked at Ricky & said, "I know its an awful time, I know I'm hurting, but I actually feel proud that I did it again"....

I had a whole new race experience... the one where time didn't even matter to me... where I felt self doubt fade away...

it made it a pretty awesome race....

My new addition to the Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon collection
Not my worst, not my best, but a new experience

I will say, I really didn't know what to expect in this race...
Didn't expect to start out so well...
REALLY didn't expect to have the pain of a blister (that was new)...
& Really REALLYYY didn't expect to throw the cares away of the 'comparison' away like I did. 

I honestly didn't even see what my time was until I checked my email 2 days later.  Seriously.  That's how little I cared.  I just knew I finished....

& that was my goal.

I like doing races like that.... I need to make that the habit.

(Side Note:  I took a picture of my blister on my foot, but decided to spare everyone that... you're welcome)

Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon Race Recap... be prepared - this is long

Ha... funny title huh?

Because my actual race recap would be crickets chirping here...

& lots of crying... I'm talking LOTSSSSSSS of crying...

I wish I could say this is stretching the truth... but this was truly me 

It started Friday.

I had intentions of doing the race.  Making deals & bargains with Ricky.  If I walk, he'd let me go... but then he'd say, "I know you - you won't walk"... "If you walk, you'll be sad about your time & cry & pout anyways"... it was a constant back & forth...

All I knew is I just wanted to start... I just wanted to TRY!!!

So I go down & pick up my race packet, after all, if I'm going to lay down money for a half marathon (which is not cheap) I'm going to come out of it with a tech shirt...

The whole day, I kept praying to God to just show me what to do... give me peace about it... give me one of those billboards in the sky so I would know exactly what to do.  Why can't God just send messages ala Harry Potter... send some owls down here with a message on his leg, "Don't run"... "Go for it"... either one would have been appreciated.

But I get home on Friday & in the mail is this card from my sweet precious friend, Lauren

Talk about perfect timing... just a sweet little note of the top 10 reasons she thinks I'm awesome...
Its what I needed to know that my life, though built around training for 16 weeks, didn't revolve around running & this race completely...

So I went to bed with an open mind & an open heart, still praying to God to tap me on the shoulder over night.  But I also went to bed with intentions of racing... I had carb'ed up, I had my equipment charged, I had the alarm set for 5:30 ...

Then 5:30 came... & I'm laying in bed & my low back is burning... well great... that's new...

& then I'm like, "God is this your sign?"... & it wasn't a pleasant question for God... I'm yelling at Him.  Really?  you're telling me now!  When I'm ready to go?
But I knew I shouldn't race...

& the tears started...
I mean, laying in bed throwing a fit like a 3 yr old...

(that's exactly how I felt)

Ricky kept telling me, "It's just a race"... but that's the thing.  It's not just a race.
To me, it's something more.  I can't even explain what it is actually - I just know it's something that I set a goal for.  It's something I strived & worked for.  To just casually let it go is not something that was easy for me to do.

I kept thinking of all the people at the start line that had injuries... I know I'm not the only one... but Ricky kept telling me a missing toenail is different then a back injury
... & I know he's right...
but when you're talking to a 3 yr old throwing a fit, nothing makes sense.

So I would stop crying... & then on the news, everything RACE RACE RACE... people going to the start, showing the finish line, all the excitement building....

on Facebook, all my friends showing pictures of them getting ready, pictures of the crowds...

I was loosing my freaking mind!

Then the gun went off & all the runners started.  I thought someone shot me through the heart... the race just started & I wasn't there...

I couldn't bear it...

I knew that if I stayed there in bed, I'd be there all day in a pity party of all pity parties... I had to do something.

I had some poster board under a couch & I pulled it out & told Ricky, 'we're leaving' ...
He was more then willing to do ANYTHING to get me to stop crying...

I had so many friends running & I thought, the next thing I can do IS be a part of this race, just in a different way.

My neighbor was running his first half marathon - I wanted to see him...
My cousin was running her first full marathon - I wanted to cheer her on...
A running friend's wife - who has also became my friend - had trained amazingly all year long (loosing incredible weight) & was running her first half marathon - I wanted to see her dream come true...

