Last Sunday I ran further than I ever have before. And I learned something along the way.
As a relatively new runner, I find that with each longer distance race, I sign up with the goal of just covering the distance. "Ooo, I signed up to run a 30K!" My training for Around the Bay had been largely focused on this mindset. I completed the distance required in each training session, even if that meant taking walk breaks. I did some speed training, but it wasn't my main focus. I was proud and impressed with the dedication and effort I had put in over the past months and harsh winter. All was good until a few days before the race when my running friends started talking about pace. I looked back at my running log as if seeing it for the first time. I was slow. And suddenly, I wanted fast. Here I was with mixed messages about what I wanted out of this race--and no time to do anything about it.
Thankfully after reflecting, reading and writing about speed not being the only gauge of success for a runner, I was able to redefine my goals for the race: complete the distance to the best of my ability and have fun.
The great part about the goal of having fun was that for this race, I was planning on meeting many of the awesome people I chatted with regularly in the running community. As soon as I arrived at the stadium the morning of the race, I saw smiling faces I recognized. I found myself having to constantly remember what we were all actually there for as we laughed and chatted.
As a relatively new runner, I find that with each longer distance race, I sign up with the goal of just covering the distance. "Ooo, I signed up to run a 30K!" My training for Around the Bay had been largely focused on this mindset. I completed the distance required in each training session, even if that meant taking walk breaks. I did some speed training, but it wasn't my main focus. I was proud and impressed with the dedication and effort I had put in over the past months and harsh winter. All was good until a few days before the race when my running friends started talking about pace. I looked back at my running log as if seeing it for the first time. I was slow. And suddenly, I wanted fast. Here I was with mixed messages about what I wanted out of this race--and no time to do anything about it.
Thankfully after reflecting, reading and writing about speed not being the only gauge of success for a runner, I was able to redefine my goals for the race: complete the distance to the best of my ability and have fun.
The great part about the goal of having fun was that for this race, I was planning on meeting many of the awesome people I chatted with regularly in the running community. As soon as I arrived at the stadium the morning of the race, I saw smiling faces I recognized. I found myself having to constantly remember what we were all actually there for as we laughed and chatted.
Some of the amazing Team Human Race #earthathon team
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Headed to the starting corrals
I made my way to the start corrals with some of my friends from Waterloo. Penny, who had a cold and would be running back to back marathons in a few weeks said she was planning on running relatively easy and finishing around 3:45. Perfect! This was exactly the time guesstimate I had for myself. I decided to stick with her at least for awhile.
The first 10K went well. It was warmer than anticipated, but I was able to unzip my jacket and put my gloves in my pocket and cool off enough. Penny and I were pacing each other well. This is the first race I've ever run with anyone for such a long stretch and I found it motivating. I started fuelling at around 5K in. I had done many fuel trials during my training since I had been finding many items sat in my stomach like a sloshing rock, especially when my pace increased. For the race I had dates, pretzel bits, chia gel and an emergency pack of honey stingers. Yeah. My pockets were full.
The first 10K went well. It was warmer than anticipated, but I was able to unzip my jacket and put my gloves in my pocket and cool off enough. Penny and I were pacing each other well. This is the first race I've ever run with anyone for such a long stretch and I found it motivating. I started fuelling at around 5K in. I had done many fuel trials during my training since I had been finding many items sat in my stomach like a sloshing rock, especially when my pace increased. For the race I had dates, pretzel bits, chia gel and an emergency pack of honey stingers. Yeah. My pockets were full.
 The first 10K |  At 15K when my energy fell through the grates of the bridge |
This put a smile on my face as I thought, well, the finish is at least closer than home!
Penny was keeping track of our pace, and said we were doing well, even with walking briefly through water stations and to have a bit of fuel. As we neared the lift bridge and 15K half way point, my energy went downhill rapidly. My stomach started feeling gross. I forced myself to eat more hoping that it would help my energy, and drank two cups of water at the next water station in case I was dehydrated. I let Penny go ahead. I walked, I ran, I walked. I knew the hardest part was still ahead. My longest distance in training had been 28.5K. Was I going to even be able to finish? I sent two quick texts to my husband and to the two friends who were going to be along the hilly portion ahead cheer me on. I told them I was struggling. Regardless, I kept trekking, alternating between periods of running with walk breaks. When I reached 20K, somehow I actually felt better knowing I was about to head into the most challenging portion of the race. I was still taking walk breaks, but I didn't feel quite as horrible. Around this time I turned to look at the person running beside me as she did the same only to discover Penny was beside me again! She informed me that we were still on pace for finishing at 3:45. Really?! Even with the walking, I guess my running portions had evened out my times. After one of the larger hills, I found my two friends cheering. Giving them a hug and seeing their smiling faces buoyed my spirits and I took off and caught up to Penny once more.
