The Wildflower 10K is a nice, flat run course taking you through both farm country and high/low density housing. This is where I did my first 10K so I have a special fondness for this race. The first time I did this race, there were only 200 people in the 10k. It also helps that it's only 25 minutes from my house!
When I gave coach my planned race schedule early this year, she wasn't sure I'd be recovered from the Duathlon in time for this race. So, I just left it as TBD. Imagine my surprise to find it on my training schedule. No sooner had I signed up for the race than my Peroneal tendon introduced itself to me - OUCH!. With the race 2 1/2 weeks away, I figured it was a bust.
It turns out that 2 1/2 weeks is a long time! Some rest. Some ice. Some tape. Some PT exercises. Lots of ART... and some new shoes brought me from barely walking to being able to run the race.
Yikes! I had a race to plan for. I obsessed for days over it. Would my tendon/foot hold out? What had I done before on this course? Where were the ascents/descents? Where had I lost faith before on that course? What paces had I been doing? What did coach want me to do? How will the new asthma meds change things? Hey, if I just improved my time by 3 minutes from last year, I might be able to place (reviewing last years results). 3 minutes was a challenge but, not out of the question. I calculated it all together and formulated a plan. Finally, I checked the weather - 21 mph NW wind but no rain (glad I wasn't going to be riding in that 21 mph NW wind).
Race morning I got to the school early to pick up my packet where I found my son picking up his. He was doing his first 10k. It was pleasant in the school parking lot if you stood in the sun. The announcements started early. Oh bummer! One of the local racing teams were out in force. There wouldn't be any podium for me today. That's ok - I'm here to run MY race. Do what coach wanted me to do.This isn't an A or even B race.
I did my warm up and then it was time to get to the start line. I hate that time when it's time but, they haven't started the race yet. Finally the horn sounded and we were off. I ignored the serge (every one is way faster than me so let them go - I'll be the turtle in this race).
The race starts 1/4 mile into the school's parking lot. I was starting to find the proper pace... go out easy. Just past the school is open farm land which is where I first felt the side wind hit. Ok, go a little slower plenty of room from last year's pace. When I turned the first corner, the full wind hit. I'm not sure if that was 21 mph or not but I had to push through. I kept letting my pace drop as this was too early to push. I said "Don't worry about it. You can make it up when you turn South and have the wind to your back". Keep pushing. Every one else is fighting through the same thing. Keep pushing.
At the next corner, the wind was from my left side and slightly behind. Even though I had double bobby pinned my hat on, it wouldn't stay. I ended up running with it in my hand for the next 2 1/2 miles. I think next time I'll staple it to my head.
This went on for another couple of miles until I turned South. Finally. Let's go wind... but there was no wind! At this point in the race, we were in an area of residential streets and the housing development blocked all the wind. I was going to have to do this on my own! On I pushed.
At mile 5 we emerged from anything that would block the wind. I think it was even stronger and more sustained now. There were gusts on top of the sustained wind. When I turned the corned onto the main road, it just blasted. I was keeping pace with a woman who drafted off of me and I drafted off of her. When I made the final turn, a gust of wind almost stopped me in my place -- my Garmin measured me going 2.3 mph! I finally made it to the school. I kept pushing and trying to give it my all. The final stretch was full of people. I cursed to myself that all the spectators should stay out of the way of the runners! (looking at the website pictures, I think those were the 5k walkers!)
In the end, I was 7 seconds over last year's time. I was heartbroken. I've worked hard this year. I'm tired of being slow. Other women my age are a lot faster than me. What's wrong with me? Needless to say, I was in a pretty dark place.
Over the last couple of days, I've begun to realize how much this represents my growth mentally and my progress physically. While I didn't get a placement, or a PR, I found out that I can dig deep. I never gave up. I found out that my ankle is healthy again. I found out that I could run the same time in windy conditions this year that I ran last year in ideal conditions.
I still don't know how fast I can sustain. I do know how it feels to dig deep.
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