I HAD TO BE THERE!!!!

We drive 30 minutes, weave through town & get a spot right as the runners were headed into Church Hill Downs... around mile 7.5

Ricky actually has video of me screaming... I'll spare you of that 

When we got there, it was the top runners coming through...

then, I hear my name! .... our former Worship minister was running by & came & gave me a high five .... he looked so strong & amazing!

then I see another former school mate who was running his first half marathon & he yelled, "Rebecca - why aren't you running?" ... I just yelled, "My stupid back" .. he gave me a thumbs up & kept on going

Next thing I know, I see my neighbor... & he's smiling & he's moving along fantastically!  I was so excited to see him on the course looking so good!  I actually got teary eyed seeing him with all the runners.

& then I saw my other friend ... & she didn't see me... went right past me.  I was like "Nuh-uh" & Ricky & I started SCREAMING her name... she jerked around & saw us cheering her on!

Next up - another friend from school who is a great walker in these races... she yelled "Rebecca!  Hope you're back is better" ... that made me tear up...

Then saw ANOTHER friend who ran up & gave me a hug & told me she understood how it hurt to not be running...

These people understood... & I understood them....

So I saw everyone I wanted to see (except my cousin who was lost in the crowd) ... drats...

& Ricky was like, "ready to go?"

But I couldn't tear myself away ...

I told Ricky, "I've been back here before... I know what it feels like"

I made my point to him... look around... there was no one left on the side of the road but me & Ricky.

After family members saw their loved ones, they head to the finish line to cheer them the final stretch.  There are no more horns, no more posters, no more hootin' & hollerin' ... just empty streets with walkers & runners who are struggling... I've been there...

I wasn't leaving...

Ricky made himself comfy in a chair & pulled up Netflix & watched Spiderman...
Me?  My voice was scratchy from pulling EVERYONE ON!!!

The attitude is so different from the people at the front of the pack, to the ones at the back.

They are the ones that its tough for...

& they were cheering ME on...

I kept hearing "Thank you for staying" ... "Thank you for coming out"... "Thank you for the sign" ... "Thank you for caring"...

I mean, people cheering ME on?  That's crazy... I kept saying to them, "No, YOU are the ones doing 13.1 miles today - not me"... & it was true... my heart just screamed for them... they were doing what I couldn't do that day... no matter what time it was... they were doing it...

I'll never look at my time again the same way when I'm running again...

3 girls even came up & said, "Can we take a picture with you & the sign?"... I kinda laughed & said sure... they said, "We haven't seen any other signs anywhere because we're so far back"...

it broke my heart...but made it smile at the same time...

I was there for someone... I was the cheerleader someone needed that day

My voice was probably as loud as all these people put together!

Ricky said, "are you ready to go now?" ... I said, "Wait - there's one more person coming"

She was slow... she was limping... she was in pain...

She got up to where we were & I asked her, "Are you ok?" .. she had tears in her eyes & she said, "I have blisters so bad on my feed I can hardly move"... I told her that medics were sitting across the street (the race was virtually over so the medics were off their bikes & drinking a coke off to the side)...

she looked at me & said, "no... I'm not stopping... I'm going to finish"

I cheered her on like no other athlete that had come through... I told her she WAS going to make it & she was doing a fantastic job...

& I realized... I'm not alone in the "heart call" of wanting to finish a race... no matter what...

we're a weird bunch of people... but we're in bundles...

of 18,000 people who cross a finish line...

So what did I learn:

1.  Life goes on without a race... my day kept moving on & in the end, I felt OK about not doing it... only because I supported others.  My heart was sad, but it didn't ruin me.  The world keeps on moving

2. My medal shelf is less one... but that's ok...I was so happy to see pictures of my friends who did get one.  They earned them.  They deserved them.  Instead of a medal, I have my bib that wasn't used.  I told Ricky, I'm going to hang it up with my medals to remind me that I have battled my own race here

3.  Cheering others on is amazing... those people who need it the most appreciate it the most...

4.  I'm now ready to get my back fixed... I've got to get back in the game... this is not something I can just give up.  The running community is something that is unexplained... On both sides... the people IN the races & the people OUT of the races... it's just an environment that is about support & encouragement...

