Friday, May 20, 2011

25K Recap

As I arrived downtown I panicked because I couldn't get to the parking structure that I intended on parking at.  The police had part of the road blocked off and forced me to turn down a road that I thought was leading me to the expressway.  After a bit of a nervous breakdown, I realized I was not headed to the expressway and only needed to make a left turn to get me to a different area to park....not the one I wanted though because this one wasn't free. :O(

It was about 7:15am and it was 60 degrees and POURING, but at the start of the 25K the rain had let up and it was actually kind of humid out.  I lined up at the back of the 9:00 minute/mile pace group.  Soon enough we were off.  I felt good as I my breathing settled in to a nice pattern.

Mile 1: 9:26
Mile 2: 9:20
Mile 3  9:23
Mile 4: 9:26
Mile 5: 9:34

I forced a GU and water down at mile 4 and only slowed as to NOT inhale the water.

Mile 6:  9:32
Mile 7:  9:44

This is were I started having a hard time.  I couldn't get my heart rate under control and I thought if I just walked for a second it would be OK.  So I did and that was my downfall because I mentally gave up on myself.  I forced another GU at mile 8 and walked through this water stop.

Mile 8:  9:55
Mile 9:  9:45

This hills started here and last for the next 4 miles, and I could feel a blister forming on the bottom of my left foot.

Mile 10:  10:22
Mile 11:   9:58
Mile 12:  10:12

Another GU and an orange slice to try to physically push me through but mentally I was done.

Mile 13:  10:17
Mile 14:  10:36

I really was struggling at this point and I was upset with myself for crumbling.

Mile 15:  10:32

The finish line area was packed with spectators and I pushed myself hard to the end.  The finish line was uphill and it was a struggle.  I set my sights on a guy who was giving it his all, and I chicked him.  You betcha!

Mile 16:  9:28

Garmin time read 15.62 miles at 2:34:04.

Official time read 15.5 miles at 2:34:08.

Not what I wanted.

But still OK.

I need to work on race day anxiety.  I need to carry over my confidence that I acquire during training runs into race day.

I give up on myself to easily.

Sorry for the lack of photos -- I forgot to take pictures.

8 comments:

  1. Alright this is what we're going to do, once I am back up and running we're going to run a race together. I will be your personal cheerleader the whole way and you'll get so annoyed with me you won't even have a chance to get race anxiety. You'll just want to run forever so you can get away from me. Sound good? :)

    But for reals, you did great and even if you felt like you gave up on yourself, clearly you didn't because you finished. Have you thought about putting a mantra on your hand to remind you to dig deep when the going gets tough?

    P.S. Race anxiety or not you still scored a major PR so congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xoxo

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  2. Congrats on the race

    Something I do on race day, on the drive to the race I listen to comedy, laughing gets my mind off the race, before the race I listen to music that pumps me up, it helps alittle

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  3. To piggy back off of Big Daddy...

    I usually try to pump up the jams and have my own personal dance party on the way to the race. That usually helps me. Incessant pacing always helps too:)

    Great PR girly! I know someone up in my parts who ran the race and he said the weather was terrible. You survived for sure.

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  4. Nice job! Just being there and finishing the 25K is special. To PR is even better. It's definitely not easy.

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  5. Wow, sorry I just got around to commenting on this post. Not sure where I've been :( but I was having problems commenting on blogs...

    Anyway, anxiety is normal. In some ways, races are a reflection of your training and if you've been training hard you may feel like you have to give it your all and prove that you've been indeed training properly. But I get how easy it is just to say "screw it" during a race and get to the point where you just want to finish, don't care about your time, don't care how much you put into training, just want to go home, sit on the recliner and veg out. Believe me, it happens to me almost every race. It's just about keeping those feelings in check and focusing on the next mile/water stop/runner/whatever.

    And I agree with Morgan. Having her as a cheerleader would be cool. If you're up for a SoCal half, I'd gladly run every step with you and we'd kick some major arse.

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  6. Congrats on finishing!! Every race is a learning experience and though you didn't finish at the time you wanted, you will apply these lessons to your next race!

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  7. OMGosh! I didn't even know it was possible for a human to go that far, that fast, without a horse underneath them. I am awestruck at all of you.

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