On Saturday, for the first time in my life, I was miserable when I crossed the finish line of a race.
Miserable.
(Thanks to my friend Jenny for the picture!)
The race started off great, and the first eight miles went pretty smoothly. Then I hit the I-didn't-train-enough-for-this-wall.
Miles 8 to 10 were pretty sucky.
The last 3 miles were unbearable. I honestly didn't know if I was going to finish the race running. For a little over 35 minutes I had to convince myself to keep running every. single. second. The last mile my calves started cramping.
But, I finished without walking. Looking back, that probably wasn't the smartest idea. If I would have just taken a walking break, I might have been able to recoup, but my fear was that I wouldn't be able to start again.
The weirdest thing is that even though I was miserable and I felt really bad about the race, when I got home and looked up my finishing time I was shocked.
If, before the race started, you would have told me that I would finish that race in 2 hours and 15 minutes, I would have been elated. I PR'd the course by 5 minutes (even though I was 12 weeks pregnant the first time I ran it). I was only 7 minutes slower than my half marathon PR (and that was on a completely flat course when I was really trained).
So why do I still not feel good about the race? I think it is because I didn't feel good running it. Weird, I know. That just goes to show you that numbers don't mean everything.
I also was pretty sick when I got home and in quite a bit of pain. Later that day I had a date with my nephew Kauffman to go to the pet store and swimming so I had to suck it up.
After we rested while watching Disney movies and I took some Tylenol, the pool and pet store were actually pretty fun and once all my chaffing spots were completely chlorinated, the pool was even relaxing.
I would have taken pictures, but in true Racheal fashion, I left my phone at the pet store. Even worse, yesterday we went to a birthday party, where I spent the whole time looking for my camera. I really thought I had lost it. However, when our gift was opened, there was my camera, in the gift bag. I am a mess. Needless to say, I didn't take many pictures this weekend.
To end on a positive note - a few things that have made me smile lately -
Dan picked me some wild flowers.
(He was particularly proud of the grass seed.)
I made Ina her first baby food last night - sweet potatoes. She LOVED them - video to come tomorrow.
Ugh, I feel pain for your poor muscles :( Yay on making great time! Even though you're feeling down about how you felt afterwards, just remember you did it without a lot of training like you said, so it can only get easier :)
ReplyDeleteThanks - that is what I am hoping for! I want to maintain my endurance that I have right now for my next half - in October. It will be here before I know it! :)
DeleteSorry you felt so bad but congrats on a great time!! Huge props to you for continuing on when you wanted to quit.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I just kept on telling myself, "You can walk in a few minutes," even though at the end, I was "jogging" at a walking pace. ha! :)
DeleteSorry to hear that you didn't have a great race but congrats on your great time! I felt the same was during the Princess Half...after mile 9 I walked and thought about how I didn't train enough for the last three miles, I was miserable and cried at the end. Great job for pushing on and finishing!
ReplyDeleteKaren @cinderella_runs