5.  & I will say, I'm glad to know I'm able to walk without pain in my hips & thighs & feet 2 days after the half marathon is over :)  (though, I'm actually sitting here with ice on my back)

My race recap... I survived not running... which is a first for me...

Now, onto bigger & better races in my life...

Race Recap: Papa John 10-Miler

My official SLOWEST RACE EVER!!!....

but that's OK...

really - I'm doing OK with it.

I think because I had fun doing it.... & I still finished at a decent time (for me) & most importantly, I wasn't last :)

I always hate saying that though... someone is always last.  & they still finish, right?  No shame in that.

Ricky did this one with me as well & we headed out before the sun came up.

The news station was at the race location & talking with local runners & owners of the running stores around.  They just kept saying, "Don't over dress - its gonna be a shirt & shorts day"... so I listened.  Ricky turned it down a notch too & didn't wear a jacket or gloves.

Let me say, we were both FREEZING at the long walk to the start line... I'm talking shivering.  Ricky said, "where is that guy that told us to dress light - I'm going to go put my freezing hands on him"

The bad part, we had to park a good 2 miles away from the start line so it was a long, cold walk...

But the good thing - there was a Starbucks at the corner of the street.  We ran in there & got loaded up on some nutrition for the race course... & warmed up a bit before the start began.

By the way, I've never heard of the brand Two Mom's in the Raw ... awesomeness!  Thank you Starbucks for helping me find a new gluten-free, dairy free - 100% raw & organic product
http://www.twomomsintheraw.com/

We get to the start about 1 minute before the gun goes off.  Another good timing for another race.

Mile 0-1:  Felt good starting - felt good just to warm up.  I was proud of ourselves because we passed the news station camera & I got a good wave in... no one probably saw us because its early, but my smiling face was out there for the world to see.

Mile 1-2:  A lady ran by us & turned around & said, "Do you remember me?"... I wasn't even sure she was talking to us... then I could tell she was looking at my face.  I was like "Oh yeah - how are you?" & she said good & then wished us luck & kept running.  I looked at Ricky & said, "Who the heck was that?"... I didn't want to be rude :)  Ricky finally figured it out - she was our old neighbor. She is a BIG TIME RUNNER... like Boston Marathon top 10 runner!  It was great seeing her.  She was probably shocked to see us out there.  When she lived next door to us, the idea of running never entered my mind.

Mile 2-3:  Elvis talked to us on the course... seriously... a guy about 65 yrs old dressed as Elvis was talking to us.  & for a 65 yr old Elvis, he had great pace.

This is the part where the pros are actually coming BACK on the opposite side of the road... we're not even to the park yet, & they've made it through & heading back & it's their mile 7... always blows my mind to see how fast they move.  How natural they look - how strong they are.  The first place guy?  There was no one even near him ... come to find out, he finished in 47:24 - a new course record.  Amazing!

Best sign ever:  "You are totally almost NOT there" ... thank you for being honest

Mile 3-4:  Into the park we go... the most dreaded part of the race for me

Mile 4-5:  Mile 4 is awful & awesome at the same time because you get to the top of a HUGE hill & its a good downhill slope for a bit there.  & a water stop right at the top of the hill, mile 4 marker.  When you go down that hill, its like your lungs are screaming "THAANNNKKKK YOOOOOUUUUUUU"

Got in a pack of women whose hands apparently swell too... we all had our arms in the air trying to drain blood down... & ended up turning the hands in the air to a worship & praise for Jesus :)

Mile 5-6:  Ricky had to go to the bathroom so he jetted ahead to go to the porta-pot & said he'd meet me at the end of the park.... bye honey!

On my own... luckily, my iPod must have sensed I needed some encouragement.  "You're a Superstar" came on... I love the lyrics of this song... good for the soul.  Just what I needed going up Mile 5... the worst hill of the park.

