11 Miles w/ a 5K PR

I signed up for a charity 5K (The MaDee Project) with my running buddy Patty. I kind of wanted to race it and try to PR over my first (and only) 5K back in May (I don't count Color Me Rad because it's not timed).

I knew it would be challenging to try to race it to PR since my first 5K was an 8:45 average and I generally run 9-9:30. Patty explained the route was hilly and we may just be better off to build it into a long run. I agreed and we made a plan to run to the 5K from the park, run the 5K and then run back to the park.

Friday night I realized I didn't calculate the entrance to the museum grounds where the 5K was being held, that would add almost 2 more miles, making it 11 miles. I also realized it was going to be a hilly 11 miles. I got scared and texted Patty. She convinced me it'd be OK (because we'd have some rests built into our run).

I didn't "fuel" well the night before either... I had crabcakes with some spicy sauce at a new Mediterranean restaurant. So I texted my other running buddy Kuhlmann (who I went to Baltimore with) and he basically said "you ran 13 miles last weekend, you'll be fine." I'm convinced I could tell him I'm running 20 miles tomorrow and he'd say "you can do it/you'll be fine."

I often let my mental game get in the way. Thank goodness for my running buddies because they always convince me I can do things.

 Saturday morning came and Patty & I started out at the park. We ran 3 miles to Sheetz, bought a drink and headed towards the museum. As soon as we hit the entrance we realized there were no street lights on the mile entrance to the museum... YIKES. I didn't wear my hat light because I knew it'd be daylight after the first 4 miles. Luckily, I had my cell phone in my spi-belt for emergencies (we went sans-music), so I turned on my flashlight app and we kept going. We were definitely lucky, that would not have been a fun mile with absolutely no light.

We had picked our bibs up the day before so we were ready to go for the race. We spent the half hour stretching, hydrating and chatting with other runners/walkers. I hadn't planned to wear my long sleeve pullover (Lululemon Star Runner Pullover in Purple) but I am so glad I did... it was cold!

We started out at the front of the line (wow! never done that before) and took off. We took off pretty fast but reeled it in a bit. We were still going fast but it felt good. There was a girl in pink (part of the "Rack Pack" for breast cancer) that was in front of us the entire first loop (race was 2 loops for 5K). At the start of the second loop I said "I want to pass her!" - probably a bit too loud (sorry!!) - but I meant it in the nicest way possible. She had been keeping me going and was pulling away. I suddenly decided I might not pass her but I wanted to keep her in sight. We sped up trying to stay with her and the run started to hurt.

I found out later she had heard me, but was VERY sweet! When we caught up to her running she told us we were doing great (as was she!) and encouraged us. Patty had more to give so I told her to GO. For the rest of the run I had Patty up ahead "pulling" me on and Awesome-Rack-Pack-Runner right on my heels pushing me forward. I would not have ran that fast if not for them... I yelled at one point "THIS IS NOT MY HAPPY PACE."

It was a hilly 5K with pavement, grass and gravel. I was so HAPPY to see the finish (although it did go by very fast!). And as I crossed the finished the timing guy said "26:17" and I was so excited that I had a new PR!!

I chugged water, ate an apple, relaxed a bit and thanked Rack Pack Runner for being my "rabbit" (her term that I love!). Then we hit the road for the 4 miles home. It was a bit hilly at first and I was so thankful for a long downhill. We kept up a really good pace and ended with a nice average pace for the day! It wasn't the same as a straight 11 mile run but I know I ran my heart out, especially during the 5K!!

Thanks to Patty I achieved a new PR AND had a heck of a long run!

Hot Pink Compression Sleeves in the Background

11 Miles of #*$!, 10.3 of Heaven

Last Thursday, I planned to attempt 14 miles with my running buddy. Why? Well 10 miles was my longest run and 14 was a goal I had for before running the half marathon (just so I KNEW I could do it and then some).

Thursday morning we started our normal run and everything was fine. But around mile 8 I was hating life. By 9 my legs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds. By 10 I didn’t think I could take another step. I knew I had to hit at least my back up goal (11 miles, since 10 was my previous longest). About every other second I wondered if I could make 11 miles. When we stopped (and I said bye to my running buddy so he could finish his 20 mile run) I knew I couldn’t drive right away. I drank some water, stretched and stretched some more. I finally felt like I could drive home but overall I felt awful. All day I felt bad, couldn’t stay awake at my desk at work and generally hated everything. I made myself go out that evening and run 3 miles (even though it’s not the same, I did 14 for the day). 

Friday we did an easy 6 miles (partially in the rain) and it felt good. Saturday I took the dogs to the park and walked/jogged a couple miles. Sunday, I had a 7 mile run scheduled with a different friend of mine who is training for a marathon in November. 

I took her on the “run through the city” that I usually do with my running buddy and we had a nice 7 mile run. The weather was absolutely amazing (it felt like fall) and I was not drenched in sweat at the end of 7 miles (which is how I normally am). I actually felt like I could keep going. Well the running gods smiled down on me, because my running buddy (along with two of his coworkers) ran by at that exact moment. They had just gotten off of a 12 hour shift and were putting a few miles in before they went to bed. I jumped in on the chance to add a couple more miles to my day. A couple more turned into 3.3 and honestly I probably couldn’t done more (still wish I had kept going till it started to suck!). Those 10.3 miles felt amazing. They never felt hard or horrible or painful. It reminded me why I love running.

There’s a number of reasons those two runs might have felt very different – the weather being one. Me letting the mental game win could be another. Knowing I’m setting out to try for 14 vs. setting out for 7, feeling good and keeping on… my mind treats those very differently. I know I have to beat the mental game, but for now, I’m just going to be thankful for the glorious 10.3 amazing miles I had on Sunday.