Gu Chomps-check
Lucky Necklace-check
pee 33 times before race starts-check
Jack wearing race shirt for good luck-Check
Chip on shoe-check
Etc. Etc.Etc.
The night before the race, Jack asked me to pull out my medal/trophy collection from years gone by so he could see the 6 ATB medals I already have.
"See Mom! If you can do this than you can do that race tomorrow NO PROBLEM!"
Wow! Way to pack a punch for nostalgia and to cheer me on.
I used to be fast. 5 km 22:10// 7 km 31.43//16 km 1:29:15//Half marathon 1:48//and marathon 3:56:01//ATB 30 km 2:52
I forget 10 km pb...mostly because I HATE 10 km races.
It bugs me that I can't go fast. It bugs me that I'm super super super slow. I try to console myself that the doctors had said I would never be able to run more than 5 km and yet, I'm training for a 50 km and have done 3 more atb, a couple halfs and 2 fulls in the last 2 years and 9 months.
Still... I am SO embarrassed at how slow I am. So embarrased, as if I'm not as good as I used to be.
I have to get over it.
THE RACE:
Started out SHITTY for the first 10 km, which Ironically was the slowest 10 km of my race. I always have that happen to me and it sucks. My knees hurt, toes went numb, had to pee in an orange portapotty and then at 7 km started to feel like I was gonna puke.
Seems I'm a glutton for punishment because I just got faster and faster as the race went on even though my tummy hurt and I was feeling tired......
I decided to take action: I needed my sister!!!
I had my iphone on my since I had to let my cheering squad know when I was 5 km from the end so they could get to the finish line in time. I did something that seemed so weird to me. I text and ran at the same time! I text my sister.
So...where was I....oh yes....my second wind. I love that hill section...it's where my race begins.. I start passing people and I don't stop passing people until I get to the finish line. Now, I'm not competitive for time etc but it sure is good for the psyche to be passing 30 people every km you run when those people either misjudged the difficulty of the route,
went out too fast or didn't hydrate/eat properly and have hit the wall early on. I plan for this...it's my style and I trained so hard on those hills this year that I ran every step of those hills and it was the fastest part of my race. This, all on the verge of puking and having to do a run and puke'' at the side of a road as I had barfed in my mouth while running and had to spit it out. (TMI?? Well...that's how it goes!!)
My stomach felt much better after that and I was super super happy!!!!!! I just kept passing those people and when I got to the MFG I had to check to see if Beth had text me. She did. I nearly cried with her kind words of encouragement and love.
I had to call my peeps to let it ring 2x to let them know I was near the end. turns out they were far from the finish line.They were suprised at how quickly I was going the last 10 km because I had told them to take their time as I was feeling crappy and had an upset stomach.
My sister had encouraged me via text and the classic text was...."Wow? You're almost there!
Puke if you have 2!" My sister is the best. She knows that there is no way I won't finish this race or give up.
I saw Jack at the 21 km mark and it pepped me up so much. Nothing like a hug from him part way through the race to keep me happy. (This was before I puked...)
Once I got to the MFH It was clear sailing......I ran the last 5 km as my fastest of the ENTIRE race!! I saw a friend of mine at the 28 km mark who scolded me for having far too much energy at the end of the race and I should be pushing as hard as I can.....BUT...therein lies the problem. If I push too hard, my back could get very injured and I won't be able to recover
well to run another race. I also have to be able to walk after the race, to take care of Jack on my own that day as well as to work the next day. I'm on my feet a lot for work and I need to be able to work. I can't get injured. I just don't have time for it. I have to go slow and steady and kick ass for the alst 5 km at all my long races so that I don't make those nagging back problems flare up.
So....at 4:05 as my official time I am torn. I'm embarrased that it is so far from my 2:52 personal best but I'm so pleased that I can run it.
"The miracle isn't that I finished....the miracle is that I had the courage to start" J. Bingham.
I remind myself of this as much as possible. 3 years ago...I wasn't running and would hide away on the day of the ATB (the route went by my apartment) and wish wish wish I could run that race, remembering the days when my runner buddies and I would train so hard for it. Remember the 4 times I had already run it and getting tears in my eyes as I thought that I'd never again be able to run it.
My miracle is getting to the start line of the last 3 ATB Races....Finishing = winning in my books and if it wasn't for those people that believe in me accomplishing my dreams, and my
dear son who believes that If I can do it, he can too someday, then I would still be thinking those doctors were right. That I'd only be able to run 5 km max. I NEVER Run a race alone...it's my fb peeps that cheer me on(one had just finished his first 50 km in India! Congrats to him!!) with their comments and notes, my family and friends who come to cheer me on and my little Jack who is at the finish line to make me want to get their faster and stronger.
Ok.......so now for that 50 km Ultra Trail Run in May.......better get running!!!
Cheers!
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