Got passed by a 5 yr old boy.  No joke!  This little boy had 2 men next to him who were training him, telling him how to breath, how to move his legs up the hill - it was pretty amazing to watch.  He looked adorable too in the smallest Under Armor gear I've ever seen.  I didn't even know you could train someone that young.  I told Julie after wards that I think I just saw the Gold Olympic medalist of 2020.

Sailing down the hill out of the park... RELIEF.... Heaven.... & found Ricky at the bottom waiting for me.... onward we go

Mile 6-7:  Fastest mile in my mind... I always have one mile of a race where you see the next mile marker & you think, "I'm already here?" ... that's always a good surprise

Mile 7-8:  that sign from earlier?  It was turned around now & it said, "NOW you're almost there"

With the Louisville Cardinals in the Final Four that day, everyone was wearing red & cardinal signs every where... Ricky though couldn't take it that far. He wore his UK National Championship shirt. Some UL Supporters on the side of the road pointed at him & joked with him about wearing his UK shirt.  He may be rooting the Cards on this time, but his blood is still blue :)

Mile 8-9:  Passed a yard sale where they had DVD's for $2.00 ... Ricky was mad he wasn't aware DVD's were for sale along the way or he would have brought a bag & cash

Mile 9-10: I still don't get why this race puts a huge hill at the end of this rough race... but it's there.  Ricky was trying to get me to run up it.  I said, "I'm getting over it at my pace"... which was walking slowly at this point.  The hills were killing my low back.  But we made it & it was downhill from there.

I always love the finish line of this race... inside of Cardinal Stadium.  But its so funny running on that turf when you've been on concrete for the past 9.8 miles.

FINISHED!!!!

We headed to the lines where Papa John's had pizza waiting for us.  I put napkins on it to absorb half of the grease on it... & it look off the whole layer of cheese.  So I had pizza crust to snack on. I was happy with that.  Just give me carbs.

Thank goodness it was a sunny nice day - we sat down & stretched while eating pizza & took a minute to just breath.  The bad part though once you sit down, you gotta get back up... UGH!

& then the 2 miles back to the car...

It was a trip... but it was a fun trip. Glad to have Ricky next to me to keep me company.

This was the first year he did the Triple Crown with me... his favorite was my favorite though - the Rodes City 10K... that race is just perfect, in length, in course, in the whole sha-bang.
Ricky agreed that this race just sucked.  But it's an accomplishment.

We headed home... I got to relax.  Ricky had to go to church to help take down & carry out & load up a set from the Children's Ministry even the night before.  Bless his heart.  He's Superman... seriously....

we didnt get any pictures at all of the race. Too much to carry & think about... but this is me at home, ready for my shower & to put my feet up.

So, we're done with the Triple Crown.  Every race time was horrible time for me.  But I did them.  & now, I head into my Half Marathon in 3 weeks.  Feeling more confident now that I've done the 10 miler... but have to admit, I'll be glad to get this years running season behind me.  I just haven't been 'feeling it' like usual.  Muddling through.  But making it through regardless.

Rodes City 10K 2013

Rodes City 10K - this is my favorite race.

Not sure why... I think I like the distance of a 10k.  Its challenging, but not horrible. & this course is fun & interesting & its always full of people & energy...

This was my 4th year doing this race.

Headed to pick up my packet & we got some extra swag, which was fun!  Starbucks Iced Coffee - yum! & some Biscotti Spread.  I had no idea what it even was - but mercy me... its like crushed graham crackers in a jar... of angels voices... its THAT good :) 

The shirt from last year's race is probably one of my favorite - it was on St. Patrick's Day last year - so it is green & so soft.  This year?  its that weird yellow color & it is the stiffest material!  

Oh well, cant always get it right!

Race Day:  We wake up at 5:30 & eat something.  I do at least.  Ricky isnt a breakfast eater so he said he would pass.  I asked him on the way if he wanted to stop at the donut shop since he runs on sugar anyways.  He almost considered it.

