AKA sometimes you have to leave it all on the course.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been in “racing form”. I feel like I’ve been trying to come back from injury since Thanksgiving of 2010. I’ve had some good runs since then, but no really good races and most of my speed work has been on the treadmill. I’ve been dying to know where I am.
And I chose Love the Run You’re With to find out.
I set out with two goals: 26:xx on the clock and leaving everything I had on the course, possibly even my breakfast…
Short story: I missed my time goal by 16 seconds (27:15), but I could barely walk when I got done.
The day dawned wicked cold and windy. The “feels like” temperature was 12. I wore two pairs of running tights, a tank top, two long sleeve shirts and my running jacket plus hat and gloves. My Brooks Pure Connects were warmer than my Vibrams, but they were still wicked cold because of the ventilation. (Just for the record, even running flat out, I never got too warm).
The Plan:
- Go out at about 8:46 for the first mile
- Pick it up for the second mile
- Hold on tight for the third mile until I hit the major downhill and then rock that sucker.
I was 2/3 successful.
I was running with my dad and he attacks hills, so we got up the nasty hill at the start with a pretty decent pace. I thought no further than the next step and just focused on his back. First mile: 8:40ish.
After the first mile, I knew this was going to be a tough race. I made it my goal to keep up with my dad as long as I could. I got to the halfway point and turned around. I had the stupidest mantra going through my head “Just keep picking them up and putting them down.” WTF? Whatever, I was just trying to keep moving forward. Second mile: 8:10.
And that was the end of my race. Unfortunately, I still had 1.1 miles to finish. The next .6 until the downhill was just about getting from cone to cone (and they were only about 10 yards apart.) Finally, I crested the last hill and headed into the fast downhill. Except my legs would.not.turn.over. Seriously. They were just done. I gave everything I had, but I’ve never been passed like that on a downhill before (I’m really really good at using gravity LOL). I came around the turn to the long straight finish and pulled out what little I had left. I crossed the finish line and couldn’t decide if I was going to pass out or puke.
27:15. Not what I wanted, but that’s ok. I’ll get where I’m going. And this was a great test of my fitness level.
Moral of the story? Sometimes you just have to go balls to the wall and see what happens. Even if it blows up in your face.
and Im stealing that.
my whole monday shall be BALLS TO THE WALL.
Well, you tried — and man, this was NOT an ideal race. Thanks for your comment over at my place! Yes, it was wicked cold. I was almost miserable but pretending not to be, which is really hard for someone who is cold even when everyone else is hot. However, it was a rewarding experience and I”m glad so many people came out despite the temp!
that’s still a time to be proud of! hills are brutal no matter what!
yes! you should be proud!
Dang – two pair of tights cold. That’s cold!
hills are always a game changer, as well as the cold, I think you did great! Nice job on your run for Sherry too….
or in our case ta-tas to the walls 🙂
The cold was soooo miserable yesterday. I stayed in the Champps until the last possible minute and even then it was awful being outside!
Way to go on pushing yourself balls-to-the-wall style. I also had that feeling of being about ready to puke right near the end!
LOL, I love it when women say ‘Balls to the walls’……….. Remember, it’s February!
While it may not have been 100% what you expected/hoped it was still a great run! Onwards and upwards!
That was a tough race with some pretty grueling hills! You still beat me by a minute!
Congrats!
Ok 2 pairs of tights is freakin’ cold! And hills?! Yikes! It may not have been the time you wanted but it definitely sounds like your running legs are returning. Nice job pushing yourself!
Great job! Giving it your all is all that you can do on any given day, so be proud. 🙂
Yep, that is definitely my “strategy” for 5K and even 10K races. Don’t know til you try!
Congrats on givin’ ‘er and gutting it out!
I heartily approve! turn yourself inside out just to see what happens. amen.
Hills are a runner’s nemesis. Hills in races? Just plain cruel. Well done on giving it everything you had.
Hey, that was a tough race – I was there too. That first hill was so hard! And the wind was something else. Sorry I missed seeing you. Way to go balls to the wall – it is tough, and sometimes we blow up, but it is the only way to verify that you left it all out there on the course.
Well said! You never know unless you try, right? 5Ks are tough. Who wants to be that oxygen deprived for 3.1 miles? Congrats on a solid effort!
Good job leaving it all out there. Speed in the cold is not easy – it hurts to breath, and I swear it slows your muscles down, so no wonder your legs wouldn’t turn over!
I am not good at putting it all out there. I can be happy with less than my best effort. Good for you for your huge effort! Give yourself a lot of credit.
That’s a great time for the conditions and considering you haven’t raced the distance ina long time (I, personally, would love anything lower than a 28 next to my name for a 5k) 😀
I’ve wanted to run that race because I love the name, but hubby says no way to driving that far ‘just to run 3 miles’. sigh…
And that’s why 5ks can be such a biotch! I agree, you do sometimes have to go balls to the wall-how else will you know you gave it everything you had? Feeling like you’re going to puke is always a good sign you did! 😉
You did AWESOME!! As someone who did the same race, it was frickin’ COLD!!! My fingers were completely numb before we even started – and that was with hand warmers IN MY GLOVES! It was challenging to breathe that cold air over and over again. I felt so tight (and I don’t mean that in a good way, like a rapper:)) running in that weather.
On to St. Patrick’s Day and all it has to offer 🙂 (more hills!!!)
Proud of you. I started out slow – and then tapered. Partly because my calf decided to feel like I was tearing it apart at about mile 2. But I got quite toasty about one mile into the race (tights, one technical T, one cotton T over that, and an unlined fleece jacket – and two pair of gloves). As soon as I stopped running at the end, I realized just how cold it was and fled to the warmth of Champs and then fled to the car. Still, the blanket was a nice difference from other races and it was a nice, friendly crowd. I’m sorry I missed seeing you.
Nothing to be ashamed of there.. Sounds like a great race! Balls to the wall!
Well, at least you had a plan! Remember Hannibal in the A-team: ‘I love it when a plan comes together!’
Even if it doesn’t come together, it’s still a good plan.
I always run hard & BLOW UP. 🙂 I don’t want any unanswered “what if” questions after the race. I know I’m supposed to pace myself but I prefer the hang on as long as possible and blow up method. Great job!
It’s awesome that you are back to “racing” and going all out! Sounds like you got an amazing workout and oh-so-close to that goal time. Congrats!
I use balls to the wall ALL the time in real life talking about things and I’ve avoided saying it on the blog because I thought people would think I was crazy. So glad to see I’m not the only one that says that! Great job leaving it all out there!