escapevelocity
of random thoughts and pickled cabbage
This particular race report isn’t going to be as thorough as my other ones….partly because I really, really want to put on some SalonPas and take a nap, but mostly because today was my worst race to date and rehashing it isn’t going to be much fun.
Although today’s 30K/18 miles (or 18.64 to be specific) was the longest distance I’ve ever run….and although my knees (yes, plural) and left ankle did give out at mile 11…and although “everyone has good and bad races”….the thing that made today’s race so bad for me is that I let those things get the best of me, mentally. I’ve done runs that were more challenging physically (the 25K, for example), so the fact that I basically gave up during this one left me really, really disappointed and frustrated with myself. After mile 11, I’d run for maybe 5, 10 minutes before giving up (I’d run through the water stops….or at least try to look like I was doing OK…heh). Then I’d fight back tears and seriously wonder whether I’ll be able to run the Marathon in just over 30 days. I’d try to run again, and the whole stupid cycle would repeat itself. Not fun. I think I finished just 2-6 minutes before the course closed.
I spent some time during the race trying to figure out what made today different. Did I not get enough sleep this week, thus making me too tired this morning? Is my diet off? Was it not drinking my usual Cytomax (I decided to experiment with not running with my amphipod today) during the race? Should I up my training schedule? Was it the peppermint candy cane I accepted from a volunteer (the white sugar)? In the end, I still can’t pinpoint what went wrong.
I guess all I can really do is just accept that I had a baaaaaaaaaaad race today, and move on. Focus on January 15th. *sigh*
Good things about today’s race:
- Saw Holden, Jon, Joe, Dave Smart, Yong, Waverly, Cassie, Vic and Jessica before/during the race. I think Steve Shepherd dashed past me at one point.
- It was nice to see local Sugarland residents coming out and supporting all the runners.
- This one cracked me up: As I was (slowly) turning the last loop, this little girl at the water station offered her support by shouting into a plastic bullhorn-thingy - “If you keep running slowly, you’re gonna get a ticket! If you don’t want to get a ticket, then you better hurry up!”
- Vic, on CPR/AED duty, offering his support and encouragement while riding past on his bike. I really appreciated that, even though I was feeling pretty grumpy about things at the time.
- As I came up to the finish line (mere minutes before the course closed, remember), Holden, Joe, Jon, David and Waverly were standing and cheering people on. They saw me and started cheering. As I ran past, we exchanged high fives, and Jon cheered, “We leave no blogger behind!!” That’s when I finally felt myself starting to cry. Though I was pretty emotionally drained already, seeing the cheering Houston Running Bloggers and Jon’s comment were exactly what I needed.
- Despite my race experience, the weather conditions were perfect for running - chilly and a gorgeous blue sky.
- And the best part - crossing that finish mat. Because that meant it was over and I could go home.
*sigh*
Tags: 30K race
12 Responses for "2005 Houstonian 30K"
Sometimes a bad race will equal a great training lesson. When you run the marathon and feel that same pain you know you can run through it. Don’t try to figure out went wrong, rather accept the fact that you just got tougher. Running a marathon is like getting a tattoo. If it didn’t hurt, everyone would do it.
Go Jen! Go Jen!
You finished in regulation. That is all that matters. Go show off the medal, I think you earned it.
Thanks for letting me pace off you at the start of the race- hang in there, I have the same questions about finishing the extra distance required for the Marathon myself, you’re not alone.
I remember reading Megan Clark-Dillingham commenting about Lee Greb (both Striders) making the comment, “There’s nothing you can do about it. It’s on the schedule.”
As you said, the marathon is January 15th. You’ve come too far to let it slip away.
I was real disappointed with my time last year; however, I knew that the Striders LLR was three weeks away at that point and I was going to run the course and see where I stood.
If you’ve got a schedule to follow that you’re comfortable with, stick with it and focus on ahead.
If not, drop Steve Shepard a note and he’ll help you get things in order for the rest of the way.
As Holden said, the bottom line is: you finished .. so enjoy it!
Your post made me laugh and tear up myself.
Jon
Sometimes you just throw out a race. Like I did at the Space City 10-miler. You just chalk it up to being a horrible day and forget about it. Don’t let it get you down.
You’ve got a lot of support here. Hey, you finished and got a medal. That’s a good thing.
You’ve got an entire month to mentally get over one bad race. The important part is that you still covered the distance, which is great training even if you were going slower than you’d planned. Holden’s right — you finished the race, and you earned the medal!
Jen,
I second what everyone else said. and you finished. that’s all that mattered. I am sure there were plenty of people that threw in the towel. I certainly saw them at the 25k.
-jessica
You finished and you will on M Day too
great to see you both Sat and Sunday
now, rest, eat some good food and go see RENT
Good job, Jen. Seriously: good job. The fact that you persisted and finished shows great strength of character.
Sugar Land is a tough race for many reasons. It sounds like you ran most of it by yourself, which only makes things tougher.
I ran Sunmart on Saturday and at about the 20 mile mark as we struggled up a mussy hill, I commented to my buddy “Are we nuts? What the fsck are we doing?” He reminded me why we did it.
You’re challenging yourself and you’re succeeding. Maybe not always the way you had planned, but you are meeting your goals.
You’ll have a great marathon
Not much to add to the above comments, except that you never gave up and walked away with a finish. You won!
You have the mental toughness it takes to finish a marathon and will be sporting the finishers medal on January 15th!!
Go Jen Go!
I read this post so much later than everyone else and I was going to say ALL that stuff.
You Rock! Some days you have to earn your running shoes.
Rock on.
Keith.
Wow, thanks everyone for the support & encouragement!! It’s truly appreciated.
Leave a reply