It was warmer then we thought, 40 degrees... the forecast earlier in the week was calling for rain & low 30's - so I was glad to wake up to see a 4 in the temperature.  

I also didnt mind the clouds because we run straight towards the sun rising & its BLINDING 

This year - no worries on that

I actually layered up too much & as we were leaving the car, I took off my jacket... & I'm so glad I did.  In that first mile, I was just perfect - warm but not over heated.

We got to the Start right as they were finishing up the National Anthem - which we knew the beautiful lady singing - so glad Ricky got to hear her.  I've heard her the past 3 years

So literally, we stood at the start line for like 5 minutes & we were off.  Able to slide right in the front of the line & get going.

Things I remember from each mile:

Mile 1

* 2 girls had on Wonder Woman socks that were AWESOME!  They had little capes on the shins of their legs on the socks too!  Me want!

* Passed some convenient store where they must have been serving something for breakfast.  The smell was HORRENDOUS.  Everyone was grabbing their nose passing by

Mile 2

* A lady from our church ran by & said, "I knew his hair anywhere" - talking about Ricky's pony tail .... you can't miss it

* A guy was standing on the side of the road with a Starbucks in his hand... he was holding it in the perfect position where someone could grab it like a water stop.  I asked Ricky if he dared me to run by & grab it.... I got a "NOOOOOOOO" from Ricky.  Buzz kill! :)

Mile 3

* Tripped over a big rock... & try to recover in the crowd by screaming "Watch out for the rock" ... I'm the race road examiner

* YES!  There is a store that sells meat of all kinds & the smell every year makes me gag... literally... & this year?  The store is CLOSED!  No meat smell!  YES!... but saying that now, I feel bad for the owner.  Economy troubles must not benefit rare meats

* Favorite part of the race... a nice down hill turn that takes us back to the turnaround point.

* Hit the 5k at 2 minutes earlier then I did in the race 2 weeks previous.  That made me feel better with having such a bad 5k in that race.

Mile 4

* Ran into a friend who was making me laugh at all the pins she had to put on herself while running because her underwear was falling down..... laughter makes a mile go by fast!

* Ricky, myself & my friend came across a photographer on the course & we all hammed it up & waved & he took the picture... I hope that was the official photographer of the race & we are able to snag that picture up!

Mile 5

* A guy on a ladder with a sign that said, "God, Country & White Castle" ... there ya go! 

* Saw a lady running in all white - a white tutu, white gloves, white compression socks, a tiara... on her back?  A sign saying that it was her wedding day!!! She was running the 10K the morning of her wedding!  I LOVED that!

Mile 6

* A guy was on the side lines to the corner of the finish & his voice was GONE... but he just kept on screaming, "YOU'VE GOT THIS!"... "You are STRONG'.... "This is your own marathon"... I have to say, I know he probably still can't speak, but I appreciated it so much!

* A girl who was having an individual race with me has passed me with about a half mile to go... we got to the end & Ricky said, "Are you going to let her beat you?"... that did it... I turned on the fire.  I sprinted the last .25 of the race... & passed her right at the finish - HA! (Its also those mini races with individuals that push you)

* Pushed myself so hard on an empty tank that when I crossed the finish line, I thought I was going to pass out.... like they say, "If its pretty, you didnt push yourself hard enough"... I wasn't pretty!

Thank goodness for Panera Bagels & Powerade at the finish line 

Finish Line picture

The only downfall of this race - the start line & finish line are not even close to each other.  So we had to take a shuttle to get back to our car.

Then it was time to think about EATING!!!!

I wanted to get to Cracker Barrell just to get Steven Curtis Chapman's new CD - the only place they are selling it (besides online)... so we said, 'let's go up there'

YES!!! GOT IT!!!

But we got there & there was a wait... & honestly, I'm not that big of a fan of Cracker Barrel, so we headed back to what is becoming a race tradition - Panera Bread... yum!!!

The day ended up being beautiful... the sun came out, the weather warmed up... it was a perfect day!

