Short story: I finished in 1:31:03 and PR’d by at least three minutes. I was around 1400 out of 4000 runners and finished in the top 25% for women and for my age group.
The rest of the story:
The GW Parkway race begins at Mount Vernon and ends in Old Town Alexandria. Like many point to point races, this means a shuttle. I got up at 5 am in order to leave the house by 6 for an 8 o’clock race. I was already tired (Jones woke up twice and Shoo wet the bed 5 minutes before my alarm went off) and in a fragile emotional state (due to the death of our friend), so when I realized how hot it was going to be, I seriously considered going back to bed.
Instead, I took a quick shower, coated myself in sunblock, and had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. After I gathered all my stuff (I decided to run without my Fuel Belt this time), I headed out. I parked my car by 6:15am and immediately boarded a very full bus, so I got to stand for the 10 mile drive out to the start. We were at the race start by 6:30am, which left an hour and a half to kill before the race start. I visited the portapotties a few times, drank a bottle of gatorade, and chatted with a few people, but I spent way too much of that time in my own head. Usually that’s not a real problem for me, but it wasn’t a good place for me on Sunday.
Finally, the people started lining up to start. I needed to pee, but the potties were a fair walk away and the lines were long. I figured it was just jitters and tried to keep my mind occupied. Finally, the race started! Because the race started with a downhill and I knew that the first mile was mostly downhill, I went out fast. Mile 1 and 2 were finished in 8:44 and 8:40, respectively. I walked the first water stop at mile 2.5, where I saw a close friend who was volunteering that day. By the end of mile 3, I was starting to get uncomfortable, not because of the running or the heat, but because I REALLY needed to pee. Those of you who’ve birthed kids know what kind of issues I was having. I finished mile 3 in 8:57 and mile 4 in 9:01. Finally, I spotted a portapotty with no line at the waterstop at mile 5. I ran in and OH did I feel better. Quickly ate a gu, drank a water and a gatorade and headed out again. My splits for miles 5 & 6 are messed up because I didn’t pause Garmin for the stop.
Thanks to the stop and the Gu, I knew I was feeling really good at this point, but I was worried about how hot it was. I had planned to slow down to a 9:30 minute pace around the halfway point, but was still feeling good enough to run mile 7 in 9:16. I walked the water stop around mile 7.5, drank two waters and a gatorade (it always amazes me how much liquid I can drink during a hot race and not get sick), and saw my friend again. It was a real boost and I managed to finish mile 8 in 9:17, even with walking the waterstop. I was feeling pretty good, but I made myself walk the last waterstop at mile 9. I normally would have skipped it, but it was getting really warm and sunny (and I didn’t realize how close to a 1:30 10 I was). Even with that stop, I finished mile 9 in 9:10. Somewhere in there, I heard my name called and saw DC Running Mama walking past in the other direction (she finished #10 for women Woot!). Hearing my name filled me with adrenaline and I knocked out the last mile in 8:25!
All in all, it was a good race. I was a little disappointed in my time, but given the heat and the potty stop, I did well. I probably would have tried to spend less time at the water stops if I’d realized I was close to an hour and a half, but it leaves me with goal for the Army 10 miler in the fall. It was well organized and I liked the actual course of the race. I really could do without the whole “hurry up and wait” thing at the beginning. I’m unlikely to run this one again unless I make plans to meet up with a friend.
I wore the new Lululemon shorts and they didn’t disappoint. They have a small pocket where I stored a Gu. I ended up running the entire race with it there and I had no chafing from the pocket or the shorts in general. They were MUCH easier to get back up after the stop than a pair of compression shorts would have been. Also, at one point, someone was shooting a hose across the road. I intentionally ran through it, but ended up only getting my shorts soaked. Amazingly, this didn’t make them feel heavy or cause any chafing. Yes, I do plan to buy another pair soon.
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Thank you for your kind words about our friend. I’m not overly sad for him as he was a man of very strong faith and was ready to go home. I am sad for his children though, who’ve been my friends since high school. It was a huge reminder of how lucky I am that my dad is not only alive, but able to run races with me.
Congrats on the race, and glad you managed your fluids well with that heat! Glad the shorts worked out so well too! You’re so right about your dad and him running too, that is amazing.
Congrats on a fabulous race and PR!
Great job on your race and pr! Glad to hear the shorts worked for you, I am going to have to buy a pair.
great work at the race and congrats on a new PR. You’re so fortunate to have your dad run with you, but I am sorry that you had to be reminded of it.
It was a hot and sultry day– 1:31:03 is a great time. I think it’s probably a mixture of compassion and the pressing fear of my loved one’s own mortality/realization we’re all growing older, but I find the deaths of my childhood friends’ parents very difficult to cope with. And the one time I ever cried at work was when I learned that a dear childhood friend’s partner had died. Anyway, what I’m saying– probably poorly– is that I’m glad you decided to get out of bed and run the race. (Honestly, though, next week’s 5k? I’m probably gonna totally skip it. Even if my quad is feeling better.)
Congrats on the PR and a fantastic race!
great job on the race. you ARE fortunate to have your dad able to run with you.
CONGRATS chica! What an awesome race and PR to in the hotness to boot! Very nice!
A PR! WOO HOO! You’ll work out the kinks next race and really blow the time away.
Great job on your race! You had some great split times!I wish my dad could run with me. But I AM blessed that he is healthy enough to cheer me on, even though he doesn’t run anymore. When friends’ parents go, it does remind us to cherish ours, doesn’t it?
Despite your emotions and lack of good sleep, plus the heat, you still ran an amazing race! I’m so awed by your splits! You’ll PR in the Army 10-miler for sure now that you know what you can do in not-so-ideal conditions (and a full bladder).
Good job with the race – and way to PR! I bet you will break 1:30 at the Army 10 miler.
Great job on a great PR in that heat!!