Irish Run race recap

Happy Thursday!

 

How's every one's week going? Mines going dandy over here, and I'm back with my race recap and thoughts from the 8k last Sunday.

 



Jake and I got to the race with plenty of time to spare.  My biggest concern was having time to go to the bathroom so I didn't have a repeat of last year (SPOILER ALERT - I managed to NOT pee my pants this time, not sure if that's a "win" or not....).  We got to the school, got our bibs and headed out for our warm up, 2 miles.  It was really nice because everyone was out doing their respective warm ups too, so it was nice to be around everyone while they were still nice, and not in competition-mode.  I actually felt pretty decent during the warm up, my legs felt ok, and my right ankle (which I've been having issued with) felt really good.  We milled around a little bit then it was time to line up. 

My pacing plan was to go out with the first mile at about 6:45 (the first mile is downhill), and then settle into a 7 min/just above pace for the rest of the race.  Jake was nice enough to pace me so I just told myself to stick with him the best I could.  In my head, these paces didn't seem too bad, but then again, I'm always so clueless for the first race of the season.  We started out, and I had Jake tell me my mile splits each time.  First mile was 7:01.  Not what I was expecting, and I was just hoping to hold on. 

The course for this race is kind of tough, and there was quite a bit of headwind in some parts.  The reason the course is tough is because from about mile 2-3 and about 3-4 there is a slow, gradual incline.  The kind you cant really see when looking at it, but can definitely feel when your running up them.  Jake kept calling them "false" hills.....they were very real my friends.

I started to feel myself slipping going up that first incline, but still felt good enough to hold the pace.  Once we got to the top I tried my best to relax and stay loose.  We got to mile 3 and I asked Jake the total time, which was about a 21:3X.  I wanted to try and come close to or beat my 5k time from last year (which was a 21:35), so I felt pretty good about this.  I was really starting to fade at about mile 3.5.  my legs just HURT.  We started the last incline and it was right into the wind.  I tried to go behind Jake but that made me fall further behind.  I tried to just do my best and stick with it. 

The one good thing about the course is that the finish is downhill, and once I got to the top, to start going down, I just did whatever I could to push myself in.  There was a woman ahead of me that I really wanted to beat, and I dug in and made it around her.  I go to that finish line and about died!  I really feel like I used up whatever I had left at the finish, which is a win in my book.  Jake told me he's never seen me take off like that at the end.

 

 

 

left: after the race, top right: just about mile 2, bottom right: coming to the finish

 

 



I do have to say that even though my legs were hurting and I probably could have relaxed a little more, this race went so much better than last year mentally.  I don't think I was super positive during the race, but I also didn't let it get to me.  I pushed myself when I could and accepted that it was hard.  I still have some work to do, and speed-wise I have A LOT of work to do, but I was proud of myself for just staying in each mile and not thinking about how far I have left.  I didn't let the people who passed me get me upset and focused on my race.  Also, like I said, I didn't pee my pants, so a success!

Saw Rael on my cool down!  Another TNC athlete!

 

 

After the race we chatted with my mom and Paul for a bit (they came up to cheer, which was awesome!), then we did our cool down, another 2 miles - total of 9 for the day.  The we went out in search of food, we were starving and we ended up at Panera Bread. 

 

 

Thai chicken salad and black bean soup, yum!

All in all, this was a good race to start the season, but I'm really excited for my next one to see where my 5k time is at.  I am really hoping I can start out with a sub-21, that would put me ahead of where I was last year and would be a major confidence booster.  I'm hoping the 8k shook out some race nerves and I'll be a little more relaxed for the next.  Sometimes it just takes that first race to get rid of the 'cobwebs" :).

 

Alright, that's all for me folks, have a great rest of your day!

 

 

not this year my friends, not this year