I used this race as my 10K for my Viritual Race at Run with Jess:  http://www.runwithjess.com/

Look at my cute Zoe & Bruno... they want a medal too

So that meant I got a medal for my 10k.. which always makes everything better!!!

In the end, I think I did decent with my attitude... I still wasn't thrilled with my time.  But I did set a time I wanted to beat, & I beat it by 5 minutes - so that was great.  This race was still 6 minutes slower then my PR on a 10k... which isn't that great.  But its not my SLOWEST 10k either... so I'll take it.

.... Oh, not only did I get a medal, have a good time running, & got a SCC CD?  I also got the Les Miserables DVD that evening... so yeah, it was a pretty awesome day...

Now, onto the Papa John's 10-miler next Saturday....

Anthem 5k - WORST.RACE.EVER

Well - not the worst race... MY worst race

I look happy here... but felt like the biggest loser!  & not the one's who win a million dollars & train with  Bob& Jillian)

I guess I should clarify before Anthem 5k people are knocking on my door with a lawsuit.

They are even more tops on my list because a few weeks ago, I actually won a contest they had on Facebook & ended up getting a special embroider sweat shirt & a backpack.  I was thinking it was going to be one of those back packs that are just strings that they give away as swag.  No way... this thing is like, let's go hike & put all the gear in here for a week & still have room & compartments to sort things!  Nice!

I knew going into these races this year that I wasn't going to have amazing races.

My training has been haltered with my low back issues.

Plus, I've just been having problems catching my breath.  I think it has to do with a vitamin B-12 deficiency.  It just started not too long ago & reading up, Vitamin b-12, you get mainly from animal products.  Well, guess what this vegetarian doesn't eat?  yeah - the word 'Vegetarian' just gave it away.  & no, I don't drink milk & I'm not a c-word-breakfast-food-throwing-up-now-eater
****gagging at the thought of that food now*****

The clue that really makes me think I'm having a B-12 deficiency?  They say not only with shortness of breath, you also have tingling in limbs & feel like they are asleep (check) & you also have white spots on your skin where your melanin is being affected by the lack of vitamin (check).... I actually noticed white spots on my arm in the shower the other day & refused to look it up on WebMD because I thought for sure I thought it would say I had leprosy ... or cancer... or MS... or some horrible disease... there is never good news on WebMD.

So yes -  I knew my racing, & my body has been effected by the change in my diet & my injury... but I still wasn't as prepared mentally as I thought I'd be.

Woke up early... well, let me rephrase that - I didn't even get good sleep the night before.  I get so anxious & excited about a race.  Do I have everything?  I need to take pictures of everything I lay out for a race-eve preparation.  I don't think I even pack that much stuff when we travel
...... yeah, those that know me just laughed because you know I don't travel.

It was 33 degrees for race time so I knew to bundle up.  Long pants - with a base layer long sleeve shirt I just got on clearance at Target (Thank you Target for putting winter running gear on clearance already) & a t-shirt over that, with a light running hoodie.  Gloves, head wrap, my iPod - I'm ready.

Ricky came with me on this race & he was all prepared ... even though he kept saying "Its COLD'
Now this guy works in minus zero weather & doesn't complain, but on a 33 degree day, he was cold.  I think he's just never gone to work in Nike running leggings (that'd be awesome if he did)

We got down there in plenty of time to not have to rush to the starting line.  We even jumped inside of the Louisville Slugger Field area so Ricky could warm up a bit.

7:50 & the crowds were starting to swarm out so we headed to our place.

I always love seeing the crowd & seeing how different people are in a race.
A guy was in front of us carrying an American Flag - like a HUGE flag that had a HUGE pole on it .... disappointed that there was only one running Elvis that I came across.... there was a guy in a suit.... I love seeing families with their kids in the crowd.

I'm such a Sport Shoe Carrie Bradshaw because I'm constantly looking at everyone's running shoes while we wait.  I found one person with my same shoes & was instantly like "she's cool" :)

The "Call to the Post" (We're in Kentucky people) was blasted on the horn & we were off....
I think this is the first time I didn't hear the National Anthem.... maybe they had it & I was just too busy messing with my iPod - but at least I was behind a guy with a huge American flag.

