Sunday, June 15, 2008

And heal and grow and recreate and raise and nurture

Riverbend 5K Race Report

Thursday morning I laid in bed after the alarm went off and wondered if I should get up and run. I was worried what my frame of mind would be race day if I had another bad run. I decided to get up and find out. I did not take my watch, I did not want to worry about times...only running.

I had a really good run. No side pain, good rhythm and I felt good.

Thursday and Friday I drank water like it was running out. I was NOT going to be dehydrated. Friday night I got to Scott's Gramma's birthday party late so I could eat something at home.

Saturday morning I got up at 5:45, had my coffee a Luna bar and a bottle of water.

Around 7:00 Alan picked Scott and I up and we headed down to the race. I was pretty nervous at this point. I was not sure if I was prepared enough, not sure if my side stitches would come back and overall just not sure of myself.

Getting to the race site always calms me. Seeing so many people there, so many ages, so many sizes...seeing all these people really puts me in my place.

So, here us the pre-race shot:





It was nice because it was not too hot and there was a little drizzle going. I thought about last year a lot...this was where I ran my first, and only, 10K. This year was not nearly as crowded as last year. Not sure if it was the weather (it has been really hot here) or maybe the gas prices kept would be travelers away. We got our T-Shirts, our chips and stretched out.

Soon we were headed to the start.




The first mile was good. I decided that I was going to stick to the 4 minute run/1 minute walk no matter how hard it was to stop at the beginning. 4 minutes blew by fast and we were still packed in like sardines, and I did not stop...deciding to stop and walk at 8, and I did. The first mile has the two hardest hills of the race and luckily the second hill fell in line with the second walk break.


Mile 1 : 12:07


I was a little disappointed, but this was still a minute plus faster than what I have been doing on the treadmill since we got back.

Then it hit me..all the side stitches that I have had, to this point, started just past a mile...and there was no sign of a stitch in sight.

The second mile went by really well. The run 4/walk 1 plan was going great and I was really feeling good.

Mile 2: 11:04

Then the trouble began. Right after I hit the second mile marker it hit...yep, the side stitch was back. I was PISSED at that damn thing. I was on track to go 34 minutes...that was all I wanted to do, take 1 minute off my previous time...and the damn thing was back.

When the side stitches have hit in the past I have "tried" to run through them and I have eventually stopped. So, at this point I decided that my goal for the last mile was simply to stay with the 4/1 plan. No matter how slow I had to run I was not going to stop and walk. And that is what I did.

Mile 3.2: 12.51

Here is the finish


So, in retrospect , there is the good and the bad.

The good...a mental victory. When it comes to pain I am a quitter (for lack of a better word). Running through pain, or discomfort for that matter has not been a hurtle that I have overcome and I did yesterday. And the second mile was by far the best I have run this year.

The bad...if I had stuck to my pace I would have come in at 34:41...not hitting 34:00 as I had hoped, but still a PR for the year.

Alan did PR for the year...beating his pace of 41.22 in the Chicamauga Chase



The interesting thing is the "official race results" have me coming in at 35:25 and Alan coming in at 40:03...who knows. I'll stick with my watch/and their clock time.

I think we were both glad to be done...




...and having our post race pancakes.





We did not get a pit crew picture this year...but, as always, lots of love to Momma and Scott who were there for me as always!

******************************UPDATE********************

After talking to Alan last night I have decided to embrace the 35:25 time. Because of all the people and when we actually hit the starting point probably was 30 seconds in. Also, the clock starts when the fist person hits the starting point which explains the clock time!

Take Care
Molly

In times like these
In times like those
What will be will be
And so it goes
And it always goes on and on
...On and on it goes
-Jack Johnson

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Good job! Be happy about finishing. Be happy about that second mile. Be happy about post race pancakes too. :)

I did a 4:1 yesterday. My right leg is bothering me again (drat!) and I really had to battle with myself to stick with the 4:1 vs walking home. So it seems we had similar victories this weekend. :)

JT said...

Way to stick it out. I've got those same shorts that you're wearing :-)

Danielle said...

Hey, you finished. That's a great thing and you had a PR. So it wasn't quite what you had wanted, but you'll get there...

Unknown said...

I definitely wouldn't be disappointed with that race my dear! Great job! Those side stitches are still strange, but way to go on pushing through. You should be proud of your accomplishments!

Jess said...

Hey you finished and that's what rocks. You fought through those stinky side stitches and did great!

Alili said...

Good job out there! In honor of you I had a side stitch on my run last night...I'm blaming it on the Chinese take-out that I had for lunch;

Steve Stenzel said...

Nice job, both of you!!! And sweet meal!!!

teacherwoman said...

Good job! Nice work! :)

M said...

Way to hang in there, even when things hurt. For me, that always takes precedent over the finishing time - the pride that comes iwth not quitting.

And I love to see that I am not the only one who celebrates with post-race pancakes.

Is there any other way?!?!?!