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The smiles and hugs I got from Ronda and Belinda gave me a boost of energy I definitely needed!
I think the grim reaper knew better than to give me advice on my running career today!
As I crossed the hills along North Shore Boulevard I found my confidence again. I would finish. No matter what.
Penny and I continued catching up to one another playing tag, chatting along the way. The winds picked up as we turned onto York Boulevard, and I was extremely happy for my jacket and gloves. We passed the church with its cheering priest and choir. We passed Stan and his 'We Will Rock You' and finally, we reached the Grim Reaper(s) and paused to snap a photo. I found a little burst of energy with around 2K to go and pushed ahead, only to completely peter out again with the stadium in sight. Penny went ahead, realizing a PB was still within reach. The crowds cheering along the road were hard to resist and I managed to find a hidden bit of strength to speed along the final stretch, painfully down the ramp and into the stadium. Hearing your name across the stadium as you sprint to the finish is something I will never forget. I crossed the mats at 3:43:09. Under my guesstimated finish of 3:45.
Penny and I continued catching up to one another playing tag, chatting along the way. The winds picked up as we turned onto York Boulevard, and I was extremely happy for my jacket and gloves. We passed the church with its cheering priest and choir. We passed Stan and his 'We Will Rock You' and finally, we reached the Grim Reaper(s) and paused to snap a photo. I found a little burst of energy with around 2K to go and pushed ahead, only to completely peter out again with the stadium in sight. Penny went ahead, realizing a PB was still within reach. The crowds cheering along the road were hard to resist and I managed to find a hidden bit of strength to speed along the final stretch, painfully down the ramp and into the stadium. Hearing your name across the stadium as you sprint to the finish is something I will never forget. I crossed the mats at 3:43:09. Under my guesstimated finish of 3:45.
Am I happy about my result?
I completed the distance to the best of my ability and really did have fun. I pushed through discomfort and got it done. I trained for months in a record breaking winter. I ran further than I ever had before. With a year and a half of running experience I chose a race considered challenging and finished.
On the flip side thinking back to my doubts before the race, of course I ultimately wanted a faster time. It's hard not to see the results of others and wish you could do the same. Would I have been able to go any faster during this race? Not enough to make much of a difference in my time or risk crashing even more. My race result pretty much reflected my long training runs. It was an example of using 'x' to train and get 'x' as a result.
So yes, I was happy with my result, plus, I really feel that I learned a lot in the days leading up to and the race itself.
I realized that it's important to always have a goal for your race and plan your training accordingly. I did have a goal, but at the last second I wanted something else and that wasn't being fair to myself or my training. In the end I managed to remember my goal and reach it, even with struggles. And instead of thinking 'what if' in regards to speed, I can use the desire to be faster as a goal for a future race and actually focus on it in training.
Running. Learning, evolving and dreaming every step of the way.
I completed the distance to the best of my ability and really did have fun. I pushed through discomfort and got it done. I trained for months in a record breaking winter. I ran further than I ever had before. With a year and a half of running experience I chose a race considered challenging and finished.
On the flip side thinking back to my doubts before the race, of course I ultimately wanted a faster time. It's hard not to see the results of others and wish you could do the same. Would I have been able to go any faster during this race? Not enough to make much of a difference in my time or risk crashing even more. My race result pretty much reflected my long training runs. It was an example of using 'x' to train and get 'x' as a result.
So yes, I was happy with my result, plus, I really feel that I learned a lot in the days leading up to and the race itself.
I realized that it's important to always have a goal for your race and plan your training accordingly. I did have a goal, but at the last second I wanted something else and that wasn't being fair to myself or my training. In the end I managed to remember my goal and reach it, even with struggles. And instead of thinking 'what if' in regards to speed, I can use the desire to be faster as a goal for a future race and actually focus on it in training.
Running. Learning, evolving and dreaming every step of the way.
Around the Bay is a historic 5K and 30K race that's been held in Hamilton annually since 1894. As the tech shirts for the race say, it's 'older than Boston' (the marathon). The race is scheduled on the last Spring weekend before the shipping routes open for the season, since part of the route goes right over the lift bridge. In recent years, the race has become known for several things along the route including the cheering priest and choir, Stan who blares 'We Will Rock You' for passing runners, the Grim Reaper giving his advice on running, and of course the unique finish, straight into an indoor stadium.
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