I ran the Des Moines Race for the Cure on Saturday. The race didn't start until 9am and it was terribly hot. It was not a good day. I did have a really nice chat with two gals at the start. It was so packed and there were tons of walkers packing the chute. People that had no idea about the pace times that were posted. The gun went off faintly somewhere and we didn't move for a long time. There was a lot of bobbing and weaving necessary to move much. I finally hit Garmin but had no idea when we crossed the start. This seems to be a trend with me. I am usually way off.
I ran pretty hard and Garmin told me 9:23 first mile. Oh man, I was so in trouble. On the bright side, that is probably the fastest mile I have ever done in my life. As is predictable after going out way too fast, the next two were positively brutal. I did some short walk breaks but I had nothing. I didn't want to give up completely and walk in, too much of a metaphor in my life right now, so I continued on. The highlight might be the cheerleaders posted at the corners and the lady who yelled, "hey polka dot, you got it going on." I had on a pink polka dot head band. :)
Someone decided it would be a good idea to put a big hill up to the finish. I finished, but Garmin said I had gone 2.8 miles. So for two days I wondered, if that first mile would be enough to help me PR. It wasn't. In past years, I have only recreationally trained, and have been faster. I'm not thrilled.
34:14
I spent most of the day checking the website, worrying about fellow bloggers and my sis-in-law running Chicago. I did 3 miles in heat. I cannot imagine what they went through, how they felt, the things they saw. My heart is aching for all those people. I told my SIL, we are so proud of her and the training and everything she did, that her victory is in getting herself to the start and that she is a marathoner to us. (thank my sweet husband who prompted me with these words on a note pad as I was talking to her on the phone last night!)
I suppose I can learn something from this advice. Isn't it Bingham who says, the miracle is not in the finish, it is in the fact that I started.
27 comments:
I think Bingham says something about how they can't all be great. I find it hard to find my pace during the shorter races like that. It seems that no one is where they ought to be -- including me.
Soldier on my dear. Hugs. :)
I think Chicago is on everyone's mind. One my son's mothers was running Chicago. Looks like she finished but I hope she's ok. We'll hear tomorrow I guess.
Nice job out in the heat!! I was cheering at Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday, and it was hot! WAY TO GO!!!!
You know, I would export your garmin info into Google Earth or MapMyRun and then draw your own course right next to it and compare the data and mileage count. You might find that you pushed start too late and that mile seemed deceptively fast. Not to say you didn't do it, but I know when my Garmin starts playing tricks on me then I start wondering and hee-hawing and end up feeling worse because of the mindset...
I've never had to start a race and stop, but I can imagine the feeling. It is one thing to get to the start, that is a great thing in and of itself. But once there your heart is set and nothing short of the finish line will satisfy it. So I feel for those forced to cancel.
Oh, and you know, you now have the 10 miler and the 5k races you can add to your blog as past races. Wear them with pride, especially your 10 miler!!!!
I am doing the Race for the Cure next weekend. I know they are supposed to be packed so I am trying to talk myself out of caring about the time. :>X
Great job on your run! I think 34 minutes in heat is pretty impressive! Way to go!
I think you did a GREAT job!
I agree about the miracle being in starting.
And I, too, was concerned for the folks in Chicago. :(
First, nice job with the race. There is no way you can compare times in a race with that kind of heat. Temps like that are going to slow you down no matter how much you train. Check out Dean Karnazes blog (there is a link on my blog). He had a great post today about running in the heat...and he should know, he's won Badwater for crying out loud.
Once again, nice job just finishing in those conditions...and a 9:23 mile rocks!
I'm proud of you. Not only did you show up, you hung in. Wear your finish proudly.
For the amount of people and the heat you had to run through, that's a great time. But I understand your frustration. It just didn't feel good all around, and that's just stinky.
We had a 1/2 marathon in Evansville yesterday, and I am SO glad I am waiting until 2008 to run it. 13 miles, let alone 26.2, in 90 degrees is not something I'm aspiring to any time soon (or ever). Those poor souls in Chicago....
Hope you have a good week.
LOL you DO have it going on!!! Did you wear the Bondi Band? Is it white with pink polka dots? I have that one :P
You did GREAT Nancy especially when the heat has been nutso, and it was for a wonderful cause :-)
Way to go Nancy! No worries on the time, pat yourself on your back b/c you finished! And you looked stylish at the finish :)
Wow Nancy, a PR in the mile only a week after a 10 mile race, and in high heat and humidity is pretty amazing. Don't beat yourself up over the 5K time. I've learned the hard way that a fast mile will not result in a fast 5K. Congratulations on a strong run on a tough day. I love the Bingham quote, it is one of my favorites.
Komen races are tough because there are always tons of walkers in the starting area that force you to weave out of the start...
and you and your husband on the phone had all the right things to say...I'm sure that is exactly what she needed to hear.
I say that a 34 and change 5K is great! The point is that you went out there and toed the line! In the heat to boot!
Nice job out there.
Don't worry about your time -- if Iowa was anything like Chicago this past weekend, then you did your best in the heat. And races starting at 9 am in that weather? Crazy.
Thanks for all your comments and your concern about me. It was very nice to hear from you!
Way to go in such nasty heat! I'd take that time any day. :)
Good job Nancy! Could the person who ran the faster time have endured and overcame all the things you did earlier. Probably not... Just focus on what is to come not what has been...
ooh! i have garmin envy! congratulations on that sub-10!!!
always exciting to hit those milestones, but yes - you can't help but wonder sometimes if it was too good to be true - did i hit the watch at the right time? what if there was magnetic interference? that is certainly what i am always thinking. at any rate - you did indeed start the race - in that brutal heat - and you finished. way to go!
I've been meaning to ask you - have you done the numbers "game" on page 127 of the Non-Runners Marathon Trainer ? Naturally, I'm kind of obsessed with that exercise. I'm thinking about re-reading some of the psych/mental parts of that book in the next two weeks.
You are one fine polka dotted runner! Nice first mile. Crash and burns are always fun. :)
I did a Race for the Cure last Sept ('06) before I started running. I don't even know what my time was because back then the time wouldn't have even meant anything to me. Pace? What's a pace? In some ways I think the Races for the Cure shouldn't be timed anyway. The time isn't the reason we're out there anyway, right?
Yeah, Yeah, it's about the cause and not the time. I know :) Tell that to my ego after about 16 weeks of training versus other years that I have run a very "few" times to do this event. I guess I just thought I was gonna fly around that course. Humbled again...
Good for you to stick to your guns and tough it out! I watched the Towpath marathon (near Akron, OH) on Sunday and it was hot. I don't envy any runner who ran that day, no matter what distance.
Congrats Nancy!! way to battle thru the heat and great cause to run for , way to go !
Oh Nancy...
You have to take the time from this race and throw it out the window. In heat like that you just can't expect to have the amazing time you uwould have otherwise had. If you are honest with yourself, you will admit that you are in much better shape now and would have easily PR'ed.. under reasonable conditions. Congratulations on a great race!
Congratulations on completing a hot race. Anyone who ran that weekend - short or long distances - gets bonus points in my book.
Nancy, you ever do retail pharm? Back when my husband used to practice he'd tell me that he and his former co-worker would put in the "nicest" acronyms for patients in their notes. Like POS, PITA, and I'm sure other ones that he never told me :P
Well now you know just how fast you can run...go find some one mile races! I'm awfully glad I didn't have to solider through the heat that so many did last weekend for races, but kudos to you again for proving you are a true runner.
I've been at it a few years now nancy and I'm still going out too fast. Nice race congratulations looks like you are getting addicted, didn't you just run a 10 miler?
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