This is a long delayed race post from last month. I swear I will catch up on this blog someday. Maybe.
A few months ago, Dan started running. At first it was just a few miles on the treadmill. Then I convinced him that running outside is much more (it totally is). Then it progressed, mostly because I made it, and we started talking about racing. He thought that he might want to run a 10K. I was excited — yay racing — so I escalated things and decided that we should run the Excalibur 10-Miler. I mean, what’s a few more miles?
My dad happens to live about 15-20 minutes away from Viera, which is where the race takes place. I convinced Dan that it would be an awesome idea to sign up because we could stay with my dad the night before and not have to worrying about babysitting! I’m not sure he was 100% convinced, but I did sign us both up and he started training. Possibly begrudgingly.
We drove over to my dad’s the afternoon before the race and picked up our bibs on the way (they also offered race-day bib pick up, which would have just as easy to do). It was quick and simple and before Dan knew it, he was running a 10-miler. Boom.
The morning of the race was HUMID. Ugh. It wasn’t hot (actually, I think I was a little chilly), but there had been rain the night before and the threat of rain was looming and air stealing. The worst running weather.
The race started with a duel from a few Medieval Times professionals. While it was a good idea in theory — we were standing in a grassy area of the high school and you couldn’t see ANYTHING b/c it was still dark outside. I heard a few swords clinking and then they announced it was a draw. Huh? Then they started the race and we were off.
But first…
The beginning race was pretty uneventful. I realized once we got to the high school that I had forgot my Garmin at my dad’s (grrrr), so I was just running based on feel. I started out fast and tried to stay in front of the 9 min/mile pacer (side note: I really hate pace groups – I’m sure I’m in a minority — and I always seem to get stuck near them). Around Mile 2, I saw Kindra – one of my MRTT ladies!
Pretty sure this is the exact moment I realized she was next to me.
I didn’t realize she was running it, so I was SO HAPPY TO SEE HER. I lost her at a water stop a mile later, but found her again before Mile 5.
Miles 5 and 6 killed my race spirit (and Kindra’s too). It was on a dirt/gravel road. Some part of it were soft sand. I didn’t realize this was part of the course and it REALLY slowed me down. The 9 min/mile pace group passed me and I got a little deflated. While I knew the race wasn’t going to be a PR, I knew I could handle 10 miles at a sub-9 pace.
Kindra and I picked up the pace around Mile 7 and ran negative splits (according to K’s watch) until the finish — which could not happen soon enough! My finish time was 1:33:03.
It was not my best race — and I can definitely say that I wouldn’t have enjoyed this race as much (or at all) if I wasn’t with Kindra. Sole sisters (cheesiest term ever, I know) get you through the good AND the bad!
I can fit her in my pocket!
As much as I was disappointed in my time, I was more worried about Dan. This were NOT ideal conditions a for first race! I felt bad because I didn’t know about the offroading at all. I probably wouldn’t have picked that as his first race if I had known better!
I ended up not having to worry much. As frustrated as he was about the gravely sand, Dan came pushing through the finish in 1:47:27. His goal was to finish before 1:50 — and he crushed it!
Finisher!
I am SO proud of him!
I think a part of him really though that 10-miles was impossible — or maybe I was just putting too much pressure on him to run it. Of course, now I’m trying to get him to run a half marathon!!
After our race, it started sprinkling. Boo weather. Instead of grabbing any post-race food (there was a TON) – we headed to Starbucks and then back to my dad’s for a day at the beach.
We both decided (well, maybe I decided for the both of us?) that next year instead of the 10-miler would we do the relay. You each run 5 miles AND you get to finish together. The course itself was fine (you start and finish at a high school). The surrounding neighborhoods/golf course are very much like the area I run in every day – so it was comfortable (minus the 2 miles of dirt/gravel/sand, of course). It wasn’t the WORST race I’ve ever run, but it wasn’t my favorite.
I AM happy to report that while it’s almost been a month since this race, Dan is STILL running. I haven’t convinced him to sign up for any more races (not including the family 5K we are running on April 30th), but I’m sure there’s a race I can secretly sign him up for out there…somewhere.
Comments... I Like Comments