Now, with my back, I've been training in intervals... 3:2 intervals (3 minutes walking, 2 minutes running) - I'll adjust that with the distance I'm doing.  Want to get it the opposite - 3 running, 2 walking - by the time the mini gets here.  Not sure how realistic that will be, but its a goal - right?

But I thought, its just a 5k, screw the interval & what I've been doing for the past 7 weeks - just run.

The first mile was great.  I ran non stop, keeping a steady pace & not going out too fast.  Saw some friends from church in the crowd & kept trucking along.

At about 1.60, we hit a hill & I knew I was just going to walk it - after all, I'd pushed myself more then I was used to & I didn't want to ruin my back on the first race of the season.  Plus, in all honesty, I think I walk up the hills faster then I run them.

Got up the hill & ran to the next place, a water stop, which was right before mile 2.

Got to the time marker at mile 2 & saw I was doing about a 12 minute pace, which I was thrilled about.

From here on though - I don't know what happened.  I felt like I was keeping a steady pace - I had slowed it down a bit just to keep it consistent & didn't want to feel horrible coming to the finish line... but I guess my pace slowed down a LOT...

I saw the finish line - the last few feet, I even put steam on my pace & got across...

But when we crossed, I knew immediately I was slower then ever.

Source: tumblr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

The crowds had already thinned out in the coral to cheer people in.  There was no wait to get a Gatorade after.  There was a crowd around Panera though... there's always a crowd around there to snag a bagel.

This year, they had on the bib, you could scan it with your phone & get your results immediately.  I did it & my jaw dropped.  I knew basically what it was on my Garmin, but sometimes, it works where its a few seconds off & that always makes me happy.  Not this time - my Garmin was johny-on-the-spot.

& I sucked

Confirmation that I sucked

We ran into friends that I always love talking with & this was the first 5k for my friend's wife.  The husband is an old pro & he said as soon as we saw them, "She's already criticizing herself for her race"... Ricky just looked at him & said, "Yep - she is too"... I was quickly reminded that sometimes its just for fun & finishing - nothing else - no PR - no negative split - nothing to prove - just finishing!

That sounded good... until I got home...

I have a book that keeps all my racing bibs & info about the race & my times, rankings - all the stuff no one cares about but me...

I flipped through...

My first 5k that I did was this race 4 years back.  Appropriate that my time this year was 4 minutes SLOWER then my first year.  WHAT?

It felt like someone kicked me in the gut.

Ricky said, "Is 4 minutes that big of a deal?" - I said, "I beat my time one year by 10 SECONDS & thought it was the world! Now compare seconds to minutes & think if it's a big deal".... & then I lost it... I cried for a good 15 minutes.  Just sat at the counter & cried.

Felt like I had the word "FAILURE" tattooed on my face.... I was embarrassed... I felt fat & blobby... I felt awful

Ricky, bless his heart, kept trying to reassure me all those things aren't true... & if a race that we finished, with no pains, with no injuries is a failure, then he'd hate to see what a REAL failure looks like.

I get that... but man, how hard I am on myself right now...

Funny thing?  I knew going in it wasn't going to be good.  I didn't really expect to pull out a surprise PR or even be close to my time... so 4 minutes really shouldn't be that awful... but it still was.

& now - I'm scared to death.  I have a 10k next weekend & a 10 mile race... all before the half marathon.

Source: google.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

I just need to keep reminding myself that I'm doing OK - if I finish - THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.  No one is looking at my time thinking any different of me... & if they do, then they're losers in my book.
The world doesn't end if I'm slower then ever.
No little puppies were kicked in the stomach if I didn't make a goal
.... everything goes on as normal.

It's just a race with my own mind....

so far I'm losing :(

This is what I'm going to keep in front of my face until I get through race season....

Source: boxingbeauty.tumblr.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

I need to just turn off all timers - not look at the clock - not look at the results...

just see the finish line & know I crossed it...

Let's really hope the next race recap is a lot more cheery than this hot mess of a blog post