Races - Miles For Music 20K, Cherry Blossom 10K, Stomp the Monster 5K

Now that spring is here, there have been a whole slew of races. I am only starting to reap the benefits of the Iron strength workout, am still adjusting to the routine of 3 tough, hour-long kick-ass strength/plyometric workouts a week, and haven't quite gained the confidence to attempt speedwork or long runs. But I'm only human, and races tempt me...if nothing else, I like to see how much I've improved or deteriorated.

Miles For Music 20K, Highland Park - March 11, 2012

So, when I had accomplished barely 2 weeks of relatively painfree running, and only 3 weeks into my Iron Strength Workout, I decided to run Miles For Music 20K, which was organized by our running club. It was the first year of the race and the organizers did a fabulous job...the event was well-planned and executed, and it was wonderfully promoted, so the turn-out was excellent. It was also a USATF Championship race (for all divisions), an honor that is rare for first-time races. The day of the race was a little chilly. Being an all-division race, several local running clubs fielded teams, and teams showed up in their respective colors; it was a beautiful sight. Running the race was not the wisest decision I've made, and wasn't sure I could even finish. The Open Women's team of our club fielded 3 teams and I was on the B Team. I managed to puff my way through the race, terribly out of shape. For the last 7 miles, I was completely spent, and my quads were sore all through the race. I had just completed one of my strength workouts 2 days prior to the race, and after 3 weeks, I still needed a good 3-4 days to recover from one of those killer workouts. Needless to say, it wasn't my best performance, but it could have been a whole lot worse. I was relieved I could finish, and even managed to place in my age group.
Here's how I did: 1:27:23 (7:02 pace), 108 / 461, 13th woman overall, 2nd in my age group

Cherry Blossom 10K, Newark, April 15, 2012

I was still not doing any speedwork, though my weekly mileage had improved slightly (for reference, 7-8 miles was my long run), and my strength workouts had eased into a routine. They still kicked my butt, but I completed them without grunting through them blurry-eyed, or falling flat on my face at the last excuse-of-a-burpee. Though I was nervous that I had done no speedwork whatsoever, 10K is half of a 20K, and if I could blunder through a 20K with no training, I could certainly complete a 10K. The race was a USATF Masters' Race, was held the day before the Boston Marathon, and the weather was only slightly less hot. Just to demonstrate how wonderful I am at pacing, I completed the first 5K in 19:39:57 (6:20 pace), but had to stop 5 times over the next 5K, gasping and holding my sides, and finished in 40:50:06 (6:34 pace). I'm a little embarrassed by all the stopping, but I had no idea what pace I was capable of at this point, so I could be forgiven for being a tad too ambitious. Maybe someday, I'll be a 'serious runner', and pacing will come easier to me!
My results: 40:50:06 (6:34 pace), 34 / 891, 4 / 434 women, 2nd in my age group

Stomp The Monster 5K, Marlboro, April 22, 2012

When you are as injury-prone as I am, you hesitate before you sign up for 2 races 2 weekends in a row. But turns out, I am a glutton for punishment. I had signed up for Stomp the Monster in January, and I told myself it was, after all, a 5K. I had 1 hard run under my belt in the last week (the Cherry Blossom 10K), and that should make me feel more confident than I had been. As you know, you can talk yourself into just about anything. Anyway, I went out with a rough idea of what I could accomplish this time. This was a USATF Open Men Championship race. DH decided to race this one, and I was very excited for him (much more excited than he was for himself). I was hoping that for his sake, the weather would be sunny and in the 50s. But of course, it was raining. In the 50s though; and it was only a slight drizzle, so we couldn't really complain. The course could not have been flatter; and it could not have been faster, unless it had been all downhill. I am thankful it was a 5K. I don't think I could have run a step more. There were a few women ahead of me. I was settling into a 'comfortably hard' pace, when at the last mile, 2 women emerged out of nowhere and starting pushing the pace. One of them looked no older than 15. I gave it all I had and managed to outlast the older woman. The 15-year old and I chased each other, even gasping out encouragement to each other every now and then. She gave a mighty kick at the end, finishing 3 seconds ahead of me. I backtracked, finding DH at his last mile and running with him for the last quarter mile. He PRed, with absolutely no training (he has run maybe a mile or a mile and a half a couple times in the last 2 months). If he trained seriously, he would kick some serious butt!
I PRed by 5 seconds, 19:23 (6:15 pace), 57 / 908, 6th woman overall, 3rd in my age group

I am hoping that working on my strength will help me sort out my injury issues in the long run. I am taking it a day at a time, forcing myself to listen to my body mile after mile, and not get ahead of myself. Marathons, long runs and speedwork can come later. I may run Boston someday; or I may never qualify...both are perfectly acceptable outcomes. I am learning to adjust goals and not be obsessed and stressed about them. I am learning to find joy in my running from day to day and pleasure in racing. I slept like a baby before the last couple of races...something I never used to be able to do. Injury has taught me humility. I like to think this experience has made me more empathetic to people's problems. You could feel on top of the world one day, but can come crashing down the next. I have a long way to go in learning how to cope with life, but am excited to try.