Race Recap

Happy Monday Sweets,

Guess what? I survived my race! I shaved 4 minutes off my PR and came in at 2:13. If you are a good little sweet and have read past posts, you know that my goal was 2:10. So I missed that. In hind sight, I am really mad at myself. I didn't push as hard as I could have (throughout the whole race). I ran the first three miles in 25 minutes. 25 MINUTES! That is crazy fast for me! The course was a little different from past years and that through me for a loop. By the time I passed my house, where HM was cheering me on (lucky me it goes past my street) I was at almost 7 miles (not 5.5). I was getting tired and made up my mind to "take a break" after I passed him. When I passed my cheering squad, I read this sign:

I finally found a use for those ugly race shirts I am always receiving

Here is a close up, because, you know, it's funny:

HM calls me Bugzie, but I won't tell you why

 After I got out of sight of HM, I started walking. Yep, I did. Why? That is a great question. I had no knee pain, no stomach issues, and no [insert real reason here]. I was just tired. Who isn't tired half way through the race? I walked for about 30 seconds and passed the clock at mile 7. Based on the time shown on the clock, I was doing BETTER THAN the 9:55 pace I needed to get 2:10! I also thought about HM's sign. A free scuba hoodie from lululemon? If that is not a reason to pick it up, I am not sure what is!! Since I already told you I beat my PR let's skip ahead a bit:

HM let me cash in the Scuba coupon for this Define jacket. SCORE!

Miz Liz had run ahead at this point (she ended up scoring a 2:06!) and so I was having to dig deep to stay motivated. I started running again at the 7 mile marker. I figure if I couldn't come up with a reason why I was stopping, I should at least keep running until I could come up with a reason. At mile 8, I was feeling even more beat so I walked for a moment again while I got out my iPod. The jams got me energized again. I ran through mile 10 still UNDER the pace I needed. I was sooo tired at this point.....so I walked again. Then I passed the lululemon cheering squad and their signs were so funny I picked it up again.

"Why Do All The Cute Ones Run Away?"

 

"I like Your Stamina, Call Me [SLC lulu's #]"

"Tight Butts Drive Me Nuts"

When I passed the 11 mile mark, I was 20 minutes from a 2:10 and 2.1 miles out. I knew I could still do it. It just came down to not pushing hard enough and for that I am angry with myself. I didn't push as hard as I could. Taking out 3 of my walk breaks would have secured a 2:10. I wanted to walk so bad going up state street so I made a deal with myself. I made a guess at how many dashes were painted in the street until I got to the top.

I guessed a little over 100. So I decided that I would run through 50 dashes and then I could walk 5 dashes. In case you are wondering sweets, there are 128 dashes painted in the road from 900th South to South Temple. Feel free to double check my math the next time you are in Salt Lake City. So when all was said and done, I missed my 1st goal by a little over 3 minutes. I did meet my 2nd goal which was to PR (previous PR 2:17). Even though I decided on miles 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12, and 13 that I would never run again. EVER! But just like a hungover collage promise, I will run again. I have to! Now my PR just got a little bit lower and I have that for motivation.

In fact, HM and I are signing up for another race. The Utah Valley Half (6.9.12). Training starts next Saturday, who's in?

You would think this picture was taken in 1978....but I think I see a Garmin

The plan this time around is to be more conscious of my pace during training runs. Now that I know I am capable of running 3 miles in 25 minutes, why can't I build up my miles on that pace....or something close to it? So that is the plan, unfortunately I am going to have to shell out for a new Garmin. BOOOOOO!

Thanks for reading sweets. I will post race photos once they are available.