(Here are the links to Part One and Part Two of my recap!)
Okay, I admit I was pretty nervous about the idea of running two races in one day.
I know I have run more than 9.3 miles on many occasions, but the idea of doing so in two race environments was a little daunting … especially when we awoke and found a bright and sunny day with temps in the mid-70s.
As those who follow me on Facebook and Instagram know, I opted out of the running half marathon on Sunday, which meant I fell short of completing the Runner’s World Half Trick (5K, 10K and half marathon). But I had a good reason: Saturday was Mimi’s 3rd birthday.
While I am a runner and a blogger, I am first – and foremost – a mom, and I couldn’t handle the idea of completely missing Mimi’s entire birthday weekend. Sure, I know she wouldn’t have known the difference, but I would have. So I signed up for the Five & Dime and cheered on my fellow runners completing the Hat Trick from afar (so proud of them!)
Anyway, back to Saturday. My blogger pals and I walked the 10 minutes from our dorms to the start line …
My game plan was to run a VERY conservative 5K with the hopes (albeit farfetched) of maybe getting a PR in the 10K … even though the 10K included a run up the infamous Heartbreak Hill, while the 5K did not.
I figured I could easily run a 9:30-10:00 pace, and if I saw my pace creeping up, then I’d focus on taking photos in an attempt to slow down.
I’ve never been a race photographer. Mostly because my iPhone is strapped to my arm and I’m trying to focus on breathing, form and simply finishing rather than capturing that cute mid-race selfie or scenic shots.
But today, I let myself be a mid-race photographer. It wasn’t that bad!
It was a pretty course, and we even ran by the reservoir I remember running – or attempting to run around – soon after college graduation. It was totally surreal; I couldn’t get around that darn reservoir once without stopping, and here I was, attempt to finish a 5K and 10K in the same day, some 10-15 years later.
I crossed the finish line in just about 32 minutes … whoa, my slowest post-partum 5K! That was a little humbling, even if it was intentional.
And I scored my first of two medals.
Less than an hour later, we were off again. This time, I lined up in the middle of the 8:00 group. The first two miles I kept at a steady 8:30 clip, which would put me at PR pace.
But it wasn’t meant to be. My pace slowed and my legs felt tired (probably due more to the November Project hill workout the day before, rather than the 5K I had just completed). I reevaluated my PR goal and decided instead that my goal was to finish in under an hour, which would put me at a faster pace than the James Joyce Ramble 10K which, to date, has been the toughest 10K I’ve ever raced.
So that’s what I did.
It sucked. It was hot. I stopped and walked through the water stations. The miles seemed to drag on, especially once we approached Heartbreak Hill around the 4 mile mark. From that point on, it was several gradual inclines followed by one whopper of a hill.
But I chugged along and finished in 58:47, which considering I stopped and walked through a few water stations, wasn’t that bad … and was speedier than my fastest Ramble time.
After the race, I found my roomie Katie (who went on to rock the Hat Trick).
It took awhile to cool down and, honestly, at that point, I was so grateful I wasn’t running the half marathon the next day. Plus, not running the half meant I got to be home to give a certain birthday girl a birthday manicure … which is far more important than any race medal or bragging right.
One last point before I wrap up this crazy three-part recap …
This weekend — and having the chance to work with freaking Runner’s World! — was an incredible opportunity and is one I honestly never could have imagined less than two years ago when I started my blog. I think I’m still pinching myself.
I am so appreciative that there are actually organizations and sponsors who want to partner with me (thank you, Runner’s World, for having me; you guys not only pulled off a thoughtful and well-organized race festival, but you were so wonderful to work with!). I don’t take these sorts of things lightly or for granted; I know how blessed and fortunate I am.
Which is why I am beyond grateful for you — for reading my blog, for sharing my posts, for supporting me along this crazy journey. You’re the ones who makes these sorts of unbelievable experiences possible.
So I hope I was able to take you along with me — whether it was through my blog posts, my photos, my updates on Facebook and Twitter — on my adventures this past weekend and pass along some of the things I learned and experienced. Thanks, guys, for reading!
And speaking of reading … here are the other bloggers I was so fortunate to meet and get to know this weekend!!
o Matt from No Meat Athlete
o Julie from Peanut Butter Fingers
o Caitlin from Healthy Tipping Point
o Anne from Fannetastic Food
o Katie from Runs for Cookies
o Sarah from Sarah Fit
o Jason from Strength Running
o Theodora from Preppy Runner
o Presley from Run Pretty
o Amanda from Run to the Finish
o Katy from Katy Widrick
o Karla from Run Karla Run
o Heather from Relentless Forward Commotion
o Marnie from Run Street
o Sarah from Picky Runner
o Larisa from Zero to 26.2
o Dani from Weight Off My Shoulders
o Charlene from Fab Running