Well, I finished it. My first official 10k race. It was in Peoria AZ on 02.23.2014. The name of the race was the Mermaid Series. They have races mostly in California, but this one in Arizona.
So ...I thought I trained hard. I mean I had those days where I didn't feel like running or I was down for the count with a torn calf muscle and sinus infection. I was proud of my training ; I had my fastest mile under 9 mins. Paces were around 11 to 12 mins per mile. I thought I was doing fantastic. Did I expect to win? No. Was I counting on a medal for top 3?? Heck no. But I thought I was good.
Boy was I wrong. I got beat....and bad.
First off, hardly anyone was wearing a tutu. I did my research, looked up YouTube videos, visited the website & even reviewed previous years pictures. I thought this was going to be a fun run. Make friends, chit chat, take pictures. The atmosphere was completely different. People were acting like this was the Olympic trials. So serious and stone faced.
When that horn went off.....everyone took off in record speed. Im keeping up pace. Not for fear of looking slow, but scared I was going to get trampled on. I looked at my nike sports watch and saw we were running a sub 9 min mile. I was thinking "ok....this is just the adrenaline of the race. As soon as we are out of sight everyone will slow down."
This was the second time I was wrong (first time was thinking this would be a fun run). The mermaids were keeping up their super speedy pace. Well I will just slow down a bit....but as long as I keep this girl in my sight Ill be okay. Then this girl turned into that girl, and another girl. Then it was the short haired girl, the pink tank top girl and even purple sports bra girl. Then I stopped altogether because I was just getting passed on all sides. Even when I went on the side girls were passing me on the dirt. Trying to reassure myself I said "They will slow down and then you can pick them off". But that didn't happen.
The volunteers were great. Cute high school kids. The boys were high fiving and cheering us on. Some of the people using the walkway were rude. Understanding its a public park....If I saw a bunch of people running with bibs I would move out of the way. Maybe even sit down and just cheer them on as they go.
We had two fueling stations. Gatorade water and then gels. I took a nutrition bar on the second aid stop but I didn't eat it. My hand held water bottle was working great for me. My tutu on the other hand, not so much. It kept bunching in between my legs and felt like I was pulling out a wedgie. Later told my husband no more tutus unless its for a walking fun run.
The whole time I kept thinking man I must be the most out of shape person here. Everyone else was super tiny skinny and super fast. I really started to feel self conscious while running. ( apparently some pictures were taken and my stomach roll was showing. Not the prettiest)
During mile 5 I had come to terms that I may be the last person to cross the finish line and I was okay with that. I just wanted to keep running. I did walk twice. For about 5 to 10 seconds each time. I was having a hard time opening my water. But I didn't walk up the hills. So that was a plus. I figured well let try to make this some what fun. So every time I saw another tutu (which there was like 6 of them beside me) I would yell Yaaaaa tutus!! Some times they cheered back. Other times I got a stone face.
Remember I mentioned purple bra girl? Well she had been slowing and speeding slowing and speeding. She was in my sights near the last mile of the race. I caught up to her and was thinking "I may suck but I am going to at least beat her". So I sped up and passed her just before the final bridge. Damn it I wasn't letting her pass me again.
And there was the finish line. I could see it. Even saw my wonderful husband (who I despised at this moment for letting me do this and making a fool out of myself). I just kept running. They even said my name over the speakers. Give me my damn finisher necklace. That was my first thought.(when I saw it online I commented it looked like something from a dollar store; but upon further looking at it, its not so bad). I would have rather had a medal but....oh well.
They had a nice spread of food after. Water juice bananas oranges bagels and bars. I didn't have any bagels.
We sat down while I ate. Hubby was so proud. I complained how much I sucked. Typical of me.
Took a few pictures and went home. I knew I wasn't getting any awards for being in top 3. I wanted to get my out of shape body and tutu out of there.
Received some compliments from my online friends. Husbands mom commented that I was still alive. Ummmm ya. I only been running here for the last 5 months. Sorry you cant get rid of me that easily.
Its been 2 days. I'm a little sad it wasn't what I hoped it to be. I came in 87th place. 12th for my age (32).
Hopefully the next race wont be so disappointing. Guess I better get my butt out there and train a little harder.
Oh...what you have been waiting for. 10k or 6.2 miles in:
1:11:24 average 11:30 per mile
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