Wordfull Wednesday...10-K style

Word-FULL Wednesday...10-K style!!

I can see now that green isn't really my color...but I REALLY love this shirt!!

This was my 6th (not consecutive) year of running in this race. It's one of my favorites...favorite distance, good scenery, great cause, rockin' goodie bags and shirt.

244 runners turned out for the 10-K 

See me in there?? Behind gray-shirt man? Trying to figure out HOW THE HECK I JUST DELETED MY RUNNING TUNES playlist...NOOOO!! NOT DELETE!! 
On your marks...get set...GO! I started pretty fast...a good fast, although it took me until mile 2 to find my "right" pace. 

My music was not great, I discovered I had to pee, and the wind...HOLY CRAP!! The wind. By the time I made it to mile 3 I found that your mind could be your worst enemy...or your best friend. I stopped thinking about the urge to "pull over" on the side of the road to relieve myself , told myself to "suck it up, buttercup", the wind actually felt good compared to the humidity that was making me drip, and there is a shuffle button on my MP3 player...USE IT! 

By mile 4, I was running at just below my goal pace(which was to finish in 50 minutes). I was at 34 minutes so far and had just finished running down a 1/2 mile hill(which many dummies passed me on)...I say dummies because just ahead is a mile incline. That doesn't sound that bad as I'm writing this... A MILE INCLINE. It's not straight uphill...but it is A MILE UP A HILL. So all those dummies that passed me on the way down, I was now passing on the way UP. and that is why I run hills once a week. 

I found my Black Eyed Peas...and JUST. KEPT. RUNNING. All along this incline are signs of encouragement taped to orange cones. One that stuck out for me was, "There is no pain when you win". Of course I wasn't going to WIN, but when you finish a race you do win...sort of...get it?? Yeah, me neither, my brain was getting mushy at this point. 

All along the uphill, I'm dodging spit balls, and snot rockets, and coughers, and walkers, and a guy coming out of the woods(he really should've used the porta-potty BEFORE the race). A lady at the top of the hill was spraying us with her garden hose, a nice gesture if you wanted to get super-soaking-wet...I opted out.

The last stretch of any race is truly energizing. I turn my music off, and can hear the cheers and clapping. I look to my right to see my family pointing..."There's Mama!!". I wave, and smile, and because I'm THAT person, I get a lump in my throat...because it is purely overwhelming. 

I start to sprint as I see the race clock...50:34, 50:35...I cross at 50:50. My goal was 50 minutes...GOOD ENOUGH. This was my personal record. And because being competitive is one of the only Type A traits in my normally Type B personality (seriously...I scored 27 out of 100 on this -thanks Mary Lauren from My 3 Little Birds! ), I have to say all of this: I finished in 12th place for the women, 64th overall (244 runners). I got 3rd place in my age division old (30-39 years) giving me a trophy(which I didn't stick around to get because the awards ceremony was an hour after I finished and the family was getting antsy, and I don't need a trophy because then I'd just have to dust it). 

My amazing "fans"

And thanks to my super-awesome husband for supporting me and my running addiction!!!



 

Top 10 10-K's Do's and Don'ts...

Top 10 10-K (or other race/runs) Do's and Don'ts...


1. DO thank the volunteers as you pass them by. Without them, you might get hit by a car, or get lost, or be thirsty. They will appreciate the thank you!

2. As other runners pass you(or you pass them), tell them "good job", and acknowledge them when they say it to you.  A little encouragement goes a long way.

3. DO NOT spit or blow a snot rocket unless you are SURE you won't hit someone...gross.

4. DO NOT wear anything new on race day. No new shoes/shirts/shorts..not EVEN a new bra, undies, or socks. Why take a chance on a blister, a chafe, or any other discomfort if you can help it.

5. DO NOT start out too fast. You don't want to run out of steam halfway through the race.

6. DO pee before the race starts...though maybe not in the porta-potties as those usually have a line a mile long...and then you might miss the start of the race.

7. DO have your favorite running tunes to help you along.

8. DO turn your music OFF and take out your earbuds for the last 1/2 mile. The cheers and claps of the onlookers at the finish line is a huge energy boost, right when you need it most.

9. DO eat before(well, not RIGHT before, silly) your run...even if you're nervous. You must have enough "gas in your tank" to run well.

10. DO thank your supporting "cheerleaders" you dragged along to watch you. I'm sure they had better things to do(aside from the 2 minutes at the start and finish line where they actually GOT TO SEE YOU).

I'm sure you're all on the edge of your seat to read tomorrow's post about my 10-K...it was my best ever...stay tuned.