And It WAS the Longest Race Ever

I have very mixed feelings about the Heart Mini-Marathon. I personally felt like a failure...until I weighed in all of the circumstances of the race. Then I felt like I was glad that I finished. Let me back up.

It was a sunny, nice, warm day. Until I started running. Then I recognized it as an unbearably hot, humid, gross day with the sun incessantly beating down on me. Coach Joe says if you are comfortable temperature-wise at the starting line, then you are overdressed. Well, I agree, but how can you get much less than a tank and a running skirt? I was sooooo hot, the entire time. I stopped at every water stop (which I NEVER do) and actually WALKED with my water so that I could consume ALL of it. I also had to stop at a port-o-let. This is like death for me. I NEVER stop at a port-o-let anywhere unless there is absolutely no other option. There was no other option. I even had to wait in a line...in the middle of the race!

There were people on the sidelines cheering and one boy had a sign that said "5k down, 10k to go!" I was like "WHAT?! only 5k down?" It seemed so long. This may also be because I took the first mile out waaaay too fast. 9:20. I felt great at the time. Then I continually added time on.

I was sweating so much that I looked like I took a shower. Gross. And I don't usually sweat a lot.

But the most disappointing thing for me was that I had to walk. Right after the first turn-around which was about the 4th mile. I couldn't believe it. I try NEVER to walk, no matter how tired I am. Then I ran again. Then the next hill I walked. I felt so angry. Anyone from my group who saw me and would have normally said something to me was probably too afraid to do that. Every time I walked I know my face was screwed up into an awful grimace. I was so mad.

At the 8-mile the guy yelling out times yelled "Mile 8! Mile 9 is much better!" Really? Hurrah! I was almost done. LIAR, a huge hill was in front of me. I walked it, telling myself I would run at the top. I started running...another huge hill.

By now my time was totally screwed up. I was behind a guy with a shirt that said "if you can read this, you've just been passed by a speedwalker". Of course. So I picked up the pace as much as I could (which was laughable) and finished with him. They were playing "Celebrate" at the finish line and that's when I started to cry. I was so mad at myself.

1:45 something. (I can't find my official time on the site because apparantly I am not on there for some reason.)

I just have to learn how to run in the heat.

Longest Race Ever

Last night was an easy 40 minutes. I have come to the conclusion that I have long-distance running in me now. Short runs are not my thing anymore. It seems like it takes me about 4 miles to get in the rhythm of things and those first 4 miles are really hard for me. After that, I sort of fall into the run. It is nice. But it is weird to do these 4 mile runs when it takes me 4 miles to get warmed up.

Anyway, this weekend is the Heart Mini-Marathon 15k. I am excited because this will be my longest race ever. The course looks pretty tough. We have run just a smidgeon of it before, along Columbia Parkway. The coaches described it as having 3 big hills, the last one being at the end.

What I am looking forward to the most is IHOP. After every race, my mom, dad, husband and I go to IHOP and I get one of those ridiculous breakfasts with pancakes, eggs (which go to my husband for his hashbrowns), sausage, bacon and hashbrowns. Yum. Not fun to think about during the race, but great afterwards. (As you can probably tell, I am not one of the most healthy runners).