Race Recap

I lost. And even though I expected it, it kind of sucked. Mainly because at this race, by losing, I was dead last. And this race was a huge mental struggle. In fact, I feel that I may have burned more calories from my neurons firing and me doing weird stuff than the actual run itself.

One good thing, some of my friends came to cheer me on.

She was the first to get here. She even wore a pretty dress to cheer me on. Although, she usually dons pretty dresses so maybe it wasn't all for me. This was also the starting line at my school's arts quad. 

And then we took some failed jumping photos of the atheletes. 

I've been the one on the left. If you were confused about my gender. And we spent the better part of last night looking for dorky white head bands and a baton for the boys. 

But then everything went downhill. The first leg guy ran the leg really fast. In the beginning, I sort of kept up with him. And then I saw my pace and realized I needed to slow down. but idiot me kept a fairly consistant fast pace. Let's just say that the first three miles were faster than my goal half marathon pace for a flat race (8:45/mile)  and that was me slowing down.

Then it was time for the second leg and I didn't see the second legger at all. This was the starting point of blisters! (For the record, I did go out and buy specialty running socks). And self doubt. I began to question why I was doing this when i should be logging my required 12 miles with my clif shot blocks to try out before the half and doing it at a consistent long run pace. I got so angry at myself, I didn't know whether to harness it to run faster or just sit down in the middle of the road and cry. I did neither. Then I started hating my bfriend who basically set me up to lose and do it so horrifically with blisters and chafing just because he wanted to run a relay with his friends. Yup, the
chafing started too. And this made me question why I signed up for another half in two weeks when it would just be discouraging and painful. But I kept on chugging along, albeit a lot slower, but my legs were pumping.

I guess misery loves company, cause then my brain went on to all the things I had to do for this weekend and how behind I felt in some of my things. And also how I haven't logged as many miles as i wanted this month. Then sometime, the second leg ended and I tortuously started the third leg, even though all I wanted to do was just turn away from the course and sleep. Third leg was where i really lost time, because I kept on having to stop and dry heave. Maybe it was the temperature or that I only had huge drinks of water every three miles, I started feeling like I actually had to throw up.

I am fairly certain that I went crazy somewhere in the middle. Because I took off my top and started running in my sports bra even though I never do that. I just wanted to cool down and keep on running. I figured it would just look ridiculous to walk in just a sports bra. Yup, told ya I went crazy. But I did finish out the race.

And despite everything, I am not dropping out of the half that I'm signed up for. I guess I will have a horrific run and it's better that I get all this out of my system now rather than in three weeks. And I'm proud that despite everything, I didn't stop and cry. I didn't turn around and go home. I didn't give up and just walk the entire thing. And my garmin caught from the beginning! And I guess what makes me a runner is that despite the fact that I sometimes wanna never run again, I do continue. And I do lace up my sneakers and go on the next run. Because not running is way worse than a terrible run. And I will always have friends that cheer me on no matter what.

Besides, that was the worst run possible right? How much horrible can my next half be? Oh, the course wasn't exactly 9 miles, it was more like 8.7 and I ran it in a slightly faster than 10 minute per mile pace thanks to the last leg. But I did round out to a 9.2 miles by running a little more at the end.

Race this weekend

Something shocking happened yesterday at lunch. I was innocently enjoying my five dollar foot long talking about my planned long run of 12 miles for the weekend when two boys challenged me to a race.

They thought they would be able to beat me in a nine miler against me by running it as a relay. Three miles per each boy, nine miles for me. I agreed. They probably could beat me. I mean I've never been a speed demon. I just chug along at an averageish pace and place in the middleish of the pack in age group and overall.

But somehow, I got dragged into agreeing to do my long run as a race. Their biggest seller was that if I lose, no big deal, but if I won, I could lord it over them for the rest of senior year. And thanks to facebook, it's now officially an event on Saturday at noon. There will be spectators and picnic food. And if fb events were good indicators, there will be at least 15 people in attendance.

So here are the athletes!

Challenger #1 Master Debater

He'll be running the first leg. He claims to not have run in a month. But I know that when he did run, he ran the mile sprint a little faster than I did two months ago. He's a policy debater so you know he can out talk anyone. He's also a gifted speed reader. So, if he can run as fast as he can talk, I'm screwed. 

Challenger #2 Adventure Racer

He's running the second leg. He competes in those mud race type events. You know, the kind where you have to run with heavy stuff or climb a wall or all sorts of craziness. Not a regular runner, but he strength trains regularly. I'm guessing just a road race of 3 miles will seem like cake after the races he's done. Look at those long legs. Then look at mine. Clearly running gods favored him more than me. 

Challenger #3 Farm boy

As you can see his childhood of being raised on a farm has resulted in super human strength , which he now uses to curl ducklings. He's been known to go on three mile runs with me about once a week. He's racing the last leg. I know he's super competitive, so he'll definitely won't give it up easily. Look at that game face. 

Person who's challenged (Totally sounds like I'm talking about a disability, but I didn't know what to call myself).

Hopefully, like this picture, I will crush them. Even though I did finish a half marathon like three weeks ago, I've been reduced to running once a week for my long run. I hope to at least get one speed work in this week. And if I do lose, lose with dignity by five minutes at most. 

Wish me luck! And stay tuned for the race this Saturday. As more information is available (as I decide on more race details), I will let you guys know.

And I looked like a total creeper at the library going through all the guys' photos and saving them to put on the blog.

Anyone know any good speed workouts? Or wanna advise me on race strategy?